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My first concertina, after playing the box for some years, was a brass reeded Lachenal; I figured they were a big company, I don't have to have steel. Well, what a chore to get music out of that thing I figured out the scales at least; and then basically broke a few notes trying to make it work better. A few years later I bought a Kensington, almost as an impulse purchase - the seller had cut the price a few times. And have been at it ever since. Really stumbled onto something grand. I've played Carrolls and Suttners, and they left nothing to be desired playability wise; but mine is simply the cream of the crop tonally. Notes never fail to speak perfectly, either. I really prefer the Kensington's big delrin buttons, too; and Dana's general philosophy of building something that won't crack, that can be taken apart easily, that's free of extra added decor that jacks the price up, to make an instrument that's affordable to as many as possible. And the strap system, where you can adjust the tension in seconds so your friend can give it a try. Adjusting conventional straps makes me think of those pit crews at the Indy 500, getting the tires off the things ASAP... I've been thinking that it'd be nice to have a G/D eventually, and figured I'd do business with Dana again - he's been very helpful with advice and repairs - reed swap, new handrests. Shame to see you go! But you gotta do what you gotta do.

I just finished converting this song to be able to be played on my C/G Anglo concertina. This is one of my first attempts at translating a song so it might not be the best, but I think I did a pretty okay job. Feedback is appreciated. Edit: A few notes are purple because they were hard for me to see Nocturne_of_Ice.pdf

A cheerful tune - Adam's flowers; every garden gets them [ Dandelions!] whether you want them or not you will almost certainly find one growing, with the cheerful bright yellow flowers looking like little sun rays [ soon to turn to feathery seed heads and parachute all over the place!] - Then you will soon get more growing, like an invasive botanical army marching all over your garden! A man called Adam likes to grow them [ that's another story completely].

Listening to the Jean Megley stuff now. I always thought he was a bit good.

Look what you've missed in your absence: http://www.concertinas.org.uk/DuetAudio.htm

I've been searching for German silver or nickel-silver sheet to make new ends for a concertina with wrecked ends. I've been trying to get a specification of 65% Copper, 18% Nickel, 17% Zinc - at least this proportion of Nickel under advice from a respected maker. It's not proven easy to obtain and certainly not in the size and small quantity I need - 2 sheets of around 200mm square at a thickness of 20SWG - .036" or 0.914mm. There are places in the US which have this grade in 300mm squares, but to get 2 ends, I'd have to get 2 sheets and there's be a lot of waste. I found one place which has offered to do a special order of 10 sheets at 200mm square - but I only need 2 (4 at the most). Is there anyone who would need or want the remaining 6 sheets for their project(s)? Contact me and we can discuss pricing, postage and all those things if you're interested Alex West

Just worked it out, Al. Corse you can!

Duet Recordings Page Alan? Wossat? But probably! And thank you Ken and to you.

Dana, Best wishes for a long, happy and fulfilling retirement! Dan

Happy music and good health to you, Dirge! Ken

We still have room for you on the Duet Recordings page and I still have your recordings for Duet International. Can we use them ? Will you be around for Folk East > The last time I saw you. If not Take good care Al

Hallo friends, nice to hear from you all. I am still playing 'the Caledonian' Geoff, and always remember to be grateful to you when I do! My playing has dropped off a lot since the Duet International days though and I need to get down to some serious practice again. (Life has been distracting me from the important things.) What I have been doing is playing my small aeola with a band, so improvising bluesy sort of stuff which is taking me into another new field for me. One day I will get the big one out and move up to this job too but for the moment the accidentals of a 50key are enough to get my head round, especially when I'm playing standing and trying to sing some of the time too. With a brass reeded 46 Lach that Mike swapped out the low C sharp for a D as my 'rough and tumble' concertina (gets taken on sailing holidays, that sort of thing) that's the proposed long term stable previously mentioned. As I said, great to hear from you all.

I've always love this song and it was one of the first concertina arrangements (2009) that I attempted, but now can't find the arrangement file. My very deepest apologies to Ewan MacColl, whose A Capella version on the album "The Real Maccoll") will forever be the Holy Grail standard. But mine was about the concertina, not the voice. Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/i5lofidbbd1yjobp9n9g0/AG3cvIuctpmyNHXehpLB9qw?dl=0&preview="Lang+a+Growin'"+w%3A+concertina.mp3&rlkey=69a5q3urtcv1j4uk1s83do1bi

My composition 2009 in memory of Rich Morse: architect, concertina player, Morris dancer; founder of "The Button Box", Morse Concertinas and the "Northeast Squeeze-In" . My dropbox link will get you to the pdfs, midi, musicxml, xml of both the polyphonic version as well as the melody only version. Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/i5lofidbbd1yjobp9n9g0/AG3cvIuctpmyNHXehpLB9qw?rlkey=69a5q3urtcv1j4uk1s83do1bi&st=s0zcscdm&dl=0

Hi Dana, we haven't spoken in ages, so it is way past time for me to pipe up. It’s been 28 years since we first met and you were already heavily engrossed in the development of another concertina that ultimately led to the Kensington. That’s a long time to maintain such a high level of devotion to our little musical treasure. You’ve truly earned the right to kick back, relax and reflect on how much you have given the concertina community, and while you are at it, play a few tunes. I wish you all the best in what the coming years hold in store for you. You’ve done good! Ross

Bob: You already had my updated version of 1.3.8.7. Nothing has changed since you were testing it a few weeks back. My changes are not in the github version - I can't change those. I'll answer your other questions by PM.

Dave thanks for pointing out this update to me [via email]. Where is it though? I went to https://github.com/jwdj/EasyABC and used the green code button to download the zip file, but when I unpack it, it won't let me highlight selected bars of two part harmonies like your video did. Do I need to download a single updated file from somewhere that I missed?

Hello Dirge, are you still playing 31527 ? Geoff.

I am happy to share what knowledge I’ve gained with anyone interested and am working on getting it down to a readable form that hopefully will be able to jump start interested folks. I am planning on finding a good home or homes for what stock of parts I will have left over, though there isn’t anything hard to make. Dana

I will be before to long.

My guesses on what the number might read are the same as yours. But since you say its an early treble 15769 would be c.1870, while 55769 would be c.1915. Anybody else have a guess?

Hi Dirge, make that "+2". I met you at Kilve in about 1998/9 (I think we even shared a dorm). I was just starting on my Maccann journey, and I think you were a few months ahead of me. I reached peak Maccann about 2012, since when I've been going gradually backwards owing to increasingly arthritic finger joints. So sadly, much as I would like to get my hands on the 81-key, I can't justify spending any more on concertinas.

Hello David , nice to hear from you again, i'm still surviving and going to a variety of sessions. I have a 72 key Lachenal McCann for sale, as I try to play my Cranes. Keep well. Mike

Well done on all the hard work and dedication you have and are putting into your work. I have been doing it a bit under 10 years and can see how demanding the job is especially if, like yourself you make your own reeds. It can be quite a demanding lifestyle in it's way, and it's a form of manufacturing which from what I have learned does not always fit easily into the modern manufacturing paradigm... So mostly the maker has to go at it alone. Best wishes from England and enjoy the world outside the workshop, you will have to tell me what that world is like exactly 😂

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