By George, I was gonna post trunk blocking. Reminds me of a story. Bill Duncan, who used to play with my grandpa in the 1950s and was one of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys, told me his uncle beat DeFord Bailey in a contest in Charleston, W.Va. once. Said his uncle's ace in the hole was he could play two harmonicas at once, melody lines with one harp, harmony lines with another harp on his nose. Or maybe the other way around. ---------- David Elk River Harmonicas
I don't think technically that is an embouchure...
"French, from (s')emboucher to flow into, from en- + bouche mouth — more at debouch"- Merriam-Webster
The trunk is really a nose, so, following that naming precedent, it might be an ennezure. (Nez being French for nose, at least according to Google Translate.) Or maybe enprobiscusure?
Now, for the more pressing issue...
"The Tip
The trunk tip is one of the key differences between African and Asian elephants. The African elephant has two fingers on the tip while the Asian has only one. This affects the way they use the trunk so while the African will actually grasp an object with between its fingers the Asian will use more of a scooping movement and hold objects against the underside of the trunk. This does not appear to limit Asian elephant's ability to manipulate objects."-eleaid.com
I can't find a more scientific name than 'fingers' fro the protrusions, but this raises all sorts of questions about what sort of finger blocking they might be doing. I also wonder if the there is any difference in the tradition for elephant harping. I know tremolo harps are more common in Asia than in America, which might very well mean the first harp an Asian elephant picks up might be a tremolo. How would they work the slide on a chromatic?
Of course, there are other animals with interesting harp potential. Giraffes have prehensile tongues, and not to stereotype, but let's face it, the best harmonica players in the animal kingdom might be harp seals. I mean, it's right in there name.
"The trunk is really a nose..." Etymology and physiology reveal that this elephant only copies what SBW has already done. Let's say she defers to a master. Nice analysis, Nate! I'm looking for a tongue-blocking giraffe, but without succeeding in up to now.
Last Edited by on Apr 04, 2012 7:53 AM
"I see you STILL refuse to spell embouchure correctly -ah,sometimes it just aint worth it-this is one of those times."
Not worth it, yet you still comment and even start a whole new thread? Even a fool when he is silent, people will think he's wise. This would have been one of those times for you to remain silent.
