[Harp-L] Multiple stops

["Dave O'Brien" <davocorn@xxxxxxx>]

This whole discussion of multiple stops illustrates the way language 
changes and keeps changing. Words have different meanings for different 
people, and different people use different words for the same meaning.

Apparently "stops" in harp language refers to the tongue and edges of 
the lips, whereas with stringed instruments it's something the fingers do.

I gave up playing the harp 50 years ago when I had some major dental 
work done. Now I am trying to get back into it.

Actually, I never played the harp back then. What I played was a 
harmonica, aka "mouth organ." Back then, the vernacular referred to 
mouth organs and Jews harps (juice harps), and real organs (which you 
pumped in the parlor), pipe organs (which were grand instruments of 
another world -- never actually seen or heard), and, of course, real 
harps. Chord organs were a later invention.

An interesting permutation is that at a recent Christmas celebration, my 
13 year old granddaughter and I played a few carols as a duet; I on my 
mouth organ and she on her folk harp. Both instruments are tuned to C. 
You might say we played a C-harp duet.

But if I said that to you without the explanation, what would YOU think 
it was?

Is this beginning to sound like, "I'm my own grand-paw?"

But wait, there's more. There is a parallel thread going on about the 
"first live recording" of the harp. Only thing is, I don't believe it 
was called a harp at that time. Any more than the World War was called 
World War I.

So my question is, what is the history of the terminology and its 
changes? What was the 10 hole, 20 reed diatonically played musical 
instrument called during the late 1800s and early 1900s? At what point 
did the slang term "mouth organ" become common? And what was the 
evolution of the terms: mouth harp, jazz harp, blues harp, and "harp" as 
we know it today?

Go ahead, pull out the stops.

BTW, isn't this an organ-player's term? I don't mean pull out multiple 
stops. Pull out ALL the stops.

Dave