From: Douglas Tate Date: Sat, 28 Sep 1996 22:05:00 +0100 Subject: British Harmonica Championships 1996
Just been to the British Champs today in beautiful rural England,
Competitions are competitions and people played and those who deserved to won and those who didn't played very well and had a good time. It was a very friendly affair and has now decanted into the local pubs to seranande the night away with blues and bands.
So, what's to report. Well, Harp-L interest really.
It was good to see some of my old buddies again.
Dr Midnight (David Michelsen ..midnig~acline.co.uk) giving an excellent free swinging seminar on various aspects of playing. (find out who's there, what they know, make up wonderful, informative and flowing stuff from scratch on the spot.
Pat Missin (pa~lobalnet.co.uk) well known for his delving into the theory and history ... and just about anything else, of the harmonica. Followed David with a stunning rundown on alternative tunings, with instrumets by the dozen flying to mouth for demo in the midst of streams of relevant and interesting words. He has a list of 100+ alternative tunings you can do with only a screwdriver, foodmixer and three razorblades. You can ask him for the zip file for these ... free at the above EMail. He is an amazing fellow and, whilst still talking took a harp to pieces, tuned from equal to Just temperament within a couple of minutes and played it, I'm certain whilst he was still talking. Firstr time I have met him, hope it isn't the last, great fellow.
Steve Jennings ( Harpfix~ol.com) famed for his books, his playing and the piles of cigarette ash surrounding his harp box. Also of course, he is no mean repairer and tuner. (this is what he does!)
Lurker and sometime participant Robert Pitt (of no fixed net address for another couple of weeks. New buddy, great bit of playing in the competition, blues with mic (Astatic) and amp (Bassman) (Thought I had better find THAT out otherwise I would never be forgiven) A real swinger.
Norman Ives ..... well... you ALL know Norman!! If you can play it or spin it or browse through it,,, Norman's got it.
I find that Harp-l folk enrich any gathering I have been to in association with harp.
Oh yes, I was there too, so that's another. lots of interest in the new harmonica Bobbie and I are doing, Renaissance. It was quite amusing to see people backing away because of the big sound it was making! Most said that they had heard of it from Harp-L or from somebody on Harp-l... powerful tool we have here.
Wish there had been more people and more entries for the comps, but a good time was had by all.
Congratulations to Dr Midnight and Colin Mort (our Chairman, Editor of Harmonica World and Treasurer ... Bar Mitzvahs a speciality) They organized a tight and friendly event without the detail being in evidence.
See you there next year. INCLUDING the 20 or so Harp-l lurkers in the UK who weren't there and missed a good day.
