Re: [Harp-L] RE: Combs - I surrender with my last word

[fjm <bad_hat@xxxxxxxx>]

JRR writes
> whereas the harmonica reed is an idiophone(sp). 

No it is in the category of free reed aerophones.  I've seen Kalimba 
listed as an idiophone but it's really a lamellophone.  The category 
also includes jaw's harp and music boxes.  Even the inclusion of kalimba 
in the lamellophone category is disputed.  There is a contingent that 
thinks that they are their own special category because the lengths of 
the tounges are not fixed but adjustable.  I'm only aware of the 
controversy because I play  occasionally in a band with an importer of 
Hugh Tracey kalimbas. As I read the categories it is the tongue that 
makes it a lamellophone.

A really good place to start with how harmonicas make sound is by 
reading the Acoustics Australia article Pitch Control in Harmonica 
Playing.  Written by Robert Johnston formerly a participant on this 
forum.  It is available as a pdf here, 
http://mis.ucd.ie/Members/RJohnst/oldharp.pdf

There are several good articles here,
http://www.turboharp.com/Company/CompanyIndex.asp

and as always www.patmissin.com is a treasure trove of accurate well 
vetted harmonica facts, trivia and more technical information than I'll 
be able to process in a lifetime.

There is a follow up article to the original Robert Johnston article.  I 
have it somewhere but I can't find a reference to it currently.  The 
Turbo Harps site does have the James Antaki, Henry Bahnson article along 
with a very famous MRI of Howard Levy's vocal tract in action.

When people suggest that the archives be delved into I think it is 
because a lot of this has already been discussed.  There is some great 
information there but admittedly it can take some digging to find and 
some of the more crucial bits aren't currently archived.  Pat Missin's 
best ever article on intonation and tunings went missing in a server 
crash.  Blessedly it is available on his site.

I think it is just fine and dandy that people ask these questions over 
and over again.  Vern hones his writing skills and every time I learn 
something new from reading what for me is a very old discussion.  I 
would like to compliment Vern on his explanations.  Either I've gotten 
smarter or Vern has gotten really good at explaining this stuff.  Most 
probably the latter.  I am somewhat disappointed that Bobbie Giordono 
hasn't weighed in here.  She has some very intriguing divergent ideas 
regarding these topics.  fjm