What Child Is This

Solo harmonica uptempo version of a classic Christmas tune.

Played on a Hohner Blues Harp in G, recorded with a Nady Bushman Torpedo VHM-7 microphone direct into the PC's mic in, using Audacity. No post-processing.
If there's any positive response, I might put up more of my holiday noodling- I'm working up an album.
This recording is Copyright (c) 2009 Patrick Fitzgerald, all rights reserved etc.

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posted by leapfrog (2 comments total)

This is very nice. I am always amazed when people can play harmonica; whenever I try, it's just a tuneless, slobbery mess. I also liked it without post-processing, but it might be cool with a little reverb or something (or, to go all the way to the end of the spectrum, some crazy processing, but that probably wouldn't fit the style of your album -- I just want to hear a harmonica with some insane effects on it)>
posted by raisindebt at 5:59 AM on December 6, 2009

I would have liked to add a little reverb, but I'm still pretty new at recording my own noise and so I don't really know what plugins are available and which ones are any good. Audacity came with a delay plugin but I didn't like it much. When I play out, I have a grouchy old tube amp that gives me good warm overdrive, but I'm gear-poor when it comes to recording. I don't even have a decent vocal mike.
I am planning to do some multitracking on a few other tunes. I'm considering a version of "Soul Cake" with harmonica, guitar, pennywhistle, and jew's harp, if I can find the time put it all together.
posted by leapfrog at 8:36 AM on December 7, 2009