Re: [Harp-L] Acoustic harmonica

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Robert - 

I have to chime in and agree on this. Clearly some situations do require amplification - noisy restaurants, etc. 

But if you can do without amplification, you can get rid of a whole layer of hassle and focus on creating your own sound, free from unwanted changes by equipment and people that you can only minimally control (especially the people).

It can also be empowering to be able to create your sound unaided by anything but your instrument, your body, and your skill.

Certainly an unamplified harmonica can easily carry over a classical guitar and hold its own with even large groups of other acoustic instruments.

I remember years ago playing at a house party with full drum set, tenor sax, and amplified electric bass. I was playing on a 2016 chromatic and noodling about at liberty because I assumed no-one could hear me with the volume of the other instruments. Later, I was surprised to hear comments (fortunately, favorable ones) on my playing from people who were in the room.

I remember other occasions playing with the 100-strong San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers and leader Alasdair Fraser remarking with some surprise that from the conductor's position he could hear me quite clearly in the fourth row of fiddles (I've since moved up a couple of rows).

Some of this comes from working hard to project. But it all starts with letting the sound deep into your lungs and shaping it with your throat, vocal tract, and hands.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

--- On Sun, 5/17/09, Robert Bonfiglio <bon@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Robert Bonfiglio <bon@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Acoustic harmonica
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sunday, May 17, 2009, 6:15 PM

One reviewer mentioned at my acoustic Murcia Symphony concert:

"Then he is left to the this monster setting of an impossible instrument for a room as gigantic as the of Murcia Symphony Hall one.  An instrument that you put it you in the pocket.  Or in a buttonhole. "  The review does not go on to mention that I couldn't be heard, because I carried the Orchestra.

This review statement is because our instrument has always been one defined as amplified; being played acoustically means amplified acoustic that could fill Madison Square Garden.  But this is not the only possibility; the harmonica can be played with power and volume to the point of covering let's say a classic guitar - the kind of guitar played many times with no amp with orchestra.

In order to have our instrument accepted as a musical instrument, it needs to be played on its own with out any help in certain situations.  This may mean really cranking on the instrument, but this instrument is no toy - it can stand to be cranked!!


harmonically yours,

Robert Bonfiglio
http://www.robertbonfiglio.com

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