I first recorded with paddy richter on my 1994 album new irish harmonica and since then it has become widely known and quite popular. 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. Harmonica wall chart 9780786667567 by david barrett and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. It was the first step on a fascinating musical journey that has seen power score international acclaim, not just for his playing but for his creative innovations on the instrument itself. Brendan was voted international harmonica player of the year 201112 by the respected spah organisation of america. Brendan power new irish harmonica 1994, cd discogs.
Brendan power is seen by many as one of the most forward thinking harmonica players in the irish music realm. 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. There are other ways of modifying chromatic harmonicas for playing irish. Here are all transcriptions of this tune considering only the indexed books. If you go to brendan powers website and look for the book that i mentioned.
Here are all transcriptions of this tune considering only the indexed books, listed in chronological order. 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. For those who think that the harmonica is only good for folk or blues music. Brendan also covers his new power tuning system powerblow, powerdraw and. The english lyrics have been credited to joseph campbell 18791944, also known as seosamh maccathmhaoil and. The harmonica in irish music interview with mick kinsella. Virtually forgotten in the postwar revival of traditional irish music, celtic and folk harmonica has recently enjoyed a massive rise in popularity. Nov 04, 2012 if you go to brendan power s website and look for the book that i mentioned.
Brendan power is a new zealandborn harmonica wizard, one of the most creative and versatile harmonica players and makers around today. New zealandborn, londonbased brendan power is one of the most innovative harmonica players today. 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. 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. Brendan power 10 hole power bender harmonica includes free. Brendan power has produced a fine instructional volume entitled play irish music on the blues harp which is available on his website. Equally at ease on both the earthy blues harp as well as the sophisticated chromatic harmonica, he employs his own custom tunings to breathe fresh life into an often typecast instrument especially in his original compositions, which feature on several of. One of his latest innovations is the lucky, a harmonica that adds a full lower octave to the standard richter diatonic layout.
Brendan power harmonicas lucky is a great blues harp. New zealands brendan power has developed a considerable reputation for his concert and recording work featuring the harmonica. 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. 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. 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. Mar 16, 2014 brendan power has produced a fine instructional volume entitled play irish music on the blues harp which is available on his website. He toured europe and the usa and recorded with the likes.
Brendan power new irish harmonica by brendan power. Instruments, chromatic harmonica, diatonic harmonica, custom harmonica, vocals. The harmonica and irish traditional music by don meade. Brendan is also widely available on youtube and through. Artists wishing to have their releases mentioned on this page may send a copy to me at po box 2551, albany, ny, 12220, or contact me at. Alternate tunings with brendan power blues harmonica. Celtic harmonica reels ebook online audio bill s music.
Its played on an alldrawbreath harmonica i invented, called the asiabend. With the exception of the occasional harmonicaist at sessions, i had never really heard much of it in irish. Im brendan power, a professional harmonica player and designermaker. This album was actually released about 10 years ago, but i only discovered it fairly recently.
What are some good irish songs to play on a harmonica. Heres a list of some other irish songs i very much enjoy playing with our australian irishbush band headland. Harmonica testimonials from famous harmonica players don baker, andy irvine, brendan power harmonica tech and inventor and others can be seen below. However, he plays a wide variety of styles, as his.
Cathal johnson harmonica repairs the history of the. Playing irish music on a chromatic harmonica in the key of c. Not only is he a brilliant and innovative player, but he is also a great harp technician and tinkerer. One of the harmonica greatest in this area, brendan power, has recently launched a book on playing irish music on a c chromatic. Brendan power the dawning of the day irish slow air, played on asiabend harmonica this is a clip recorded for an online video fundraising concert. Irish harmonica lesson the morning star brendan power. Power, considered the leading player, is known to use pucker technique. What kind of harmonica does the guy use in the shape of my. He toured europe and the usa and recorded with the likes of brendan power harmonica, luke daniels accordeonist, singer maggie boyle, christy oleary pipes and boys of the lough. 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. Irish harmonica players can take some inspiration from players of other freereed instruments used in the irish tradition. Displaying an astonishing virtuosity on both chromatic and diatonic harmonicas, and accompanied by chris newman on guitar. Heres a list of some other irish songs i very much enjoy playing with our.
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. Detailed info about brendan power, this album and the tunes. The easttop brendan power asiabend harmonica looks like a chromatic harmonica, but its not. In an interview with audioculture conducted while he was on a decem. Cathal johnson harmonica repairs harmonica testimonials. Audiocassette reissue of a 1994 release on the punch records label in england. If you order the book add on, we will ship the book and brendan power will email you a. With the slider out the harmonica played a low d scale in solo tuning. What kind of harmonica the guy uses in the shape of my heart. This is largely down to the work of brendan power and mick kinsella, both of whom joined us at the uk harmonica festival in bristol 2010. While brendans new irish harmonica cd inpired me and many others the play irish tunes on the harmonica, i always considered the ornaments to be too hard. These two tunes are included brendan powers two tutorial books. Brendan power is probably the best known player of irish harmonica, due to his album new irish harmonica and his work with the riverdance show. Growing up in castlebar, county mayo, frank attended many trad sessions before moving to london in 1986.
Thanks to his performing in riverdance the playing of new zealander brendan power has done much to. Brendan power the drunken landlady cd lament for the 21st. Brendan power hot on the heels of my irish session harp. Equally at ease on both the earthy blues harp as well as the. In new irish harmonica green linnet glcd 3098, new zealand native brendan power has produced a sparkling album that more than adequetly demonstrates the suitability of this instrument for the music. Suddenly you can play irish jigs and reels on the diatonic harp with great. Brendan power is a new zealand harmonica player, composer and inventor, living in britain.
Once you get used to a 4octave bass blues harmonica it is very. The layout of the low octave is the same as that of a. Youll instantly realise that when you check out the video below. 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. 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. 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. Celtic harmonica players today include brendan power, mentioned above, who played with the riverdance band, americans mark graham and rick epping, and scotsman donald black see discography. Suddenly you can play irish jigs and reels on the diatonic harp with great speed and facility. Its played on an alldrawbreath harmonica i invented. Equally at ease on both the earthy blues harp as well as. Im happy to have been commissioned by jp allen to make some videos for. The following is a list of selected celtic harmonica recordings. The future of the harmonica by brendan power free reed. Brendan power is a specialist in the field and will make you up a harp to suit, but this is not a cheap option.
Traditional irish tunes played on diatonic and chromatic harmonicas by an all ireland champion. Harmonica nights, an album by brendan power on spotify. New irish harmonica by brendan power on the session. Comprehensive foundation book for stock chromatics in g and d package consists of. Buy cd state of the harp, cd harmonica nights, play irish music on the blues harp instructional pack book and two entrylevel harps, cd lament for the twenty first century, cd back to back and more. The 10 hole diatonic is the biggest selling harmonica of all. 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.
The best harmonica for irish music the best harmonica for irish music. Of course, the word diatonic applies not just to 10hole harps but also to the 12holes glenn weisers excellent bookcd set on irish and american fiddle tunes for harmonica recommends these for many. Brendan is also widely available on youtube and through suzukis harmonica instructional information. The harmonica is an amazingly versatile instrument and this particular album is a perfect introduction to irish harmonica styles. I just posted this as an mp3 here, hope you like it. I have discovered by careful comparison that these are. 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. Join me and brendan power for a discussion and examples of different tunings for the diatonic harmonica. 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. This is largely down to the work of brendan power and mick.
Ive written a book for it, and also offer handtuned paddy richter diatonics to go with. 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. As you will hear from the video, this is a completely new harmonica type with a unique sound. Played on my 12 hole slide diatonic, with slide decorations that sound authentic for traditional. 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. Easttop brendan power asiabend harmonica the harmonica. For those who think that the harmonica is only good for folk or blues music, guess again. Irish and american fiddle tunes for harmonica, a bookcd package by glenn weiser a celtic harmonica discography by don meade can be found here. This is the website for professional harmonica playermaker brendan power. The easttop brendan power lucky harmonica has it all. Brendan power harmonica, with des hurley fiddle, chris newman guitar, bass, mandolin, peter houlahan bodhran, shaker, maire ni chathasaigh piano source and other information.
Apr 21, 2020 brendan power is a new zealandborn harmonica wizard, one of the most creative and versatile harmonica players and makers around today. However the play irish music on the blues harp package has changed this. May 08, 2010 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. 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. Brendan power is a new zealander who has developed a considerable reputation for his concert and recording work featuring the harmonica. May 16, 2016 it was the first step on a fascinating musical journey that has seen power score international acclaim, not just for his playing but for his creative innovations on the instrument itself. Playing irish music on a chromatic harmonica in the key of. Brendan power has taken this music of his heritage and has lifted it to its highest level. Of course, the word diatonic applies not just to 10hole harps but also to the 12holes glenn weisers excellent bookcd set on irish and american fiddle tunes for harmonica recommends these for many tunes and, not least, to tremolo harps which, before brendan power, mick kinsella and james conway came along, were the harmonicas most. With his arsenal of customdesigned and customised chromatic and diatonic harmonicas, he writes. My lagan love is a song to a traditional irish air collected in 1903 in northern donegal. Ive written a book for it, and also offer handtuned paddy richter diatonics to go with the book or buy separately. See all 5 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. 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.
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