[Harp-L] Subject: Melody Maker vs Paddy Richter tuning for Scottish fiddle tunes

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Hi Richard:
 
Our own James Conway (of Chicago and this list, and who played so  
brilliantly at SPAH on his own diatonic tunings)...would be the one most likely  to 
talk to: he also has some amazing videos on YouTube. I'm a huge fan of 
Jim's. 
 
Winslow too, of course....since he plays with a Scottish Fiddler's group  
and was instrumental in bringing Donald Black to SPAH (prior to the creation 
of  the Scottish tuned tremolo, the Hohner Highlander) and played onstage 
with Mr.  Black and James at that SPAH (2005?).
 
 
_http://www.donald-black.com/index.php/cPath/22/chk/37/_ 
(http://www.donald-black.com/index.php/cPath/22/chk/37/) ?
 
 
here's where you can listen to audio tracks from Donald's album (utilizing  
the Hohner Highlander..unfortunately I couldn't get it to play, but you can 
see  the song list):
 
 
_http://www.donald-black.com/product_info.php/cPath/23/products_id/66/chk/37
/_ 
(http://www.donald-black.com/product_info.php/cPath/23/products_id/66/chk/37/) 
 
 
 
James Conway:
 
Bagpipe Harmonica
 
_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXuAvj8WE0E_ 
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXuAvj8WE0E) 
 
 
Jiggy reels
 
 
_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzP0JhjjPMk_ 
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzP0JhjjPMk) 
 
 
It was pure pleasure to simply park in a chair at SPAH and listen in to  
him, Brendan Power and Paul Davies jam late at night. Delightful music,  
especially to my Scottish ears.
 
I don't have a harmonica in front of me at the moment, but the 'easy' tunes 
 I remember playing frequently (probably on a tremolo) include: Westering 
Home,  Mairi's Wedding, the Skye Boat Song and of course, Scotland the Brave. 
There  were probably a host of others but those are the ones which stick 
most in my  memory and come back with no effort (I've been here a very long 
time and didn't  play harmonica again until 2002). Are they included in your 
repertoire at all? 
 
I'd love to hear some postings of your music when you're ready.
 
Elizabeth
 
Message: 14
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 10:58:07 +0100
From: Richard  Hammersley <rhhammersley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Melody Maker  vs Paddy Richter tuning for Scottish
fiddle     tunes
To: "Harp-L@Harp-L. Org" _harp-l@xxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx) 

As both my bandmates used to play in ceilidh bands, I'm thinking  about  
learning some more Scottish tunes - I have learned a few in the  past  
but 'cheated' and chose ones that could be played easily on a  standard  
tuned diatonic.

I see the point of raising the 3 blow  a tone (common to both tunings)  
but melody maker also sharpens the  draw 5, while paddy richter  
doesn't. Is there any point in the  sharpened draw 5 for Scottish  
music? Indeed isn't it even a problem  for playing in second position,  
given that most Scottish music is  heavily pentatonic?

Thanks for your  advice

Richard