[Harp-L] Re Ode to Joy revisited

[Dennis Michael Montgomery]

I half agree with Mr. Hunter. If what you want to do blends in with what you're playing and doesn't slap your listeners in the face (or rather in the ears) then do it. And please, don't do it just to be different.
 

    On Wednesday, April 18, 2018, 4:42:10 AM MST, Richard Hunter <rhunter377 at xxxxx> wrote:  
 
  "harping.onandon" wrote:

<I like the expressiveness of some of the bends ?on a diatonic in relation
to melodies but <sometimes they sound odd. It's like say hearing a piece
played on a flute and every now and <then hearing clarinet sounds where the
bent notes would be on harp. Well a bit of an <exaggeration but you get my
point. As harmonica players we understand the issue with bends <on melodies
and tend to accept them up to a point.

Uh huh.  We all know that most of the audience is not made up of harmonica
players, right?

<My wife always picks me up on the 'odd' sounding notes, which is
frustrating when you manage <to get the pitch thereabouts, but
understandable.

Your wife is like the rest of the audience, which--unlike harmonica
players--has not trained itself to ignore the odd sounding stuff. I will
never forget the look on the face of a colleague decades ago when I played
Ode to Joy in second position--I hit that draw 3 bend and he scowled. It
was an immediate, unforced reaction, and I learned a lot in that moment.

<I suppose part of what I like about the bent notes is the challenge and
maybe I wouldn't feel as <motivated to just play it on Chrome or altered
tuning. BTW I have just realised I could just start <Ode on 4 blow and no
bends required!

On a standard tuned Richter, the melody in 1st position begins on blow 5
(the third note of the major scale).  And yes, all the notes are there in
1st position.  As they would be in second position IF the blow 3 reed was
tuned up a full step.

Regards, Richard Hunter
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