Guilhem Desq

Anything apart from the two mainstream default harmonicas (Solo-tuned fully-valved chromatic, and un-valved Richter 10-hole diatonic). Alternate tunings, different construction, new functionality, interesting old designs, wishful-thinking... whatever!
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triona
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Location: Aue / Germany

Guilhem Desq

Post by triona » Sun Apr 19, 2020 10:12 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-vvLi5WVPk

No harmonica involved. But this guy is ingenious anyway. And he shows a marvellous example how to modify and develop an old and well known instrument - in this case even one from the middle ages. An aspect which is vivid in this forum as well.

He is performing a short concert (live stream) every sunday night since some weeks. The past concerts are visible on his YT channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPMxpb ... s6fKoRPacg


dear greetings
triona
Aw, Thou beloved, do hearken to the Banshee's lonely croon!
sinn féin - ça ira !
Cad é sin do'n té sin nach mbaineann sin dó


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1yI3H ... 9ktgzTR2qg

EdvinW
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Location: Sweden

Re: Guilhem Desq

Post by EdvinW » Mon Apr 20, 2020 9:40 am

That's a nice video, but we can't talk about modern and innovative hurdy-gurdy playing without a mention of Johannes Geworkian Hellman, who at least for me pushes what I'd had thought the instrument could do quite a bit. As it happens, the duo Symbio, with him and accordion player LarsErik Öjeberget, gave a live streamed concert a few days ago, consisting entirely of original material. They're a really tight duo, and it's amazing they get such a large sound with just the two of them without any looping or extra sound effects; a real two-man band!

https://www.facebook.com/stallet.folkmu ... videos_tab

To relate it a bit more to the topic of this forum: In their tune After the Fire which start around 40 minutes into the concert LarsErik bends notes on the accordion, a technique which is more commonly associated with harmonicas. He also explains it a bit in the QnA before their final tune. The number in between, Rising, is well worth listening to so don't skip through it.
Edvin Wedin

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triona
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Location: Aue / Germany

Re: Guilhem Desq

Post by triona » Mon Apr 20, 2020 11:11 am

Oh yes, indeed. The last year I experienced Symbio in concert - and purchased both of their CDs.

Thanks for the link. This about the bending is very interesting. I have heard this some times in the past. But I did not realize that this practically was reed bending. And neither I knew how this was done controlledly. I think I must take one o my accordions and try this. If not intended and controlled - and not fitting into the tune - this usually is considered as a flaw or handling error.

And this used to be - and sometimes still is - considered the same in "classical" and scholastic (mouth-)harmonica playing. This first did change with the upcoming and popularization and the common musical appreciation of the blues, and then academically by players like Howard Levy.


dear greetings
triona


PS: This shows how an off topic suddenly can turn into a kind of on topic some times. :lol:
Aw, Thou beloved, do hearken to the Banshee's lonely croon!
sinn féin - ça ira !
Cad é sin do'n té sin nach mbaineann sin dó


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1yI3H ... 9ktgzTR2qg

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