Subject: [Harp-L] Maybe this harp thing is catching on....

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

David: I'd say. It's quite remarkable for a Newspaper with such  wide 
distribution to be up to date about a new harmonica. Very  cool indeed -  (not 
that I'm advocating ANY playing of harmonica while  driving--since I consider 
it distracted driving). But playing as the  passenger is perfectly 
acceptable and something I do all the time. The piece was  likely written by a harp 
player who believes in SPAH's stated 'preservation and  advancement of the 
harmonica'. It's all good.
 
 
You're right: Midnight Cowboy is more than a bit ambitious for a  brand-new 
player to learn first time out - especially since it was played on  
chromatic by Toots Thielemans, but then again--the writer is talking about  a FIVE 
HUNDRED MILE trip! ;) That's surely a lot of mileage in  which to listen to 
and hone one's ear and we certainly do know players who can  bend and OB/OD 
well enough to get the 'missing' notes? and some younger players  seem to be 
able to pick it up very quickly. ;) I usually only have to hear a  song a 
half dozen times at most before I can play it - but of course I'm  using a 
chromatic, as Toots did in playing it. Diatonics are a whole 'nother  thing.
 
It's a great tune...been brought here and discussed many times. Here 'tis  
again:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGORPUzLxtU
 
 
Elizabeth
PS: I found this comment on the YouTube particularly poignant. The man who  
wrote it had NO idea just how famous is 'the harmonica player': 
 
"the  harmonica player deserves recognition  a haunting but simple  melodieï
". 
(He's  right of course since even those who post the LP only mention the 
orchestra and  not Toots by name. Astounding).
 
"Message: 5
Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2014 09:29:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: David  Kissel <dkissave@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Maybe this harp thing is  catching on....
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx

Just a quick note: Today's Wall  Street Journal has a large section devoted 
to "Fifty Reasons to Love the Road  Trip." 
Number 16 is "...a 500-mile drive is a great opportunity to learn the  
harp." There is a picture of, and plug for, Hohner's Rocket. The accompanying  
blurb suggests the reader to "wrap you reed around the theme song to 
"Midnight  Cowboy", which might be a bit ambitious for a neophyte to pull off on a  
diatonic...... 


David Kissel