Re: [Harp-L] Re: Scary Fast Playing

[IcemanLE@xxxxxxx]

Most harmonica players I've heard don't effectively bridge the gap  between 
scaryfast and everythingelse.
It's an either/or.
 
Scaryfast is most effective when used within a building a solo framework -  
building a solo is a very musical skill that takes the listener on a journey,  
like a walk in the woods.
 
You leave your house (a familiar place) and begin an adventure. Out the  door 
at a leisurely pace, down the street, perhaps picking up walking speed  until 
you are comfortable, and then into the woods. Once in the woods, you can  
pick a familiar trail or try for something new. The new trail twists and turns,  
perhaps opening up into a field, where you are so inspired that  you jog a 
bit, even breaking into a run (if you are feeling joyous). 
 
Coming to the end of the field, you may decide to slow down a bit rather  
than crashing willy nilly through the bushes and trees - scaring the beejesus  
out of all the woodland creatures - eventually heading home through familiar  
territory. You eventually arrive safely, having had a varied and  memorable 
experience during your trip.
 
What I've heard harmonica players do is - Front door of the house crashes  
open and harmonica player flies out running at full speed, mowing down the mail  
man (letters flying in the air) which doesn't even phase the harmonica player 
as  off he goes. Since he has spent a lot of time building up his  stamina, 
he keeps up the tempo into the woods, sticking to very familiar paths  in which 
all the stones and branch placements are memorized so he can zip  through and 
around them without looking or slowing down, out across the field,  back to 
the street and back home moving at a blur, door slamming behind him  signaling 
the end of the adventure.
 
Impressive in the fact that the stop watch shows how fast the trip was, but  
ask him to remember what he encountered on the trip that was new and  
unique....what did he see that was new and inspiring.....which new flowers did  he 
stop to smell?.....what unusual birds or animals did he see on this  
trip?...which new paths did he explore?.....what can he share with others rather  than 
showing them the stop watch and bragging on how the speed was  increased?
 
I'm more inspired when given a journey that opens up my imagination. I'm  
less inspired when the speed of the tour guide is all I remember.
 
The Iceman
 
 
In a message dated 2/9/2009 1:29:01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
dmf273@xxxxxxxxx writes:

Even  Charlie Parker used doubletime with restraint.   But "restraint" is  a 
word rarely associated with most modern harp  players.
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