[Harp-L] shortlychromatic

[George Brooks <gbrooks1@xxxxxxxxx>]

Michael Rubin writes:

>IMO, part of the problem with overblowers
>is their incessant need to be on pitch.

This is just so, so wrong (IMNSHO).  A huge problem with would-be 
overblowers is that they do not pay *enough* attention to intonation.  
A couple of years ago, a member of the List posted about a performance 
at SPAH that was musically adventurous and quite accomplished, but 
badly out of tune in places.  He had to leave the room.  I was in that 
room and wanted to leave myself, but stayed out of consideration for 
the performer and the rest of the audience.

It's not often I agree with Buldogge (I almost wrote "JR", which is 
what I used to call him, but most people would take that to mean Jason 
now) when the subject is playing chromatically on the short harp, but 
his observation that intonation is crucial is right on.  There is a 
great deal that a non-critical listener will forgive, or not even 
notice.  Everybody can tell, though, when the music is out of time or 
out of tune.

If you aspire to play chromatically on the short harp, please, please, 
please make it a high priority to bring the notes into good tune.  Work 
with a keyboard.  You can get a digital keyboard at a big box store or 
from a catalog for under $100.  If this sounds like too much work, or 
just a drag, you would be much better off taking another approach (play 
in the less out positions, play button chromatic, take up 
autoharp....).

George