Re: [Harp-L] Re: Subject: Irish Book/CD Harmonica Music

Philharpn@xxxxxxx · Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:27:16 EDT

I have no endorsement deal with Amazon, but it is always my first reference 
site. It does not carry every book in the world, but it carries enough (even 
indicating an out-of-print book) that helps me find the correct title if nothing 
else -- and whether it is still available. Even if you have a partial title, 
you can usually find it. Plus, lots of times there are customer reviews of the 
book, which are often helpful.

All three books listed below are hardly pricey. One of the great things about 
harmonica is that even pricey harmonicas are much cheaper than any other 
instrument so you can afford to pay (gadzooks!) $25 for a book of music! 

I got my copies out and leafed through the pages. I was still as impressed as 
the first day I acquired them. All three books are excellent. Each is 
slightly different and there is not too much -- if any -- overlap. 

I couldn't get the eBay link to work but I did find the Phil Duncan book/CD 
on Amazon 
"Mel Bay Irish Melodies for Harmonica at $16.47 (list $24.47). 

At 152 pages, it has two pages of contents list all the songs alphabetically 
and on the next page by category: ballads, airs folksongs; jigs, reels 
hornpipes, set dances and 9 songs by O'Carolan. It designed for use with the key of C 
chromatic, diatonic   cross-harp, tremolo/octave, Melody Maker, Country tuned 
harmonicas. It has graphics showing the layouts and   note patterns of the 
different harps. 

It gets into the Rudiments of Music (like that phrase) and includes lyrics, 
music notation, diatonic tablature and chromatic tablature and an indication 
what kind of harmonica works best on each tune.   The CD has 25 tunes.   I think 
it is a remarkable resource because it has so many tunes. Londonderry Air is 
shown in tablature for the Melody Maker and Country Tuned harmonicas and 
chromatic. About 20 of the tunes have lyrics.

Glenn Weiser has a book called Irish and American Fiddle Tunes/CD (127 pages) 
($19.95)   (1998) that is geared toward diatonic harmonicas in the keys of D, 
G, A and the 12-hole Hohner Marine Band G harmonica.   Glenn's book also 
divided the tunes into reels, jigs, hornpipes and waltzes. 23 of the tunes are on 
the CD.

If you're really serious, pick up a copy of "O'Neill's Music of Ireland" 
which contains over 1,000 fiddle tunes.   ($19.95) 254 pages. It features MUSIC 
NOTATION ONLY. But wait!
If you get Glenn's book, he shows music and harmonica tablature. But the 
music is in the "original" key (G, D, A) -- not the key of C.   You can figure out 
the key by the #s in the key signature. If that is still confusing,   he 
tells you the key of the harmonica. So by simply matching up the key signatures 
(the # ## ### ) at the start of each song) of both books you can make your own 
tablature for the "O'Neill's Music of Ireland" by Miles Krassen. (1976)

There is no recording with this book, but I am sure somebody had recordings 
available.

(There is also a fasimile edition of the the original 'O'Neill's Music of 
Ireland" called "Mel Bay O'Neill's Music of Ireland" (list 35/ amazon: $23.10) 
that I have not seen. But judging on the introductin to Krassen's book it is 
full of errors of transcription and omission (ornaments left out) that have been 
corrected in the Krassen book, Krassen says.

Now somebody else, no doubt an expert in this music, would recommend a Paddy 
Richter harmonica or a Paddy chromatic and a good slowdown program CD and some 
proper CDs. And a nice and proceed to listen to each tune for 50 times until 
the tune is learned.

But give me a book/CD anytime. 
Hope this helps.   

Phil Lloyd

In a message dated 4/30/08 9:05:14 AM, EGS1217@xxxxxxx writes:
> My apologies for not remembering who it was requesting information about 
> Irish music for harmonica.   I just came across a link (from an  EBay music 
> store)
> to this particular book/CD combo of Irish Melodies for  Harmonica. Here is
> the product description:
> This book contains 138  well-known Irish jigs, reels, hornpipes, set dances,
> O'Carolan tunes, folksongs,  ballads, airs and waltzes. These wonderful 
> Irish
> melodies are written in  harmonica tablature and standard notation for use 
> on
> the 12-hole chromatic,   standard 10-hole diatonic, and tremolo harmonica.
> Learning these melodies will  enhance your playing skills as well as your
> repertoire. The stereo recording is  in split-track format and includes a 
> selection of
> 25 melodies from the  book.
> It's not inexpensive, but is the first Irish book/CD combination I've  come
> across.
> 
> _http://cgi.ebay.com/IRISH-MELODIES-FOR-HARMONICA-MUSIC-BOOK-CD_W0QQitemZ1101
> 9
> 6801398QQihZ001QQcategoryZ47080QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l
> 1
> 262_
> (http://cgi.ebay.com/IRISH-MELODIES-FOR-HARMONICA-MUSIC-BOOK-CD_W0QQitemZ1101
> 96801398QQihZ001QQcategoryZ47080QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m1
> 53.l1262)
> 
> Elizabeth
> 
> Disclaimer:  I haven't purchased anything from the Seller so have no 
> information about them.
> 
> 
> 
In a message dated 4/30/08 9:05:14 AM, EGS1217@xxxxxxx writes:

> My apologies for not remembering who it was requesting information about 
> Irish music for harmonica.  I just came across a link (from an  EBay music 
> store)
> to this particular book/CD combo of Irish Melodies for  Harmonica. Here is
> the product description:
>  
> This book contains 138  well-known Irish jigs, reels, hornpipes, set dances,
> O'Carolan tunes, folksongs,  ballads, airs and waltzes. These wonderful 
> Irish
> melodies are written in  harmonica tablature and standard notation for use 
> on
> the 12-hole chromatic,  standard 10-hole diatonic, and tremolo harmonica.
> Learning these melodies will  enhance your playing skills as well as your
> repertoire. The stereo recording is  in split-track format and includes a 
> selection of
> 25 melodies from the  book.
> 
> It's not inexpensive, but is the first Irish book/CD combination I've  come
> across.
> 
> _http://cgi.ebay.com/IRISH-MELODIES-FOR-HARMONICA-MUSIC-BOOK-CD_W0QQitemZ1101
> 9
> 6801398QQihZ001QQcategoryZ47080QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l
> 1
> 262_
> (http://cgi.ebay.com/IRISH-MELODIES-FOR-HARMONICA-MUSIC-BOOK-CD_W0QQitemZ1101
> 96801398QQihZ001QQcategoryZ47080QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m1
> 53.l1262)
> 
> Elizabeth
> 
> Disclaimer:  I haven't purchased anything from the Seller so have no 
> information about them.
> 
> 
> 
> 

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