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Die Mundorgel
In the meantime it has become somewhat difficult to find a topic that has not yet been discussed here in the forum. That speaks for the MLT forum, but doesn’t necessarily make things easier. This topic is probably not really new either, but what’s the point: I’ll just try.
“Mundorgel” is how the harmonica was originally called in German-speaking countries, which means something like: an organ played with the mouth. Colloquially also called “Mundhobel” or in Bavaria „Goschnhobel“, but the term “Mundharmonika” (Harmonica) has established itself now.
According to the latest findings, the harmonica was invented in Vienna around 1825 and is the predecessor of the accordion. The ancient Chinese already experimented with vibrating tongues in bamboo tubes, which gave rise to the „Sheng“ that is still used in China today. The first harmonica factory was opened in 1834 and was located at „Mondscheingasse 11“ in Vienna. The owner was a certain Wilhelm Thie. The Thie harmonicas were the best in the world until 1922 and are considered priceless by collectors. Especially the ivory harmonicas are very valuable (at least that’s what the „Austrian Harmonica Association“ reports).
I must have been around 7 or 8 years old when one of my father’s brother gave me a harmonica. The instrument was a little dented, the cheeks a little dull, but it had played many beautiful melodies. At least in the hands of my uncle, who could play this instrument well. I was so fascinated by this instrument that he gave me his harmonica one day. A great pleasure for me. Unfortunately, he couldn’t teach me how to play it anymore. At first he never found time for it, later he became ill for a long time and then he was gone forever. But the harmonica and the memory of him remained. And whenever I hear a harmonica, I have sometimes to think of my uncle. Maybe that’s why the instrument always sounds a little melancholic to me and I’m always fascinated by the fantastic tones that can be elicited from this instrument. Like this piece, for example:
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47 Replies
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Actually, the following song could also be called the Harmonicaman 😃.
What are your favorite pieces with a harmonica, what special memories do you associate with this instrument?
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“Mouth-organ” is one of our nicknames for the harmonica in English.
I did not know the Lovin Spoonful did the Blues. Thanks Juergen
Long live John Sebastian.
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Night Owl Blues by The Lovin Spoonful
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Thanks Dave,
I’ve never heard „Night Owl Blues” before. The album title „Do you believe in magic“ says it all. Great piece.
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Another great harmonica player..Corky Siegel. Had a very fine band in the late 60’s called Siegel-Schwall Band and now has a group called Corky Siegels Chamber Blues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94EEzDnfQIw&list=RD94EEzDnfQIw&start_radio=1
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The Corky Siegels Chamber Blues is awesome. I like the idea of combining these instruments in this way.
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The Harmonica rocks, no question, as this British/French co-production impressively proves…
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…but does this also work with jazz music?
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Larry Adler again with a wonderful rendition of Gershwin’s masterpiece Rhapsody in Blue:
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… and Larry Adler in a guest role alongside Kate Bush…
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Here’s another example of the harmonica pairing well with the piano (starting at 2:13):
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Wow David, I had no idea that Judith Durham not only had a great voice but was such a gifted pianist. Thanks.
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Yes, she didn’t get much of a chance to showcase this talent with the Seekers, but she had a lot of piano lessons as a kid, and was fond of playing both classical and jazz music.
Once the Seekers were recording at Abbey Road, and during a break Judith sat down at the piano and started playing a classical piece. A minute later she noticed that someone at the end of the side hallway was standing there watching her… and it was Paul McCartney!
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Hi Jurgen
I remember as a little kid, my parents had this one album by the Harmonicats, and I was fascinated by the harmonica’s especially the long ones. I remember the album cover of the 3 members standing side by side with their harmonicas and the guy with the moustache. My parents use to play it a lot and I got into it too.
I’ve always liked the sounds of a harmonica in music. I remember one thing that stood about the Beatles when I first discovered them was the use of harmonica in some of their songs like Love Me Do.
I was gifted a little Harmonica many years ago that I still have and like to occasionally play around with. Even tried to learn a bit watching Youtube. It’s a Hohner Pocket Pal, fairly inexpensive I think, but small and sounds nice. Cetainly beats these colorful banana toy harmonicas I use to play with as a kid. Your post got me to pull out that little Hohner.
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Hi Jung,
I also had such a funny colorful banana harmonica. Mine was squeaky green, well. But that didn’t make me play any better. I think it’s interesting how the harmonica has established itself as an instrument in rock and blues music. Originally it was used in folk music in our country. I think you can play just about anything on the harmonica if you have enough imagination and musical talent, like the Harmonicats that you presented or like these Austrian musicians (no, no not our favorite twins 😃 )
Sorry Jung, translation error. Your parents played the album a lot, not the harmonica. I got that wrong now. sorry for that.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by Jürgen Bereit.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by
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The lead in to Love Me Do with the harmonica is quite wonderful. In this video, we can see a few scenes of John playing a small harmonica. I think the harmonica really adds to the magic of this song.
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I think I mentioned this once before, but my first Beatles experience was watching the Hard Day’s Night movie, and John’s harmonica intro to I Should Have Known Better instantly hooked me on the song.
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And another great player named Toots!!
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<div>John Sebastians father who actually is on a few classical recording with full orchestra.</div>
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Great find Dave Johnston.
I knew it ran in the family but i did not know of any recordings,
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Paul Butterfield Blues Band with Geoff Muldaur (former husband of Marie Muldaur of “Midnight at the Oasis fame”). It’s such a haunting and beautiful song with a great message and a terrific album cover . Paul wasn’t technically great but he was very expressive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP9q-jkV7O4&list=OLAK5uy_mJGDQobN78RGc33I-WS2KPwpqn-oJO2HI&index=2
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Thanks again Dave,
this is one musical pearl after the other that you conjure out of the hat. How do you know the many songs? Do you play harmonica yourself?
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Thx! I did play the harmonica and am drawn to music that has harmonica. I could go on but I figured 4 of the best I know might be enough going on too much. In my teens and twenties I would often have a harp strapped to my neck while playing guitar.
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Hi there Jurgen …. I love the harmonica , always have, I can recall my 2nd oldest bro having a cheap one but he could play it fairly decent, and a late uncle could certainly do up a mean harmonica that was awesome ..
I have a cheap basic one that I every now / then mess around on …. doing up my own tunes I kinda make up from my head ….. Love it in any song….Mona knows how to amplify her sound from hers ( bluesharp/harmonica ) ….. I could listen to harmonica stuff for hours …..🤘🏻😁🎼🎵🎶
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This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by Jacki Hopper.
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Fine Jackie, what are your all time favorite titles?
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Well…. I love a variety of songs in which harmonica is used …
Well ( Technically) this Glass Tiger song had a harmonica sound courtesy of Glass Tiger’s keyboardist …. ” Someday”
I enjoy alot of old school country/blues stuff that have harmonica, etc…
Though I can’t give you specific titles except for Glass Tiger one, as I said I love a variety but just know/trust when I say I enjoy harmonica on songs ….🤘🏻🎼🎵🎶
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This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by
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Yeah David and Jung, „Love me do“ and „I have should known better“. Two unforgettable songs that only get their special charm from the harmonica. My gateway drug into the colorful, musical world of the Beatles was the Red Album and so “Love me do” and “Please Please me” were some of the first songs that I consciously perceived as Beatles songs.
„The harmonica was formative for the early sound of the Beatles and they made this instrument popular again, because the harmonica had almost fallen into oblivion with the bands of the 1960s. The sound of the harmonica successfully set the Beatles apart from the other bands. Only the Rolling Stones later went one better with their blues-based harp. But who actually played the harmonica in all the hits by the Beatles?
Most of the time, John Lennon plays the harmonica in the Beatles' songs. His uncle George's harmonica was John's first instrument, which he learned to play as a child. John's harmonica playing influenced later British and Irish rock and pop bands such as U2 and Oasis.
George Harrison and Ringo Starr are also said to have played the harmonica from time to time. Unfortunately, that is not so clear. Mal Evans, a Beatles roadie, played the bass harmonica.
The Beatles used different models of harmonica. John Lennon played a chromatic harmonica in the first few songs. With this one, the sound is a bit purer and sweeter. John Lennon used the Larry Adler Professional 16 model. In most of the later songs, a diatonic harmonica is played. It was an "Echo Vamper". This is a Hohner Marine Band 364 specially renamed for England. This harmonica has 12 channels and 4 additional notes compared to the standard diatonic harp.“
(source: HarmonicaRocks)Here are the 13 most famous Beatles songs in which a harmonica plays a role:
- Love me do
- Please Please me
- From me to you
- I should have known better
- Little Child
- I’m aloser
- Fool on the hill
- All together now
- Thank you girl
- I’ll get
- There’s a place
- Chains
- Rocky Racoon
Did I forget any songs? And then there are these two rarely played covers:
„Clarabella“, a song written by the band „Jodimars“
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…and „I got to find my Baby“ a song originally written by Chuck Berry…
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Female Musicans and the Harmonica
I was hoping to find female musicians, who were playing harmonica with beat and rock bands in the early 50s or 60s, similar to drums or electric guitar, but somehow I hardly found any material. Was the harmonica a classic male instrument? Why? Do you know any female musicians from the beginning of the beat and rock era? In modern times this has already changed. Here are some very talented female harmonica players of the present time:
In the first place of course, Mona (here in the tradition of the eternal songwriter poet Robert Allen Zimmerman 😃 ):
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Originating from Curitiba, Brazil native Indiara Sfair quickly won the hearts of music fans all over the world with her unique, sensitive harmonica sound. Part of Brazilian blues band “Milk’n’Blues”, she is both player and accomplished composer.
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Rachel Plas is a singer and songwriter from France:
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Amanda Ventura, a young Brazilian harmonica player, quickly gained attention for her soulful blues music:
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Vikki Thorn founded the Australian folk band „The Waifs“ together with her sister. She plays the harmonica in a very powerful and dynamic way:
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Shakira has also tried her hand at the harmonica. Not bad at all, isn’t it?
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Annie Raines, an American harmonica and piano player, along with a legend:
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I’ve never seen anyone switch harmonicas in the middle of a song before.
Long live John Sebastian.
Great find Juergen.
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Linda Krieg is one of the few blues harmonica players in Germany:
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