Brendan power is probably the best known player of irish harmonica, due to. Amongst others, he worked with accordeonist luke daniels, harmonica player brendan power, singer maggie boyle, legendary scotsirish band boys of the lough, singer and piper christy oleary. So im playing my suzuki promaster valved harps in paddy richter tuning i got from brendan power with his book on irish tunes. Brendan power, as visitors to this site know, is a remarkable stylist on both diatonic and chromatic harmonicas, many of which he modifies and retunes to meet the requirements of his traditional and modern repertoire. New irish harmonica by brendan power on the session. A good harmonica player will attempt the most difficult of tunes in the itdm repertoire. Brendan power november 15, 2014 hot on the heels of my irish session harp comes another great harmonica for playing irish and other folk music in a sweetsounding, truly authentic manner. As syd points out in his answer 1, this is brendan power 2, possibly the most accomplished player of celtic harmonica ever to grace the instrument, and hes definitely playing a. The harmonica is an amazingly versatile instrument and this particular album is a perfect introduction to irish harmonica styles. Equally at ease on both the earthy blues harp as well as the sophisticated chromatic harmonica, he employs custom tunings to.
This is the website for professional harmonica playermaker brendan power. I recently purchased a book cd package from, and written by, brendan power, called irish music for the c chromatic. The standard harp tuning is known as richter tuning, the irish are often affectionately called paddies. Brendan power hot on the heels of my irish session harp. Play irish music on the chromatic harmonica still in preparation. I acquired one the day after spah and even though i was 100% harmonicad out, i found the powerbender to be a fresh sound to my ears. For those who think that the harmonica is only good for folk or blues music. Aug 22, 2017 brendan power is a virtuoso harmonica player and a tireless innovator in building new tools for harmonica players, including new instruments and addons that increase the usefulness of traditional harmonicas.
Tradtional irish music on the chromatic harmonica and tin whistle. Brendan here tells us how chromatic harps are set up to play irish and celtic music. Irish and american fiddle tunes for harmonica, a book cd package by glenn weiser a celtic harmonica discography by don meade can be found here. I ripped the windsavers off my d harp and suddenly my notes are sounding at the start of the blow or draw, especially compared. Instruments, chromatic harmonica, diatonic harmonica, custom harmonica, vocals.
Irish traditional music also known as irish trad, irish folk music, and other variants is a genre of folk music that developed in ireland in a history of irish music 1905, w. Harmonica nights, an album by brendan power on spotify. May 30, 2014 irish traditional music tune index album details for new irish harmonica by brendan power. I acquired one the day after spah and even though i was 100% harmonica d out, i found the powerbender to be a fresh sound to my ears. Brendan power is seen by many as one of the most forward thinking harmonica players in the irish music realm. Musicians, brendan power harmonica, with des hurley fiddle, chris newman guitar, bass, mandolin, peter houlahan. Ive written a book for it, and also offer handtuned paddy richter diatonics to go with. Playing irish music on a chromatic harmonica in the key of c. The harmonica and irish traditional music by don meade. Harmonica world magazine of the national harmonica league. Article, sound files and images are all 2000 brendan power, and used by the authors permission. May 08, 2010 power plays a wide range of material irish jigs, the music from riverdance which show he toured with, blues, and amped harp that goes all the way to metal with style and assurance.
With the exception of the occasional harmonicaist at sessions, i had never really heard much of it in irish music, so i thought i would check this cd out. Grattan flood wrote that, in gaelic ireland, there were at least ten instruments in general use. The two in back are suzuki promaster harmonicas in d and g, tuned to paddy richter by brendan power, who wrote the book play irish music on the blues harp. The chromatic harmonica has the advantage of allowing you to play in any key without any missing notes. Heres a list of some other irish songs i very much enjoy playing with our australian irishbush band headland. These two tunes are included brendan powers two tutorial books. The easttop brendan power asiabend harmonica looks like a chromatic harmonica, but its not. Power plays a wide range of material irish jigs, the music from riverdance which show he toured with, blues, and amped harp that goes all the way to metal with. Cathal johnson harmonica repairs the history of the. Played on my 12 hole slide diatonic, with slide decorations that sound authentic for traditional.
Irish harmonica players can take some inspiration from players of other freereed instruments used in the irish tradition. Suddenly you can play irish jigs and reels on the diatonic harp with great. There are other ways of modifying chromatic harmonicas for playing irish. Not only is he a brilliant and innovative player, but he is also a great harp technician and tinkerer. Brendan power has taken this music of his heritage and has lifted it to its highest level. The corner house with live looping by brendan power youtube how to. There will always be a certain adaptation to suit individual style and nature of the instrument itself, but it is possible to play irish traditional music with ease. See all 5 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. What are some good irish songs to play on a harmonica. Youll instantly realise that when you check out the video below. One of his latest innovations is the lucky, a harmonica that adds a full lower octave to the standard richter diatonic layout. If you order the book add on, we will ship the book and brendan power will email you a link to download the mp3s. The best harmonica for irish music the best harmonica for irish music.
Nov 04, 2012 if you go to brendan powers website and look for the book that i mentioned. I spent over two full days playing with it and its the first altered tuned harp that allows me to play what i hear in my head. Brendan power 10 hole power bender harmonica includes free usa shipping. Your domain, is the humanreadable address of your website on the internet. Brendan power harmonicas lucky is a great blues harp. Nov 15, 2014 brendan power november 15, 2014 hot on the heels of my irish session harp comes another great harmonica for playing irish and other folk music in a sweetsounding, truly authentic manner. Easttop brendan power asiabend harmonica the harmonica.
Here youll find my albums, custom harmonicas, instructional material, plus music to listen to, interesting stuff to read and links to click ill always love playing and performing, but am equally engrossed by designing and making harmonicas. Your domain is the humanreadable address of your website on the internet. If you are interested in reading about or buying brendans customised harmonicas, click here. Equally at ease on both the earthy blues harp as well as the sophisticated chromatic harmonica, he employs custom tunings to reinvent what is often a typecast instrument. At the same time irelands mick kinsella has been leaving his own mark. Here youll find my albums, custom harmonicas, instructional material, plus music to listen to, interesting stuff to read and links to click. About celtic harmonica celtic guitar page by glenn weiser. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. What kind of harmonica the guy uses in the shape of my heart.
For those who think that the harmonica is only good for folk or blues music, guess again. The only harmonica album id come across was brendan powers new irish. Which harp should you use for playing folk and celtic music. Paddy richter is the whimsical name i gave to a simple tuning i devised to play irish music on the 10 hole diatonic harmonica, first recorded on my new irish harmonica album of 1994. Brendan powers powerbender tuning changed my mindset on altered harps.
The harmonica has a lot in common with the button accordion and anglogerman style of concertina, both of which have a long history of use by irish musicians. The future of the harmonica by brendan power free reed. It too is fast gaining traction amongst folk harmonica players. Domain age and registration wont impact a websites rankings, but its important to keep your registration up to date to prevent someone else from buying it. Brendan power play irish music on the blues harp youtube. Brendan power s powerbender tuning changed my mindset on altered harps. If you order the book add on, we will ship the book and brendan power will email you a. Traditional harmonica tradconnect traditional irish music. Cathal johnson harmonica repairs alternative tuning. What kind of harmonica does the guy use in the shape of my. With the slider out the harmonica played a low d scale in solo tuning. He has invented many new harmonica tunings, played on many hollywood soundtracks, and recorded with artists such as sting, van morrison, james galway, shirley bassey, and paul young.
Some of these phrases are pretty fast and im just not finding the reeds very responsive. Because the book was was written in 1987, before the invention of paddy ritcher tuning by brendan power sometime in the 90s, im recommending that the tunes originally arranged for 12hole marine band be played on a. Easttop brendan power asiabend harmonica the harmonica company. When my book, irish and american fiddle tunes for harmonica, was published in 1987, brendan power had not yet invented paddy richter tuning, so the 12hole marine band was the best solution at the time to tunes in one sharp requiring the low e. Once you get used to a 4octave bass blues harmonica it is very hard to go back to the restricted range of a 10hole harp ever again. All text is legible and books include working and unused cds, where available. The slider has no spring, and is held in or out with friction. Easttop brendan power lucky harmonica the harmonica company. Brendan power 10 hole power bender harmonica includes free. With the exception of the occasional harmonica ist at sessions, i had never really heard much of it in irish music, so i thought i would check this cd out. The gd irish session harp is a revival of a harmonica i created for my own irish playing in 1995 using chromatic harmonica parts, but with reedplates in the two different keys. Brendan power is a new zealandborn harmonica wizard, one of the most creative and versatile harmonica players and makers around today.
Brendan power has produced a fine instructional volume entitled play irish music on the blues harp which is available on his website. Playing irish music on a chromatic harmonica in the key of. Ideal for playing irish music, brendan power devised this popular tuning by altering one note to allow the player to play many irish traditional tunes by providing a missing note not in the original standard richter harmonica. Brendan has prepared two instruction kits book, harps and cd play irish music on the blues harp. Brendan power is a virtuoso harmonica player and a tireless innovator in building new tools for harmonica players, including new instruments and addons that increase the usefulness of traditional harmonicas. Hard to believe its 20 years since i wrote my popular instruction bookcd play irish music on the blues harp. Irish tunes on the diatonic harmonica planet harmonica. Garryowen now lets get down to learning a new number. Chromatic harps arent widely used in folk music, but there are a few irishstyle players doing some cool things with them. Ill always love playing and performing, but am equally engrossed by designing and making harmonicas. The harmonica is an amazingly versatile instrument and this particular album is. Given the general buzz in the harmonica scene at the moment, and the current pace of innovation, i think it wont be long before advanced new designs bring this goal closer to realization. Although not as welldocumented within the tradition as other freereed instruments, the irish harmonica tradition is represented by rick epping, mick kinsella, paul moran, the murphy family from county wexford, eddie clarke and brendan power the latter being of new zealand. Brendan power is a specialist in the field and will make you up a harp to suit, but this is not a cheap option.
Brendan power is a new zealand harmonica player, composer and inventor, living in britain. I now recommended paddy richter harmonicas for these tunes, though. Had a great trip in new zealand catching up with family and friends. As you will hear from the video, this is a completely new harmonica type with a unique sound. After a period of much experimentation in the midnineteenth century, a classic design appeared which set the format and benchmark for all 10 hole harps that followed. The 10 hole diatonic is the biggest selling harmonica of all. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as descri. From ireland, he worked with singer sean keane, piano accordeonist alan kelly, as well some jazz flavoured acoustic bands while based in london. For instance, check out brendan power or eddie clarke if you get the chance. Brendan power, thats who in this video not only do you get to see brendans beatboxing, but he gives a first look at the very exciting, not yet released, suzuki sub30 ultrabend harmonica. The following is a list of selected celtic harmonica recordings. Brendan is also widely available on youtube and through suzukis harmonica instructional information.
Irish harmonica lesson the morning star brendan power. Thanks to his performing in riverdance the playing of new zealander brendan power has done much to increase the popularity of the harmonica in folk music circles around the world. New zealands brendan power has developed a considerable reputation for his concert and recording work featuring the harmonica. The layout of the low octave is the same as that of a. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. Here youll find my albums, custom harmonicas, instructional material, plus music to listen to, interesting stuff to read and links to click ill always love playing and performing, but am equally. Brendan power is a specialist in the field and will. This album was actually released about 10 years ago, but i only discovered it fairly recently. The easttop brendan power lucky harmonica has it all. You can jump down to the contents of many old magazines by clicking here the a5 sized magazine usually has between 36 to 48 pages and has regular and occasional columns by known harmonica artists brendan power, cheng jang ming, tony eyers, steve shaw, pat missin, joe filisko, steve baker, david barrett, liam ward, ross garren, rob paparozzi, richard taylor, steve jennings, keith parker. The book is suitable for any person, beginner or professional, it covers almost everything you need to know about harmonicas and irish. I just posted this as an mp3 here, hope you like it. Nov 27, 2012 harmonica and beatboxing whod have thought it. Then i learned that brendan power had designed a richter tuned slide harp based.