Claude Garden Biography, 1937-2004-(1)

Back in 1952. A day of this particular year remains deeply engraved in my memory . It's a Saturday afternoon ; we are in an harmonica club called
" CHARM ", founded by Albert Raisner, when Claude Garden appears for the first time in our harmonicist universe, pushing the door of this legendary place, rue des Petites Écuries in Paris. Claude was just fifteen years old. Accompanied on the piano by his mother, he plaid the Mozart Turkish March; all of us were silent, amazed to discover this young boy giving a virtuoso performance with a sensibility promising an exceptional talent. His brilliant career will later confirm it. I still remember the radiant proudness in his mother's eyes. She was and she went on being his most faithful support all along his career. She will be 99 years old this year (2004).

" I began playing harmonica the day I heard Larry Adler playing, thanks to you Larry... ", he told me one day when I was interviewing him(2). His media explosion in the fifties was favoured by the exceptional craze for our instrument during those ten years, " the mouth music golden age ", well known among us who had lived through it. Happy time during which Claude, rapidly, took his place among the greatest. Radios, concerts, recordings, followed at a pace which leaves us dreaming, nowadays. Of this period a good number of recordings still remains, you'll find them listed in the discography at the end of this article. They are mostly classical music records, plus some remarkable variety ones, and among them the " Grisbi " which I personally prefer to Larry Adler's one.

At the beginning of the sixties, the fifties vogue was waning. With the arrival of rock'n roll and the Beatles, a new attractive music mode was offered to the audience, with new instruments, electronic effects, etc. Professional harmonica players do remember sadly this difficult time.

Claude Garden told me : " The fifties quickly ended. By the end of the sixties, I told myself that, just to earn enough to live on, I was going to be obliged to widen the range of my possibilities, to become a little more chameleon. I used to play variety and at that time I was seduced by jazz. I learn jazz with Martial Solal, Nicole Croisille, Luigi Trussardi, Maurice Vander. We often met at the " Living room " in Paris. It was a jazz club where many american jazzmen used to go ". Claude, belonging to the wellknown impresario Johnny Stark's stable, had the luck to go on tour with Jacques Brel, Zizi Jeanmaire, Johnny Halliday, Raymond Devos, etc. But this adventure was going to end badly : Stark had some character... Claude Garden too !

Then came the seventies. Claude added : " Luck came to my help. Thanks to André Dassary (wellknown singer of the time), I was engaged on the transatlantic liner " France ". And there it was again, New York, Montréal, a two years cruise over the North Atlantic, from 1970 to 1972.

That's where I met Salvador Dali... sheer luck again. On the " France " liner, I was often playing Eric Satie pieces. This is how I come to know Dali, he and Satie being among the founders of surrealism, artistic movement popular at the end of the twenties, beginning of the thirties. And that's why, regularly during three or four years, Salvador Dali invited me to play at the Saint Regis Hotel in New York, where he was staying. Then I travelled the world with him. I was very disappointed by the States : in spite of Dali's help, I played there only twice, once in Boston with the Boston Pop Orchestra when I played Arthur Benjamin's Concerto, the second time in New York, at the Carnegie Hall where I played Henri Sauguet's Concerto. To have known Dali had changed my life and my view of things. "

Claude Garden discovered Canada more or less at the same moment. And he fell in love with that country ! After a TV show in Montreal, this french man from " l'aut' bord ", was adopted by his canadian cousins. Félix Leclerc (with whom he made a record), Charlebois, Vigneault, very often invited him to play with them. " Jeunesses Musicales du Quebec " will offer him a great tour in North America with a new formula ; " Duo Harmonica Guitare ", showing a new range of his talent. François Dompierre, composer native of Québec, will write for him " Harmonica Flash " that he will play in concert and will record with the Montréal Philarmonic Orchestra directed by Charles Dutoit, for Deutsche Grammophon. Not coming very often in France, he finally chose to live in Canada until 1985, adopting both nationalities. About Canada, he will say to " have found his roots there ".

He didn't go back directly to France, and always curious to discover the world, he stopped for six months in the Caribbean. He performed in the archipelago, all winter through, with a jazz quartet. He discovered Haïti and found there friends, musicians, dancers and painters who adopted him very quickly. (Claude was also a talented painter, he had studied arts, when he was young, at the Arts Deco in Paris.) During that period, he lived in Haïti, on Black Mountain (the heights of Port au Prince), where he is until now called : " Ti Blanc Gentil ".
By the end of 1985, engaged by the famous conductor Paul Mauriat, Claude toured for the first time in Japan. Discovering the country of the Rising Sun, he fell in love with it, a love that will only come to an end on a very sad autumn morning of 2004.

Since 1986, we have been, Claude and I, having a relationship, at the same time friendly and professional when I distributed two of his records under my label PSB. By the end of the eighties, during five years, he gave lessons in a music shop, the
" Ménétrier ", rue de Rome in Paris, street wellknown all around the world as the street of instruments builders.
It happened only once in the harmonica French history : the European Paris Conservatoire, rue des Francs Bourgeois, proposed Claude to open a chromatic harmonica class. There were not enough applications and so the project never came into existence. We can only regret it, this could have given to our instrument a nobility that we surely need.

In 1992, back for a tour in Japan where harmonica is king, Claude became in this country a worshipped star, giving every single year series of sold out concerts, tours and master classes, TV shows and private lessons. Following his advice an instrument manufacturer, Suzuki, created a fourteen holes chromatic harmonica, the
" Magic Garden ". Being myself often in Japan and Pete Pedersen also, we sometimes shared with Claude unforgettable moments. I keep in my mind a strong souvenir of his participation to the Atsugi Festival in 2002 ; the " Hotshot's ", the " Adler trio " and my friends Juko Saïto and Yasuho Watani were also there. Just for you to appreciate the interest for that kind of event in Japan, you must know that there were 28000 entries during this five days festival.

Since 1990 until the beginning of this century, Claude Garden, travelled from concert to concert around the world: Germany, USA, China, Korea, Malaysia, Canada, Taiwan,etc. But surprisingly, he performed scarcely in France.

But there is also Claude Garden the composer. Here is what he told me in the interview he gave me :
" My constant worry was to compose for the register of the technical and melodic possibilities of the instrument. I began writing twenty years ago. My first composition " Alexandra " was dedicated to my youngest daughter. She is now twenty three. " (Claude has got another daughter, Maud.) " At that time, my compositions were directed towards a New Age style putting particularly in advantage the harmonica tones. Then came my
" Suite enfantine ", etc. ". Claude composed many other harmonica pieces and among them, four compositions in his last jazz record " Garden Club ".

Very famous musicians composed for him : Henri Sauguet, Astor Piazzola, Charles Dutoit, François Dompierre. Here is a brief summary of what has been said, here and there, on Claude :
" I had the great pleasure to compose the " Garden Concerto " for Claude Garden. Because of him, harmonica has a new dimension, and he is the undisputed master of it. He has got the most intelligent technic and sound. " Henri Sauguet.
" I did not know that existed such an harmonicist able to play classical, jazz or latin music. When Claude Garden asked me to write him a concerto, I didn't know him. As soon as I heard him play I knew he was a great musician." Astor Piazzola.
" When I recorded " Harmonica Flash " with Claude Garden for Deutsche Grammophon, I discovered a new harmonica I had not imagined. " Charles Dutoit.
" Besides an unbelievable musicality and an unfailing technic, Claude Garden never lapsed into vulgarity. " François Dompierre.
" For me Claude Garden, being my friend... is not Claude Garden...He is the very symbol of harmonica. " Salvador Dali.

In 1995, at the IHO/FIH World Festival in Yokohama to which Larry Adler and Claude took part, during a breakfast at the Continental hotel, Larry told me : " He can do everything. With him and a few others like Watani, I am convinced that my succession is assured. "
At he beginning of August 2004, we were together at the 5th Asiatic Festival in Hong Kong. Although he was tired, Claude made once more the demonstration of his great talent during a jazz concert, greeted by a well deserved standing ovation.
It was in Hong Kong, at the Ramada hotel in Kowloon, during a hot summer evening, when, for the last time, we met Claude and I, for a friendly drink. The next morning he was taking a plane to Japan, where faithful to his audience, overcoming his suffering, Magic Garden brilliantly proved, for the last time, how great was his talent. We knew it, we won't forget it.

On Thursday December the 9th 2004, Claude died in St Joseph hospital in Paris. He now lies in Bagneux cemetery.
One day he had said : " The harmonica has been for me a symbol of liberty and also my best passport across the world. "

Sayonara Claude.

Jean Labre
English translation : Josette Labre
photo c/o Claude Garden

©2005 by Jean Labre

(1) Claude Garden was born at Verneuil sur Avre (Normandie), the 27th of Februar 1937.
(2) The mentioned above interview was realised by Jean Labre, in his residence, on November the 6th 2002. All the interventions of Claude Garden in this article are taken from this interview, published in the magazine " Echos France Harmonica " N°40 (Winter 2002/2003)




DISCOGRAPHY

It is not an exhaustive list. Claude Garden has been recording so many times in half a century that I do not pretend to give you here the integrality of his works. My friends and myself are proposing you the essential of what we have selected .

9265410V FONTANA " Les Rois de l'Harmonica "
S63082 CBS " Claude Garden Harmonica "
839851 GSY PHILIPS " L'harmonica et son virtuose Soirée Musicale "
995021 BARCLAY " Inédits ORTF Garden Concerto "
AG35701 AGAVE SONOPRESS "Music Garden"
RC1443 RADIO CANADA "International Transcription"
9500999 PHILIPS "Claude Garden Mundharmonica"
G05578R PHILIPS " Harmonica et son virtuose Classique pour tous "
2531265 DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON " Harmonica Flash "
EPS 1222 VOGUE " Harmonica Concert Claude Garden "
460 072 VOGUE " Claude Garden Harmonica 1 "
EPS 1249 VOGUE " Claude Garden Harmonica 2 "
842851 PHILIPS " Texas Rider "
Collection Claude Garden Production
87701 PSB " Mes Rappels Préférés " Claude Garden Harmonica/classique vol.1 (cassette)
4232 PSB " L'Harmonica " Claude Garden
Harmonica/classique vol.2 (cassette)
AMPLITUDE/Canada/ CD Felix Leclerc - Claude Garden / Yvan Gadoua Productions
INCDCD 111 " Tender harmonica stories " INTERMÈDE COM
INCD 5001 " That's what friends are for " CD. Amplitude Canada (variety)
VICG-8069 Victor Ent. Japon " Mélodies Claude Garden " Classic CD: Gossec, Desportes, Mozart, Kriesler, and Japanese classics : Miyagi, Sugiyama

Série " Prestige de l'Harmonica " (3 CD. Bleu, Blanc, Rouge)
ILD 642206 " Claude Garden vol.1 " : Hasse, Vivaldi, Mozart, Pergolèse, Purcell, Sarasate,
Debussy, Gounod, Dinicu, St Saëns, Fauré.
ILD 642207 " Claude Garden vol.2 " : Paganini, Teleman, Bach, Schubert, Donizetti, Albinoni, Vivaldi, Grieg, Beethoven, Bartok.
ILD 64208 " Claude Garden vol.3 "  : Bach, Marcello, Ibrt, Satie, Chopin, Schumann, Ravel, Katchaturian, Benjamin, De Falla.
These 3 CD are available. Contact ILD : tel : (33)1.48.25.29.41.
J.L.001 "Yokohama 95" compilation CD : Claude Garden, Larry Adler, Pete Pedersen, Charlie Mc Coy, Franz Chmel, Don Les, Mo Vint, Jean Labre, Juko Saito, Shigeaki Iwasaki... available on this website, in http://www.jeanlabre.com/english/cd.html.

CD Jazz " Garden Club ", his last album available on this website, in http://www.jeanlabre.com/english/cd.html.

.
Published December 16th 2014

Harmonica... Accordéon... Accordina...

The first 20 years of the nineteenth century were prolific in inventions, starting with the harmonica and its many derivatives, fruit of imaginative inventors and perfectionistic to the extreme ...
I invite you to revisit with my inventions of this period in the field of the free reed, which after a series of successive mutations will result in the birth of the accordion.

We are in 1821, in Germany, Christian Friedrich Buschmann invented a small instrument, the Aura, 10cm long, with 15 metal strips that vibrate in the breeze. The aura is simple, almost foolproof and has the characteristics of the harmonica as we know it.

1822 - Following its invention in the previous year, Friedrich Buschmann imagine to associate a small bellows to the Aura, demonstrating that it was be possible to substitute mechanical breathing to human breath. The first fruit of this experience will be baptized Handäoline (hand éoline, photo).
The succession of inventions that will follow, starting from the same reasoning, shows that Buschmann was indeed the precursor of the accordion (which later became the "accordéon").

1827 — In Paris, Marie Candide Buffet, tuner by trade, invented the metal mouth harmonica (photo below), in his workshop in Rue des Blancs Manteaux, Paris, fourth arrondissement. Buffet's company will experience a rapid and successful development, forcing him to distribute the production in private homes in town. One of them, Jacob Alexander, created in turn, in 1928, a firm specializing in the manufacturing of these instruments.

The number of instruments that will be invented at that time will not cease to grow. What will bring Buffet Marie Candide to move into larger premises, rue des Francs Bourgeois in the Marais.

Having reached the same conclusions as Christian Friedrich Buschmann, he invented a new instrument based on the principle of mechanical bellows called the accordion, of which he will he will therefore ensure the production.

It seems that with some others (Buffon, Wheatstone, Demian, Hohner, etc.), M.C. Buffet has manufacture and sell this new instrument. He will do so until 1837, in collaboration with Mathieu François Isoard, mechanic luthier, always anxious to improve the instrument. He died in 1859 at the age of 62. He will remain a symbol of the passage of the harmonica to accordion.
(Photo Marie Candide Buffet Space, Orgelet, his city of birth, National Heritage Site / Franche Comté).

1829 — Cyril Demian creates the Hand Harmonica, taking out a patent in Vienna May 6, 1829, using the concept borrowed from Christian Friedrich Buschmann handäoline, to replace the human breath by a mechanical bellows.
1829 — the same year in England, Charles Wheatstone invented a small hexagonal instrument similar to the accordion, the concertina, transforming his first invention, the mouth Symphonium (1825) into a Bellows Symphonium (photo below) .

Which will result in 1840/1849 with the invention of the Bandoneon by Heinrich Ban, Germany, whose first models, although square instead of hexagonal, suggested a similarity with the Wheatstone concertina, and, other similarity the gestures of the musicians, a sign of belonging to the same instrumental family.


It is clear that without the invention of the harmonica, the accordion would probably never have emerged at this time.

From Accordion ... to Accordina

1943 — A century later ... The free reed, already generating multiple inventions, re-enters the creative game of musical chairs, which brings us back to square one ... back to the mouth organ with the invention of the accordina.
This hybrid instrument is naturally between accordion and harmonica.
Conceived by André Borel in the 30s, the accordina was patented in December 1943. It borrows from the accordion, its free-reed and chromatic keyboard (44 notes, three and a half octaves). It takes from the harmonica the use of wind produced by the musician and its two side flaps that can modulate the sound, as does the harmonica player with his hands.
The hybrid side of this instrument will harm it long, targeting, wrongly perhaps, an accordionistic public, excluding the area of wind instrument.
Today, Richard Galiano, Francis Jauvin , Daniel Mille, Jean Louis Matinier, Roland Romanelli and Jacques Bolognesi are using it to explore many musical styles: jazz, French songs (Georges Moustaki, touring, preferred the Jouvin accordina to the traditional accordion).

During its history, the accordina will experience several forms of manufacturing. The largest changes occur in the late 50s. The music changed, we must adapt. The brass reeds of the first models will be replaced by stainless steel. Among the new productions, there are "gold" and "silver" models made in the late 60s by Paolo Soprani.
Forgotten for a long time, the accordina rose from its ashes in 1995, rebirth due to Laurent Jarry and Marcel Dreux, since 2002 *.

The different models

— The button accordina
The original was designed and built by André Borel. The 2000 version of Marcel Dreux is a true copy of this instrument with a main change : a plastic mattress. Marcel Dreux produced the 2004 model, taking into account users requirements by replacing the side vents, delicatly cut, allowing the hands to better modulate the sound, and incorporating a pullout, interchangeable (washable). Add to this a very useful coloured keyboar, making it easier to locate.
The sound is warm and powerful. The range covers 3.5 octaves from F to C.
— The piano accordina
It has been designed thinking of the many accordionists playing the piano keyboard, but also of all pianists, penalized by a heavy instrument, who can now carry under their arms a tool that will allow them to more easily integrate in groups, off the cuff.
It offers a range that covers three octaves, from A to A,tuned to 442 Hz
— The Diatonic accordina
This is a accordina said : "2004 buttons". It is united with a sound that matches the fingering of a diatonic 3-rows. It has a warm, powerful sound. It covers 3.5 to 442 Hz octave granted.

The sound of the accordina is so close to the harmonica that I once caught myself listening to recordings ... taking one for the other. The accordina fits happily contemporary music, jazz in particular.

What a progress since the aura of Christian Friedrich Buschmann, and even more since the Chinese Emperor Huang-ti (Huangdi), inventor, 4500 years ago of the Sheng *, ancestor of the harmonica ...
The free reed has probably not finished surprising. The future will tell, stay alert to the round of musical chairs ...

Jean Labre

Sources : Candide Mary Buffet Biography, Trossingen Harmonica Museum, Albert Raisner, Pierre Monichon, Marcel Dreux, excerpts from « The Harmonica Encyclopedia » , Jean Labre, late in writing.

* This is a photo of a Japanese Sho, which appeared in the eighth century, extension of the Chinese sheng.

Photos: Buffet TM Museum, Hohner Harmonica Trossingen museum, Wheatstone museum, Marcel Dreux, Micheline Vicent / Roubert, Agnes Menouillard. </ i>

Copyright © 2012 Jean Labre
Published February 19th 2012

Once upon a time Albert Raisner, Biography*
"Albert left us, in the early hours of this new year, at the age of 88. A life of emotions, discoveries and music. A life dedicated to the harmonica, an instrument so close to his heart, his public and his children. We are happy, in his name, of the joy he may have given to those who followed him and of the contribution he may have made to the development of the harmonica, and we thank you, daddy, for the love you gave us.

Your children
Remy and Richard "

Albert Raisner left us on the first day of 2011, the planet Harmonica is mourning. To tell you about him falls to me and I'll try to do it with the precious help of my memories.

Let's start with our common denominator : the Scouts. We both shared the joys of campfire and music, playing harmonica, long evenings with friends... life good times. One day Albert told me : "... it was the fraternal circle around the campfires that inspired me, much later, the idea of seating the audience in a semi-circle for my TV shows.

And thus, one day I arrived at the harmonica club " Le CHARM ", in Paris, where I was warmly welcomed by Albert himself, and by Robert Deasey, great harmonica player and technical director of this club, of whom the motto was "to chase away the hassles, play the harmonica". By that time I was 17.

I will now recall the personal development of a legend, a man who has been my friend for 63 years.
Albert Raisner, legally named Rufenach, was born September 30,1922, in Apolda, Germany. While attending school and later university with great success, he had begin, since his childhood, to learn music with his father who guided him towards classic. Albert studied violin, piano, clarinet, guitar and bass. But as a child living in Montmartre, he very soon had a fondness for marginal instruments such as the jazzo-flute, kazoo, musical saw and harmonica,of which his father said " this instrument is just good to make goats dance".
Having acquired a solid classical training, he started in the early thirties to study seriously chromatic harmonica in a Scout association " Association Française pour l'Expansion Musicale ", directed by Charles Rodriguez, "Monsieur Ro" (accordionist, violinist, guitarist, band man, philosopher) the first harmonica pioneer in France. Thanks to him, Albert reached a professional level, continually improving by playing in shows in which he took part here and there : " At Pigalle, at around 6:30 p.m., there used to be a musicians market. I was often "bought" for some occasional ball where I was employed in various ways (with a preference for the double bass, because it was the instrument that played the fewest notes and I could lean on it when, at around 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning, fatigue got the better of me!). Sometimes I discreetly took out my chromatic harmonica for a swing or a "valse musette". Surprise and first bravos" he told me later.
Concerning his university cursus, he was crowned with a doctorate in philology. Our eclectic Albert was passionate about foreign languages, he spoke eight of them ! He was German teacher for a few months, but the priority of the musical events compelled him to abandon this course.
His linguistic passion, ease of access to foreign languages enabled him to begin a brilliant international career. He has been rewarded when he was awarded the "Order of Merit Knight". But he did not stop there; he later devoted himself to patronymic philology.
In an other field Albert, always conscious of his figure, was a great sportsman. He has been a university champion in swimming competition (100 meter freestyle) ; he also used to be a regular jogger in the Bois de Boulogne (Paris suburb).

Back to harmonica... We are in 1945, Albert Raisner created the CHARM club in Paris. The idea of an harmonica trio was sticked in his mind, soon he materialized it, approached by Sirio Rossi who was also in quest of an orchestral group.

The affair did not drag on : Adrien Belin joined them as bassist. Sirio as an accomplish musician (also great guitarist) alternated chord and solo with Albert. Thus was born the famous Trio Raisner.
Two years later, a dynamic tap dancer Aster Day (André Dionet) succeeded to Albert Belin on bass. The size difference between the three (André measuring 1m51, Sirio 1m90), naturally generated a scenic acting in the pure musical tradition.
At first, they were hired in the "Special Service shows " (a kind of army theatre) for American soldiers. And there, they rubbed elbows with Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Marlène Dietrich, Mickey Rooney, the Max Brothers, etc.

Back in Paris,he moved in Saint Germain des Prés, lively area, with its in vogue cellars (clubs), cultural meeting places where people used to dance be-bop accompanied by famous jazzmen. The trio attended
the "Vieux Colombier" cellar, at that time fief of Sidney Bechet and Claude Luter .
We are in the fifties, the trio was now showing on at the Olympia, Bobino, ABC theatres, "Concerts Pacra", etc... not only in all prestigious concert halls, but also on the radios, as an extensive discographyµµ and many videos that we find nowadays in the internet are showing it.
The trio was involved in several French and German movies. In 1953, it won the prestigious "Grand Prix du Disque" awarded by the Charles Cros Academy.
The CHARM of the Petites Ecuries was becoming a hub for harmonica in Europe. Circumstances were favorable, beginning by the support of Hohner and its directors Jules Coulon and his brother Yves, and counting even more there was Albert's dynamism. All factors which lead on Albert initiative, to the creation of the FIH (Federation Internationale de l'Harmonica) on October 1950 in Trossingen, immediately followed by festvals such as the one at the Salle Pleyel, in Paris, in 1950, and by the World Harmonica Championships.
From that moment the CHARM was to be host, in its premises, of the upper crust of the harmonica planet : Larry Adler, Dany Kane, Borrah Minevitch, Toots Thielmans, Django Reinhardt, Claude Luter, etc. I used to be a regular visitor to these appointments, accompanied by a realistic singer, Gille who became my wife and the mother of my daughters.
In the late fifties a universal tsunami revolutionized the music world : Rock and Roll! Gene Vincent and his "Virginians", Bill Haley and his "Comets », Elvis Presley put us on fire... Albert included. The repertoire of the trio had to move towards a new style, to a Rock attitude, as many videos on internet are showing it. In London, the trio recorded "Rock Around the Clock" and "Don'be Cruel", other trios were doing the same in France. Later on, Hohner was to produce a "Marine Band" bearing the image of the Beatles.
In 1958, Albert realized an incredible challenge : "Le Tour de France de l'Harmonica" which is still spoken in the cottages! A true marathon relayed by the medias including a weekly radio show : "Three men, three Harmonicas".
But the wind was turning, especially since the CHARM rue des Petites Ecuries had disappeared. Hohner was moving and settled Van Loo street in an severe building... without CHARM ! With a sole survivor from the fifties, Helmut Hohner (descendant of the famous family), a genius for harmonica tuning and repairing .
1960, Albert allowed himself a break, a time for reflection during which he presented on France Inter radio " The 1000 Francs Game ". As an astute businessman he had felt that times were changing and that nothing would ever be as it has been afore. After careful consideration he dissolved his trio and turn to match the outbreak of TV.
Building on the success of a radio program "Salut les Copains"(Europe 1, by Daniel Flipacchi) gathering numerous young people, he also relied on youth and set as an objective to undertake the same approach on our good old TV with only one channel, in black an white!

Bet won! With the first issue of " Tender Age and Wood Head ". The tone was given by a young and enthusiastic participation, dancing the Twist on the TV stage ! Albert invented "Wooden Head", escaped from a small puppet animation, to which he lent his voice. With an innate sense of logistics and the ability to adapt himself to all direct TV situations, we may consider that Albert has been the forerunner of TV variety shows in France. The proof is that his show is still in the top 5 of the best TV shows of the past century.
" Tender Age " disappeared in 1966, renamed " Wood Head and Tender Years". This issue disappeared definitively in 1968. Albert played host in others TV shows, like Europarty, Point show in which he received Jimmy Hendriks.
For over a decade, many artists will scroll on the sets of his program, including : Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan, Dick Rivers, Sheila, Claude François, Jacques Brel, The beach Boys, Michèle Torr, and some more.

13 Juillet 1979, Albert married Brigitte Konjovic, they had two sons, Remy and Richard.
The late eighties and early nineties changed all that, improved communications, the beginning of internet and the concomitant birth of I.H.O. (International Harmonica Organization). I am grateful to Albert for having urged me to join this association, of which I later became Europe vice President.

Therefore, I didn't not fail to keep him to date as it was the case during a radio show on "radio Montmartre". Albert has been Honorary President of the International Festival FIH/IHO, October 1999, as evidenced on the photo, appearing from left to right : John Walton (UK), at this time president of I.H.O., Albert founder of the FIH and me.

He also has been an enthusiastic guest of our Autumn rendez-vous Harmo-Beaujo until 2002.

What about the writer ? Further his writings on philology, his
" Book of the Harmonica " (editor : Editions du Temps Passé), is still nowadays our mouth music bible. Other books : "L'aventure Pop" (Editor Laffont), a subject that fascinated him as an outcome of his rock adventure, then his " General Method for Harmonica" (editor Hohner), preface by Darius Milhaud. I won't forget the press man with, in 1960, the output of the magazine " Harmonica Magazine " printed in 20.000 copies, sold on newsstands. He often spoke in " Harmonica, Accordion and Music » magazine, featuring repeatedly on the front cover.
Such a journey deserves to focus on the personality of Albert Raisner, on his qualities : I would like to put first pugnacity associated to a subtle intelligence , allied to a virtuosity to practice lobbying ; our Albert always very spruce, often attracted attention at trade shows and other public events. But in such circumstances people doesn't always become friends ! He did not pay attention to that, ignoring the critics. To summarize, we can say that he was seasoned to overcoming obstacles, subtle like a Stradivarius, powerfull like a Ferrari. An Albert to whom later something extraordinary has arrived : " My harmonica played nothing but lullabies! Between two bottles it has found four extremely attentive little ears : Remy and Richard were given to me like a double sun! " This is where we discover the hidden face of the man.

His health condition was worsening, it was now in his home that I was going to visit him, each time bringing him from Germany klösse, a traditional German course he loved. I saw him for the last time two years ago,he was greatly weakened by the disease, but this didn't prevent us from recalling memories of our Enlightened years...

Our long journey ended at the dawn of January 1, 2011.
God be praised, myths are immortal.

- Jean Labre

Photo: Albert's two sons Remy and Richard with the celebrate singer Michèle Torr
Published February 11th 2011

Web Address Book of Friends' Websites

You'll find here a list of friends' web links, all occupations included, that I particularly advise you to consult. Some are official sites of the persons, others are just websites with dedicated and interesting pages. Good visits, good contacts.

Photo: Josette Labre

-A-
Adler Larry : http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Adler
Amadéi Ange : http://www.vickylayne.com
André Christian : http://www.christian-andre.com

-B-
Baker Don : http://www.donbaker.ie
Baker Steve : http://www.stevebaker.de
Barefoot Lano : http://www.mountain-men.com
Beata Kossowska : http://www.beata-kossowska.com
http://www.unitedbluesexperience.de
Beija : http://beija.fashion.free.fr
Benoit Blue Boy : http://www.blueboy.free.fr
Berton Christelle : http://www.christelleharpqueen.net
Boh Teck Keong : http://www.harmonica.org.sg
Bonfiglio Robert : http://www.robertbonfiglio.com
Bunge Jens : http://www.jazzpages.com/jensbunge/bio_e.htm

-C-
Cagnon Laurent : http://www.laurentcagnon.fr
Caujolle Gilbert : http://gilbert.gc.free.fr
Cham-Ber Huang : http://www.bassharp.com/cbh.htm
Chapoutier Michel : http://www.chapoutier.com
Chapuis Jean Claude : http://www.glassmusic.org
Charlier Sébastien : http://www.sebcharlier.com
Chmel Franz : http://www.chmel-classic.de
Chong Ah Kow : http://www.MyHarmonicaWorld.com
Crommen Thierry : http://www.myspace.com/thierrycrommen

-D-
Daane Art : http://www.artdaane.nl
Del Aor Lara : http://www.delaor.fr
Deurloo Hermine : http://www.herminedeurloo.com
Duncan Phil : http://www.melbay.com/authors.asp?author=136
Dunn Keith : http://www.keithdunn.com

-E-
Emmenecker Jean Louis : http://www.jlemmenecker.com
Eyers Tony : http://www.HarmonicaAcademy.com

-F-
Filisko Joe : http://www.filisko.com
Franco de Gemini : http://www.beatrecords.it
Frerejacques Eric : http://www.frerejacques.org
Fukamachi Jun : http://www.fukamachi-jun.com
Yonnet Frederic : http://www.fredyonnet.com

-G-
Galison William : http://www.williamgalison.com
Goulet Olivier : http://www.lemondedekota.com
Gordon Eddie : http://www.bassharp.com/edgordon.htm
Grégoire Emile : http://www.croch.info
Groven Sigmund : http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sigmund_groven
Guemy Yves : http://www.harpl.com

-H-
Häffner Martin : http://www.harmonika-museum.de
Hambley David :
Harmonica Aficionados Society : http://www.aphf2010.org
Harmonicas de France: http://harmonicasdefrance.free.fr
Harmonica-Kids : http://www.khac.co.kr
Herbineaux Pierre : http://www.aurec.com/harmonica_parade.htm
Herblin Michel : http://www.herblin.com
Herzhaft David : http://www.harmo.com
Hohner : http://www.hohner.fr & http://www.hohnerusa.com
Ho Pak-Cheong : http://home.netvigator.com/~cblau/khq
Hotvill's (The) : http://the.hotvills.free.fr

-I-
Intermezzo Duo : http://duo.intermezzo.free.fr

-J-
Janssen Rob : http://www.fatamorganamusic.nl
Japanese Toys, Jacky Broutin : http://www.pitcheetoy.com

-K-
Ker Ourio Olivier : http://www.kerourio.com
Koch Robert : http://juke-myharmonicablog.blogspot.com/
Kowalczyk Bruno : http://www.perso.wanadoo.fr/bruno.kowalczyk
Kurnow Bruce : http://www.brucekurnow.com
Kwak : http://www.kwak.fr

-L-
Lassey Paul http://www.paullassey.com
Lau Chun-Bong : http://home.netvigator.com/~cblau/khq
Leclerc Patrice : http://www.pc.leclerc.free.fr
Lee Oskar : http://www.leeoskar.com
Leroux Antoine : http://www.harmo.eu/antoine
Leroux Jean François : http://www.tigrune-music.com
Levy Howard : http://www.levyland.com
Lok Ying-Kei Rocky : http://home.netvigator.com/~cblau/khq

-M-
Madcat Peter harmonica : http://www.madcatmusic.net
Major Pigalle : http://www.majorpigalle.com
Mascret Christian : http://pagesperso-orange.fr/harmonica-jazz-cm/
Maunoury Catherine : http://www.catherine-maunoury.fr
Mc Coy Charlie : http://www.charliemccoy.com
Maur Laurent : http://www.laurent-maur.com
Miller Walt : http://www.geocities.com/artdaane/wmiller.htm
Milteau Jean Jacques : http://jjmilteau.free.fr
Minevitch Borrah : http://www.geocities.com/artdaane/minevitch.htm
Mississipi River/Lubos Bena & Matej Ptaszek : http://www.lubosbena.sk
Muller Gerhard : http://www.harmonicamento.de
Musique & Santé : http://www.musique-sante.org
Musselwhite Charlie : http://www.charliemusselwhite.com

-N-
Nguyen Jean Louis : http://harmonicasoleil.ifrance.com

-O-
O'Cantina cafe : http://www.ocantinacafe.com

-P-
Pedersen Pete : http://www.pete-pedersen.com
Plas Rachelle : http://www.myspace.com/raachelleplas
Poumay Olivier : http://www.myspace.com/olivierpoumay
Power Brendan : http://www.brendan-power.com
Powers Joe : http://www.joepowers.com
Pribojszki Matyas : http://www.matyaspribojszki.com
PSB : http://www.psb-musique.com

-R-
Rossignols : http://www.myspace.com/lesrossignols

-S-
Saubestre Claude : http://www.harmonica-passion.fr.st
Scillia Mario : http://marioscillia.free.fr
Seydel : http://www.seydelusa.com
Sowa Eddy : http://www.eddysovart.no
SPAH : http://www.spah.org
Sudo Miyoko : http://www.green.dti.ne.jp/harmonica
Suzuki : http://www.suzukimusic.com/harmonicas & http://www.harmonica-online.com/artists/index.html
Szlapczynski Greg : http://www.gregzlap.com
Smith Al & Judy : http://www.geocities.com/artdaane/hotshots.htm

-T-
Thielemans Toots : http://www.tootsthielemans.com
Thollon Alexandre : http://www.alexandrethollon.com
Tigrune Music : http://www.tigrune-music.com
Trobridge Roger/NHL : http://www.harmonica.co.uk

-V-
Van Straaten Roland : http://www.straaten.com
Verbeke Steve : http://www.steve-verbeke.com
Vint (Mo) Maurice : http://www.harmonicats.net
Vital : http://www.vitaletvous.fr
Voce Ventu : http://www.voceventu.com

-W-
Walton John : http://web.me.com/channingwalton/John_Robert_Butler_Walton/
Warschkow Uwe : http://www.uwewarschkow.com
Wilson Dany : http://www.bassharp.com
Wolfsberger Maria : http://www.missionarinnen-christi.de
Wonder Stevie : http://www.steviewonder.net

-Y-
Yonnet Frederic : http://www.fredyonnet.com
Yushing Yoshida : http://www.yushing.jp

-Z-
Zazapat Patrice : http://zazapat.free.fr
Zither Association : http://www.cithare.eu
Published October 14th 2010

Harmonica culture in the Merlion Country
The 8th « Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival » took place in Singapore from the 30th of July to the 2nd of August, in this surprising modern State/City, the architecture of which is easily revalising with our western megapoles. The Festival was placed under the presidency of the Culture Minister Lui Tuck Yew, and under the protective gaze of the symbol of the city, the Merlion.

As I have already informed you in a precedent article, it is usual, in Asia, to share all harmonica festivals with neighbouring countries. Apart from the organizing countries (Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, China, Philippines), Australia, New Zealand and USA were present on this festival. Together with a few Europeans, representatives of Germany, France (Hotvill's Trio and myself), and also this year, the remarkable presence of India and Thailand.

In Singapore, the harmonica culture and its practice are worth our attention. A lot of facts are contributing to assure its development : sponsors, TV, medias, etc. and more specifically the institutions are considering that harmonica is an instrument in its own right, like other instruments (in classical, jazz, variety and folk musics), and this position is generating official helps like the recognition of the harmonica professors, help for adjustments of teaching and practicing premises, help to the association "Harmonica Aficionados Society" associated to
" The Singapore Harmonica Instructors and development Center " (under the impulse of the dynamic Victor Tang Yuen Wai). The poster (below) already gives you an overall view of the activities generated by these associations.
Concerning the "8th Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival", we must say that its organization was perfect, as it was well run since 16 years. Everything was going crescendo from the opening ceremony with the fantastic traditional acrobatic dance of the dragon to the closing ceremony, apotheosis of this Harmonica "Jamboree".

The outstanding fact of this Festival was indisputably the Harmonica Championships consisting of 7 categories (youth, junior, senior separated in each category).
I had the pleasure to be a jury member for the chromatic and ensemble categories in company of my friends Willy Burger, Yasuo Watani, He Jia Yi, Johnny Kuan. Exciting job
in spite of the large number of candidates.
Let's pay a tribute to Victor Tang Yuen Wai who was in charge of the logistic organization of these Championships.

Attractive workshops and conferences had drawn people interested in many subjects, technical or cultural, concerning our instrument. As far as I am concerned I led a workshops on the theme : " Birth and History of a small instrument : the Harmonica ".
During four days a lot of harmonica makers had booths in which people could compare the possibilities offered by the instruments, with technicians at their disposal.
The site " Suntec Singapore International Convention ", in which the Festival took place, was perfectly adapted to this event, air-conditioned and with a very good sound system, ideal conditions for three days of open stages encountering a great success.
Another open stage place was " The Universal Studio ", stick-copy of the Los Angeles one, there visitors coming from everywhere had a chance to see an extra show with harmonica players also coming from everywhere.
It is difficult to evaluate the number of participants in this Festival, people are agreeing to say around 15.000, may be more, including families competitors, harmonica players, harmonica associations, technicians, and visitors.
And to crown it all, the concert which took place in the so beautiful architecture of the " Esplanade Concert Hall " with featuring : the Hong-Kong Association Symphonic Orchestra, Juko Saito, Chong Ah Kow, Lee Hea Bong,, He Jia Yi, Yasuo Watani, Jens Bunge, Willy Burger, Brendan Power, Jean Labre, the Hotvill'Trio.

The closing ceremony was exceptional with a great number of awards distributed with enthusiasm, punctuated with shows of competition winners, a retrospective
show of musical comedies (West Side Story, etc.), " The King's Harmonica Quintet " and
" The Harmonica Malaysia Orchestra " (60 harmonica players) directed by Chong Ah Kow.

By the end of this evening, Malaysia was nominated as the country in charge of the organization of the next " 9th Pacific Harmonica Festival " which will take place in Kuala Lumpur, in 2012.

Jean Labre

Many thanks to my friendsBoh Teck Keong and Victor Tang Yuen Wai.

photos : H.A.S. (Harmonica Aficionados Society) and Jean Labre
Copyright © 2010 Jean Labre
Published October 12th 2010

Mouthorgan Culture in the Batavian Country

Netherlands have been for a long time up among the leaders of the mouthorgan culture. The "Veldhoven Festival 2010"(*1)has been one more time, a brillant demonstration, under the sign of the diversity, celebrating at this beginning of May the 25th anniversary of the "Veldhovense Mondharmonika Vereniging" orchestra, created in 1985 by the lamented Peter Janssen. A period rich in major international events including the foundation of the IHO (Internationa Harmonica Organization),at Peter's initiative,and of which he will be the first president.
It is in the same time that the NOVAM will be created, an association which includes together accordion and harmonica players.

Back to the past
I invite you to discover with me the "Mondharmonika" road so dearly travelled over by our Dutch friends. The departure point was, at the beginning of the thirties, with Max Geldray (1916-2004), Van Gelden for the civil registration, who in 1932, while he was only 16 years old, received as a gift, a chromatic harmonica. Admirer of Borrah Minevitch he lost no time before falling in the pothole. He to began with the creation of the "Mondharmonika Band" group, with Geert van Driesten, followed by "The Hollander Boys" quartet creation. In 1934 he began a soloist career which will come to an end one day of Autumn 2004 in Palm Spring (USA).
Named all over the world, and indisputably as "The First Harmonica Jazz Player", he established himself, over the decades as being a musician endowed with a "swing", with an innate sense of outstanding improvisation, that will gain him the right to play with the biggests : Coleman Hawkins, Jo Bouillon, Ray Ventura, Duke Ellington, Django Reinhardt and the "Hot Club de France", Michel Warlop, etc.
On the initiative of Borrah Minevitch, during a European tour of the famous "Rascals"; he will be occasional soloist in the quintet ‘The Hotcha Boys" at the end of the thirties.
Our globe trotter will stay a last time in Holland in 1995, before returning definitively to Palm Spring, dedicating himself till the end of his life to harmonica therapy, contributing in the association "Jazz Without Booze" as well as with patients in a friendly private hospital; never missing an opportunity to take part in jam sessions, here or there, in café concerts of Palm Spring, harbour of rest of the Hollywood stars.
It exists à boxset of 2 CD's ofMax Geldray, under the label "Frémaux Associés", reference "Harmonica Swing Années 20.30.40 50". Contact: http://www.fremaux.com & fax (33)1-43652422.

The harmonica current of the fifties will see the appearance of the traditional Harmonica trios, including the chromatic solo, the chord and the bass.
The trio "Hotcha"(1949-1970) is the perfect illustration of it (*2).
This trio remains, even nowadays, one of the world references, with the Dutch peculiarity of giving to the bass player the leading position in the trio, usually devolved to the soloist chromatic. Geert Van Driesten, legendary bass player, was the first one to do so, efficiently assisted by at the chromatic Joop Heijman and Jan Vink playing chord, vinetta and polyphonia. Some other partners will arise during decades (Eddie Sernie, Henk van Dipte, Lee Kuipers, Gijs vd Wiel, Wim and Cor Belder, Johan Janssen and few others).
From there will born the Dutch bass culture that we rediscover nowadays in the performances of Ronald Kaminga, with "Fata Morgana", with the young Lucïen Winterberg, son of Joop, celebrated chord player, in the "Multicats" trio as well as in many other ensembles, from trios to orchestras.
Geert Van Driesten was also the founder of the first harmonica school of Rotterdam, assisted by his wife who conducted in this period an orchestra of 35 harmonica players.
People can consider that it is in this period that a national craze for harmonica orchestras was born, so adding one more jewel to the dutch cultural range.

Since the eighties, at the instigation of dynamic executives such as: Peter Janssen, Frans Bosmans, Meine Segveld, Joop Winterberg until now with Viola Barends (photo left), the vogue of ensembles has not stopped growing, with the providential help brought by the NOVAM.
I still remember "The Veldhoven Festival 2002" during which, as a jury member, I had to note 12 orchestras of 11 to 30 performers ;, and this year 5 orchestras which have met, during the competition in 2010 Festival a well deserved success... it was not easy to come to a choice between them.
If I had to quote names of dutch players wich became famous during the previous decades , other than those already quoted in this article, I would retain, in an approximative chronological order, those of : Lee Kuypers (fifties) an itinerant concert performer, notably in France, "The Snapshots" (fifties and sixties), Larryson, Larry Robert and his "Chromonika Group Da Capo", Karel Jansen, Frank Verwey (sixties, seventies), Rinus Gerîsten (seventies, eighties), Wim Dijkgraaf... Sorry for those whom I may have forgotten.
It's time now to greet Art Daane for the work he's done (http://www.artdaane.nl). He is a tirelesss archivist and historian of the global adventure of the mouthorgan, and he is also a talented bass player.
I'd like to pay tribute to Rob Janssen under whose leadership the trio "Fata Morgana" ensured a world reputation. Achieved musician, Rob plays brilliantly all the harmonicas inherent to harmonica ensembles, he has also been jury president of the world harmonica championships for several years ; jury of which I have had the great pleasure to be member.
And where ever Max Geldray may be, his mind can rest, the jazz succession is assured by Hermine Deurloo, player of great talent.
Before ending this article, I'd like to thank the organizers of the "2010 Festival" for the warm welcome they have given me. Thank you to Jack Mikkers, mayor of this dynamics city.
Jean Labre

(*1) Programme of the Festival 2010
8th of May
Saturday morning: national competition, ensembles, orchestras and soloists. (jury: Ronald Kaminga, Thierry Crommen, Jean Labre).
Saturday afternoon: workshops Thierry Crommen, Ben Bouman and concert Barefoot Lano.
Saturday evening: concert at the auditorium of the cultural center, opening by the "Velhovense Mondharmonika Vereniging" orchestra, directed by Viola Barends, guest soloist Jean Labre, following by the shows: Jean Labre, Thierry Crommen, the "Blue Kings" group, Brendan Power and the trio "Fata Morgana".
(*2)Trio Hotcha, 1997, publication of a casket compilation of 100 titles (3 CD) under the label "A brilliant Compact Disc" (Holland).
Reference: ABCD30091-2.
& "Hotcha" is a latin-american word meaning rhythm.
Photos: Frans Bosmans / Fata Morgana
Published June 7th 2010

Harmonica Therapy / Music for Life
Following my preceding article " Musique et Santé/ L'harmonica et le souffle ", concerning Harmonica Therapy in France, http://www.jeanlabre.com/article.php?id=86 , I approach today the so important question about the harmonica therapy out of my country.
In prelude, I have to pay tribute to Doctor Sung Hee "Victor" Yun who gave me a lot of positive information about this subject when I met him in the 2008 7th Pacific Asia Festival in Hangzhou (China).
He has been writing several interesting articles in the magazine " Harmonica Happenings " published by the SPAH (USA)*. An article published in this magazine (Nr 42 summer 2008) about Harmonica Therapy has particulary drawn my attention. It will be my guide for what is following (Translation in French with his kind permission).

Dr. Sung Hee "Victor" Yun writes :
"The concepts presented in this article are based on consolidation of my existing body, of knowledge, wisdom, traditions, anecdotal testimonies and evidences not only from harmonica playing communities and general public but also from medical science communities. Working hypothesis regarding the physiology of harmonica playing and the theoritical implications for health benefits have been steadily on the rise in recent years. This article offers guiding principles for researching the supportive elements of harmonica, an instrument believed to be a source of life power and energy that harmonizes mind, body and soul. Thus harmonica therapy can be regarded as an integral part of the mainstream music therapy.

SCIENCE OF HARMONICA PLAYING : THEORY AND EXPERIMENTATION
Interest in the science of harmonica playing is a recent phenomenon. Besides the fun and joyful aspects of playing harmonica, there is the added value of providing an harmonica player with therapeutic and preventive health benefits.
When playing the harmonica, a number of body movements are involved. Playing engages multiple body parts and human organs : mouth, lips, tongue, cheeks, jaws, theeth, neck, eyes, ears, muscles, arms, hands, joints, bones, ribs, throat, lungs, heart, diaphragm, legs, feet, etc.
As many parts of the body are engaged, harmonica players can derive therapeutic and salubrious benefits from playing while enjoying music at the same time. Intense vibrations created by harmonica reeds get transmitted throughout body and mind and stimulate uplifting of player's inner energy.
The breathing required to play the harmonica can heighten and enhance elasticity, capacity and flexibility of the thin muscles of the diaphragm (approximately 4mm thickness). It in turn stimulates the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in some 300 million air sacs, or alvéoli, in the lungs. The increased supply of fresh oxygen is transported throughout the body to various cells, tissues, organs and brain. The increased oxygen flow to the brain can help to rejuvenate the mind, while the increased oxygen supply throughout the body can enhance body functions, which in turn may provide a boost to immune system to prevent from disease.
Harmonica music may also have the power to uplift the spirit and provide psychosomatic benrfits. Some people believe that harmonica music has nostalgic effects. In some cases, harmonica playing may cause repressed memories to become released or subconscious thoughts to be tapped salubrious effects.
Certain psychiatrists and neuropathologists support the notion that playing the harmonica may produce psychosomatic benefits.

Harmonicas in general are made out of a combination of wood, plastic, nickel, brass and stainless metal. If emission of any chemical from the materials were to occur, or if accumulated bacteria existed inside and outside the harmonica, health and hygienic concerns may arise. Also, moisture of saliva from the mouth or the body into the harmonica may provide a harbor for bacterial growth so that cleanliness and hygienic care are must.

The multi-faced purposes in formulating and establishing a proposed non-profit, private, and voluntary organization called "Harmonica Therapy International" whith the prevailing concept and practice of established "Music Therapy" also help to increase SPAH membership,to continue to promote and popularize harmonica music in America and around the world with the aim of increasing the number of harmonica players and performers, to serve people in need for better health, to foster stability and sustainable social development and people happiness and most importantly to have fun and enjoy harmonica.

Harmonica therapy is a very recent and exciting phenomenon, which has been in existence for less than eight years. There are at least a handful hospitals and health care establishments, mostly in the East and mid-East regions, where harmonicas are being used to treat or cure certain breathing problems, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema,and other breathing-related conditions.
Trained and licensed respiratory therapists and music therapists are among the key healthcare providers that are involved with these conditions. They are directly in the practice of harmonica therapy along side medical doctors and nurses. There are a growing number of hospitals and clinics where certain designated "harmonica therapists" are assigned to provide this therapy in addition to, or sometimes in lieu of, existing medical therapies such as inhalers peak flow meters or similar machines. For example, there is a large hospital in mountain View, California, called "El Camino General Hospital" where there is a regular bi-weekly harmonica therapy class held under the auspices of its Cardiovascular Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Wellness Center and supervised by a trained respiratory therapist. The official title of that person is "Harmonica Therapist".
The scope and range of the study areas vary : pain, management depression, anxiety, stress, cardiovascular disease, breathing difficulty, sleap apnea, Parkinson's disease, pulmonary fibrosis, smoking cessation, mental disorder, emotional or mood problems, loss of memory,and learning disabilities.

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF HARMONICAS FOR HEALTH BENEFITS :
In comparison with the other musical instruments, including wind instruments, harmonica stands out and shows certain comparative advantages in terms of its handiness, portability, affordability, acceptability, accessibility, universality, diversity, flexibility, variability, versatility, simplicity, tonality and musicality.

BE AN ACTIVE HEARER OF HARMONICA MUSIC, AND SO BE A PROACTIVE PLAYER ALL THE MORE !!

Dr.Sung Hee "Victor" Yun"

& More recently, the Dr. Sung Hee Yun took part in a "Harmonica Health Power" seminar combined with the panel discussion which was carried out during SPAH's 2008 Annual Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, which has drawn much attention to, and renewed support for, the health benefits of playing the harmonica. The speakers and panelists who attended were Tom Stryker, David Barett, Joe Filisko, Mary Jane Gormley, John Schaman,, Terry Ran,Victor Yun and representatives of the three harmonica manufacturers : Steve Baker (Hohner), Os Leguizamo ((Suzuki), Rupert Oysler (Seydel).
It's a real pleasure to observe that competitor manufacturers sat around a table for a noble cause discussion.
Following this SPAH Convention, Dr. Sung Hee wrote a very interesting article in the "Harmonica Happening" (Fall 2008, Vol.42 No.4), about this seminar.

May I add that Sung Hee "Victor" Yun is a sensitive diatonic harmonica player. Who, if not him, could obtain a so intense complicity with the reeds vibrations...

Jean Labre

& You will find several other articles concerning this subject, in the "Harmonica Happenings" magazines (Summer 2001 by Tulsa READ, etc.)
*"Harmonica Happenings" magazine, annual subsription will cost you 45 US $
Information & contact : http://www.spah.org & SPAH Inc. P.O. Box 865 TROY MI.48099-0865 USA
Published March 2nd 2010

Music and Health or Harmonica and Breath

" For more than two decades Art has been caring of Hospital. Into a traditionally sanitized universe, art introduces color, sounds and humain passions... in a single word LIFE."
Nowadays it's a topical theme and it brings me up to take up, as an introduction, the article* published in the magazine "Echos France Harmonica" (N° 37, summer 2002), written by Josette Koch Labre, under the title "L'Harmonica et le Souffle" (Harmonica and Breath), in collaboration with the association "Musique et Santé".

The association Musique et Santé

Working on the assomption that each child, each adult, whichever be their age, their culture, their original language, are touched by music, actors involved in the medical world are considering that it can be an extra therapeutic tool.
The association was born from a meeting and the collaboration between musicians and health and culture professionals. At the beginning the name of the association was "Enfance et Musique", it's now an association in its own right.

Now autonomous, its involvement in the hospital sector has contributed, since more than twelve years, to speed up taking in account music and culture in the daily life of hospitalized people.

The godfathers of the association are the musicians Steve Waring, Jean Jacques Milteau, Dédé Saint Prix, Sarah Nemtanu and the professor pedopsychiatrist Marcel Rufo, in charge of the medico-psychological service for family and child in the two most important hospitals in Marseille, Sainte Marguerite and La Timone. They are assisted by a paediatrician professor Yanick Aujard. Its President is the doctor Didier Cohen Salmon, the director is Philippe Bouteloup.

Musicotherapy

The idea of treating by music is not really a new one. Since the Antiquity, people had been aware of its real curative virtues such as curing spiritual illness.As for its real curative virtues, results of the works carried out in this domain are often contradictory and people may say that there is no musical pharmacopeia.
However, they are domains in which music has a really positive action with children and teenagers, and also with adults. In the different caring places where they are received, music can weave links between the parents and the medical staffs : then music becomes a mean of exchange, communication and improved well-being, a way to creation and shared of concretepleasure.
Then, the concrete intermediates to achieve these objectives must be chosen.and among these intermediates the choice of the instruments.

The Harmonica

This small instrument has got a lot of qualities : it is cheap, it is light for transportation, rather easy to play. It isn't frightening, it is at the same time intimate and evocative of multiple subjects : folk musics, journeys, men's history via the instruments genesis, breath, air...
But, principaly people may say that we breath music through it. It uses as well "breath in" as "breath out" air (it is the only one doing so on the planet). More, the harmonica doesn't need to blow it strongly, it doesn't need much effort to obtain a sound. That's what makes of it a tool particularly adapted to the breathing diseases such as asthma and cystic fibrosis.
In otorhinolaryngology, the harmonica helps children with breathing difficulties to get a better consciousness for their breathing act by offering them recreational activities based on the musical breath.

Initiatives, actions, experiments


Jean Jacques Milteau and the association "Enfance et Musique" ("Childhood and Music"), followed by many others in the medecine world, created workshops such as the one in Bullion hospital, created by the speech therapist Caroline Raimbault. In the brezath through the harmonica a speech therapist can evaluate inspiration and expiration and the abdominal breath.

Since a few years, in Marseille, a research has been carried out on music, in the professor Rufeau pedo-psychiatry department, and it extremely beneficial effects have been observed. The same research with the same results was conducterd in Toulouse in professor Raynnaud department and in professor Garabedian departement in Trousseau hospital in Paris.
The results of these actions are very positive : harmonica is a breath therapeutic instrument, bringing pleasure and an opening on the world outside the hospital.

We mustn't forget to speak of harmonica players such as Toot's Thielemans who probably is the most famous asthmatic player in the world ! John Walton was also a harmonica player following musical therapy who obtained very good results, and the president Ronald Reagan who was found to be playing the harmonica while recuperating from his near-tragic gunshot wound (in 1981).

Musico-therapy is a real big issue and only a few aspects of it had been mentionned here above. It obviously deserves further developments that we will tackle very soon.

Until then and without waiting, bravo to the association "Musique et Santé" and its godfathers and bravo to the Harmonica.

Josette Koch-Labre
France Harmonica Public relations
Echos France Harmonica magazine Editor

*Association Musique et Santé
http://www.musique-santé.org
4 passage de la Main d'Or, 75011 Paris France

*CD "Manque pas d'Air"
Please contact "Musique et Santé" association
Price : 18 euros, mailing included, payable by international money order
________________

WHAT HAPPEN NOWADAYS ?

The situation is in constant progress and engaged in a common action which generates an awareness, traducted in positive actions such as "Enchanted Paediatrics association" in Lorraine (east of France), run by Jean Louis Emmenecker ("Harmonicas de France" vice president) in collaboration with the "Bon Secours" and the "Bel Air" hospitals in which therapeutic treatments are offered to asthmatic children by multidisciplinary teams (school nurses, physiotherapists and psychologists), action permitting also to the children to discover the pleasure of music.

We can also notice the positive actions of the harmonica player Greg Zlapczynski in several medical departments. These actions are joining the "Musique et Santé" project, about which Josette has written here above. It's all about the work of the breath with a little harmonica that the children can bring home (a Hohner gift), work presented like a game that the children arer waiting for with impatience.

The psychological benefits of this treatment are unquestionable. I've already observed it in the past when I've had opportunities to play in Necker children hospital, in Paris, in Mrs Blezat department and, also in Paris, in the Saint Mandé Blind Institute, on the movie star Danielle Delorme's initiative.
Let's wish a long life to all these positive actions. Let's pay tribute to the medical world, to the harmonica world and to the actors of Musique et Santé Association.

May I give you a last advice :
Never lend or borrow an harmonica... germs and virus are ready and waiting for such a moment, to the detriment of your health.
An harmonica is like a very dear person... that you wouldn't like to lend...

- Jean Labre

Photos J.J.Milteau, "Musique et Santé", J.L. Emmenecker
Published February 6th 2010

Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival 2008

This event took place in the city of Hangzhou, China (1.932.600 inhabitants), near Shanghai, from the 1st to the 4th of November. An event succeeding to the preceeding festivals in Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Atsugi (Japan), Hong Kong and Taipei a second time.
This Asia Festival, organized every two years, is one of the most important events of our Harmonica World. I already wrote an article about this phenomenon in this website under the title : "World Championships and World Competition Story" (click on "Articles").
The festival organization was perfect, due to an efficient Festival committee supervised by miss Cui Xia.
For instance : the organization of the competition which included 1669 competitors (15 categories, orchestras included). This competition took place in a university in which people discovered a surprising museum which standing comparison with the Trossingen museum.

In the same place, people discovered the most important harmonica school of China, associated with the city of Shanghai.
My friend Jia-Yi was in charge of the artistic organization of the festival, including a service of permanent translation of all the events (meetings and concerts). He also took part several times to the show, giving us the opportunity to rediscover a great harmonica player.
It is used in Asia sharing all harmonica festivals with Pacific neighbouring countries. Apart from the organizing countries (China,Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines), Australia, New Zealand, Hawaï and California (including Sung Hee "Victor" Yun, SPAH Chairman) were present in this festival... together with a few Europe representatives : Germany, Italy, Finland and France.(Photo : Jia-Yi He, Gerhard Müller and myself)

Three evening concerts took place in the"Hangzhou Theater". A beautiful Opera concert building. For the circumstance, TV cameras transmitted live all concerts on outside giant screens in the city and also in the university during the competition.

Three evenings including top concerts were so many opportunities to discover, or re discover great quality shows. For instance, the famous "Harmonica Orchestra of Hong Kong Association" (74 harmonica players, out of 80 musicians) directed by Johnny Kuann, a prestigious performance ! Equal to an evening concert in Paris Palais Garnier Opera !

I've appreciated a lot of very good harmonica players and orchestras... among them the marvellous japanese "Kojo No Tsuki" played by the legendary tremolo player Kan Manaka. I was very happy to participate in this concert.
I've also enjoyed taking part in an improvisation meeting with my australian friend Tony Eyers.
The close ceremony had a warm and enthousiastic awards giving. The competition has reached an impressive technical level. As far as I am concerned, as adjudicator, I've lived a thrilling moment... with a headache as reward !
But I've shared intensive days with my planet harmonica friends...

The rendez-vous is already taken, the next 2010 Asia Harmonica Festival will take place in Singapore. Start from now saving up to go there... it's really worth it.

And don't miss the 2009 Trossingen rendez-vous next year !

A planet harmonica... we all have a dream somewhere.

Jean Labre

festival poster Zhou Wenqing, photos Jean Labre
Published November 29th 2008

Harmonica Trio in the Pocket

Tombo Musical Instrument company has introduced into the market two small instruments named "Pocket Ensemble" (n° 1160 and 1161), invented by Juko Saito* and intended to be used by harmonica ensembles. These instruments have been rapidly adopted in Japan by the A.J.H.F.* Federation, and the primary schools have already introduced this small trio instrument in their music classes.

The model 1160 is a small bass, " Pocket Bass " ; its dimensions are : lengh 143 mm, width 57 mm, heigh 44 mm. This bass contains only 10 notes : F, C, G, D, A in his upper part and D, A, E, B, F# in the lower part. Its sound is interesting, it reminds me of the old Hohner bass sound (called " black bass " in France).

The model 1161, " Pocket Chord ", is surprising because of its small dimensions compared to the other standard chord models. Its dimensions are : length 145mm, width 35 mm, height 25 mm. The " Pocket Chord " contains 8 fundamental chords : F, C, G7, D7 in the upper part and D minor, A minor, E7, B7 in the lower part. This chords permit to play easy accompaniments like the " anatole " : C, A minor, D minor, G7, C. And many other chords combinated with the bass, in the F key. Juko Saito has very explained these chord combinations in a book containing 50 arrangements written by him.
The result of this accompaniment formula makes me think of the sound obtained by the Hohner " polyphonia 7 " (3 branches).

I was present last month at the A.J.H.F convention concert during which I discovered the surprising "Pocket Ensemble Trio". I think that this formula is going to be interesting for every one, from young to retired people ! Hoping that they will be soon sold in France at a not too expensive price. In Japan, their prices are : 70 euros for the pocket bass and 68 euros for the pocket chord.

For more information contact : http://www.tombo.co.jp &

- Jean Labre

*Juko Saito is also the creator of the pentatonic harmonicas Tombo (discovered in Tokyo by Pete Pedersen and me in 1995 !).
*A.J.H.F. All Japan Harmonica Federation
photos : Tombo - Jean Labre
Published May 22nd 2008

World Championships and World Competitions Story
The harmonica is the best-known and most popular instrument in the world. That's why it was desirable and even necessary to create an organisation which will bring adepts together on an international basis.
The originators of this idea met in Trossingen on October 2nd and 3rd 1950 and representatives of no less than ten different countries took part in the Constitutive Meeting. These countries were : Belgium, France, Eire, Germany, North Africa , North Ireland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and UK.
It was agreed to found the FIH (Fédération Internationale de l'Harmonica) .
The assembly examinated the project statutes, and then the project was unanimously adopted.
One of the essential FIH tasks is to promote harmonica in the international spheres of music. An appropriate work plan had been decided during the assembly. It included advertising for recruitment, the foundation of national organizations and preparation of World Harmonica Championships...
________________

The first World Harmonica Championships took place in Duisbourg (Germany) 1953, followed by Strasbourg (France) in 1954, Winterthur 1955, Rotterdam 1956 (Holland), Luxembourg 1957, Pallanza (Italy) 1958, Innsbruck (Switzerland) 1959, Barcelona (Spain) 1960, Strasbourg (France) 1963, Delph (Holland) 1965, Karlsruhe (Germany) 1967), Winterthur (Switzerland) 1969, Eindhoven (Holland) 1971, Ypress (Belgium) 1973, Offenbourg (Germany) 1975. People generally admits that during that period the championships were more european than worldwide because of an inadequate international communication.

Then, a crossing desert period succeeded to this first period (a few european competitions, more often in Germany, excepted).
________________

Eighties and nineties will give a new world dimension to the World Harmonica championships, due to the creation of the IHO (International Harmonica Organisation) founded by Peter Janssen, Holland (President), and Norm Dobson, USA (Vice-President), associated to FIH !
After these events things have changed... People coming from everywhere have now a chance to win a medal in a real world championship, for instance : Chong Ah Kow (Malaysia) who wan a gold medal in Trossingen (1989).

In 1990 Jean Labre, France Harmonica Founder President, joined IHO. He became IHO Vice President for Europe and also IHO ambassador, in association with, for the Far East Area, with Yasuharu Mano (Japan Vice President) who made a very good job, rallying to IHO 7 countries (China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan).

FIH and IHO decided to organize International Championships to each his turn, every two years.
One year in Trossingen, the following year in a country chosen by IHO.
The championships have been organised since 1991 in the following countries :
Detroit (USA) 1991, Trossingen (Germany) 1993, Yokohama (Japan) 1995, Trossingen 1997, Bournemouth "Millenium Festival"(UK) 2000, Trossingen 2001 (that year FIH took back the hand, in full agreement with IHO, for organizing the Championships every four years). Consequently the last championships (2005) have been organized in Trossingen.
________________

Jury

The competition jury is made of a representation of harmonica players and musicians coming from everywhere around the world, who, during 4 days, have to do a considerable work, to decide, with impartiality, between hundreds of competitors, divided in 10 (or more) categories.
I have been jury member for 25 years. People have generally a confused approach to the member of a jury role . I'm giving you here more information concerning the work of a world championship jury:


The jury is made up of qualified adjudicators. They have been appointed by the festival organization. The organization committee is supervising the jury. The jury in each category is made of at least generally three members. They elect a foreman. The adjudicators are responsible for evaluating the entries according to the guidelines stated in the regulations. The juror decision is strictly confidential and final. Each adjudicator member is obliged to attend the juror's meeting before, during and after the competition in order to discuss procedure and evaluate entries.
The criteriums for the notation of the competitors generally are :
1/ MEMORY : secure, choice of the piece
2/ ACCURACY : knowledge of music, notes, cleanliness, phrasing, dynamics, legato, staccato
3/ RHYTHM :continuity, correctness of beat/count, tempo
4/ TECHNIC : holding of the harmonica, tongue blocking, puckering, breath control, tonguing, intonation, vibrato : hand, throat, lip
5/ MUSICIANSHIP/MUSICALITY : interpretation, style, tone quality, articulation, appropriate tempo,
6/ GENERAL EFFECT : stage presence, appearance, poise attitude, body position, music too easy, difficult
Rating : points are given by the adjudicator on a personal rating sheet (the preceeding 6 points were the criteriums selected for the 1991 Detroit Championships). (photo : Trossingen World Championships 2005 : Naoko Takeuchi/Japan, Michal Gronich/Israël, J.Labre, adjudicators)

Consequently, the taste and the appreciation of the public, the spectators, will never be the same to the ones of the adjudicators. It's technically impossible. People are noticing it constantly in all public shows and contests.
Never the less, we ought to have confidence in our championships adjudicators, they fully deserve it.

Others World Competitions
The success of the World Championships has created a dynamic all over the world and given the idea of organizing competitions on the same concept to different countries.
Particulary in the far East, where countries are very much engaged in musical education... competition spirit at the key, often from the primary school !
In these countries, medias are very interested in this cultural and very popular phenomenon and consequently... sponsors also !
That is the reason why the Asia World Festival is holding the maximum score concerning visitors, for instances :
— 2002, 26.000 entrances registered in the Atsugi (Japan) 4th Asia Festival.
— 2010, 2530 competitors registred in the 8th Singapore Festival Championships.

You must not think that we are in front of a number of visitors competition between West and Far East... on the contrary, you must realise that now, there is a positive and efficient complementarity, for the best of the future of our Harmonica Planet.

Trossingen 2009

The "rendez-vous" is already taken. Don't miss this out of the common traditional event.
Like the Big Canyon or the Taj Mahal, Trossingen cannot be described. It's like a pilgrimage, lived intensely and kept engraved forever in one's memory.

Photos : IHO, Swaran Singh Arri, AJHF
Published March 4th 2008

Let's talk about Hohner
Survivor of the 19th century industrial revolution in Germany, to which the mouth organ will always remain linked, this prestigious company celebrates this year its 150 years of existence.
Happy birthday Hohner !
On this occasion Hohner proposes 3 new "Hohner 150th Anniversary" models, attention it's a limited production*.

Our website has been receiving frequent technical requests concerning all sorts of harmonicas, old as well as new ones, from every where.
Concerning the XB40, I am going to quote and supplement an article I had writen for "France Harmonica" revue (n° 43), in which I said :
The XB40 or an easier way to practice bending.
But it's not as easy as that and it's a new training if you want to master this new revolutionary instrument.

Before giving the technical description of this instrument, people must know how to practice the bending on a 10 holes Richter harp.
Bending is accomplished by partially isolating the air in the your mouth cavity from the rest of the vocal tract and adjusting its resonant frequency to the desired note. The back of the tongue is raised up against the palate the same way you change the mouth'vowel shape from AHH to EEE, without actually vocalizing. The tongue is then slid backward or forward to a position that will pull down the pitch of the note being played. Hight pitched notes are bent with the back of your tongue placed toward the fraont of the mouth and lowernotes are bent with the tongue farther back.
Beginners will find more bending information in the master's teachers methods, books and CDs written and registred by well known masters like : Howard Levy, Jean Jacques Milteau, Michel Herblin, Joël Hanriot and some others.
Well, after this necessary preamble, let's have a more precise look at the technically revolutionary XB40 and to the possibilities it offers to obtain 40 bending alterations, whereas a standard 10 holes Richter offers only 12 alterations. For a better understanding, look attentively at the following table :

After reading it, you can see by yourself that the concept of this instrument avoids the practice of overblows. The XB40 design not only creates a complete chromatic scale, it offers you multiple ways to play most notes. You just replace an overblow by a simple bending as indicated in the chart. The player can, for instance, play in g2 note in the standard manner, with the 6 (blow) unbent,include a sliding bend up to it from f2, or play a g2 as a bent note on the 6 (draw), adding a sliding bend down to it from the unbent a2.This feature significantly increases the expressive capability of the XB40 in a way never before possible on any other harmonica.
These surprising performances are due to the brilliant find which consist to set 2 reeds by note. The main reed note is obtain with the main reed. The second reed doesn't react upon blowing, but it will react after a turn off effect from a valve system set up in the comb.
This new mouth organ concept enables to obtain 60 notes as indicated in the preceeding table.
As usual Hohner has made a serious job, with a perfect air tightness secured by 10 cruciform screws.
The dimensions are bigger than those of the legendary Marine Band , which is natural considering all the technical components of this little wonder.
To each one his own instrument philosophy, some will tell you that the slide is more efficient for practicing chromatic scales. ! Unconditional fans of the overblows will retort...bull sheet...! I reassure them, Howard Levy is for ever going on astonishing us all !
To each one his point of view. As far as I am concerned, I think that people have to go ahead. A plunge has been taken, it's an honourable mention for Hohner... and many thanks to Rick Epping, father of the XB40 . Congratulation Rick, good job !
Keep blowing !

Among other recent models, I'd like to draw your attention to the Chromonica 270 de Luxe which has received a warm welcome among the traditional 12 holes Chromonica fans.

The technological innovation of this new model is that Hohner had the good idea to replace the mouth piece square holes by round holes. This apparently insignificant detail is, in fact, a judicious marketing operation to win back the harmonica players round holes adepts who were obliged to turn towards other labels to have satisfaction (here, I don't include the CX12 model which is meant for a different clientele).
In addition to this new mouth piece, Hohner has particulary taken care over the finish of this model, with reed plates carefully screwed on a pear wood comb, an association which ensures a perfect and comfortable air tightness. Let's add to it a new gadget, intended for the left hand players, consisting in the possibility to reverse the slide ; and lastly, a new metal cover, without tin, more attractive.
Are you interested in more information about Hohner products ?
Don't hesitate to consulttheir site :
http://www.hohner.fr

Jean Labre

*Have a look to our previous article : "Birth and history of a small instrument"

*Harmonicas "Hohner 150th Anniversary", references :
-Gold Edition
-Chrom Edition
-Standard Edition (photo in our column "News").

*I have received several questions concerning the instruments on which I use to play.
I play on the following Hohner models : Super 64X, CX12, Marine Band Special 20, Golden Melody, the Chord Akkord and the Bass model 268.

Photos Hohner
Published March 9th 2007

Franco de Gemini - The Moovie Soundtrack Music
"Caro Franco, La tua esecuzione con l'armonica è, ancora una volta, degna del film e dell'idea musicale che l'accompagna. Grazie encora." - Ennio Morricone
"Dear Franco, the way you are playing the harmonica is, once more time, worthy of the movie and of the musical idea accompanying it. Thank you again." - Ennio Morricone

The mouth organ has often been courted by movies directors as an essential ingredient closely involved with movies. It sometime happens that the music has more intensity than the picture on the screen. Being a musician, I'll never complain about this situation.
The movie soundtrack has been celebrated last January in the honor of Franco De Gemini during the Midem Festival (international music publishers and records business convention) in Cannes, France.

Franco de Gemini is the example of an artist who has not got a wellknown name, even though millions of people around the world have come accross his work. Even many films-goers are not aware of De Gemini's name. And yet, they have heard De Gemini's haunting harmonica playing in the most dramatic moments of Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns, Once Upon In The West. The score was written by an other italian, Ennio Morricone, who have received a Career Oscar at the Academy Awards Ceremony in February.
De Gemini who, like his friend Morricone, is a couple ot years short of his 80th birthday, has played on over 800 soundtracks which means more than 8600 hours of recording sessions, and for this, he surely deserves to have his name in the Guiness Book of Records.

In order to celebrate the label 40th birthday, he has published a book* entitled : From Beat to Beat /Memoirs Of The Man Of The Harmonica, 40 Years of Music and Cinema as Experienced by Franco De Gemini. The book is accompanied by a 77 minutes compilation CD : Dream Of Music (with harmonica themes but not only), and is written at the same time in Italian and English. This enables De Gemini, who is a born raconteur, to share with the reader,some of his more entertaining musical memories.
You may order this book at :
http://www.beatrecords.it
information : .

Composers, producers, movies stars, Franco has been moving in the very best of the movie system for more than a half century : Joe d'Amato, Visconti, Vittorio de Sica, Sergio Leone, Ennio Morricone, Henri Mancini, Italo Zingarelli, Leonard Bernstein... Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, Charles Bronson, and his double the french actor Lino Ventura, etc. As many celebrities, as many movies success : Once Upon in the West, A Fistful of Dollars, The Good the Bad and the Ugly, My Name is Trinity, Dead in Venezia, Manhattan, Bread, Love and Fantasy, Mission Cobra, The Battle of England, Holocauste, "The Ruffian, West Side Story recorded in 1985 in Roma, direction Leonard Bernstein, etc.

A CD "Franco De Gemini – The Man With The Harmonica has been recently produced in Germany (label "All Score Media", catalogue N° ASM 023). Including The Man of The Harmonica (2 versions) and many other unforgettable pieces. We discover successively a great player, a great director, a great producer... and sometime the three at the same time !
You may order this CD at :
http://www.allscore.de or .

In a recent interview realised by Bayern 11 Radio (Germany), Franco De Gemini related the story of the record session of "The Man of the Harmonica" : " I had a very pleasant time with Ennio Morricone during the record session of The Man Of The Harmonica. When I arrived in the studio he had already recorded the base of the score. He told me : — Do you know the story of the film ? (Sergio Leone had already described me the story). You have just to play 3 notes ! — Is that so ? This is more difficult than a Mozart concerto ! Where is the score ? – There is no score, you have just 3 notes and you play as you feel it, with your harmonica ! I told him : — The actor has his hands tied in his back ! How can he move his hands for playing harmonica ? — That's where we have to follow the scenario, the harmonica jamed between his teeth, he has hardly the possibility to play more than 3 notes ! Well, I played 3 notes... everyone knows what happened next."

Franco de Gemini is always attentive to the harmonica life. He remains faithful to the "Club Harmonicisti Torinesi" spirit he founded during the fifties. I met him in several circumstances, as many opportunities to share a passion with a great musician and a so kind man. During the Midem Franco confided us : "I'll die first, then, I'll think about retiring"...
Franco de Gemini is not the only harmonica player to distinguish himself in movies soundtracks. We all have in memory a long list of harmonica players who won awards in this so thrilling speciality : Jerry Adler, may be the first to be admitted in the so exclusive Hollywood world, followed by is brother Larry who won an Oscar award in 1953 for "Geneviève", Tommy Morgan who has recorded soundtracks for more than 500 films, Toot's Thielemans, Pete Pedersen, Richard Hayman, Charlie Mc Coy, Eddy Gordon, Albert Raisner, William Galison, René Gary... And I beg your pardon if I am forgetting many other friends.
"Le Grisbi", "Le Riffifi", "The Man With The Harmonica", "La Manon des Sources", "Bagdad Cafe" and so many other timeless successes are engraved in the memory of the public. A very good reason for the directors to go on courting the mouth organ.

Jean Labre

* Franco de Gemini has recorded his first soundtrack movie "Bread Love and Fantasy" in 1950.
Photos : Beat Records (painting portrait Sandro Symeoni).
Published February 23rd 2007

Pentatonic harmonicas
The Tremolo Pentatonic Harmonica enjoys a great popularity in the traditional music in Japan.

This new instrument has been created by Juko Saito, A.J.H.F.*, chairman and itinerant harmonica teacher everywhere in Japan (a top reference).

Here is a technical summary of what he had explained me during an interview he gave me in Tokyo.

If the Tremolo Pentatonic appears as a new instrument in the mouth organ family, the pentatonic scale has got a long history. This scale is born 4500 years ago in China (have a look at our article "Birth and History of a small instrument" on our website).
The Pentatonic Harmonica offers a range of new musical possibilities because of the pentatonic scale concept, with only 5 notes, unlike the diatonic scale (7 notes) and the chromatic scale (12 notes). We will note that these two last scales appeared lately during the Meiji period (1868-1912).

The japanese music includes 3 pentatonic scales :
1/C.D.E.G.A. This scale has no F and B, it's the major pentatonic scale.
2/A.B.C.E.F. The quarte and the seventh are excluded (no D, no G). This is the minor pentatonic scale.
3/C.E.F.G.B. Second and sixth are excluded (no D, no A). This scale is very popular in Japan and is called "Okinawa" pentatonic scale.

Juko Saito has created 6 pentatonic harmonica models in accordance with the preceeding 3 scales definitions. These harmonicas are manufactured by :
Tombo Musical Instruments Company in Tokyo :
http://www.tombo.co.jp E-mail :

Here are the technical characteristics of these 6 pentatonic tremolo harmonicas :

1/ Major Pentatonic Harmonica (ref : MA-1).

G major model "Noma-3" (blow/draw). To agree to traditionnel japanese music arrangements.

2/ Major pentatonic Harmonica (ref : MA-2).

We obtain pentatonic minor scale with the draw notes, these notes are : A.B.C.E.F. These pentatonic scale is an application destinated to the traditional japanese music, for example the famous tune : "Mago-Uta".
You must know that there is no harmony in the japanese traditional music, but these pentatonic scales are highlighting this very melodic and very popular music.

3/Major Pentatonic Harmonica (ref : MA-3).

Scale based on the sixth and the second, allows to play with a 2 notes chord base.

4/ Major Pentatonic Harmonica (ref : MI-1).

Harmonica based on a minor mode without D and G#. The blow notes are : A.C.E. This instrument allows to play western musics.

5/ Minor Pentatonic Harmonica (ref : MI-2).

The blow notes are : A.B.C.E.F. (minor pentatonic), a F# has been introduced in the draw notes.

6/ Minor Pentatonic (ref : MI-3).

This instrument is based on A minor chord. It is possible to play 3 chords with this harmonica : A minor (with blow notes), E minor and G (with draw notes). It allows to play it giving a different colour.

As western harmonica players, we still have to find applications in our traditional and present musics for this new instrument. This has been already made, for example, by Pete Pedersen in a "My Blue Heaven" recording... and by me in my CD "Humanitas".
A new way is now open for all harmonica players.
Many thanks to Juko Saito, great musician and talented innovator.

Jean Labre

*A.J.H.F. : All Japan Harmonica Federation
Published October 20th 2006

Sunlights on the St Aignan Festival 2006 - France
I am just back from the 4th "Harmonica sur Cher Festival", which I had announced here in march. I want to come back to this festival which is a true giant success, essentialy due to the association Mediator and its dynamic president Christophe Minier.
Four days full of events, it's nearly a full time job for the public to participate to concerts, workshops, conferences and night free concerts for the numerous noctambulants.
Four evening concerts with artists coming from different part of the world. They have offered us the best and I want to quote them :

- Barefoot Lano, australian, barefooted as his name tells us, generous bluesman who, with the three others of his quartet, he makes you feel happy with his compositions. Barefoot Lano, it is "dancing with kangaroos".

-Orlando Poleo Venezualian percussionnist with his group Afro-Venezuala Jazz had the idea of playing with Laurent Maur chromatic, exposing all the repertory with chorus : very brilliant !

-Sébastien Charlier and his quartet gave us a demonstration of what is his best : overblows. Charlie Mac Coy named him a "Richter alien" and he proved it once more with a jazz quartet at the same high level.











-I give the first price of this festival to an exceptionnal showman, Jason Ricci from Nashville with his quartet New Blood.

A look evocative of David Bowie, he is a sensitive, rugged, engaged bluesman with a strong presence on the scene. We were charmed by a show of an international level. And we must not forget his guitarist Shawn Dustin Stachurski with his very rocker style. They light the fire !

-To temperate these decibels floods, in the Saint Aignan collegiate church, Claude Saubestre made an excellent demonstration of the possibilities of chromatic harmonica in classical and genre music, accompanied by the talented Japanese pianist Nami Miyata.

-The program was very reach with also various good groups : Olivier Goulet et le Monde Kota, Emmanuel Frangeul in the Franco-American group Karl W. Davies & the Milkmen.
There was also a wednesday afternoon when Eric Frère Jacques told to all children a beautiful story, the Mississipi tales.

We lived those days with passion, I was like in a dream and it made it easier for me to deliver my conference on the theme : Once upon a time, a history of the harmonica, 4500 years old.

Harmonica sur Cher is one of the top worldwide harmonica festivals and will obviously keep on so. Congratulations to Mediator, to his president Christophe Minier and to all the so efficient volontaries.

Jean Labre

Photos : Jean Labre et Jason Ricci Bluesunday
Published June 5th 2006

Birth and History of a small instrument : The Harmonica
We are in China, in the 27th century BC,under the reign of one of the " Great three ancestors ", the emperor Huàngdi, the " Yellow King ", who lived, according to the legendary history, from 2697 to 2597 B.C. With the inventions of the compass, of the chinese calendar, of oceanic boats, armours and of ceramic, he is also credited with the invention of the sheng, first instrument with free reeds, based upon the two fundamental principles governing the universe : the yin, female and passive, and the yang, male and active.

" Yin and yang are musically related and tuning in harmony, said Houàngdi, that's why we recognize in music the supreme truth to which the body, the mind, the human society and the whole universe are obeying. The five music notes are corresponding to everything that can be seen on earth : colors, seasons, elements, planets. To the note Kyo is corresponding our liver, to Tche is corresponding our heart, to Kong our spleen, to Chang our lungs, and to Yu our kidneys. Music is the remedy for our body and soul aches. It is also the supreme key to wisdom. Human being, like everything in the Universe, is a chord of the Great Symphony. " ( " Harmonica Book " Albert Raisner, 1961, Ed. Presses du Temps Présent, out of print).
It should be noted that the above mentioned five notes of the sheng, are in order : E, A, D, G, C, pentatonic scale. Consequently, this scale is the first important step taken on our earth by human music.

But it will only be in 1990 that pentatonic harmonicas are going to be created in Japan, by Juko Saito for " Tombo Company ", also manufacturing a re-creation of the sheng.

Let's go on travelling through time.

— 1295 AD, Marco Polo coming back from China, brings the sheng to the West ;

— Marin Mersenne (1588-1648), French scientist, corresponding with Descartes, Pascal, Toricelli, studies the sheng in great detail and introduces the free reeds principle in Europe. This helps him to determine the frequencies ratio of the notes scale ;

— 1796, Father Amiot, missionary priest, brings back from China to Paris several shengs ;

— 1780, in different places in Europe, instrumental experiences based on the study of free reeds are conducted ;

— 1816, a german organ builder, Johan Buschmann invents the terpodion, keyboard with free reeds, which is predecessor to the harmonica and the harmonium ;

— 1821, his son, Christian Friedrich Buschmann takes out a patent on an harmonica he names aura. In 1828, he will write to one of his friends : " I have invented, in Barmen, a new very strange instrument.This small device is four inches diameter. It has twenty one notes. You can play piano, crescendo or ad libitum. It has no keyboard, it produces harmonies with six notes, fast or other movement. The sound can be hold as long as you are blowing it. My invention is aiming at playing the accompaniment with our instrument (terpodion) and the melody with the small device, this giving a very surprising effect. "

— 1825, birth of the first twenty notes/ten holes. A new configuration developed by a man called Richter, born in Bohemia (Czechoslovakia). Configuration used more and more, named after him : Richter diatonic. It will experience quite a revolution by the end of the 20th century with the discovery of overblows, (Howard Levy) and other bendings ;

— 1827, in France, in his workshop rue des Blancs Manteaux in Paris, Marie Candide Buffet, tuner, creates the metallic mouth harmonica. The manufacturing of it expands so quickly that he must share the production with private people, and among them, Jacob Alexandre who, in 1828, will have his own workshop specialized in manufacturing the same products.
They are so original and of so good a quality that Cyril Demian, Austrian, may be drawing inspiration from them, creates his hand harmonica or accordion, and takes out a patent in Vienna on the 6th of May 1829. After many improvements it will become the accordion we know to-day. The same year in Great Britain, Charles Wheatstone invents a small hexagonal instrument similar to the accordion, the concertina, thus changing the mouth symphonium, his first invention, in a bellows symphonium. In a way, we might say that the accordion would not be born at that time without the invention of the harmonica.

— 1827, Christian Messner, watchmaker in Trossingen, Germany, begins manufacturing in small quantities harmonicas Mundharfe model, with the help of his cousin Christian Weiss ;

— 1829, beginning of the first mass production, in Vienna, Austria.

- 1847, Christian August Seydel started his harmonica production factory in Klingenthal, Germany. This company is still alive nowadays.

— 1857, beginning of the Hohner saga, with Matthias Hohner producing the first year 650 harmonicas. Hohner S.A. will produce its thousand millionth harmonica in 1986 with the model Comet.

Did you know that the first famous harmonicist to be listed in 1860, was Abraham Lincoln ? We couldn't find a better symbol to begin the human adventure of our instrument.

At the end of the 19th century, in the USA, country music pionners are going to take a major part in the harmonica development, as a result of the emigration of people from across the Atlantic melting there their original traditions : Anglo-Irishes, Spanishes, Franco-Acadians, Poles and other people from Central Europe. They were bringing in their travel bags the first Hohner diatonic harmonicas ; the black population discovered the instrument and adopted it straight away. But they will always distance themselves from the country music, knowing only the hardline blues culture.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Japan will know in its turn an impressive take off with Hidero Sato who is going to marry the tremolo harmonica with the traditional japanese instruments : koto, shamizen, sakuhashi and various percussion instruments. So much that, nowadays, the tremolo has become a totally traditional instrument in many Far East countries.
In 1927, Hidero Satoh will receive the Jury Special Award in Trossingen, for his whole work. Today he is still the idol of millions of asian harmonicists .
Over the years, other types of harmonicas are going to come out that will bring different styles enriching our instrumental range. Apart from the above listed models, successively will appear
the chromatic harmonica and then the accompaniment harmonicas : the vinetta, the wellknown polyphonia with its three branches, the black bass, then the white bass, the chord and more recently the harmonetta. (We will give you the technical characteristics of these instruments in the instrumental pages of our website).

The beginning of the 20th century will see the birth of legendary players who are going to give our instrument its illustrious history. We owe them to be there today. Among many more we can name : Larry Adler, Tommy Reilly, John Sebastian, Sonny Boy Williamson, Sonny Terry, Little Walter, Borrah Minevitch (the best and unrivalled), Jerry Murad and his Harmonicats... with the recording of " Peg O my Heart " brought out at eight million copies !
During the fifties, glorious years, the harmonica becomes very popular. Trios are a trend : Stagg Mc Mann, Raisner, Marny, Harmonicats, Hotcha, Candido as well as new chromatic soloists completing the range : Jean " Toots " Thielmans, Jean Wetzel, Dany Kane, Claude Garden, René Gary, Franco de Gemini, they have recorded many film music such as the famous " Touchez pas au Grisbi ". Franco Gemini holds the record in this category with, for him alone, eight hundred film musics.

Many great composers have been interested in our instrument. Many classical pieces (concertos, etc.) have been written by famous names : Darius Milhaud, Villa Lobos, Sauguet, Dutoit, Piazzola, Dompierre, etc. Gerschwin and Ravel were enthusiastic about Larry Adler interpretations of the " Rhapsody in Blue "and of the " Boléro ".

Were reaching the end of this chapter of the past history and of what we must remember about it.
The sixties are our time. It's up to us to build the history of today mouth music and to pass it to the future, without letting the past sink into oblivion.

This page is amply developed in the Harmonica Encyclopedia I am writing. I'll later inform you of the publication date.

- Jean Labre
Photos: M. Vicent-Roubert and Harmonikamuseum Trossingen
Published January 16th 2006

World Harmonica Festival 2005 (WHF 2005)
We invite you to read Jean Labre article ; he was logistical coordinator for the French delegation and jury member for the international competition during the 2005 event.

Like the Big Canyon or the Taj Mahal, Trossingen cannot be described. It is like a pilgrimage, lived intensely and then kept engraved forever in one's memory.
Trossingen, mythical town, was celebrating this year its 148 years of a life dedicated to harmonica and its world influence. This is also where, on October the 3rd 1950, was born the F.I.H (Fédération Internationale de l'Harmonica) during a constitutive meeting with the participation of 11 countries (1) ; the purpose of this association was to promote and organize, with the logistical support of Hohner Company, international harmonica events.
Then followed many Festivals with " Championnats ", which were more european than worldwide, because of an inadequate international communication.
In 1985, the I.H.O. (International Harmonica Organization) birth, helped to improve the international relations and to give a real world dimension to the competitions, always with the cooperation of the F.I.H. And so, in 1989 in Trossingen, took place the first World Festival worthy of the name.
During the nineties, FIH and IHO alternatively organized the events : Detroit USA in 1991, Yokohama Japan in1995, and between, the WHF in Trossingen every 4 years.

This naturally leads us, in this November, to the 2005 WHF .
49 French were there to take part in it.
Organized by the FIH, this WHF was sponsored by Hohner S.A., DHV (Deutscher Harmonica Verband) and Trossingen town. The presidency has been entrusted to Gerhard Müller (present FIH president), vice presidency to Steve Baker and the jury presidency to Rob Janssen (Fata Morgana).The competition jury was made of a representation of players and musicians coming from 13 countries, who, during 3 days, have had to do a considerable work, to decide, with impartiality, between 520 competitors from 27 countries, divided in 11 categories.
The level was high. This is usually an opportunity for new talents to emerge, but I must say that the competition is becoming more and more difficult with the breakthrough of asian countries formidable competitors walking off with a good deal of medals. An example is the excellent Hong Kong orchestra of which the demonstration was breathtaking.

But we mustn't forget the Laakirchen (Austria) praiseworthy orchestra, conducted by Walter Buchinger, and praiseworthy as well, " Harmonica 17 ", conducted by Pierre Couteau, which took the fith place with a mention of excellency.

Apart from it, France won only a silver medal, in free chromatic category. Antoine Leroux accompanied at the piano by Nami Miyata (the most parisian of all of us), won this medal with the mention " excellent ".

Ten other French, in different categories, won honourable excellent mentions.
But we must realise that we are to-day, far away from the past France Harmonica successes, mostly because of the " Rising Sun " countries performances.
Anyway, this event is an opportunity for every one to compare with harmonica players from everywhere and to measure his own skill, thinking, as he leaves the place, that he'll try to do better next time.

The honours list of this Festival is published on the Festival site : http://www.whf.2005.de .

Trossingen is also the place of many events, exceptionnal rendez-vous, offering to visitors a great variety of programs accorded to their specialities and likings. A good example are the three evening concerts, and among them the "Ladies night ", novelty to which participated virtuoso ladies : Naoko Takeuchi (Japan), Michal Adler-Gronich (Israël), Kathrin Gass (Germany), Hermine Deurloo (Holland) and the last evening, Beata Kossowska (Poland), the diatonic" Madonna ". A real pleasure for the ears and also the eyes.
We can also add the success of the 18 workshops, managed by internationally known specialists.
The only negative point was the competitions places dispersal, which meant a lot of walks through the town. But Trossingen has its charm and the weather this year was an " indian summer " favourable to this kind of exercise. It has also permitted to many of us to visit for the first or even the second time, the wellknown harmonica and accordion museum, alone of its kind, always remodelled by the tireless Martin Häffner.
It is in Martin-Luther-Kirche that Yashuo Watani, the King's Harmonica Quintet and Ulrich Müller Fross gave with a great success, on the Saturday afternoon, a chamber music concert. But each one has his place of worship, the diatonic and chroma-jazz hardliners met every night until early hours for a late night session , at the Kesselhaus, with Steve Baker and his guests.

This 2005 WHF has been a big success. The offer of events was so large that you wished you could be in different places at the same moment. This is Trossingen magic.
I wish to thank the organizers, the Hohner Company, the FIH and more particularly Gerhard Müller and his team who welcomed so warmly the French delegates.

This is Alexander V. Savelyev. He arrived from Ukraine, after a three days tiring journey, with a total of 42 hours in bus and train, and many troubles to cross over frontiers, etc. He is one of us, he shares the same passion, what ever may be the country where you are born.
" Si tous les harmonicistes du monde voulaient se donner la main... " Well, it's done !
See you soon, Alexander, in Trossingen, in 2009 and thank you for coming.

Jean Labre
France Harmonica Founder Président

(1) The 11 countries were : North Africa (...), South Africa, Germany, Belgium, Eire, Spain, France, Great Britain, Holland, Northern Ireland, Switzerland.

English translation Josette Labre

photos : Swaran Sing Arri/WHF2005 and Phil. Delbourg.
Published December 15th 2005