HARMONICA PAGE
No longer a very cheap instrument, some of the
large chromatic harmonicas shown in the picture below can cost
several hundred pounds. The harmonica has to contend with a cheap
and cheerful reputation. As with the recorder, most of the
problem comes because cheap and nasty instruments are given to
children with no guidence on how they should be played. The
resulting noises are not very attractive.
The sound can be very evocative, it's hard to imagine a First
World War or western film without a mournful mouth organ
somewhere. Jimmy Reilly and Larry Adler have shown that the
harmonica, well played if the equal of many a more formal
instrument. There arn't any other pocket sized instruments that
can play both chords and melody. I hope to add more to these
pages as soon as possible - perhaps with more information widely
available the harmonica may gain a more prestigous place. Please
send any comments, articles or interesting links to
fenris@mikesmusic.co.uk or use the calling card page.