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Post new topic Recordings from Bob Schaefer, Eharp Player
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Author Topic:  Recordings from Bob Schaefer, Eharp Player
Bill McCloskey


From:
Nanuet, NY
Post  Posted 14 Oct 2021 1:45 pm    
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https://youtu.be/0TZxqB6cEk0

Bob Schaefer (b 1921) was an eharp player who played a unique 14 string extended eharp tuning and later added pedals and knee levers. Truly one of a kind. While Bob played eharp professionally in the 50’s, by the 60’s health issues prevented him from performing in public. Bob loved to talk about the eharp tuning and sent tapes he made of his playing around the world to his friends. Recorded in 1997 when Bob was in his 70’s, they show a uniquely American musical artist ala Harry Partch. Pop tunes, classical pieces, rags, Christmas music, every and and all music was grist for Schaefer’s mill.

This is a series of those tapes sent originally to Graham Griffith.

I'll be adding 10 more tapes over the next few days.


this is Tape #1 Side A recorded in July 1997 at age 75.


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Don Crowl

 

From:
Medford, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 15 Oct 2021 4:28 pm    
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Thank you so much Bill. Really appreciate it. I’m still progressing with Claude Brownell’s tuning but on 8 strings & loving it. Are you going to post side 2? I am hoping to hear his rendition of Harbor lights.
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Bill McCloskey


From:
Nanuet, NY
Post  Posted 16 Oct 2021 4:07 am    
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Side B will be posted on Monday, and then I will be posting one side a week for the next 9 weeks. I will be posting 11 tapes in all. Make sure to subscribe to my channel and hit the bell icon and you will be notified each time I post one. Having listened to this first one about 5 times, I am really astounded by his playing which is truly like nothing else in the pedal steel world. A completely unique take on the instrument
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Larry Dering


From:
Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 16 Oct 2021 1:10 pm    
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Bill that's some amazing music by a very talented man. Thanks for sharing.
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Bill McCloskey


From:
Nanuet, NY
Post  Posted 16 Oct 2021 3:30 pm    
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Thanks Larry. I saw your comment. 14 strings, extended eharp tuning, pedals and knee levers. And the shear volume of tunes and styles. Just him, accompanying himself on eharp. It is like when you first hear Monk. It sounds a bit off until it doesn’t. Then you see the genius behind it.
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Bill McCloskey


From:
Nanuet, NY
Post  Posted 18 Oct 2021 5:21 am    
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Here is Side B from the first Bob Schaefer tape. Some wonderful arrangements for extended eharp tuning in bob's unique style. https://youtu.be/WYHYBkPMw94

Tunes include:

Sweet Dreams
Take the A train
Harbor Lights
Happy Haole Hula Girl
Estrelita
Desafinado
Girl from Ipanema
Schubert's Serenade
Tin Roof Blues
Shanty Town

All tunes are Bob accompanying himself using nothing but the eharp extended tuning
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Don Crowl

 

From:
Medford, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 21 Oct 2021 9:28 am    
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Thank you so much for your efforts, Bill. Now being a continual e-harp tuning player/learner I really appreciate it.
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Bill McCloskey


From:
Nanuet, NY
Post  Posted 21 Oct 2021 10:09 am    
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Thanks Don. Another tape will be released next week. I may do his classical tape next. His interpretations of classical pieces has to be heard. Nothing else like it I've ever heard on steel.
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