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
Hi everyone today I started to work on Green green grass of home I save chromatic version on C from bluenose I found one sharp a# on hole7 I have C and C# so I can play this but I was wonder how you goes around this difficulty This song start like this CCCCbdC CCdfdfC CdGaaGaa#aGfEf Thx
Are you asking how to play an A# note on a C diatonic? That is not a standard bend. Some people "overblow" for missing notes, but it is a difficult skill to master, and it sounds really bad when done by someone who is not an expert. You indicate you have a C and a C# harp. Switching harmonicas is a good way, in my opinion, to get notes that are not available on a single harp. I do that with tremolo and octave harps. More recently I have been using chromatic harmonicas for chromatic music. I started playing chromatic 5 years ago and can now play a C chromatic in all major and minor keys the same way a clarinet or flute player can play any piece of music on one instrument. One reason for learning the chromatic was my frustration with missing notes on diatonics. Another possibility for folk musicians is to adapt the tune to your instrument. Substituting a different note or repeating a note can sometimes sound ok. Other times it doesn't. In some instances most people won't even notice, but for other tunes almost everyone will notice. There are many hundreds of folk tunes that can play on a diatonic. Simply avoiding tunes that require accidentals is another option. I did that the first few years I played harmonica. There were still many fine tunes to learn.
If it's just one note, of short duration, you can often 'gloss over' it by playing a non sharp note - as a listener, you can't always tell.
In your sample, I'd try substituting a 'b'.
Good one, Keith. I often do this. As you say it’s only one note. But it fails on Whispering Hope where there is one call for the button to push and it’s flat if not used.