cnrobinson

Well worth getting a copy of this CD, not just for learning the tunes! Great just to listen to, and all in a good cause. GET YOUR COPY TODAY! Chris

This is very sad. Leo's weekly listing was the first thing I looked for when I logged in. He saved me, and I suspect many others, a great deal of time by his diligence. He will be sadly missed. And he was so young (well younger than me). My heart goes out to his family. Chris

Is it me, or does the Bootle concertina band consist of a nutter on bass drum, several percussionists (including a diminutive cymbal player) and one concertina? Chris

Hm. Does this actually refer to 'concertinas' or a way of binding books? If you go to, say, eBay and type in 'concertina' in the search box you get all sorts of 'concertinas' (including books, handbags, etc.). I suspect that it is unlikely to be a lecture on our beloved instrument, but I could be wrong! Chris

Thanks again, Leo! 'Paddy's Lamentation' is an interesting song. It was also known as 'Bye the Hush my boys' and was first noted down (as far as I can tell) by Edith Fowke from the singing of O J Abbott in Ontario. He, in turn, learned it from a Mrs O'Mally in the 1880s. Strangely, for a Civil War song it has never been collected in the USA. O J Abbott had a splendid range of songs, including that ace of broken token songs 'The Plains of Waterloo' (again he appears to be the 'primary source' of this song, though he is rarely credited) Great singer though, if you can track down his recordings. Chris

You are right Gary, the 'b' music is quite different. 'The battle of Prague' is a good example of a tune being adopted by the 'folk' musicians. It turns up all over the place in collections. Jane Austen had a copy! The composer, Frantisek Kotzwara (c1745-1791), was notorious for his manner of death. Most bizarre! Of course many played all sorts of music for all sorts of occasions, so were familiar with a wide range of pieces, not just 'folk'. Chris

Huntsman's Chorus is from the opera 'Der Freischutz' by Carl Maria von Weber. I love these compilations, Leo, saves me hours of time (though I spend hours watching them. Thanks Chris

Well, I played it to an Iranian friend of mine and he wasn't impressed. He pointed me to another version on YouTube which was (in his opinion) much better. Clever, though, programming the 'machine'. Chris

I would have been more impressed if it had rattled off some widdly diddly stuff. It sounds like it is playing notes at random, and then getting some wrong! I don't see a great demand for this. Chris

If it is any help at all, I will be in the area in August and driving. If there is interest in UK I could bring any 'tinas back for posting on. Chris

My big disappointment with the film is that it really isn't that funny, and I just can't see anyone outside England getting the Eric Cantona quotation. No real dances, no real dancers and no musicians. Oh, and no real jokes. Chris

The Valiant and The Alexander - Mary Humphreys and Anahata http://www.youtube.c...IvKferH0&fmt-18 The Valiant is a great tune (by Simon Ritchie). Though written for melodeon it sits really well on EC. I was playing along within minutes! Chris

Is Douglas Rogers still playing Regondi's music on English Concertina ? There are two CDs, which I own, of Douglas Rogers playing Regondi on the Bridge label (BCD9039 and BCD9055), I assume these are still available. I have also seen one advertised played on an accordion!!!! Chris

'Sweet Jenny Jones is the flower of Llangollen, Oh Sweet Jenny Jones is the girl I adore' Lovely tune and an interesting dance. It is a cinque-pace, a throw back to early english (Tudor at least) court dances. Chris

Looks (and sounds)pretty good to me! More, please. Chris

I suspect that that is a common theme with many of us older players! Alf was a superb musician. Then I discovered the likes of William Kimber and Louis Killen, and Crabb's! There was no stopping me then. Chris

Sorry about that! Yes it is 'Dulwich'. I grew up in Barry Road, East Dulwich, very near Upland Road. Despite my advanced age I cannot recall ever seeing a music or concertina shop there. Next time I visit my mother I will see what is there now! Chris

That's a relief. Chris

It certainly is a strange, but wonderful place! I grew up just down the road, so the Horniman's was a very regular Sunday afternoon visit in the 50s and 60s. When I had kids of my own I took them, just as my father took me. Some of the taxidermy left a lot to be desired, the overstuffed walrus is still there! It has changed a lot over the years but it is still worth a visit! Chris

Jim, I realised that! However a) I could get t-shirts from other sites, but I frequent Concertina.net, so it would be nice to reflect that in the t-shirt!, and as there are lots of people on the forum who play English and Duets it would be nice to widen the range! (Not that I don't like Anglos - I just can't get my head, or fingers, round the system!). Chris

I was just looking at the concertina.net goodies with a view to the festive season, when it struck me that they are all Anglos! Now, call me an old fuddy-duddy, but I play an English. Why are there no T-shirts with English or Duets on them? Chris

I have just acquired a Jack as a 'travel' concertina, but it has several keys that stick open. I removed the screws and took off the top to find that three keys were stuck open (just like the second posting!). I can't see any reason why they stick! I will try the graphite trick, has anyone contacted CC over this? If at least two Jack/Jackie have done this then it could be a design fault? Chris

That still seems a mighty high price for something that is, in effect, merely a curio.

It is true that most people simply never come across a concertina! When I played in pubs people were always coming up to me asking what it was (if they asked 'what do you call that?' I would just say 'Fred'). The other musicians loved it because the punters left them alone, after all they knew what a fiddle or flute was. Chris