[Harp-L] The name "blues"

[Doug Schroer <dougharps@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thank you Pete Sheridan!  That was also my immediate reaction to Neil
Ashby's seemingly facetious use of dialect in his post.  I almost posted
several times today, but kept stopping myself.  I seldom post here.

In that post as well as in his earlier posts there appears to be a disdain
for blues.  There is an inference that blues as a music form is inferior.
(i.e. - If you must study the "blues")  There seems to be an inherent
elitism in his delivery of information from his apparently lofty
perspective.

Mr. Ashby should remember that folk and roots music existed prior to the
invention of musical notation, and many forms of folk music including blues
relied on learning by hearing rather than by learning Western musical
conventions conveyed by musical notation as part of an intensive musical
education.

In my opinion, all forms of music have validity within context.  Everyday
people have historically expressed themselves through music without
extensive theoretical music education.  They learn the instruments, learn
the forms by hearing, and make music.  Folk music played and sung by
everyday people contributes to a sense of community.

Theory and reading music are great tools for learning and communicating
music on an intellectual level, but are not necessary to making music.

Mr. Ashby obviously cares about music and harmonica, or he would not post
here.  Rather than learning about what music forms he doesn't care for, I
would like to hear examples of the music he likes to play in order to get a
better sense of where he is coming from...

Mr. Ashby, what music do you enjoy playing?  Would you please post links to
examples?