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From: pfarm~in.gov.au (Paul Farmer)
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 13:38:27 +1000
Subject: [none]

Dear Fellow Harpers.
I'd just like to share some information about a
Brazillian harmonica group called 'The Orquestra Harmonicas de Curitiba',
especially in light of a few recent posts regarding harmonica ensembles and
their merit.
After some rather drawn out correspondence via e-mail and
some packages going missing in the mail I finally received by courier
delivery two days ago a parcel from Curitiba,Brazil.Believe me, it was well
worth the wait!My amigo Eduardo Pereira, polyphonia player for the
Orquestra, sent me a copy of their first c.d.(they have already released 2
albums/tapes, and are currently working on a 2nd c.d.), a video of the
Orquestra performing in various parts of Brazil both live and on national
t.v., a Hering 12 hole chromatic with a plastic body(as sold by Farrell),
and 6 keyring plastic harmonicas with the Orquestra's name on them.I should
point out here that the cost of all this plus postage was quite
considerable.While I am very touched I have no intentions of taking
advantage of their generosity and intend reimbursing them with reciprical
Australian harmonica memorabilia and paying fully for copies of their
previous recordings and any future ones.
My experience has been that the larger a harmonica group
becomes the more it starts to sound like a cheap out-of-tune accordeon,
especially when the majority of band members are playing just the melody
line on out of tune instruments.Well let me tell you that this criticism
does not in any way apply to The Orquestra Harmonicas de Curitiba.Believe
me, these guys have really done their homework.All of their instruments are
beautifully in tune,all of the players read(have I said something I
shouldn't have?),they are very professional in their appearance,and the
arrangements by musical director and lead player Ronald Silva are superb.In
fact I'd say that every player in the Orquestra(10 in all) would be a fine
soloist in their own right.
Although the harmonica and ensembles thereof are subject
to just criticisms re lack of tonal/timbre variation,there are a few
groups(ie The Harmonicats, The Stagg McMann Trio)who have overcome this to a
large degree with their mastery of the instrument and their innovative
arrangements that focus on our instrument's strong points.The Orquestra is
certainly worthy of being regarded as one of these groups.While I will not
be so naive as to say they are the best harmonica ensemble in the world,I
feel I can justly say that they can be used as a gauge by which all other
harmonica groups or ensembles can be judged.
Incidentally one of the Orquestra's members is a young
lady, Karla Dallman,one of two 'harmonica baritono' players in the group.I
guess hers is another name to add to the list of pro/semi-pro female harpers.
Anyone wishing to do themselves a favor and get their hands
on one of these c.d.'s can e-mail the orquestra at:
harmonic~anopus.com.br
or check out their home page at:
http:/www.kanopus.com.br/~harmonicas
or write to:
Eduardo Pereira
Rua Fernandes de Barros,
1255 - Ap 21,
CEP 80040-200,
Curitiba,
Parana,
Brazil

It would be great if someday the money could come from
somewhere to get these guys to a SPAH convention or one of the big
international get-togethers.
Cheers,
Paul