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Mysterious woodwind

Author: Finn
Date: 2002-10-15 23:35

Hi all!
Simon & Garfunkel's "The Boxer" has a lovely woodwind melody in the middle of the song. I've been wondering for a long time what instrument that is and if anyone famous (Simon???) is the musician. Thanks for your help! Have a great day!!!
Finn

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RE: Mysterious woodwind

Author: GBK
Date: 2002-10-15 23:59

In the 1986 Graceland interview, Paul Simon said it was a C trumpet and a pedal guitar (with the attack off).

Read this site:

http://www.medialab.chalmers.se/guitar/the.boxer.html ...GBK

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RE: Mysterious woodwind

Author: Finn
Date: 2002-10-16 01:51

Great info GBK!!!
Thanks!

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RE: Mysterious woodwind

Author: Charles
Date: 2002-10-21 10:09

I may be a bit late to join this thread - but I wanted to add something about the great bass harmonica part played by Charlie McCoy (who played bass guitar for Dylan on Nashville Skyline I think)
The percussive effect of the harmonica adds a sense of desperation and drama to the key part of the song ("in the clearing stands a boxer ....)
I was reminded of it recently because Stephin Merritt of Magnetic Fields uses an almost identical figure on a song on the album "The Charm of the Highway Strip" - I think it is a little bit of homage to Paul Simon!

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