Wednesday, 30 December 2020

Book: Blues Harp & Marine Band (Schackner, 1976).


Everything you always wanted to know about the Blues Harp & Marine Band: But didn't know who to ask!
Schackner, A. B. (1976). Everything you always wanted to know about the Blues Harp & Marine Band: But didn't know who to ask! New York: Warner Bros.

ISBN 9780769256108

Review
This book was one of those local thrift shop finds that took my interest straight away. Finally, I have a brief and accurate text on how the Hohner Blues Harp and Marine Band harmonicas work... For someone that is not really interested in learning how to play these instruments, that may seem a little strange. But it is the fact that I have accompanied harp players when I have been playing my guitar; and when I have a better understanding of how their instrument works I can apply that knowledge to my playing and my choice of music.
I've seen and browsed through other Harmonica Instruction and Study titles by authors such as Jon Gindick and Steven Manus ; however, I knew that Blues Harp & Marine Band had the information I was seeking about the selection and use of harmonicas for country and blues styles of music.
This book may be forty years old and is just 48 pages and held together with a thick card cover and a couple of staples. It may not last much longer, judging by the number of times I've picked it up and read parts of it over the last couple of weeks. It was worth every penny of my donation.

Other reading of related texts
One of the best introductions to professional harmonica players of the modern era would have to be Kim Field's Harmonicas, Harps, and Heavy Breathers: The evolution of the people's instrument (1995). There are a number of editions of this book: I read it about six years ago when the Hobsons Bay Library (Melbourne, Australia) held a copy of an earlier edition. Unfortunately, they seem to have disposed of this book.
Field, K. (2000). Harmonicas, Harps, and Heavy Breathers: The evolution of the people's instrument. New York, N.Y: Cooper Square Press. ISBN 1461661021 9781461661023.
-- By the way, a great review of Harmonicas, Harps, and Heavy Breathers is on the Brighton (UK) website HarpSurgery; run by harmonica professional and teacher Richard Taylor (RW Steele-Taylor; known as “Wilf” on the HarpSurgery forums). Also look for their annual Harpin' by the Sea festival of harmonica music.
As this book Blues Harp & Marine Band is mostly about the instrument and its operation (as opposed to teaching known songs for the harp), I relate it to my other books on guitars and amps.
-- 2023: Just borrowed this book from the Hobsons Bay Library Altona North branch (APA 7th Edition citation style):
Brocksmith B. Dorfman G. & Lichterman D. (2018). How to play harmonica : a complete guide for beginners (First Adams Media trade paperback). Adams Media.
This is a short (approx 170pp) and accessible book for beginners and enthusiasts of the Mississippi Saxaphone. I won't be going out to buy my first Marine Band; but I have enjoyed reading it and it has taught me a few things along the way (I didn't realise harp note bends were always flat; for guitars, a note bend is to make the note sharp). It also includes little boxes of Harp Tips (playing, care and maintenance) and Harmonica Heroes (men and women).
See my webpage devoted to my Fender '93 Super Amp that I bought in 1994. It contains a list of most of the books I have devoted to Guitar Amplifiers and some of my electronics books. DARR, J. (1973-3e). Electric guitar amplifier handbook. Indianapolis, H.W. Sams. ISBN 0672208482 9780672208485
LEGG, A. (1981). Customising your electric guitar. London, Kaye & Ward. ISBN 0718237307 9780718237301
WEBER, G. J. (1994). A desktop reference of hip vintage guitar amps. Pflugerville, Tex, Kendrick Books. ISBN 9780964106000

Reference List / In-Text Citation Styles in APA 6th
Please Note: I do not strictly follow APA style in these citations as I would like various technology and media to be able to access these pages.


Schackner, A. B. (1976). Everything you always wanted to know about the Blues Harp & Marine Band: But didn't know who to ask! New York: Warner Bros..

20201230 (update: 20230421)
www.worldcat.org


Unless otherwise noted all books listed were in my personal library at the time of the first blog posting about the book.
Some titles were borrowed from RMIT University libraries during the period 2006-2016, or from Hobsons Bay City Council library.

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