Brendan Power harmonica book and CD

Subject: Brendan Power harmonica book andCD
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Dec 24 - 11:35 AM

Play irish music on the blues harp. 55track cd musical notation and harmonica tab for non readers
I found a couple of suggestions that were useful for Anglo and even English concertina, interesting book available from www.brendan-power.com

Subject: RE: Brendan Power harmonica book and CD
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 06 Dec 24 - 04:51 PM

Mr. Sandman -

THANK YOU !

An incredible resource. A genius that can also teach ... is rare. One that can also write ... WOW!

Even non-reed players will be amazed ... if just to understand the current "Dylan" movie and blues better.

I wish I had this resource during "Lock Down."

Sincerely,
Gargoyle




I pack a "harp" in the "survival pocket" of my carry-on that includes a deck of cards, flint-stick etc. It usually raises a question from the TSA - "HARMONICA ? ! ?" I travel air with only a 8kg carry-on.

Subject: RE: Brendan Power harmonica book and CD
From: Ernest
Date: 07 Dec 24 - 10:01 AM

What Sandman and Gargoyle said: highly recommended.

Be aware that the book is written for the 10-hole diatonic harmonica (often referred to as blues harp) in Paddy-Richter-tuning, a variant of the standard Richter tuning. Since there is only one note changed the tunes can be played on a standard harmonica but will sound better on a Paddy-Richter (in a session with loud instruments you might not hear the difference).

Best wishes
Ernest

Subject: RE: Brendan Power harmonica book and CD
From: GUEST,P
Date: 07 Dec 24 - 10:17 AM

Some years ago Brendan Power played at the Willie Clancy Summer School, arguably a gathering of the finest harmonica players in Irish Traditionsl Music. The concert is led by Mick Kinsella and Rick Epping and usually takes a format of all playing session like together with solo spots in between. The 'regulars' include Mick & Rick, the Murphys, Pauline Callinan, local men James Boyle and Johnny Hehir and a cast of guests and students who make appearances. Power did his solo spots but when tunes were called for the group sets, he just sat there, doing nothing, looking awkward. It was very strange. Maybe he not a session player?

Subject: RE: Brendan Power harmonica book and CD
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Dec 24 - 12:02 PM

He was like that when he came to our folk club, not keen to jam along after the gig... but that was thirty years ago...

On the matter of blues harps for Irish tunes, the Paddy Richter tuning is highly desirable. There are many G tunes that you'd want to play on a G harp that won't work well for you with just the standard tuning, and that's a lot of tunes. The sixth note in the lower register isn't there on the harp. The fix is to tune up the hole 3 blow reed by a whole tone. That note is already replicated at 2-draw so you don't actually lose a note of the scale. It isn't so vital with D harps, but I retune all my 10-hole harps to Paddy Richter. You need a bit of inexpensive kit to do the fix yourself. As long as you understand the mechanics of free reeds and have a steady hand it's fairly simple. Incidentally, I've always preferred low D harps to the standard ones, which, for me, are too shrill to be in keeping with what other sessioneers are doing.

Subject: RE: Brendan Power harmonica book and CD
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 07 Dec 24 - 12:53 PM

Sorry, that post was mine.

I don't know what his story is. It just looked so awkward and uneasy, sitting there in the middle of the stage, doing nothing while everyone was playing. And it not like they were playing highly unusual tunes or anything like that. It was a strange bit in what is usually a lovely inclusive recital where everybody gets to contribute.

Subject: RE: Brendan Power harmonica book and CD
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Dec 24 - 02:47 AM

This book is an excellent resource,
I quite understand him not wishing to join in with players of quite different styles that he had never played with before