Re: [Harp-L] Ancestor of the harmonica

[joe leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Sheng is closer to an accordion or better yet, the harmonetta. .  
The ancestor of the harp (as we know it) was actually made by taking  
a brass plate and 'scoring' the plate from one side until the tool  
cut all the way through and left a ribbon of light showing through.  
The reeds were part OF the plate and were graduated in size. Any  
slight variations in tone were adjusted by rubbing the reeds with  
sand till they came into pitch. I actually forget what that  
instrument was called. Note: they were also made out of bamboo.

smo-joe

On Feb 22, 2011, at 11:47 PM, john coster wrote:

> Hello Harp-L friends,
>
> I was taking a break at one of our Celtic sessions here in the  
> People's
> Republic of Northwestern Massachusetts when one of the other  
> session players
> introduced me to a guy in the audience named Seth Bredbury who is an
> aspiring harmonica student. Seth and I got to  talking about the  
> different
> kinds of harps, tremolo harps vs single reed etc. when he mentioned  
> that he
> had seen a Chinese instrument that was probably the ancestor of the
> harmonica, the first reed instrument I think, called the sheng.  
> Supposedly
> it dates from about three thousand years ago. I'd never seen one of  
> these,
> but now that I've heard the music on the enclosed video Seth sent  
> me, I
> think the sound is one I recognize, maybe from sound tracks. I  
> don't know
> what connection may exist between this instrument and the harps we  
> play, but
> I thought Harp L readers might find this video interesting. Quite a  
> sound!
> It is at any rate a very early instrument with which the musician  
> activates
> a metal reed with his or her breath.
> Maybe certain elements in its fabrication could be useful to harmonica
> designers
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8cJBHFQD64&feature=related
>
> Cheers,
>
> John Coster
>
> -