From: "Ansel Barnum" <barnum@...>
> Perhaps I was trying to articulate (albeit poorly) the obvious--namely,
> that learning other positions is just plain hard for us mortals. What
> makes it especially tormenting is that each position uses the very same
> notes one may already be intimately familiar with from another position,
> but which are now suddenly foreign only because they are played in a
> different sequence. It doesn't matter if one knows second position inside
> and out. Learning fourth position is like learning second for the first
> time. That's what makes positions so elusive, and so maddening.


It's just a matter of how you want to think of it. If you accept the fact
that positions relate to modes, then it makes playing modal music easier,
not harder. If you want to play an Ionian major tune, like Soldier's joy,
play it in 1st position. If you want to play a Mixolydian tune, like Old Joe
Clark or June apple, play it in second position. If you want to play a
Dorian tune, like Scarborough Fair, play it in 3rd position. If you want to
play an Aeolian tune, like God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, play it in 4th
position. Lydian tune, like the theme song for the TV show Meet George
Jetson, play it in 12th position.

Lots of music is modal. Rather than torture yourself over the different
intervals of the different modes, play the position that matches the mode of
the tune and you don't have to think about anything, the note intervals are
already correct. That's why so many diatonic instruments are touted as being
easy to play/can't play a sour note, etc. Sure there are lot's of people on
this list that can play chromatically, and can play D Ionian Major on their
C harp, but it's easier to just play the tune in 1st position on a D harp
though :0)

Peace and music,
Dave

_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@...
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l