William McCoy

TODO: перевести

For the last article in this series I have decided to look at the excellent though undeservedly obscure harp player, William McCoy. One of the few Texan harp players to have recorded in the twenties, McCoy's complete recordings can be found (along with other good stuff ) on the highly recommended CD Texas: Black Country Dance Music1.

I have chosen to transcribe the first twelve bars of McCoy's "Central Tracks Blues". This is played in 5th position, ie. key of C# on an A harp. (McCoy seems to have bought just the one harp to this session - all the songs he recorded on 7th and 8th of December 1928 were played on an A harp in either 1st, 2nd or 5th position.) In fact this is the only example of pre-war 5th position I have so far discovered. The usual advice to hear the original recording is particularly important in this case. To notate McCoy's rhythms accurately would make this transcription unreadable and there is no convenient way to notate those hand wah-wahs. (McCoy seemed very fond of the "talking harp" sound - check out his version of "Mama Blues"). For those of you interested in such matters, the guitar accompaniment on this track is probably supplied by Sam Harris, playing in the key of A, capoed up four frets to meet McCoy's harp. (Texan guitarists seemed to favour the keys of A and E).