Jim2010

Here are some variations that might provide further inspiration Here are some American variations by Charles Ives that might inspire some additional concertina versions.

I suppose that anything improvised during a performance could be called playing by ear. But there is some grey area. For example, I am learning an old song (by ear). I have "composed" variations for some of the measures (again by ear) that I mix and match as I play the repeats. Since it is a little different each time, you could say that I am improvising and playing by ear. But I have practiced the variations in advance. So am I improvising or playing from memory? I think it is a little bit of both.

Learning by ear and playing by ear require some different skills. Performing a tune learned by ear might be better called playing from memory. Playing by ear is more a case of being able to play a tune (alone or with others) that you have not learned/practiced in advance. One way to get better at that skill is to (slowly and patiently) practice playing all the various intervals in a key up and down and making those actions second nature for your ears and fingers. Playing by ear is a lot like talking—you want to hear certain sounds and you do whatever you need to do to make those sounds (choosing the words, whispering, shouting, emphasizing certain words, etc.). You can do that automatically and instantaneously while talking because you have spent years and years trying your hardest to successfully progress from the "goo, goo, ma, ma stage" to the "dad, I need to borrow the car stage." Obviously, learning to play as well as you can talk is much, much easier said than done. Luckily, there are only 12 notes and relationships you need to learn and practice. And only 7-ish in simple music.

Do we know that Geraghty is not the person who purchased the copy I linked to on ebay? It had been for sale since February and then sold minutes after I posted the link.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125171855320?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item1d24d2efd8:g:qYcAAOSwVAhiGrFl&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAAA4HTN%2B8P1NmLg5iEbjYet%2FK%2F7fYPvbbzPcYC%2F4WtwzxxJzqYdWiEU3Wnx70d2t1WPUHpAy%2FJwNri0ntx9UZhrvPuQr8dDG6m8Wz5SIQ4jeUmaXvup26dEVKflbmnaooHK50ggf9Vtd%2FrRfkekO9EjSa5LL8bModAoTXjflj4Rcf5q0t%2Fim8P0ClVIHh%2FDYjAKurnHPKkOxZ8c9s37jq6d%2FMH%2FY1H58KRsgYgAq1IiPOHVPUoYTmWJKvRl9RwDZSRdLtAUlPq2dlO4%2FGnWwsSR%2B5rpyOozmmFDtPnvPKxlM%2Fdv|tkp%3ABFBM7OmB3Ydg

I only had a few experiences with Doug and the Button Box, but they were wonderful ones. First class all the way. I join all the others who will miss such a terrific place. It was nice knowing it was there.

How are the course materials viewed: website, youtube, zoom, etc.? I couldn't find that information on the linked website. Thank you.

Bellingers Button Boxes, which focuses on instrument restoration, may be another possible source of parts. http://bellingersbuttonboxes.com/

Wonderful performances. Congratulations to the performers and organizers for making this event such a success.

I'm with you. But I looked it up, and there it is in Article 282 (so at least they addressed some other things first), Section 22, where they agree to accept the standard (A 435) that had been adopted by certain European countries at a Convention in 1885. Article 282 has 26 Sections, each adopting something from a grab bag of things negotiated at earlier International Conventions (addressing a wide range of concerns, including the protection minors, protection of birds important in agriculture, suppression of obscene publications, free use of the Suez Canal, unification and improvement of the metric system, and the suppression of White Slave Traffic.)

Please thank her Majesty for the kind words. I am no Cecil Beaton, but I did once photograph her Majesty. She had just motored into Tampa, Florida, on the Royal Yacht Britannia, and she was being welcomed by our mayor. As you will see, those were different times. I had a job where, among other things, I edited a magazine. Back then the Police Department issued press passes, flimsy things, little more than a pink piece of cardboard with your name typed on it. I had had one for years, but had never used it. On the day the Britannia was to arrive, I grabbed a camera, clipped my press pass to my suit jacket, and headed for the harbor. I didn't know what to expect, but I was still surprised to see hundreds and hundreds of women in hats and handbags lined up to pass through metal detectors. There were Secret Service agents all over the place. Tall guys, all with little wired microphones in their ears. As I arrived, one of them walked up to me, looked down at my press pass, and said "Good morning, sir. Please follow me." He then escorted me, unchecked camera bag and all, past the lines of women and the metal detectors and took me quite close to the queen and the mayor. All I can think is that when he looked down at the pink piece of cardboard, he only looked at the top two lines: City of Tampa Police Department.

I don't know if this has any relevance to the specific Hohner and Koch instruments you reference, but I've read that A 435 was the pitch standard agreed to in the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I.

Nice job Simon. I've always liked God Save the King. The first set of variations I ever heard were by Beethoven! Here is a set of variations from across the pond where the "God Save the King" was borrowed as a national hymn and renamed "America." Originally written for the organ by Charles Ives, this version by the Unites States Marine Band was orchestrated by composer William Schuman. Maybe someone will make an arrangement for concertina band.

Smythe's Accordion Center in Northern California usually has a few concertinas for sale. http://www.smythesaccordioncenter.com/

While not concertinas, for ease of access (all on one page) it may be instructive to listen to the sound files of the various Marcel Dreux accordinas (windblown free reed instruments), each with sides made of different materials and/or configurations. With the exception of the final two instruments at the bottom of the page, each model has the same reeds and mechanics inside. https://en.accordinas.com/ecouter