RE: [Harp-L] "New Chinese Harmonica" Album Released

[Dean Liu <tliu10@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well Done !!!

Dean


> From: bren@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:53:19 +0000
> Subject: [Harp-L] "New Chinese Harmonica" Album Released
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> COMPLETING THE CIRCLE
> 
> The most characteristic harmonica sound we hear today is the blues-harp
> style, developed by the Afro-Americans. It uses soulful note bending to give
> that bluesy wailing sound we all associate with the harp. You often hear it
> in contemporary American styles like Blues, Jazz, Country and Rock.
> 
> 
> 
> However the free-reed that makes the sound in harmonicas is thousands of
> years old, first documented in ancient Chinese literature. It has long been
> used in traditional Chinese folk instruments like the Hulusi, Bawu, Sheng
> etc. It went to the West (probably with Marco Polo) and was eventually
> incorporated in new free-reed instruments (reed organs, harmonicas,
> accordions, concertinas etc) in the 19th century. So the modern harmonica is
> essentially a Chinese/Western fusion instrument.
> 
> 
> 
> I got hooked on the gorgeous sound of Chinese traditional music a while ago,
> and wanted to play it myself. However, I discovered that no harmonicas made
> so far can play Chinese music in an authentic manner. They cannot bend the
> notes in the right scales or with the same expression as the Hulusi or the
> Erhu (the highly expressive Chinese two-string fiddle).
> 
> 
> 
> I realised that I'd have to create entirely new harps if I wanted to adapt
> the Western 'bluesy' style to play with the right expression and correct
> pitch bending of Chinese music. After much experimentation I developed
> several new harmonicas that work for Chinese music. I got such a buzz when
> the first Hulusi/Erhu-type sounds came out!
> 
> 
> 
> This album of my interpretations of classic Chinese folk tunes is the result
> of that exploration. It shows that modern harmonicas can play traditional
> Chinese music with all the right inflections, while adding a fresh tonality
> that sounds just right for the music. Truly, in every sense: they are made
> for each other!
> 
> 
> 
> In a small way I feel I’m completing a circle that started thousands of
> years ago: adapting the modern harmonica to play the music of the birthplace
> of the free-reed in an authentic, sympathetic manner. A continuation of the
> Chinese/Western fusion that started when the Chinese free-reed first made it
> to the West.
> 
> 
> 
> Here’s a sampler of the album, with nature photography from Jodie Randall:
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjlIZLiFETg
> 
> 
> 
> If you’d like a copy of the CD, go here:
> 
> http://www.brendan-power.com/New%20Chinese%20Harmonica.htm
> 
> 
> 
> Brendan Power
> 
> WEBSITES:  <http://www.brendan-power.com/> www.brendan-power.com ●
> www.x-reed.com
> 
> FACEBOOK:  <http://www.facebook.com/tethnik> www.facebook.com/tethnik
> 
> YOUTUBE:  <http://www.youtube.com/BrendanPowerMusic>
> www.youtube.com/BrendanPowerMusic
> 
> 
>