Just found this while trying to find out more about the bass harmonica. Meet the Sväng New Harmonica Quartet of Finland, here offering a bit of that terrific Bulgarian rhythm I blogged about previously. I have trouble turning this off once it gets going. The second half of the video is more of a Ragtime number; also terrific.
As for the bass harmonica, I’d previously only heard it as part of the odd accompaniment in part of the Simon and Garfunkel song “The Boxer” (lai lai lai - thwack - lai lai lai lai lai… etc.). I finally got around to trying to figure out what on earth that instrument is!
Categories:One Response to “Sväng New Harmonica Quartet”
Hi Mike,
I happened to stumble to your blog and noticed a article about Sväng. I’m the bass player in this quartet and would like to help you get started on Bass Harmonica
It is indeed a great instrument. It is chromatic. The lowest note is equal to double bass E string, albeit plays very weak volumes acoustically. Each note has double reeds tuned one octave apart.
Bass harps are easy to get - I think. Hohner and Suzuki manufacturers them. At least by order.
There is a nice audience provided recording from Womex 2007 by nl6 here: http://womex.radio6.nl/2007/10/29/womex-2007-dag-3/ Look for button under “Audio van Svang op de Womex:”.
Sväng is planning a tour in the US sometime soon. Our second album will be released in January 2008.
