I’ve noticed a number of vintage “Song Band” harmonicas have tunings relating to Tremolo, Alto, Organ…
Can anyone let me know what these terms mean or what they are equivalent to as there seems to be no information available on t’internet. Are they just tuned to a different key (ie. G or D,) as a variation on the tremolo arrangement of reeds?
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I don’t know what a “song band” harmonica is. Can you explain, or cite a source that’s stirred your curiosity?
There are a number of harmonicas being sold on ebay under the title “Song Band” It appears that Hohner released a whole series of them. I wondered what relevance their subtitles meant since harmonicas are usually just sold under their key (such as C, G, D etc.)
Since writing this, I’ve found out that Hohner encouraged harmonica bands sometime in the 1930’s onwards so the naming may have had some bearing on their status.
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Thanks. So much history is not readily available. I will start researching more harmonica history.
Are you not familiar with tremolo harmonicas?
Hi David,
Hohner was a major promoter of harmonica ensembles from their inception, well before the 1930s. The most famous was probably the Stern Orchester. They used largely diatonic instruments and were expert at switching harmonicas on the fly to play chromatic passages. As the largest manufacturer, Hohner not only sold them harmonicas, but also trained educators at the Hohner Conservatory and published an extensive library of sheet music, so the influence of the company on the harmonica movement was enormous and lasted until the advent of rock & roll.
I assume the instruments you mention will have been used in harmonica ensembles, but don’t know much about them.
Steve