Frank Nappi, vocalist
And
The Villages Harmonica Band
Present
A unique collaboration of
vocals and instrumentals
with
a special tribute to the music of Cole Porter
Church on the Square
The Villages, Florida
March 4, 2009
Program
My Prayer NappiIt’s a Small World BandMedley: Bye, Bye Blackbird BandBill BaileyHas Anybody Seen My GalSmoke Gets in Your Eyes NappiMedley: Ain’t Misbehavin’ BandBlue MoonJust One of Those Things BandNight and Day NappiI’ve Got You under My Skin BandBegin the Beguine BandRoman Guitar NappiAubrey Was Her Name DauhnSentimental Journey BandYou Belong to My Heart NappiStardust SatrianoPolka Medley BandO Sole Mio Nappi
Harmonica Band Personnel
Bill Aldsworth Pam Bauer Carl Berg
Betty Church Lloyd Cole Perla Corpuz Bob Dauhn
Mike DiSanto Howard Eckles Bob Light
Jerry McGuinn John Mooney Bob Quirk
Paul Satriano Charles Spencer Bill Wall
Gerard Van-Nienwenhove
Guest: Phil Kuhl, Baritone Ukelele, Banjo
Arrangements: John Mooney, Musical Director
Sound: Billy Field, Church on the Square
Frank Nappi
Frank Nappi moved to The Villages 13 years ago and has been a member of several of its entertainment companies over the years. He has appeared in many editions of Sentimental Journey and Words and Music at the Savannah Center, and with his musical partner Bill Rico at the Church on the Square. Frank is also one of the founding members of the Harmonica Club.
Tonight marks Frank’s sixth appearance at the Church on the Square.
About the Club and the Band
The Villages Harmonica Club was established 12 years ago. Its members play chromatic harmonicas exclusively. The club meets twice weekly for two-hour playing sessions. One session is often devoted to learning new material, and periodic workshops are conducted to assist beginners.
The club is open to all harmonica players willing to learn the chromatic harmonica. Guest musicians and Villagers are always welcome to join us at our rehearsals.
Performance groups, such as the Harmonica Band, are established from within the membership and guest musicians interested in performing around the Villages. Smaller groups form up on an ad hoc basis to provide musical entertainment for special occasions.
The Chromatic Harmonica
The chromatic harmonica is quite different from its smaller cousin, the diatonic harmonica, which is often referred to as a mouth organ or Blues Harp. These smaller harmonicas provide only the 7 scale tones, represented by the white keys of a piano, whereas the chromatic harmonica provides all 12 tones of the chromatic scale, represented by the white and black keys.
The 4-octave chromatic harmonica consists of 64 individually tuned brass reeds mounted on 2 registers of 32 reeds each. These reed registers (or plates) are each mounted over 16 separate reed chambers—one on the top and one on the bottom of the instrument. This layout provides 16 positions (or mouthpiece holes), all in the space of 8 inches. Each reed is covered by a one-way valve to force the air to the target reed. These instruments require regular maintenance.
Notes are played by inhaling or exhaling through one position and selecting the correct register by means of a register key (or slide mechanism) which directs the air to the proper register.
The individual brass reeds vibrate from 100 or so vibrations per second to over 2000 vibrations per second.
The 4-octave chromatic harmonica has a tonal range of 49 notes, from C below middle C (C3) to D four octaves higher (D7). It has a range greater than half of an 88-key piano. It is classified as a woodwind in orchestral arrangements.
