J-Sin
69 posts
Oct 06, 2011
1:05 AM
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So it's official: my Master's Thesis on folklore will be about the harmonica.
It will be an academic approach to the folk instrument and it's diverse playing techniques. I will concentrate on the major "revolutions" what it comes to playing techniques, study the effects and historical ways to make it sing.
I'm also trying to find out how people have picked up the harp and learned to play, since it's not a simple thing at all. There's not much good literature, notes, teachers - and the internet is a relatively new learning tool. Which I guess makes the harp a real folk instrument in the first place.
These are just ideas I'm juggling with. How do you think it would be wise to approach the subject? Any good books/articles? Do extensive, academic studies about the blues harp even exist?
All those old instructional books with "-4 4 -3 -3 2 2" etc will be equally good working material for me. It shows how we learn & teach. I'm also thinking I should interview different players & generations about the subject and use them as case studies.
So, any ideas?
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Reed To The Beat!
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MrVerylongusername
1975 posts
Oct 06, 2011
4:33 AM
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Kim Field's "Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers" is a very informative read. Worth tracking down. It follows the history of the harmonica through a number of genres, by focussing on key names from those styles.
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walterharp
714 posts
Oct 06, 2011
6:33 AM
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it kind of depends what discipline you are aiming the thesis for.. is this for a folklife/ american studies program? i think that adam is probably one of the most academically inclined harmonica players, and you may be best of asking to chat with him for a few minutes about potential projects and new ways to take the area of harmonica academic study in a social context forward
my guess as far as learning, adam would talk about how many of the greats all had a master teacher or inspiration
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Philippe
150 posts
Oct 06, 2011
7:20 AM
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http://mtr.arcade-museum.com/
Old issues of Music Trade Review 1880-1950s
There are a lot of results for harmonica in there. E.g. some ads for the then new chromatic harmonica. There are some old tutorials on how to play harmonica from Hohner.
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Diggsblues
1017 posts
Oct 06, 2011
11:08 AM
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You might want to track down Dr. Saul Broudy.
He's a harmonica player,singer, guitarist
that has doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania
in Folklore.http://www.wfma.net/broudy.htm
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Emile "Diggs" D'Amico a Legend In His Own Mind
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Duane C.
16 posts
Oct 06, 2011
12:45 PM
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You might also contact David Payne of Elk River Harmonicas.
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isaacullah
1616 posts
Oct 06, 2011
1:27 PM
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Sweet! That will make a really good thesis, IMO. I don't have any references to pass on (other than ones already suggested), but I think you would be able to contact folks at the Musical Instrument Museum, to see what they have in their archives (http://www.themim.org/contact/). They've got a very well done section on free reed instruments in their galleries, so I would assume they've got some archival material. They say they love to work with students too, so I'm sure you could get access.
Also, if you need interviewies, I'm down!
Good luck!
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