Re: [Harp-L] Harmonica Polka - looking for a great harmonica polkasong.

["Steve Shaw" <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

> I might recommend one of the most popular polkas of all time, the Jenny
> Lind Polka, first published in 1846 by Allen Dodworth. It was named for
> the famous "Swedish Nightingale," operatic soprano Jenny Lind. She
> became of the first international musical stars under the management of
> P. T. Barnum and her name was used to sell all sorts of products.
>
> The Jenny Lind Polka has been recorded under many names and in many
> variants, including this harmonica version recorded by Louis Blanchette
> on tremolo harmonica with piano accompaniment in Montreal in 1938


Jenny Lind is a great tune for either tremolo or just 10-hole diatonic.  The 
first part is in D but can be played cross harp on a G harp and the second 
part is in G.  It's crucial that your accompanist starts the second part 
with a C chord!!  At my gigs/sessions we play it absolutely every time and 
use it as the intro to the good owld Irish song "I'll Tell Me Ma."  What a 
crowd-pleaser.  Jenny Lind is, as far as I know, an English tune.   Irish 
polkas are, in fact, highly suitable for 10-hole diatonics.  A very large 
number of them are either in D Ionian or in A Mixolydian, so it's easy to 
construct sets with "key-changes" without switching harps.  Low D harps are 
the best bet by far (apart from tremolos if they're your thing) for diatonic 
players for the majority of these tunes.   My CD contains five Irish polkas 
in two tracks, all played on a low D harp, four of the tunes played cross 
harp (Ger The Rigger, Bill Sullivan's, Terry Teahan's Favourite, Johnny 
Mickey's) and one straight harp (Ballyvourney).  I love 'em!

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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