Re: [Harp-L] Rev. Gary Davis on the harp--song key?

["Jim Greenwald" <staggerin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Brian
Had 500 e-mails in my box when I got back from vacation, tucked yours away 
for safe keeping and forgot about it, sorry in advance if someone's already 
replied to this on the list. I've been intrigued by this piece for a long 
time - the voice & harp setting, the unusual key, the wind noise, and the 
overally mastering of the cut on the LP (yeah, that's how long I've had it) 
that sounds like chorusing; but especially the advanced techniques that he's 
using. Kind of came out of the blue. I don't have any other harp pieces by 
Gary Davis, but the Leadbitter & Slaven discography shows about six from the 
period 1963-69 that have appeared on LPs. Anyone have these?
It's pretty solidly in the key of B (don't know if it's different on the 
CD). A low-E 10-hole in second position covers it. Two things are kind of 
strange: low-E harps were pretty rare in the 1966, and LP cuts coming out a 
entire half-step low were pretty rare too (if he played it in C on a low-F 
harp).
His playing IS rhythmic, yes. But he's playing the melody as well; and, 
trading "voices". There's alot more there than meets the eye. Lots of 
octaves and partial chords AND he's playing out of both side of a 
tongue-block. That's what kills me - he's a super advanced folk musician on 
the harmonica and this cut appears to be a rare display. It got me looking 
for obscure Black Gospel harmonica recording from the 1930s for a precedent, 
and of the three dozen or so I've come up with so far, none are as advance 
IMHO. The 15 masters he made in July of 1935 have no harp. I'm going to have 
to look for those 60's LPs !  Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Staggerin' jim
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Adams" <bnadams83@xxxxxxx>
To: "harp-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 1:52 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Rev. Gary Davis on the harp--song key?


I recently checked out a Gary Davis cd -- Reverend Gary Davis At Newport, 
and was a little surprised to find that he actually played harp on one of 
the tunes ("I've Done All My Singing For My Lord").  Pretty decent acoustic 
rhythm harp too, I think -- a la Sonny Terry.    I'm having a little trouble 
picking out the song/harp key for this tune though.  Does anyone know what 
the song key and/or harp key and position is on this tune?  Thanks in 
advance for any assistance on this.Brian Adams