Halifax

And I've tightened mine for the same effect. Either way, with practice, it does get easier!

Arrrrrrr.

Good luck with the pipes. Enjoy the elbow workout! cdm

Interesting and a little disturbing to see a concertina without its bellows. cdm

Do you know if he'll be offering a concertina workshop? Christine

Peter, I've spent the last days trying to digest your massive missive. I so appreciate the thought you've put into your response. My takeaways from you, I'll get to, but first I'll tell you what I was trying to get from posting my question. As a rank beginner on the concertina who grew up in Boston listening to my parents' Clancy Bros. records, I didn't start to listen to tunes till my 30s and have spent the last 20 years trying to learn the language of them. For instance, I thought I was doing pretty well in that I can instantly tell an Irish tune from a Cape Breton tune or a Down East tune (and then the Quebec styles!). But there is so much more nuance to the music. To your point, some tunes have a life of their own and continue along being played because they are so damned good, while other nameless tunes have faded away. My kids, being brought up as they are in Nova Scotia, have learned to play Cape Breton fiddle. Their teacher, Wendy MacIsaac, taught them a reel—Greenfields of Glentown—that she learned from her cousin, Ashley, who learned it from Tommy Peoples. To your point, does that make it a Donegal tune? A Cape Breton tune? I love that the tune itself has a lineage as if it came *through* Tommy Peoples as opposed to simply being composed by him (though Mr. Peoples may see that differently). I was hoping to get a list of tunes that are generally known in Clare, so that I could siphon through them to see which ones spoke to me so I could then ask my teacher (from Clare) to work with me on them. And I was hoping to sort of master the sound of Clare before trying to find my own sound. But maybe, thinking about the response to this thread, it really does make the most sense to keep it simple: learn the tunes that speak to me, the tunes my kids play, and the tunes my pals in the local session play—in that order of importance. I will for sure check out the tunes mentioned in this thread, though, because if they are good enough to speak to you and Bob and Jody, and WesleyMann, and RAc, well then, they have achieved some kind of zeitgeist already. Thanks again, so much for your thoughts, musings, and tune ideas!

As I mentioned, I can always use some good jigs. Thanks, Jody! cdm

Oh yeah. Good stuff there! Thank you.

Peter, I've been dipping into the Clare library website, it's a treasure trove for sure. And yes, while I'm happy to nitpick (I'm an editor by profession), I am, I suppose, looking for some of the classics. For instance, a friend recommended the Hare's Paw reel and every time she mentions it, she calls it "a good Clare tune." I thought, as a beginner, that I might try to learn to play in the Clare style, even though, as you mention, each region and even player develops his or her own style. Thanks for the response. I'm happy to hear more about nuts and bolts, if you are inclined to muse... cdm

Thank you, Bob. This is a really good list. Seems like these tunes would give me an education in the sound of Clare, for sure. I appreciate your thoughtful response. cdm

Thank you, WesleyMann! I will add them to my spreadsheet. I needed some more jigs to round out my list of reels. cdm

Hey all: What are your favourite tunes from Clare? Extra points for two or more that go together. I'm currently working on the Hare's Paw and the Dairy Maid reels---those are pretty fun. Thanks!

Sometimes you can rent an instrument, or even rent-to-own.

I have a proper case that has one proper latch. While walking down to a session, the latch caught on my coat and the case opened its maw. No damage---the wee beastie stayed put---(but oh, my nerves!). I'm going to install another latch just in case... Thanks for the reminder. Christine

Thanks, Bill!

Thanks, Dana. I am loving the possibilities! You've given me some good information here. Best, Christine

According to the Facebook Posting: Sara Lent Flynn ***STOLEN CONCERTINA*** My concertina was stolen from Piazza SMN, Florence,Italy. It is a Jeffries 47Key (4 row) concertina. It was in a navy adidas bag along with my Nikon D90 camera. Could you please share this post and if anyone has any information could you please let me know. Thank you.

Like many of you, I suppose, I've been greatly enjoying Cormac Begely's new solo album. I'm wondering if any of you have an idea of how he seems to bend some of his notes. Air flow? Half-pressed buttons? Any insights?

I found some wee hygrometers for humidors that I can keep in the concertina box, good info, Thanks!

Don, what's the best humidity level for a concertina? Thanks, cdm

One of the benefits of going to the Catskills is that you have the opportunity to play in different situations: in a workshop, for dancers, at a session with a bunch of other musicians/instruments, etcetera. But it doesn't sound as if you can make a bad decision.

Ooooh, Thanks for posting. Good stuff.

Thanks, Geoff: As a beginner, I probably tend to extend the bellows too much, and have not yet noticed that ITM players keep it closed. I'm too busy trying to keep up with the session! There is so much to think about. Today in my practice, I'll work on keeping the bellows tight and taking more frequent sips of air. Thanks!

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses. My takeaway is that for playing Irish trad on my Morse, a 6-fold bellows is fine and my life wouldn't change too much if I got the Button Box to add a new bellows with another fold. My best to y'all. cdm

Before you blame yourself for lack of skill & technique are you sure that you are not losing air due to holes in the bellows or faulty seals, gaskets, valves or pads?? Jake Bill N and Jake, I've got a new-ish Morse Anglo and the bellows are beautifully sound. I've only been playing for 6 months or so, so my comment about lack of skill and technique is not false modesty. All this info about 6 vs 7 bellow folds is super helpful. Thanks!