YMCAHO--- Beethoven Symphony 8 movement III

Part III of the complete Beethoven Symphony No 8 played by the YMCA Harmonica Orchestra from Hong Kong, a full orchestra of 80 members with chromatic harmonica as principal instrument. The orchestra was founded in 1941 with Larry Adler, Chamber Huang and Fung On as advisors and played mainly classical. This is probably the first ever attempt of a harmonica orchestra playing Beethoven's symphony no. 8 in a concert. The video is taken from the Annual Concert of the orchestra in October 2007 in City Hall Concert Hall and conducted by Hui Yau Fong.
香港中華基督教青年會口琴樂團

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical
• harmonica
• orchestra
• concert
• Hong
• Kong

[ReedMasterDude]

I'm a harmonica-lover/player, but this was just horrible... Maybe it's because this is an amateur orchestra or maybe it's the sound quality of the recording... or maybe harmonica is not suited for this kind of large orchestra setting.

It was just painful to listen...

[harmonicafriend]

Sorry you didn't like the sound. But I think the harmonica can be used to play many kinds of music including classical music, but maybe that's not your cup of tea. We also play lighter pieces like the Orpheus in Underworld Overture, maybe you can take a look too. But as you have said it's quite difficult to record the sound of a harmonica orchestra quite unlike a solo harmonica when usually you can get reasonable good sound. Thanks for your comment.

[tubaniels]

@ReedMasterDude

[tubaniels]

@ReedMasterDude

Iself, as a tuba player, know what it is like not having to play Bach, Mozart or Beethoven.

But you are so right: the horn player is to me the biggest problem and it is obviously that nobody has a clue how to play old music.

Points to improve: tuning, tempo, articulation, this kind of music shouldn´t be taken lightly.

[Schroeder1764]

just to clarify things, they're not called a harmonica with a keyboard. The correct term is a melodica. I know this because I've played one myself for jazz music and (many years back) for Irish/Newfoundland music. Just figured I'd give the correct term, especially as I wouldn't expect a lot of people to know of it.

[20Clarinet]

sufferiiing :S:S

a lot of money in cameras etc..

and no results

sorri

[ricof787]

?? o_O ??

[Stuckenmacht]

Since a lot of the wind section is playing a harmonica with a keyboard, maybe people who would like to play in a symphony and play these great pieces -- you can always get a score and play along at home -- could get a digital piano keyboard and play something like Pictures at an Exhibition for 2 pianos -- only it would be Beethoven's 8th for 40 pianos.