[Harp-L] Re: there's the Blues and then there's the Blues

[Dan <billybudd1313@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Elizabeth and List,
   
  From my experience as a blues student, I see the blues definition of "blue=sad therefore blues = sad music" as a common misconception.
   
  To quote B.B. King from "Live in San Quentin" :
   
   "Well, Blues to me is something like, whatever ails you. You can make something out of whatever it is. If you want to make it bluesy, it can be fun and still be bluesy.  It's just a type of music we call blues."
   
  What B.B. is telling us is that blues is just a category, or name placed on a fairly broad, yet often identifiable type of music.  The lines between rock and roll, jazz, funk, country, folk. . .(other musical categories) are gray.  
   
  There are a lot of sad subjects addressed in blues music.  There's also a lot of positive messages too.  For example, bragging songs (Hoochie Coochie Man) or Love songs like "Sweet Little Angel" come to mind.  You can also find sad, mournful songs throughout other music forms.  
   
  I think music and art in general  is about expression.  It's a way to help us deal with emotions; whether it's painting, dance, music, or film.  We take care of our physical needs, but then we must feed our souls.
   
  The "blues = sad" stereotype bugs me, because it turns people off sight unseen.  Worse yet is the "blues=boring" stereotype.  We could write a book about how these stereotypes got started later.  
   
  The blues is a release.  It's a party after hard work.  It's solace after heartache.  It's love and joy expressed with notes.. .  all within a form.
   
  So, for me personally, I play better when times are tough.  My anger, or sadness, or frustrations with life leave me for a while, and come out the harp.  It heals.  It entertains.  It lives.
   
  Dan G.
   
   
   
  Message: 3         
   Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 23:54:18 EST
   From: EGS1217@xxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] Subject: Re:  there's the Blues and then there's 
Blues

The recent talk here about playing emotively and with one's whole body  
brings me to something I've been curious about for some time, but  
recent 
circumstances have made this a more imperative question:

..While I understand a great many people here play Blues music..and we 
know  
that the word in its purest form denotes being sad or "blue" and given 
as  
well that some of the very best (and most emotional) songs stem from  
the deepest 
pain.....just how do you handle it as a harmonica player  when the 
level of 
your personal heartbreak makes it well-nigh impossible  for you to 
play? 

Or does it?   Can you play your harp anyway?

One can easily still play piano or guitar, but the harmonica is unique  
in 
that it's a bit tough to continue producing notes while tears are  
running into 
the mouthpiece, I've found.  So how do you manage,  those  of you who 
have to 
show up to please an audience, no matter what?  

Elizabeth
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