Roger Hare

I think a significant part of the discussion revolved around the difficulty of finding suitable alternative materials for the bellows? Edward Jay had a project to make concertinas using 3-D printed parts: (https://www.livingtradition.co.uk/news/1001). I think at the time he was still using leather bellows. I think there were a couple of other projects centred around the possible use of 3-D printed parts. Paul Harvey at Flying Duck Concertinas mentions the use of 'vegan' bellows and 'washable paper' bellows, without going into too much detail. Maybe these would be up to the job? He also discusses the continued use of traditional leather bellows. Maybe a fusion of the two approaches might lead to a viable 'campaign concertina'? I think the whole idea is really interesting - I'll be somewhere near the head of the queue to try one out if they ever hit the streets... Later Edit: Ah! More about synthetic bellows in this thread. Synthetic chamois is mentioned. Thought I'd seen something else somewhere...

Brilliant. Thank you! With an opening shot of Clint Eastwood looking mean and lean well before his Good/Bad/Ugly days, eh? 'Twas very popular in the UK...

PM sent.

That's extremely helpful! Thank you very much! FWIW, that's the way I implemented it first shot out of the box - it seemed 'right', but it was when I was looking at the score with accidentals in the staff and below the staff that it occurred to me that there were in fact two ways to do it. Thanks again!

A simple question (I hope). Some folks use 'below-the-staff' note names as an aid to learning staff notation. Is there a convention for notating accidentals? That is, are accidentals depicted as (say) #C and #F, as they would appear in the score, or as C# and F#? I did a simple implementation of this scheme a while ago for a whistle class, and the accidentals problem did not occur because of the limited scope of a whistle. I now wish to generalise the implementation to include all notes. Thanks.

My pleasure - all part of the service! I meant to ask: What was the name of the Western?

Is this the one? Nice - it's now on my 'little list'. See also http://glostrad.com/green-grow-the-laurels/. Basic ABC and PDF attached. It's in F. I'm happy to transpose it to another key if you don't have the software.... ggtl.abc Green Grows the Laurel.pdf

Well, since I posted the details of the Scholer videos, CC have announced the Rochelle-2 which with it's smaller size, looks like it might be a game-changer at this end of the market? CC are still a bit coy about describing the bellows. My personal opinion is that the bellows are the worst feature of many of these $400-$500 instruments, and I feel that the bellows are so important...

I have a vague memory of somewhere seeing (~2 years ago?) a bass concertina offered for sale by one M. Harding. Unfortunately, I really can't remember where I saw this (it may have been on c.net), but I remember wondering at the time if this was the man his'self. Maybe he already got rid?

You may be able to bring the Scholer 'back from the dead' and then use it till you can afford something better than one of these $400 instruments. There is a series of 4 videos on Youtube about the workings of these instruments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbPw0yR19zM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88yCVla_Djg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvs4-ANFuq8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anBj1hibG0o Offhand, I can't remember if they discuss fixing the bellows, but you might be lucky. I think the Rochelle is larger than 'standard size'. This may be a problem (it was for me when I tried a CC English). If you are going to go for one of these $400 models, shop around a bit would be my advice.

Yes, one of the ABC versions I have is an arrangement for two flutes (I think) from a batch of tunes for (I guess) a military re-enactment outfit. Even played through a crummy MIDI player, it sounds rather nice... The whole file of 100+ tunes, including the Cotillion is here.

I'm looking at my copy of Songs from the Seven Seas right now, and it occurs to me that some of those scores are a little difficult to read in some parts. If you can track a copy down (I don't know if it was ever re-printed), the shorter Sea Shanties (Barrie & Jenkins, London, 1977. 0 214 20329) might be a good bet? There's still (from memory) 120+ songs in there...

That's very kind of you. Saves me doing it myself (which is what would have happened). Thank you very much! R

Thank you. Do you have an ABC copy of the PDF you posted? I have several copies of this tune, all with only the A and B music. Ta.

This article is about bookbinders glues, but it contains a discussion of some glues which might be suitable for leather-leather and leather-card bonds. May be of interest?

I recently came across a Norwegian tune called 'Seksmannsril' on the Northern Roots web site. Great tune - sounds a lot like 'Soldiers Joy'? I'd love to know the convoluted story behind that one...

I'm ever-so-slightly piggy-backing on dmksails OP - I apologise in advance! Did anyone find the PDFs/ABC I posted useful? I see there have been a few downloads. I'd really appreciate some feedback, it would help me develop the software I used. I suggest responders use PMs to avoid clogging-up this thread... Thank you.

You seem to have pretty comprehensively 'nailed' the different approaches to 'Harmonic Anglo' there. I'm going to re-format that as an itemised list and stick a copy in my Morris tune book, session tune book and personal tune book. Thank you for the insight!

I'm happy that at least one person has benefited from my original suggestion. Alex's post indicating that WINE may well work is better news than was contained in my post about this software. I'm sorry now that I made the post - I did think carefully before making the post, but it seems to have done nothing but muddy the waters. This was not my intention. My apologies to anyone who has been confused by this. Mea culpa!

It must be worth a shot? Though, I have been told (in the context of an entirely different, non-music application) that WINE doesn't work on the most recent version of the Macintosh OS. This was in June 2020, so that should help tie it down for the Macintosh-based EasyABC users? I know it sounds weird, but I'm starting to wonder if Macintosh users with older machines and/or operating systems might be in a slightly stronger position here? ----- Aside: Out of curiosity, what's the other language you refer to?

It's a language called Icon which has been around since the 1980s. These days it exists as a sub-set of the larger Unicon language. Icon has been my programming language of choice for more than 30 years. It's whatever you want to be - the program I'm talking about can be run as a 'drag-and-drop' program, or from within a command window. The problem is not so much OS-related, but overcoming the reluctance of Macintosh to allow folks to run software other than Macintosh-approved programs on their machines. It's a pain, and will be until I can get to a library with Macintoshes - ie: The Central/City Library in St. Peter's Square (I'm guessing you know where I'm talking about😎).

Oh dear, my supposed 'solution' seems to have caused more problems than it solved. Everyone got it working yet? I ask because some time down the road, I will need to get my hands on a Mac to create an executable for one of my programs. This will involve installing a programming language not usually found on a Mac (though I know it has been done), and then copying across the program source and compiling it to generate the executable. Your experiences so far do not fill me with much confidence that I will be able to do this without a struggle...☹️

In view of that question, it might be in order to add a further comment: (Re-conditioned) Vintage instruments are likely to have more control over the volume? You will be able to play quiet or loud as the situation (and the neighbours) demands. Of course there will be some variability even within the range of vintage instruments - it's quite possible that you will have more control over the volume with a 26-button Jones than with a 20-button Lachenal? It is also likely that you will have more control with either of these options than with one of the cheap Chinese instruments? Concertinas can be rather loud. I have a Marcus Traveller (a rather small instrument). It will 'blow yer socks off' two fields away, but it's also possible to play quietly... Don't be shy - join a Morris side, (or a local session band), once all this virus crap has died down. You will be made very welcome, and keeping up with a load of dancers jumping around while wearing funny hats is entertaining, educational, and a great way to improve...😎

My pleasure, all part of the service...😎. I should have said that the PDF I sent was based on Lester Bailey's transcription in the 'Melodeon Net Big ABC File'. Also the PDF I posted does not have the modified chords as suggested by David Barnert. Here t'is. Also sans bar numbers which I know some folks find distracting... Edit: ABC code added... Parting Glass, The.pdf PartingGlass.abc

Don't lose any sleep over this - they will be (quite good, that is)... Reputable dealers always give these vintage instruments a '100,000 mile service' before selling them on. These instruments will be in as good a condition (sometimes better) than the day they left the factory up to ~100 years ago. Whether a 20-button will meet your needs (as opposed to a 30-button) is something only you can decide, but I started with a vintage 20-button, and knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have it any other way. You may care to consider the option of going for (say) a 26-button instrument, as some have suggested. You will need to up your budget a bit, and do a little searching, but my 26-button G/D allows me to play all the notes needed for my Morris gigs (I need the accidentals for the Scott Joplin tunes...😎).