Posted by Bill on June 18, 2001 at 14:39:25:
In Reply to: Gospel Harmonica posted by Patrick J. McKenna on June 17, 2001 at 13:51:23:
: Gospel music provides a great avenue for the harmonica player to follow. Southern Gospel, like secular R&B, features a lot of interesting and even some challenging harp riffs.
: For melodic styles, you can find plenty of material in any hymnal. (This is just one reason why I strongly advise any aspiring musician to learn to read standard music.)
: After services, talk to the pianist. If she or he can play without being totally dependent on following each note printed (some do not even know how to simplify a piece of music!), you can play the melody while the pianist provides a light accompaniment and you both can make beautiful music. (I know a man who once played a kazoo for special music...with interesting
: results!)
: Gospel music music can also help to shatter the old image of the harmonica player playing just R&B or R&R.
: To those who have read this far, I welcome any feedback...even comflicting opinions...and wish you success in your endeavors.
: Patrick
Amen Patrick: It's too bad there's not more of it out there! I play harmonica in our church occasionally and hopefully that will increase in the future. I enjoy Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee Gospel/Blues and Daryl Mansfield too. There's a guy on TBN who's apparently pretty good too but I have quite an aversion to the nonsence on that channel! Like Toots Theielemans says: "between a tear and a smile"... that's life and that's where the harmonica plays best!
www.geocities.com/mottabona/harmonica.html
God Bless,
Bill