RE: [Harp-L] Seamless Overblow Challenge

[JersiMuse <jersimuse@xxxxxxxxx>]

The problem is that you can do the exact same test when playing only natural
and bent notes, and most of us will be able to deduce which one is the lower
keyed harp.

I think music is elsewhere. And this seamless goal is one of the challenges,
not THE challenge, and concerns all the notes, not only OBs.
The question is : what are music challenges ? It is a personal question, I
guess we will all have different answers.

But if one consider that it is not possible to play music with recognizable
notes, one should play piano, because it is one of the rare instruments
which is totally homogeneous.
Definitely not harmonica, with or without OBs.

Just my 2 cents,

Best regards,

Jerome
www.youtube.com/JersiMuse

-----Message d'origine-----
De : harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] De la part
de David Fairweather
Envoyé : samedi 23 juillet 2011 18:39
À : Harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Objet : [Harp-L] Seamless Overblow Challenge

Much as I enjoyed Iceman's "Summertime" YouTube,  it still doesn't change my
opinion as to whether OB's can be played "seamlessly" without noticeable
differences in timbre from other notes.
If you want to convince me, here's a simple challenge.

Materials required.

1. A metronome.
2. A means of recording yourself and sharing the recording.  (Webcam +
YouTube for instance).
3. Two Richter-tuned diatonics of similar make and model separated in key by
1/2 step.   For example a Bb Golden Melody and an A Golden Melody.

The Challenge.

Set your metronome to 80 bpm.   On the higher keyed harp, play a major scale
starting a blow #4 ascending up the 9th at draw 8 and then descending back
down to blow #4.   Play WHOLE notes - 4 beats per note at 80 bpm.

Now play that same major scale on the other harp that is 1/2 step lower in
key.    So using the example Bb and A harps, you are now going to play a Bb
major scale on the A harp beginning at #4 draw bend and ascending by whole
notes (4 beats per note at 80 bpm)  through the #4, #5, #6 overblows and the
#7 overdraw up to the #8 blow bend and back down again.

Upload your finished product in random order of the two harps without
stating which of the harps is used first.   I will deduce which one is the
lower keyed harp and which is the higher keyed harp solely by the timbral
differences.  If I fail to correctly deduce which harp is which,  then I
will admit that overblows can be played "seamlessly".