Re: [Harp-L] re: Les feuilles mortes -- playing correctly

[IcemanLE@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 11/23/2007 2:13:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx writes:

I agree  that not doing it because you "can't" is lame from a musical
standpoint and  doesn't help with the public perception of the
harmonica. (Although it can  be fascinating to hear how players of the
diatonic accordion and the 9-note  Scottish and Northumbrian bagpipes
sometimes both simplify and compress  melodies to fit their instruments.
A tune can be very changed and yet  remain recognizable.)

At the same time, it often does make musical  sense to get rid of
unimportant and fussy details and focus on what is  really important in
a tune, and the greatest interpreters seem to have a  wonderful sense
for this. Louis Armstrong was known for taking good tunes  and making
them great by simplifying and thereby strengthening the  melodies. This
is completely aside from his gifts as an improviser. The  great
embellisher was also a great de-embellisher.


Very astute writing.
 
Having tried to bring chromaticism to the diatonic has been a long and  
interesting journey - passing through a few different philosophies, having a few  
change of hearts along the way to discovery. 
 
Lately, I've tried the clever path - using OB's, but placing them where the  
difference tone doesn't make itself readily apparent - altering melodies with  
subtlety to keep from having to land and sustain an OB to make a clear  
statement. This means knowing and understanding the original melody, knowing and  
understanding the diatonic with all its strengths and weaknesses and trying to  
find a middle ground between the two.
 
Success is in the end result - if people are moved. 
 
Sometimes is works well, other times it is a work in progress. Perhaps the  
journey is the thing, not the destination.
 
The Iceman
 
 



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