holy cow... tryna move forward I changed instruments and approaches to today's improvisations. I guess you could say I was reading & sounding the rhythm of the "Text Improv No. 1" I posted yesterday. When time allows, I'll definitely go back to it... the track posted at https://soundcloud.com/fnkhsr/mh2 is best of the 2 captures. it's one solo track-- I fiddled with the delay until I got something I liked; the first take I used a chorus, which has an intensity but doesn't fill out quite as well (but I"ll continue to tinker with the knobs).
i'll be happy to hear what you think
Hi Chris - I know this might sound terrible - I like the piece, but there is so much you can do with a mouthharp that would be useful to you - I don't know if you've heard any from India or for that matter what I can do on it? It sounds like you're just starting out - I wonder what would happen with a really short delay, several on top of each other so that you'd be able to work with phase effects? It's also possible you like the minimalism, and it certainly suits the music you do - are you plucking on both inhale and exhale? You can get several notes on one pluck by varying breath as well as mouth configuration of course... Really want to hear what else you'll do with this - in this style it would work well with bass overlay - !
ReplyDeletehi Alan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback. As a matter of fact, I haven't played the mouthharp in ages until I bought one in Portugal earlier this year, and so yes, you could say I'm just starting out-- this is the first time I'd ever recorded anything with it. I haven't heard many examples, and would be glad for any schooling you have to offer! I will "work" (play, really) on it some more keeping your advices in mind, & keep you posted as I can...
I think you'd find it on YouTube - it's a universal instrument in a way and is used in South Indian music - which was a real surprise to me - even in classical music. If you do really fast 'panting' through the instrument, you can set up all sorts of rhythmic effects. I'd love to see the instrument - can't imagine what a Portuguese one looks like -
ReplyDeletethe Portuguese mouthharp is pretty much the same as one I bought in Berkeley when I was 13. I've had a few over the years but somehow managed to lose all of them! I do have one made out of bamboo that I picked up in Malaysia a few years ago, though it is quite difficult to play and does not resonate the way the metal ones do. I should really return to the bamboo one now, and see if I might have a different sense of it after these dialogs with you...
ReplyDeleteWould love to get a bamboo one myself - it would be a lot easier on my teeth - I worry about the metal. If you ever see another in this country pick it up and I'll pay you back! I wonder if Amazon..hmm...
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