Subject: [Harp-L] The name "blues"

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Doug: You've expressed everything I'VE been feeling for a while now. Pete  
too. 
 
The first 'instrument' was the human voice. Then basically sticks, animal  
skins stretched over frames to make drums--anything which made sound to  
communicate. Using one's bodies as well: to tap, click, jump around. 
Expression.  Communication. From there, the Universe.
 
'Formal' music education is all well and good--and I'm certainly not  
knocking it but to my mind nothing touches as deeply or beats hearing someone  
expressing their innermost feelings through their music. And Blues music is 
one  such  which came directly from the Souls of people who were oppressed and 
 had no other form of expression. It's such an authentic and deeply felt 
music or  wouldn't have so many adherents to this day. Why else are there 
people in far  corners of the World who don't otherwise speak English YET still 
feel driven to  create bands specifically to play Blues in the styles of 
those  long-ago American musicians? 
 
Who the heck cares if 'some' of the riffs might be repetitive?  The people 
originally making that music weren't widely traveled--how could they  be? 
But I have a book of authentic Blues songs I've acquired and there's far  more 
to Blues music than Mr. Ashby thinks. My CD's with Big Walter, Little  
Walter, SonnyBoy I and II, Frank Frost, Sonny Terry and the myriad players who  
lived and played alongside them and who came after them touch a place in my 
own  Soul no other music can.
 
I don't play Blues but have good friends who do and I'm a huge fan, so I'm  
glad you and others wrote before I did. It's helped me temper my comments  
considerably. :)
 
Elizabeth
 

"Message: 9
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2014 20:45:13 -0500
From: Doug  Schroer <dougharps@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] The name "blues"
To:  Harp-l for posting <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

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?


------------------------------