Fwd: [Harp-L] Did The Blues invent the Light buld

["Winslow Yerxa" <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Just to be clear - I have loved the blues for more than 7/10 of my
lengthening life.

There was a time when I wanted to hear and play nothing else.

I have nothing against the deep feeling that people get from the blues
- I get it too and it has marked me deeply.

But I won't stand for history being distorted by people who make
exaggerated and ignorant claims for the blues. The blues does not need
defenders or promoters who says things that are not true about it and
who at times seem eager to claim everything good about music to be the
exclusive property and invention of the blues.

The world is a huge place.

It's full of amazing things.

it's full of deep feelings.

Blues is only one teensy, tiny piece of that. Deep as the blues is,
it's only a microscopic piece.

Think about how huge the world must really be if the blues can be that
deep and still only a tiny piece of what's out there.

Humbling.

More than a little scary.

But true.

Winslow

--- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "James" <wasabileo@...> wrote:

Blues fans have a blues-centric view of the world that often lacks
knowledge in other areas and seem eager to credit the blues with
everything that's ever happened in American music

I am trying to be polite here but with all due respect I take
exception to Mr. Winslow Yerxa comments. 
The Blues is more than another style of music It is a state of mind, a
musical language that speaks to the human condition in a manner that
other forms of music does. not. Mind you flamenco, Brazilian Fra-Fra
are very expressive but there is something about Blues that can be
neither quantified nor qualified in the English Language.
Cross Harp is an attempt to flat thirds in the European scale in an
attempt to play half-tones and slurs "The notes that "fall in between
the white and black keys of the piano" In between those notes lies all
of our experiences, the girls we didn't get, the jobs we lost, the
condition in Iraq Its all there
Did the blues harpists invent "cross harp" I really don't know but
Nobody uses it as effetely as them"  Maybe I can go on any blues site
and chat with people from Scandavia, Japan - Brazil. We all know the
same songs. We are all struggling with the same emotions.
BTW Borah Minoveth and the Harmonicats were regarded as "Novelty Acts"
and light entertainment 

There has always been prejudice against the Blues. Much of it based
upon Race and Class I am not accusing anyone here of such attitudes
but I am both confused and disturbed by comments
Let my be conclude by quoting one Teyxas Blues Men" I am not here to
explain the Blues, the Blues is here to explain me!"
_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@...
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l

--- End forwarded message ---