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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Christmas/holiday charity playing
Christmas/holiday charity playing
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toddlgreene
184 posts
Nov 23, 2009
11:40 AM
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At our club meetings, a few of us are enthused about going to some retirement homes, underpriveledged centers, and New Orleans' Children's Hospital in the next few weeks to perform Christmas and Hannukah songs. Individually, I may go do some caroling on my own, playing and singing. Any of you doing something like this? If you've done it in the past, did you get generally good reception? What are some of your favorite carols to play, and have you done them strictly solo, or in an ensemble?
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~Todd L. Greene, Devout Pedestrian
"listen to what you like for inspiration, but find your own voice"
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
Last Edited by on Nov 23, 2009 11:41 AM
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Kingley
521 posts
Nov 23, 2009
12:19 PM
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I haven't ever performed Christmas Carols on the harmonica.
I did once play at a home for some people who suffer with Downs Syndrome. It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. To see the joy on their faces as they got involved in the music was such a pleasure. It's something I would like to do a lot more of given the chance. To me it's all part of the "giving back" that we all should strive to do at some point.
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barbequebob
118 posts
Nov 23, 2009
12:25 PM
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I've done a bit of it playing "Joy To The World," "THe Christmas Song," "The First Noel," and stuff, most of it in 1st position, and played very softly and with more of a vocalist's approach. They usually give you a really good reception, even more so if you do them at a hospital.
I've also thrown in Jingle Bells and Blue Christmas in for good measure too.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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toddlgreene
185 posts
Nov 23, 2009
12:33 PM
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I think doing this sort of melodic playing primarily in 1st position is not only a treat for the listener, but an excellent exercise for the harp player who generally plays in 2nd, 3rd, etc. positions, and does little 'lead' or vocal melody playing as BBQ Bob states. It will also improve single-note playing big time. If you know a good chromatic player(or are one), get him/her to play a bass line on a familiar tune(carols are great for this), then another player to play rhythm, and yet another to play the lead melody. This is fun stuff, if you've got fairly proficient players, as well as being a good exercise in listening and dynamics.
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~Todd L. Greene, Devout Pedestrian
"listen to what you like for inspiration, but find your own voice"
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
Last Edited by on Nov 23, 2009 12:34 PM
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congaron
297 posts
Nov 23, 2009
12:35 PM
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Not on harp yet, but this is my first Christmas since I started playing. I have on trumpet, guitar, vocals and percussion, mandolin, etc.
I have never seen a bad reception to Christmas music. Of course I play mostly at churches for groups like Celebrate recovery, etc.
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toddlgreene
186 posts
Nov 23, 2009
12:36 PM
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@ BBQ-did you bring a small amp, or just play acoustic? I wanna be heard, so i'll probably bring a little Pignose, with the volume fairly low.
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~Todd L. Greene, Devout Pedestrian
"listen to what you like for inspiration, but find your own voice"
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
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barbequebob
120 posts
Nov 23, 2009
3:33 PM
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Acoustic all the way tho sometimes with a small PA setup so I can use my hands and breath control to shape the sounds. I`ve even used tremelo harps as well.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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LittleJoeSamson
143 posts
Nov 23, 2009
9:06 PM
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My dad was nine years in a nursing home, and I performed there every year in some form, mostly accapela singing. When I would break out the harp, it was magic.
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nacoran
449 posts
Nov 23, 2009
9:28 PM
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I've never played those sorts of venues on harp, but I used to be in a choral group that did that sort of stuff. It was always fun and people seemed to enjoy us.
My favorite Christmas carol is an arrangement of 'We Three Kings' and the 'Carol of the Bells' sung together for harmony, and Handel's 'Messiah' rocks. I don't think I've ever heard either on harmonica! (Although I play a rough version of 'We Three Kings'.) There are so many classic Christmas songs- Silver Bells, Jingle Bells, Carol of the Bells... does anyone in your group have one of those Hohners with the bells on top?
I'd try to get a mix of eras. Maybe Rudolph, and I'm Dreaming of a White Xmas. One of the first songs I learned was O Tannenbaum. It sounds nice on the harp. I know several Xmas carols work as rounds too.
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Jim Rumbaugh
116 posts
Nov 24, 2009
11:17 AM
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The Harmonica Club plays a few December gigs each year. I have put together our 4 "non-denominational" yet seasonally appropriate tunes.
Jingle Bells
Santa Claus Is coming to Town
Frosty the Snowman
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
Sunday we did the Festival of Trees at The Paramount Theater in Ashland, Ky for their annual fund raiser. In December we have a VFW dinner, Methodist Church dinner, and an elderly High-Rise. The VFW makes a donation, and the Methodists feed us. The other 2, nada.
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ricanefan
35 posts
Nov 26, 2009
3:02 AM
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Other "non-religious" Christmas songs that sound great on harp:
Blue Christmas
I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
Oh Christmas Tree
Deck the Halls
But Christmas is a Christian holiday, so it's OK to break out Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, The First Noel, etc., etc...
Personally, I love all Christmas songs on the Harmonica.
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