Pikeyh Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 I've just acquired an 81 key Wheatstone McCann Aeola duet, made in 1923 , that was formerly owned and played by Donald Pullen of Barwick in Elmer ,near Leeds . Does anyone have any memories of Donald , and even better , any recordings ? I do remember seeing him play this instrument c 1978 at a concertina convention in Pontefract . Ta Kevin Holland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Davies Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 Yes I can remember him attending meetings of the Yorkshire Concertina Club in Leeds in the mid 1970's.This was the original YCC which has no connection with the current organisation.From memory Donald was a very technically accomplished player on both the duet and English and played from music most of the time.He was an ICA member and no doubt competed in the annual ICA competitions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Davies Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 I have probably got some recordings that he supplied to my good Harry Hatton of Haydock,who I played with for many years.I will have a look.They will of coarse be on cassette. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikeyh Posted May 29, 2017 Author Share Posted May 29, 2017 Thanks Mark. I'd love copies of the recordings. Where are you ? Now I'm retired a trip could be arranged ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Davies Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Apologies for the considerable delay in replying .I have only just seen your last post. I have about 200 plus cassettes dating back to the early 1970's(but including tracks re recorded from reel to reel tapes from the early 1950's and 60's)and I do not have time to go through and identify every player. They are largely poorly documented and as all of the players are now dead I am one of the very few who would recognise who was playing. I will try to narrow down the cassettes and identify Donald Pullen's playing. Geoff Crabb would certainly have heard him playing at the monthly ICA meetings in London and at the annual ICA Festival.I think he played at the Concertina Convention the YCC organised at Pontefract in the mid 1970's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJPearson Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Hello, just read your thread about Donald. Yes he did play at the Pontefract Concertina Convention, I was one of the organisers. I remember him, on stage, reading from music that was supported by a lengthened music stand, which held about 8 sheets of music, so he did not have to stop to turn the pages! He was quite active in the Yorkshire Concertina Club and played both English and Duet instruments, but always from the music. He did compete at the ICA competitions, but memory does not serve me well as to whether he won anything or not. He also tuned and tinkered quite a bit, experimenting with ways of baffling the bass side of his duets. Living on his own, he was a bit of a recluse, but very definitely one of life's characters. Sadly I do not have any recordings for you, but I wish you well with your quest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikeyh Posted August 1, 2017 Author Share Posted August 1, 2017 Thanks Mark, I think we're both in Yorkshire , so we could meet up sometime ! My real email is Clifton.cat @ icloud.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikeyh Posted August 1, 2017 Author Share Posted August 1, 2017 Thanks TJ, I've had a good chat with Richard , the other organiser, about Donald Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Libris Posted August 5, 2017 Share Posted August 5, 2017 Hi - Geoff Crabb helped me out by naming all the people in this early ICA picture. Donald Pullen is seated on the right. Is this your concertina? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikeyh Posted August 28, 2017 Author Share Posted August 28, 2017 That's great , thanks ! It could be mine , but I understand that Donald had a large collection . Mine has a modified hand support , much deeper than just a rail . I think I can see one on the photo . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikeyh Posted August 28, 2017 Author Share Posted August 28, 2017 What's the date of the photo , and who are the others ? Thanks, Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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