Bach on Melodica

Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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  • #10700
    Daren
    Keymaster

    I finally got round to recording this piece in front of a camera. I recorded it with my new AKG C414 XLS mic, which has quite a neutral, clear sound

    #10701
    Herman van Aartsen
    Participant

    Great performance! By observing your cheeks: are you using circular breathing?

    #10702
    Daren
    Keymaster

    Thanks Herman, yes I learnt to circular breath on melodica when I first started playing, because I wanted a continuous sound. It’s not as hard as it looks!

    #10703
    Alan Brinton
    Participant

    It’s also not as easy as you make it look!

    #10706
    FREDERIC
    Participant

    Could you make a video to explain the circular breathing adapt to the melodica? …. I think that many of us are very interested in this wonderful technique to enrich our practice. It would be a very nice gift from you 😉

    #10707
    Daren
    Keymaster

    Ok, I’ll look into this Frederic…

    #10708
    FREDERIC
    Participant

    thank you so much !

    #10709
    Alan Brinton
    Participant

    There are quite a few instructive and charming circular breathing videos on YouTube, two of which I’ve linked below. I’d be delighted to add one by Daren to my collection. But a question that should perhaps first be addressed is whether any special adaptation of the technique to the melodica is required. I don’t actually have an opinion about this, but maybe Daren, who plays multiple wind instruments, does.


    #10710
    Lowboy
    Participant

    Nice performance Daren and that mic sounds great. Beautiful composition as well. Baroque is my favorite serious music. I think I would be interested in learning circular breathing as well as I seem to run out of air to often before I have finished my musical statements. I will start with Alan’s suggested Youtube videos.

    Lowboy Bootay

    #10711
    Alan Brinton
    Participant

    #10712
    Lowboy
    Participant

    Hi Alan,

    Great video of unique instrument and circular breathing. And I could not help but notice in my YouTube “Up Next” column to the right was this gem of a melodica album: “Gold: The Very Best of Augustus Pablo.” Listen to this album while you (everyone) work around the house and see what it does for you. Still not sure I have fully sorted Augustus out, but he was a true melodica pioneer and created a plot of land for the melodica in modern music. I enjoy listening and learning about the roots reggae and dub music, particularly when it has melodica in it. I am going to Jamaica in a couple of months and look forward to learning more about Augustus, roots reggae, and rocksteady music as I prepare the trip. There is a charm about that old music. Maybe I should bring my melodica. Lowboy

    Gold: The Very Best of Augustus Pablo

    #10713
    Alan Brinton
    Participant

    Okay, I have the album on now. I have several of his albums and have done some listening, but I think your recommendation to have it on in the background is a good one.

    You should take a melodica to Jamaica, Tom. Linda and I are going to Havana on April 24 for nine days. I’d think about taking a melodica with me but am afraid I’d be asked to play it. On the other hand, it would be a good thing to “gift” to someone there, as I’m sure local musicians have a hard time coming by instruments — well, that’s what I’ve heard.

    #10753
    Joanna Funk
    Participant

    The Bach piece sounded so lovely. There’s no way you can play something like that without circular breathing. Quite a feat. And what a cool-looking melodica.?

    #10755
    Daren
    Keymaster

    Thanks Joanna, yes, it really helps in some types of music. Especially f there’s no rests!

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