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

[johnnyace55@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Superb, Bravo Brendan,Thanks for sharing 

----- Original Message -----
From: "The Iceman" <icemanle@xxxxxxx> 
To: bren@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2013 3:30:45 PM 
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] "New Chinese Harmonica" Album Released 

most excellent. just when it seems that harmonica has no new area to explore... 







-----Original Message----- 
From: Brendan Power <bren@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: 'harp-l' <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Fri, Jan 18, 2013 1:53 pm 
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 Iâm 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. 



Hereâs a sampler of the album, with nature photography from Jodie Randall: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjlIZLiFETg 



If youâd 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 â 
www.x-reed.com 

FACEBOOK: <http://www.facebook.com/tethnik> www.facebook.com/tethnik 

YOUTUBE: <http://www.youtube.com/BrendanPowerMusic> 
www.youtube.com/BrendanPowerMusic