Why I played the Chromatic Harmonica
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When I was 7, I listened to "Vocalise" by Rachmaninoff played by Jascha Heiftz in one of his LPs. I was deeply touched by this melodious piece. To imitate the sound of the violin, I use the upper note of a tremolo harmonica (which has two notes in one hole, one upper and one lower, in slightly a different pitch in order to produce a trembling sound) to play this piece. I was not satisfied with the sound and hoped I could have a single note harmonica to produce better sound. Diatonic and chromatic harmonicas existed but were not known in the 1950s. I listened to weekly radio programs in which Mr. Lau Mok, played classical pieces and was fascinated by the beauty of the chromatic. After attending his concert in 1956 accompanied by a symphony orchestra, I was hooked to this instrument that has given me immense pleasure in life. I asked myself, why bother trying to learn other musical instruments when the versatility of the chromatic satisfies my desires of musical enjoyment?
Anthony Lau |
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As a little kid, I took guitar for a year. Never made any sense to me. When I was 12 I started trombone, both private lessons and school band. That made more sense, but I was never very good, no musical soul. Eventually gave it to a friend about ten years ago (when I was in my late 20s) because they're hard to play discretely in an apartment.
But eventually I decided I wanted to play something again. Something portable, for the long drives. So I tried a Lee Oskar, a cheap $20 investment. And quickly added a Hohner Golden Melody. But couldn't get the bends down and what I really wanted (and what I do) is to play sheet music, which diatonics are sub-optimal for. So eventually, after lots of debate due to the cost, I sprung for a chromatic and I haven't looked back.
What I find interesting is that most people here view it as a jazz/improv instrument first, a harmonica second and a traditional instrument third or later. To me, the rich history of the harmonica, the jazz, the blues, etc. are completely irrelevant. What music? In the last day, it's been showtunes, Disney and rock (Jefferson Airplane). I really like buying large Fake Book collections and working into them. Sometimes I'll seek out a piece. I saw an absolutely dreadful "play", an Andrew Lloyd Webber called "Starlight Express", that had two nice pieces in it. One is readily available elsewhere, the other only in the soundtrack score. So that's what I ordered. (And, as with all ALW pablum, it switches into minors halfway through most of the songs.) THAT is what I use the harmonica for - it's because it's more portable than the piano or guitar and I can recreate music with it, from mere paper.
Robotryder |
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A question i have been asking myself for quite a while but have not got a logical explaination for it.
I would say that fate brought us together (me and harmonica) I was introduced to harmonica when i entered my secondary school in 1995. In singapore, all student have to take part in co-curriculum activities(CCA).I enrolled into a new school and form the fist batch of my school harmonica band and thus i became my CCA.
I played for four years first using Puckering and later groove tongueing. After which, i left my secondary school to pursue higer education in collage. I took up chinese instrument as my CCA because the collage does not offer harmonica as CCA. So i have stopped playing the harmonica for 2 years.
After i left my collage, i am enlisted into the army for my national service. All singapore male have to go for a 2 to 21/2 national service. During the army days,i learned how to play the panpipe.
After i finish my 21/2 years of service, i started my univeristy education.
As i say, it is perharps fate that brought us together. I joined NUS harmonica band in 2003 aug after a 41/2 years separation with harmonica. Instead of using puckering or groove tongueing, i start learning tongue blocking. I'm now in my second year of univeristy study and my interest for harmonica develop even futher.
Some student may re-join harmonica band as a marriage of convience because they do not wish to spend more time to learn a new instrument.
For me, happy to say, harmonica and me are engaged in a marriage for life...... i jsut can't stop playing the harmonica for one day.
Cheers
Zong Liang |
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Good to hear Blackie and others tell how they came to play a harmonica.
My dad played the diatonic, 1st position and some on other instruments. My mom plays the piano so musics been in my environment all along.
My first tune was Mary Had A Little Lamb. Played it for classmates in 3rd grade, no less! I really don't recall my beginnings with the chromatic except that it was in the early 60's.
I appreciate this SlideMeister group and all you excellent players who have been so helpful. (Actually need lots of practice much more than help.) Best thing I've learned from this group is THERE IS A TENOR CHROMATIC HARMONICA--and by jove I bought 3 and love'em all. Look forward to more posts on this subject.
Don McCullough |
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I've devoted a whole chapter on this subject in the book I'm writing. All about my career as a harmonica player..The plusses and minuses............I fell in love with the 10 holer when I was about 12 years old..(I had heard a neighbor play it, and I became fascinated by the diminutive instrument. ) It was a "Marine Band" diatonic of course! They were .50 cents then, but that was a lot of money in those days.It was depression time...a loaf of bread was a nickel! We were quite poor at that time, , but somehow, my dad scrounged up the fifty cents, and I had my wondrous toy. I USED TO SLEEP WITH IT UNDER MY PILLOW.! Honest!!! I never guessed that it would provide me with a wonderful living for 70 years! (except for 3 years in the Army and five major campaigns the hard way) ! ((I'm a proud member of the DAV)) The first song I learned was "Old Black Joe."
Blackie Schackner |
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