Ending of last year there was the equivalent of "idols" on german tv (Deutschland sucht den Superstar). And... a harmonica player won. Hurra! A big hype - my music store apparently sells more harmonicas than ever before.
However, unfortunately (and they say that openly) he didn't win because of his playing but because of the heartwarming background story (he had an accident and earns extra money on the street with the harmonica).
Combined with his hit "Ave Maria" he won Germany's heart (and 100,000€).
The people walking by are probably Hohner people, checking out the competition.... He's a fantastic player, this Igor, what happened to him? ---------- DutchBones Tube
What we like & what the public likes is worlds apart. It all depends on your audience. Ave Maria was ok but not real difficult first position playing on I think a D harp? Can't say I didn't like it but I found the constant 'flutter' very irritating. The audience & the judges loved it and in a competition that is what it is all about. Might also have received some 'divine' help.
@DutchBones: Really a fantastic player. All I know is from Wikipedia: He died after an operation (march '08) and left a wife and two girls. He shall rest in peace.
@Aussiesucker: No, the people didn't love "it" (as in "his playing") but him, or rather his story. I never heard anybody talk about his harmonica playing. It's all about his story... 'Divine' help,.. well he was chosen and pushed by this guy (Dieter Bohlen, the self proclaimed zcar of german pop industry).
Im a little stressed, cos too many people said to me: "ah, you play harmonica? like Michael Hirte".
So one night I sat down and really listened to his playing, I was positively surprised: He has pretty good tone and his hand vibrato (although it looks stupid) is rather good. He also plays with emotion.
And he gave a boost to harmonicas in germany. So in total (after having thought about it) its ok. Better bad news than no news.
I just found this vid where he blows-out a reed in the middle of the song (makes me actually feel for this guy):
In the UK we have the same kind of "talent" shows (note the inverted commas)
I agree with you GermanHarpist - more and more it is about the sob story (probably all carefully stage-managed by their agent) behind the artist than it is about the performance.
"Ahhhh yes, poor little Johnny has overcome huge adversity in his life to reach his dream of playing on 'Britain's Got No X-Factor'.
Having lost all the members of his family to a tragic hairspray accident, he was raised by feral cats on the slag heaps of Pontefract.
Fighting for scraps of leftover doner kebab, he quickly learned to survive by performing on the streets.
This plucky little fighter soon learned that having one leg was no barrier to becoming one of the greatest tap dancing trombonists we have ever seen!"
GermanHarpist, I understand what you are saying & indeed it is a very sad story. But I have to completely disagree with you about the audience not loving his harmonica playing. He may not be the greatest harmonica player but the audience don't know that. He would not have won out of pity. He played a very well known, well loved, beautiful classical piece and he played it better than good. Actually since hearing the piece I have been practicing it on my D harp starting on the 5D and there are even a few bends on the 4D & 6B. I'm no tech expert so correct me if I'm wrong but the 5D being the tonic would have it being played in 12th position? Had he played a complex obscure piece like a lot of the stuff we well might appreciate, the audience wouldn't have related to it and then no amount of sympathy could have won him the contest. He deserved to win as he played to please the crowd.
I enjoyed MrVLUNs take on things - but again I disagree.
Last Edited by on Feb 19, 2009 2:53 PM
I see what you say and i like the song too. However this guy won the casting because he had a sad story to tell and a moving song to back it up (this guys wet dream). He is not the "supertalent", the show credits itself to find, but a mediocre street musician, well produced and packaged in glimmer.
Germanharpist, I see what you're saying. I'm not exactly a fan of these vote-in shows, but I do catch the very beginning 'auditions' for American Idol for a good laugh. It's also true for the American version -- the "sob story" thing is getting waaaaay to dominant in the shows format -- it seems like every other audition has a person with a backstory and some cameras following them around as we cut to them in a room crying into the camera. Anyway, I also agree with Aussie ... regardless of whether or not the format sucks, the dude played to please the crowd and he deserves his dues for picking and performing it accordingly.
Had a close look at Michael Hirte's website and although my German is somewhat rusty it does appear that he is a superstar with a solid record deal + a huge tour booked + fanclub etc etc.
Had a listen to snippets of other tunes on his site which are on his CD and whilst they sound simple fare the backing ie packaging & presentation is first class.
Have a look at the people who now buy CD's, not young people, ie his market is to a mature but probably mostly immature musical public. There is another European sensation about whom I would probably make exactly the same comments ie Andre Rieu. Fabulously successful because they are delivering what the crowd wants. The record companies, promoters, radio & TV all know when they are on a good thing.
Michael has achieved the sort of success most harp players can only dream of. Is he though playing what he really likes to play or is he only playing what his adoring fans want to hear?
In the video he plays with a lot of emotion, so I believe that he really likes the song. And i think that he played Ave Maria already before in the streets. However for his new CD his repertoire was extended by this guy in the same direction and style as Andre Rieus. The only difference being, that Andre Rieu is a real pro and this guy is a self absorbed looser (and did i mention: the "king" of german pop music).
@Oda: True but somehow I have the feeling that there is still more quality in the us and uk version (there are some real talents). I mean, this is supposed to be germanys "super talent",... LOL.
But well,... thats the business.
Anyway, the irritating thing is more that all people now identify the harp with Michael Hirte and Ave Maria ("ah you play harmonica, you must like michael hirte"). - the bob dylen dilemma.
Btw. Aussiesucker, I tried to play the Ave Maria song and I think it is 1st postion on a F harp (but mine is pretty crappy, so I couldn't play the whole song).
Anyone got decent tabs for Ave Maria? I got some off Harptabs but it doesn't sound right. It would be a nice one to have up my sleeve for a funeral. ----------
Thanks tookatoota. I looked up both & was surprised that the Harptabs -Ave Maria - was an Aussie contribution ie but it unfortunately was not me. I am pretty hopeless following tabs. However I found out that using my D harp and starting on the 5D I get a rendition that I much prefer ie similar to the one on harptabs. Havn't tried to follow the harptabs and would find them very difficult. I really need to be able to have the tune embedded in my memory but I cannot relate to any of the lyrics they have for it on harptabs.
There are some good Ave Maria backing tracks available on line & I found one by Celine Dion( ie voice is deleted) in G that fits with my D harp in 12th position. Not at all difficult to play.
