TELEPHONE HARP CONCERT. Sound Waves Brought Two Miles, and Heard in Union Hall.

Not a large but a very appreciative live audience greeted Mr. Frederick Allen Gower on Wednesday evening, in Union Hall, at his Illustrated lecture and concert on the newly invented instrument, the Telephone Harp. Pearl street, Boston, was called, and Mr. Mathews was asked to play upon the telephone harp, which is an instrument consisting of four octaves of thin steel tongues, set in a steel frame, like a mouth harmonica. Under each tongue is a hammer operated like a telegraphic or pianoforte key. When the keys are played upon, the hammers press the tongues upward, bringing them in connection with a metallic point like that of any telegraphic instrument. When these points are touched by the vibrating tongues, the circuit is opened, the musical note is transmitted over the wire, and repeated at the other end by the telephone. A battery passed electricity through what is termed a Geitler tube, resembling the letter U, and containing hydrogen gas ; and as the notes were played upon the telephonic harp in Boston, the sound waves or vibrations of music corresponded exactly with the flashes of light of various colors, which were thus given out. The hall was darkened of course, during this successful experiment, which the audience unanimously applauded as a most marked and triumphant success of scientific discovery and practical application. A few more remarks were made by Mr. Gower, showing the present commercial success of the telephone, no less than 6,000 being now in use in the United States. Cambridge Chronicle — 26 January 1878

Novel Harmonica Performance from Prof. Goodwall Merck

Prof. G. Goodwall Merck, introduced his musical novelties. He plays the violin, guitar, banjo and harmonica, finely; and also performs the difficult act of playing upon the harmonica, "guitar, drums, cymbals, triangle and bells, at one and the same time, giving a very good imitation of a band of music. Cambridge Chronicle — 27 February 1875

Wholesale Notion House.

S. W. Wren & Co. (Formerly of Natches, Miss.) Keep on hand the largest and most Complete Stock of NOTIONS In the State. MERCHANTS Can find a Full Line of Notions of all Kinds: Soaps, Perfumeries, Stationery, School Books, Hosiery, Table and Pocket Cutlery, Combs, Brushes, Pipes, Violins, Looking Glasses, Fish Hooks, and Lines, &c. Remember the Children and look at our stock of TOYS. Dolls. Marbles. Rattles. rubber Balls. Harmonicas. Jews harps. Jumping Josies, Tops, Toy Watches, and a thousand other articles. Dallas Herald — 21 July 1866

A Promise of First-Rate Entertainment.

On Saturday evening, a duet will be performed by "Professor" T. P. Ryder. on the great organ, and " Professor" Wallach on the "Mouth Harmonica." Subsequently, Mr. patrick will perform a solo on the Mouth Discordica. Altogether, this is high art. The New Orleans crescent. — 6 January 1869

DYER, ROKOHL & BUTLER - AUCTIONEERS AND COMISSION MERCHANTS

Magnificent Furniture OF SAID RESIDENCE, mahogany Chamber Sets; Rich Lace Curtains, Window Shades and Blinds; 3-Ply and Ingrain Carpets; Beds, Bedding, Sheets, Quilts, Pillow Cases, Lounges, Sofas, Whatnots; Dining room and Kitchen Furniture. 1 Extension Dining Table, 1 excellent Cook Stove; Flatware. Cutlery, Glassware Crockery, Etc., Etc. ALSO1 Splendid Pianoforte, full rich and brilliant tone, rosewood case, carved legs and elegant finish — a superior instrument. Also, 1 Music Box, Harmonica attachment; Also, 1 Monkey, classically educated; Also, 1 Talking Parrot! Daily Alta California — 17 January 1866

Mr. Shattuck Receives Triple Encore for his Harmonica Efforts!

Royal Arch Lodge gave an entertainment and festival, Tuesday evening, in Pythian Hall. A decided novelty and feature of the evening was Mr. B. E. Shattuck on the harmonica. The gentleman's efforts were so highly appreciated that he received three hearty encores. Cambridge Chronicle — 22 June 1878

Mixolydian mode

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Rex
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Mixolydian mode May 7, 2019 2:31:29 GMT Keith likes this

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Post by Rex on May 7, 2019 2:31:29 GMT

Some old fiddle tunes predate our notions of major or minor scales and instead use modes. Two common modes for traditional folk music are mixolydian and dorian. I have had several mixolydian tunes in my repertoire for many years now. Old Joe Clark, June Apple, Over the Waterfall, Give Me Your Hand, Red Haired Boy. On mixolydian tunes the 7ths are flatted. That note is not on the diatonic in first position. You have to use second position. Play in G on a C harp or in A on a D harp, etc. Over the Waterfall actually uses both mixolydian and ionian modes. (Ionian is standard first position, playing in the key of the harp.) Does anybody else here play modal tunes? If you try to play them in first position they don't sound right. The flatted 7th is usually important. Tonight I recorded Over the Waterfall. Since it uses two modes I used two harps but the tune has space between the A and B parts for a smooth switch.
soundcloud.com/tremolo-rex/over-the-waterfall

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Deleted Deleted Member Posts: 0	Mixolydian mode May 7, 2019 17:18:00 GMT Rex likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Deleted on May 7, 2019 17:18:00 GMT I play Star of the County Down which is in Aeolian Mode (a/k/a the natural minor = fourth position). I've attached the sheet music. Attachments: Star of the County Down.pdf (87.13 KB)

texaswind
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Mixolydian mode May 7, 2019 20:18:21 GMT

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Post by texaswind on May 7, 2019 20:18:21 GMT

In my Old Time music group, we play many tunes that are modal. The only way I know to play them is to use a different key harmonica and play in a different position. Our tunes often go fast, so there is no way to bend notes or something. I guess one could learn play them on a chromatic, but I never got around to mastering different keys with a chromatic. So I transpose all our music into C and then switch harmonicas accordingly.

What I also find about playing modal tunes is that I end up drawing a lot more than blowing, which means I usually have too much air in my lungs. Being a woodwind player by trade, I am much better at controlling my air when it is exiting my lungs.

One of the more interesting tunes to play is Kitchen Girl. There I use a D harmonica in 2nd position (for the mixolidian mode), then I have to switch to a C harmonica a play the rest in aeolian mode. The change happens pretty quickly, too.

Kitchen_Girl.pdf (20.11 KB)

Sarge
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Mixolydian mode May 7, 2019 22:23:33 GMT

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Post by Sarge on May 7, 2019 22:23:33 GMT

Welcome Emilio!!! Don't be shy, jump in with both feet. Get in on learning the songs of the month.

I am not familiar with modes, but I hear them mentioned quite often. I play strictly by ear, so when I hear a song that I want to play, I lean it by hear. I know on some I do draw more than blow. I play old joe clark, star of the country down, wayfaring stranger, st.james infirmary. I think those are modal, I know at least minor keyed. Over the waterfall and Kitchen Girl are a couple that I have never heard of.

The older I get the more I know how little I knew when I knew it all.

Rex Global Moderator Administrator Posts: 1,424	Mixolydian mode May 7, 2019 22:42:32 GMT Sarge, Keith, and 1 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Rex on May 7, 2019 22:42:32 GMT Here is an older recording I made of Red Haired Boy. I will try to record June Apple soon, but tonight I'm going to a watch party for the hockey playoffs. Go Blues.
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Sarge Administrator Posts: 1,708	Mixolydian mode May 8, 2019 0:53:41 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Sarge on May 8, 2019 0:53:41 GMT Good playing Rex!
	The older I get the more I know how little I knew when I knew it all.

Rex
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Mixolydian mode May 10, 2019 1:21:58 GMT dezzy, Keith, and 1 more like this

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Post by Rex on May 10, 2019 1:21:58 GMT

Thanks Sarge. Here is June Apple. Another old fiddle tune that is mixolydian. I got sloppy in a couple spots but like Dezzy said in the other thread, just keep going. Like other mixolydian tunes this one uses a lot of draw notes so I was letting air out through my nose on some of the blow notes. I was also letting air in through my nose on some of the draw notes because the quick breath changes can make for shallow breathing and you can get light headed eventually. This air management becomes second nature with practice but can be difficult to learn at first.

soundcloud.com/tremolo-rex/june-apple

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Keith Global Moderator Posts: 617	Mixolydian mode May 10, 2019 8:27:13 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Keith on May 10, 2019 8:27:13 GMT I could get a sense of 'feel' of the fiddle strokes on that one, Rex, well done. (Way too hard for the likes of me to even attempt. :lol: )
	(Trying to do justice to various instruments.)

Sarge Administrator Posts: 1,708	Mixolydian mode May 10, 2019 13:12:22 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Sarge on May 10, 2019 13:12:22 GMT Some more good playing there Rex. Never heard the song before.
	The older I get the more I know how little I knew when I knew it all.

Folkharmonica

TELEPHONE HARP CONCERT. Sound Waves Brought Two Miles, and Heard in Union Hall.

Novel Harmonica Performance from Prof. Goodwall Merck

Wholesale Notion House.

A Promise of First-Rate Entertainment.

DYER, ROKOHL & BUTLER - AUCTIONEERS AND COMISSION MERCHANTS

Mr. Shattuck Receives Triple Encore for his Harmonica Efforts!

Mixolydian mode

Post by Rex on May 7, 2019 2:31:29 GMT

Post by Deleted on May 7, 2019 17:18:00 GMT

Post by texaswind on May 7, 2019 20:18:21 GMT

Post by Sarge on May 7, 2019 22:23:33 GMT

Post by Rex on May 7, 2019 22:42:32 GMT

Post by Sarge on May 8, 2019 0:53:41 GMT

Post by Rex on May 10, 2019 1:21:58 GMT

Post by Keith on May 10, 2019 8:27:13 GMT

Post by Sarge on May 10, 2019 13:12:22 GMT

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