RE: [Harp-L] "Death Bed Repentance"

["Steve Shaw" <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

> Coming back to the harmonica after a fifty year layoff, I find the scene 
> has
> changed considerably since my youth.
> In the early 1950s if you were to have the slightest chance that your
> harmonica aka mouth organ would be regarded as a real musical instrument,it
> went without saying that you bought a 12 hole Chromonica as  favoured by
> Larry Adler and Tommy Reilly, (who were by the way at the pin of their
> collars at that time to be recognised as serious musicians). The tremolo
> mouth organ was a child's toy and I don't remember the 10 hole Blues Harp
> even appearing on the radar screen.
> Now I find from lurking on this list that if you can't play at least five
> positions/keys on a ten hole diatonic you are not entitled to be considered
> "a man at all".
> I was also interested to see in a recent debate on "Who be the Greatest?"
> that as far as the list is concerned the late Larry Adler did not even
> feature in the top ten.
> Now for a slightly embarrassing question: If bending is a prerequisite of
> the "serious would be harp player" does having a dental plate inhibit or
> rule out the possibility of aquiring this skill?
> Beannachtaí
> Aongus Mac Cana


50-year layoff, eh, Aongus?!   That's some sabbatical.  You were a harmonica 
player, then you started your layoff when I was five years old, now you're 
back.  I feel younger than I did this morning.  Welcome!

I don't see that having a dental plate should prevent bending.  Unless 
someone else is going to put me right.

Steve


http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/trad_irish_harmonica
HEAR my CD clips: http://www.gjk2.com/steveshaw/cd.htm

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