Re: [Harp-L] random contribution to the list regarding a note.

[David McCurry <david.mccurry@xxxxxxxxx>]

Jon,

That's a great observation. Sometimes I think we (players of this harmonica
thing) focus too much on a whole phrase or combination of notes in a line,
without listening to the musicality of the sound of each note. In musical
terms, we use words like legato, or staccato (musicians in Italy defined
them first, so yeah, we get to speak a little Italian, which ain't a bad
thing). While reading your comments, I was thinking of words like
"embouchure" and "articulation". Last night I was working out some tunes
with a fellow musician and he brought out a modal piece, somewhat in the
Celtic music vein. The notes I chose to make for that song switched to
longer, drawn out single tones, swelling the tone a bit (starting softer
and building pressure and tone towards the middle with a bit of vibrato
[there's that Italian again] at the end and letting the note trail off a
bit before the next one). Very different than the Blind Willie McTell tune
we did just before, where there was much more attack on many notes. Just
some of my thoughts...

Dave McCurry

On Sat, Sep 27, 2014 at 6:16 AM, robert <harpbob@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> That's helpful. Thanks.
> WVa Bob
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Sep 24, 2014, at 6:59 PM, "JON KIP" <jon@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Admittedly, I'm not a diatonic player, just a woodwind player gone
> astray and playing so-so jazz on the chromatic,just for the fun of it
> (yeah, that's enough to have you stop reading right here),  but I do, at
> times, find good reading on this list and thought I'd add a random bit of
> information for anyone interested, interested in feigning interest, or only
> interested-adjacent, regarding the playing of a note. Any note. In a
> phrase, out of a phrase, or just on a dare of some sort, or to annoy your
> dog.
> >
> > I've been listening to some samples (the old usage of that word) of some
> players and it seems that, in more than a few cases, the ends of the notes
> are just disregarded.... at times, each note sounds like it's both started
> and cut off with the tongue...even on slow tunes...
> >
> > My sixty + years at this silly "let's try to make a living playing music
> and never have a Real Job" thing, tell me that both  ends of notes are
> important.
> >
> > this is not a rant, but an educated observation, that might be somewhat
> helpful. Or, of course, simply annoying and "who does he think he is?" kind
> of thing. (On my website, there's a page called that, if anyone has too
> much time on their hands. That page was included in the site because, at
> times, I forget who I am).
> >
> > envelopes, it turns out , are not only for electronic sounds. How a note
> is ended can really be a thing of beauty , or , you know, the other thing.
> >
> > ok, end of what I hope isn't perceived as a rant, rather than what it
> really is .....practice-avoidance on my part
> > jon kip
> > http://jonkip.com
> >
> > player of music, mostly written by dead people and played on a toy that
> everybody's Uncle except my nephew's has the good sense to keep safely out
> of sight in a drawer.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>


-- 
David S McCurry, EdD

DS McCurry Fine Arts Studio
www.davidmccurry.net
Jacaranda Educational Development, LLC
www.jacarandaeducation.net