Re: [Harp-L] New subject: Why is a harmonica called a harp?

["Stanley Yoder Sr" <yoder_doyle@xxxxxxx>]

A Rose by any other name....... The humble harp as I hear some call it, is still one of the finest sounding music makers of all,  IMHO.   The question that I have is: Why do so many of the players try and make the harmonica sound like other instruments?  Isn't the harmonica sound good enough?  I know,.....  the challenge, because we can, etc, which is OK but I like the soulful, and sometimes clear, and bright sound of my harmonica.  Just my thought.
  Doyle

----- Original Message -----
From: EGS1217@xxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 8:10 PM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] New subject: Why is a harmonica called a harp?

Okay.  I'm going to play stupid ignoramus from New York and give all  of you  
educated "harp" players from around the country as well as the  world the  
opportunity to educate me as to just when, where and how a perfectly  good  
harmonica which I referred to as a mouth organ as a child became a  "harp".  What is  
wrong with harmonica?  A harp is (as aforementioned)  a big floor model  
thingie with strings that are plucked by someone far more  ethereal than I could  
ever hope to be.  A harpsichord is something  else entirely and related to the  
piano.  So who on earth (and why)  originally designated a harmonica a "harp" in  
the first place?

Since it just doesn't roll off my tongue well, I'm waiting with bated  breath  
for an answer satisfactory enough to overcome my resistance to calling it  a  
harp.

Elizabeth
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