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Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Robert Bonfiglio interview

March 27, 2021 Neil Warren Season 1 Episode 35
Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast
Robert Bonfiglio interview
Chapters
Chapters
1:35
Robert is from Iowa, and his father was a surgeon
1:45
Learnt harmonica as a child and then joined a High School blues band
2:08
Started playing chromatic harmonica, moving to New York to go to music school
2:49
Reason for switching from diatonic to chromatic and classical music
4:18
Still enjoyed blues harmonica when he got interested in classical
4:56
Plays some blues diatonic at the end of Classical concerts, which is well received by
6:00
Robert has felt the responsibility to build on the playing of John Sebastien (senior) and Larry Adler
6:56
Was coached for 12 years with the first flute of New York City Ballet
7:29
Learnt piano when at music school, but harmonica was always main instrument
7:58
Has a Masters degree in composition
10:22
Being accepted as a harmonica player in Classical music scene
11:07
One of conductors told Robert he was the best soloist he ever played with
12:26
Importance of a good teacher, and the tradition of this for other instruments
14:37
Making music, and the sound you make is what is important
15:35
Technical challenges of the chromatic harmonica
16:29
The purpose of teachers is to show you what works on the instrument, from their past experience
16:57
Robert has said that the harmonica is “America’s instrument”, and is such an emotional instrument
17:35
Because the harmonica is similar to human voice makes it a great solo instrument with an orchestra
18:43
Went to Trossingen in 1970, where first met Chamber Huang
19:05
Did a lot of session work after completing music school
19:22
Played first orchestra in 1986, a Henry Cowell composition
20:02
Signed to RCA records in 1988 and recorded Villa-Lobos Harmonica Concerto and performed it many times
21:31
Henry Cowell Concerto was originally written for John Sebastien Senior
21:48
Other harmonica concerto’s performed
22:51
How Robert was selected to play the harmonica concertos
23:19
What is it about the harmonica concerto’s that fit the instrument well
24:30
Bach pieces
26:12
Some of more popular music Robert plays, such as Gershwin and Elvis medley, and some diatonic
28:12
How Robert got the classical concert gigs
28:40
Runs a classical music festival at the Grand Canyon
29:30
Why Classical music concerts are so well attended
30:43
Bonfiglio Group, with an album that spent 8 weeks on Billboard Charts in US
33:49
When Robert met Toots Thielemans and how they had their different sounds for Classical and Jazz
34:48
The part improvising plays in Classical music
35:58
The genres of music that get played on the chromatic, and Robert recordings with pop singers
38:46
Favourite venue Robert has performed in
39:44
Received a Grammy for playing on Ragtime musical
40:14
Has appeared at SPAH numerous times
40:40
Phillip Achille, a UK chromatic player, and how he was impacted by decline in record sales
42:04
Ability to play with power to get the sound is key to classical playing
42:26
Robert plays the CDH model from Hohner
43:52
How to develop the powerful sound needed for classical playing is to practise scales and arpeggios and increase volume and speed
44:45
Doesn’t like to use microphones, but to play acoustically
46:16
10 minute question: scales & arpeggios, etudes, duets, work on a piece
49:18
CDH chromatic design
51:54
Embouchre demonstrations
55:18
Future plans
56:17
What has Robert been doing during lockdown
56:51
Mic used in home studio
57:34
Mics used for live performance
58:02
Blues gear used
Info
Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast
Robert Bonfiglio interview
Mar 27, 2021 Season 1 Episode 35
Neil Warren

Robert Bonfiglio shares with us the world of the concert chromatic harmonica player.
After studying composition in New York, he spent five years under the tutelage of Chinese classical player, Cham Ber Huang, and another 12 years studying with the first flute player of the New York ballet.
Robert has been playing classical harmonica concertos since 1986, and has played in some of the great venues around the world. He has performed all the major pieces composed for the harmonica, as well as releasing some more popular recordings, which saw him spend 8 weeks on the Billboard charts in the US.
Robert reveals some of the daily practise methods he has followed to attain the high level of technical expertise that has seen him flourish in the elite world of classical music.

Select the Chapter Markers tab above to jump to different sections of the podcast.

Links:
Robert's website: http://www.robertbonfiglio.com/

Cham-Ber Huang: http://www.chamberhuang.com/

Videos:
Thais Meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgJy9uwxhmE

Gerswin Medley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAWiRQ39PUQ

SPAH appearance 2013: https://youtu.be/HRp3x7t2EIc

NHL October Virtual Festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiUpPyYnh_A

John Sebastien Senior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eiV_XZUa1g

Roger Trobridge Harmonica Archivist site: http://www.the-archivist.co.uk/


Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the show

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Show Notes Chapter Markers

Robert Bonfiglio shares with us the world of the concert chromatic harmonica player.
After studying composition in New York, he spent five years under the tutelage of Chinese classical player, Cham Ber Huang, and another 12 years studying with the first flute player of the New York ballet.
Robert has been playing classical harmonica concertos since 1986, and has played in some of the great venues around the world. He has performed all the major pieces composed for the harmonica, as well as releasing some more popular recordings, which saw him spend 8 weeks on the Billboard charts in the US.
Robert reveals some of the daily practise methods he has followed to attain the high level of technical expertise that has seen him flourish in the elite world of classical music.

Select the Chapter Markers tab above to jump to different sections of the podcast.

Links:
Robert's website: http://www.robertbonfiglio.com/

Cham-Ber Huang: http://www.chamberhuang.com/

Videos:
Thais Meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgJy9uwxhmE

Gerswin Medley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAWiRQ39PUQ

SPAH appearance 2013: https://youtu.be/HRp3x7t2EIc

NHL October Virtual Festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiUpPyYnh_A

John Sebastien Senior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eiV_XZUa1g

Roger Trobridge Harmonica Archivist site: http://www.the-archivist.co.uk/


Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
and Blows Me Away Productions: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/

Support the show

1:35
Robert is from Iowa, and his father was a surgeon
1:45
Learnt harmonica as a child and then joined a High School blues band
2:08
Started playing chromatic harmonica, moving to New York to go to music school
2:49
Reason for switching from diatonic to chromatic and classical music
4:18
Still enjoyed blues harmonica when he got interested in classical
4:56
Plays some blues diatonic at the end of Classical concerts, which is well received by
6:00
Robert has felt the responsibility to build on the playing of John Sebastien (senior) and Larry Adler
6:56
Was coached for 12 years with the first flute of New York City Ballet
7:29
Learnt piano when at music school, but harmonica was always main instrument
7:58
Has a Masters degree in composition
10:22
Being accepted as a harmonica player in Classical music scene
11:07
One of conductors told Robert he was the best soloist he ever played with
12:26
Importance of a good teacher, and the tradition of this for other instruments
14:37
Making music, and the sound you make is what is important
15:35
Technical challenges of the chromatic harmonica
16:29
The purpose of teachers is to show you what works on the instrument, from their past experience
16:57
Robert has said that the harmonica is “America’s instrument”, and is such an emotional instrument
17:35
Because the harmonica is similar to human voice makes it a great solo instrument with an orchestra
18:43
Went to Trossingen in 1970, where first met Chamber Huang
19:05
Did a lot of session work after completing music school
19:22
Played first orchestra in 1986, a Henry Cowell composition
20:02
Signed to RCA records in 1988 and recorded Villa-Lobos Harmonica Concerto and performed it many times
21:31
Henry Cowell Concerto was originally written for John Sebastien Senior
21:48
Other harmonica concerto’s performed
22:51
How Robert was selected to play the harmonica concertos
23:19
What is it about the harmonica concerto’s that fit the instrument well
24:30
Bach pieces
26:12
Some of more popular music Robert plays, such as Gershwin and Elvis medley, and some diatonic
28:12
How Robert got the classical concert gigs
28:40
Runs a classical music festival at the Grand Canyon
29:30
Why Classical music concerts are so well attended
30:43
Bonfiglio Group, with an album that spent 8 weeks on Billboard Charts in US
33:49
When Robert met Toots Thielemans and how they had their different sounds for Classical and Jazz
34:48
The part improvising plays in Classical music
35:58
The genres of music that get played on the chromatic, and Robert recordings with pop singers
38:46
Favourite venue Robert has performed in
39:44
Received a Grammy for playing on Ragtime musical
40:14
Has appeared at SPAH numerous times
40:40
Phillip Achille, a UK chromatic player, and how he was impacted by decline in record sales
42:04
Ability to play with power to get the sound is key to classical playing
42:26
Robert plays the CDH model from Hohner
43:52
How to develop the powerful sound needed for classical playing is to practise scales and arpeggios and increase volume and speed
44:45
Doesn’t like to use microphones, but to play acoustically
46:16
10 minute question: scales & arpeggios, etudes, duets, work on a piece
49:18
CDH chromatic design
51:54
Embouchre demonstrations
55:18
Future plans
56:17
What has Robert been doing during lockdown
56:51
Mic used in home studio
57:34
Mics used for live performance
58:02
Blues gear used