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Dee746

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Everything posted by Dee746

  1. Got your message. Thanks for all these great links. The more I listen, the more ideas I get for how and what I can do with my new duet once I make some progress with my playing!
  2. Beautiful whistles...As for me, that whole acquisition syndrome thing will get me every time...
  3. Alan - As a brand new duet player I think that's a fantastic idea! From the perspective of a newbie, I know that when possible, including some info on the concertina being played - name as well as the duet system (eg Hayden, Maccann, Crane etc) and number of buttons would be helpful to give me a sense of what is possible arrangement wise with the different types of Duet concertinas being played. I know it may not always be possible - but a gal can dream... I'm home on medical leave right now, but improving and am now in good enough shape to spend some time on my computer. So if I can help out in any way, please let me know. I had already started wading my way through old forums and youtube videos to find examples of duet recordings. And many people on the site have been kind enough to point me in the direction of the recordings they have online. Wonderful! I'm located in the US (Buffalo, NY) so mailing would be involved. However, we have the equipment and software necessary to turn old cassettes into listenable CDs (that can to be played on a CD player, not just a computer) or mp3/wav recordings for posting on the internet. My husband is great at it, and would be happy to help out (especially if you include a few jazz recordings to sweeten the deal - it's his favorite form of music...). We have a reunion coming up next month of the college choral group we sang in (and where we met) made in 1974 on a cheap boombox using one of the cheapest cassettes available at the time. Just last week, in preparation for the reunion, my husband bought some new software and turned the cassette recording of our 1974 spring concert into a CD for reunion attendees. Much to our amazement, it is very listenable. And the CD sounds better than the cassette did. The software he has is able to turn the music into any format necessary for either playable CDs or posting on soundcloud, etc. I don't know how many cassettes you have, but if John Wild needs some help, let me know. I'd be happy to pay for fed ex insured mailing to make sure any cassettes you sent made it here safely. As well as sending them back once they are recorded (My absolute promise on that!) And I'm able to handle posting sound files on computer websites. I agree completely that this should be a free resource. Thank-you so much! Dee746, AKA Diane Cookfair of Buffalo, NY
  4. I think that's a great idea. I realize there may be contracts, permissions etc involved here that would prevent that from happening, and that there may be legal issues involved we are unaware of. But if this is not the case, I'm betting that among us there are enough people with the necessary computer expertise and if necessary sound editing computer software and experience to assist with that sort of thing if it is a possibility. CDs used to be the only and best way to share this sort of thing. But there are now other less expensive possibilities available, and other people who I'm assuming would be willing to pitch in to make this happen if it's legally possible. Alan Day has already done more than his fair share of bringing concertina music to the community.
  5. Umm - And how much did her penny whistles cost....? I told my husband what instruments I would sell to help cover the Maccan duet I just purchased, and I did explain it would be an expensive purchase compared to my usual ukes, penny whistles etc. My willingness to sell my favorite guitar I can no longer play due to arthritis and neck issues told him I was serious. So he was kind enough to say "that's great" and not ask for the specific cost...
  6. I love French style musette, and I've been listening to your posting of Sous le Ciel de Paris for the last few weeks! Today, I'll listen to the rest of your wonderful music. Thanks so much!
  7. Thanks for these resources Irene! And to Alan Day - We've never met, but please know that none of what I said was meant as a criticism of you or anyone else. As a relative newbie to the Anglo concertina and a complete newbie to the Duet, I am in awe, not only of your musicianship, but your generosity in posting your Anglo tutoring files online for the rest of us to learn from, as well as the work you've done on other concertina collections. Thank-you for everything you've done to help the concertina community! I am truly grateful.
  8. Thanks for responding Daniel. What types of music do you play on your duet? And as a new duet learner hungrily searching for arrangements to listen too, I heartily encourage you post some of your recordings...
  9. Thanks Wes! What a great resource you've shared. I will make full use of it. And how funny is this. I actually play the pendant ocarina - have a number in different keys, mostly alto and baritone since my poor dog tolerates the pitch better than the sopranos...I have asthma, and after a bad bout it's my favorite way of rehabbing my lungs! Beats the heck out of blowing into a tube to make the little ball go up and down...
  10. Having just purchased a Lachenal Maccann duet concertina (my first duet) from Chris Algar (Barleycorn), I started reading the early 2011 posts re the duet and the forthcoming Duet International CD with great anticipation...as I moved on to the 2014 posts, my thoughts went to "oh darn, it's never going to be issued..." Then with sadness, I just read this 2018 post... Things happen. Life gets in the way. I get it. So...If it isn't likely to come out in the next few years, is there a way to make all the wonderful Duet recordings various duet players contributed available that doesn't require the production of the CD? Alan and Graham, could you at least give us a list of the musicians, type of duet concertina played and songs that would have been included on the CD? And to those of you who contributed duet recordings for this project, if you see this, could you let us know if about any CDs, spotify, or youtube videos you've made? Going through the postings has helped me identify names of folks who have recorded duet concertina music, and I've found some nice things on Youtube. But it sure would be nice to have info on different Duet players who've recorded in one place...It's a wonderful thing for us newbies! Thanks all.
  11. Fascinating - Thanks so much for sharing these pictures. It would be interesting historically to know whose idea it was to include a gargoyle with a concertina on the building - imagine it's a rather rare design - and whether it was someone who played the concertina! Also, whether there are other places around the world where concertinas appear on gargoyles, statues or are incorporated into architecture in some other way.
  12. Wonderful - Merci d'avoir partagé votre musique avec nous!
  13. Bill thanks for the tip re Nietzsche's. It's been a few years since I've gone to one of their sessions, but will be sure to get over to listen in the near future. And if I don't see an Anglo being played, will politely query the whistle players when they're not playing to see if I can find the Anglo player! The sessions used to be played at a fairly high level of skill, and I know etiquette - So i wouldn't go looking to play just yet. But making a connection with another player would be great. As for Hamilton, it might not happen till later this summer, because I'm having some health issues right now that have me pretty much home-bound and not working. (The good news is it gives me lots of down time to practice the concertina). But later this summer I will try to get to one of the Corktown Tavern sessions in Hamilton. Thanks again for the info. Dee
  14. David - Your trip to Ottawa sounds great. And I admit, I hadn't noticed that your avatar gargoyle was holding a concertina. My bad. It's a fantastic picture!
  15. So whereabouts in Central Ontario are you? I'm in Buffalo about 5 minutes from the Peace Bridge and have a close cousin who lives in Metro Toronto ...And I just bought a refurbished Lachenal 46 button Maccaan Duet from Chris Algar at Barleycorn yesterday that should arrive by early June! Unfortunately, I've yet to find anyone in WNY or Southern Ontario who plays Anglo, English or Duet. We do have a local chemnizter club that plays a lot of polish polka music, but you have to have a chemnizter to join....So I am looking for any Anglo, EC or Duet concertina enthusiasts/players within a reasonable distance to connect with. Before you stop in Albany to see David Barnert on your road trip to Button Box, you'd also be welcome to stop here in Buffalo And I'll be in Scarborough , Ontario hanging out with my cousin for a few days later this summer as well. Perhaps we could meet up and compare instruments and stories. With regard to my decision to go in the direction of a Duet, it went like this - After spending the last few months learning on an inexpensive 30 button Bonetti Anglo (same size as a Rochelle, lucked out with bellows that didn't leak), I started to look into an "upgrade" purchase. I realized there were some things I wanted to do musically that weren't necessarily a good match for the Anglo. I eventually went in the direction of the duet due to serious arthritis in both my thumbs (so no EC) and some major neck surgery and shoulder problems. Also finances. I have a piano/guitar/voice/uke background, and wanted something compact that I could both sing with and/or play melody with chords on when I wanted to. And I just love the right-hand left hand fingers twitching description you gave. I get it. Love the Anglo and will keep learning it, but once I learned of the Duet's existence, it appealed to me for many of the same reasons you mentioned. Also, the smaller Duet may be more pragmatic on a long term basis given some of my physical issues. Also wanted some additional chromatics for some of the types of music I would like to play. I know that the 46 button compared to the 55+ button duet will take a bit more work on arrangements, but it was affordable (well, affordable after selling my good dreadnought guitar I dearly loved and can no longer play to pay for the Lachenal Duet...). So clearly, I think the Duet is a great choice! LOL John, I agree with you about the Crane button layout. But my finances did not allow, and I wanted at least the 46 buttons to work with... OK, don't everyone groan, but re the making music with others comments which I agree is truly important - one of my musician friends who teaches ukulele group lessons promised that as soon as I learn three chords on my new duet or a couple of melodies from the Daily Ukulele book I can come hang out at her lesson group and play along! Note: my friend is a serious full time musician...she does not play the concertina, but she is a full time gigging musician, music teacher and professional bass and piano player who also leads a 16 piece all female jazz big band. The uke is just her fun thing. Anyway, should be interesting! So Congrats Mrs Shevy! Look forward to hearing what you end up with as your first concertina. Dee PS - Be sure to listen to some of Jon Boden's recordings online. Among other things, he plays a 46 button Duet concertina.
  16. I know it would be more difficult on a 30 button anglo, but anyone tried Klezmer on an anglo?
  17. These are all wonderful suggestions! Like Faded Ada, I'm a newbie, and worried about picking up bad habits as I start. For lack of a better word, making sure my playing habits are "Ergonomic" from the start is definitely one of my concerns. I had 6 years of piano lessons as a child and about two years of voice lessons spread over many years. But other instruments (guitar, ukulele, melodica, ocarina) are "self-taught." I learned the guitar long before internet was available, and having a group of people to share the learning experience with was unbelievably important. There are now plenty of resources and group playing activities available for guitar and ukulele in my region, and excellent on-line teaching videos for ocarina. But in Western New York (Buffalo, Niagara Falls, NY and suburbs) the major concertina group activity I've found so far is a (Chemnitezer) Concertina Club of WNY that focuses on Polka music. Wonderful music, but not much help for an anglo player. There is are Irish sessions in the area, but the concertina is not a usual or accepted instrument in this setting, at least not in our neck of the woods. If anyone knows of other group or in-person opportunities for learning the anglo concertina in the Western New York and Southern Ontario region (we live 5 minutes from the Peace Bridge that crosses over to Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, for those not familiar with our geography), I'd love to hear about it. In the mean-time, thanks to Ada for the question, and to everyone else for your helpful insights! Dee Buffalo, NY
  18. Hi Newbie from Ontario. I'm also a newbie, and wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I just bought a cheap 30 Button Chinese Anglo concertina (Bonetti) to learn on while I'm recovering from a bad bout of asthma. So your English Stagi sounds pretty good to me! Harmonica and melodica just don't work that well when you are short on breath, so I decided it was time to buckle down and learn a new reed instrument that was bellows based. A neck and shoulder problem meant that a melodeon or accordion was not an option, so concertina here I come! ..And to those of you who will immediately comment that I should have waited until I could afford something more expensive or buy something I couldn't really afford (for most of us that means charging it...), for now, what I bought is working fine. Reasonably in tune (both to my ear, and to my tuner's ear), all the buttons work, the bellows are leak free, and I can learn the fingering while I have some down time. I checked it out carefully during the return period. Yes it's a little slow and the bellows are stiff. But my playing will be slow for a while too. Will it still work 6 months from now? Maybe not, but I can afford it and play it now, which is what I need. I will upgrade when I can, and keep the cheap one for campfire/outdoor sessions or learning how to do simple repairs. I will also do a more formal review of my cheap anglo for people after I've been playing for a few months. I read a lot of posts on this site before ordering my concertina, and was surprised to see how negative people were about today's Chinese equivalents of the old German mass-produced accordion reed "working class" concertinas...It almost seems as if this is no longer supposed to be an instrument that people without a lot of excess cash are supposed to play. I am new to this, so perhaps I am wrong. I hope so. But if this web-site and Dan Worrall's books are any indication, it may be a new development in the "Social History" of the concertina. As long as your having fun with your new concertina and it fills your needs now, I think you have a wonderful thing going. Will be interested in hearing how things progress. Your neighbor to the South. A Newbie from Buffalo, NY
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