[Harp-L] Ode contest

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The melody for the "Ode To Joy" is wonderful to play on a standard  
diatonic harmonica.  In first position.  It lays beautifully, allows  
you to use the chords and slaps for a nice (and appropriate) backing  
if you're playing solo and flows smoothly and pleasantly--and you can  
easily vary the repeats by adding octaves both above and below.  It  
can be played in the top octave in 2nd position, but doesn't lay as  
nicely.

It's unlistenable in the lower range in 2nd position.

You can get around this by using an alternate tuning, such as either  
Paddy Richter or Melody Maker, but I think it still lays better in  
first.

The Ode contest was fun, but musically all the results were  
atrocious.  Considering the people involved, I have no doubt that no- 
one else (including Levy) could do better.  Trying to play this  
melody using a bend or overblow anywhere is perhaps the best example  
of round hole, square peg harmonica technique I could imagine.   
Especially because it's so easy to do without.





 ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
()  ()
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