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
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