Re: [Harp-L] re:Richter+ tuning

[Jeff Finkelstein <jlfinkels@xxxxxxxxx>]

How did this topic descend into Masonic conspiracy theories? I'm hoping it was an attempt at humor.

I do use Paddy Richter tuned harps for Irish Trad music but as I'm not Irish I have no skin in the naming of the tuning. I'll leave that to those with a vested interest.

> On May 11, 2014, at 1:48 PM, "Harmonicology [Neil Ashby]" <harmonicology@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> As I wrote on my busker page: 'The previous label of "Paddy Richter" also wrongly indicates that the tuning-pattern would be marginalized to just Irish music and, according to numerous sources, "What is an insult to Irish people? 'Paddy' and 'Mick' are both derogatory terms for the Irish".'
> 
> As for the assertion of some "sweeping and rather negative characterization of the music played on standard tuning" then I would narrow that assertion to my generally negative characterization of "blues" that are promoted in "Music Man" style to people whom are not even interesting in reading of musical score. Popular and classical melodies can often be played more directly with the "Richter+" tuning-pattern.
> 
> "Blues" was particularly suitable to standard "Richter" tuning but the original "Richter" pattern was intentionally crippled to inhibit competition against more expensive musical instruments on which popular and classical melodies would be played.
> 
> Most people are buying of their first instrument with whatever default tuning is available at the music store and typically know NOTHING pertaining to altered tunings at that time (and altered tunings are rarely sold at the music store). Therefore, new players are simply purchasing whatever is made directly available for purchase at retail and those sales are reflected in your statistics.
> 
> The issue is that "Richter" tuning was designed to produce a crippled instrument that would not compete against those expense music store instruments ("blues" was not even considered at that time); some people have found ways to work around the problem especially with the use of a chromatic tuner for practice, but maintaining a crippled tuning-pattern as the single default is the mistake. With "Richter+" tuning as the default (or one of two basic defaults) then the player has just two simple bends [2-draw and 10-blow] and the result of each bend is just one semi-tone from another diatonic note for three complete diatonic octaves; what I have now labeled as "Richter+" was to be the real default tuning-pattern until the Masons (as usual) blocked the design from being produced.
> 
> BTW: In old Germany then the sweetened with molasses "Pumpernickel" [Pump-fur-Nickel] bread was the "Loaf for Demon" and was typically eaten by Masons.
> 
> /Neil Ashby ( http://thebuskingproject.com/busker/2025/ )
>