robert stewart

Perhaps this has been commented upon before (?) but in one of the famous Goya paintings of witches and their goat god, a witch is playing a concertina. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witches'_Sabbath_(Goya,_1798)#/media/File:Francisco_de_Goya_y_Lucientes_-_Witches'_Sabbath_(The_Great_He-Goat).jpg Look for the figure on the far right, with what looks like a typical Continental style concertina with the two-part bellows. Is 1798 early for a concertina of any kind ? So maybe the Salvation Army knew something about the concertina that needed redemption. Robert

Does anyone know specifically what Wheatstone non-ferrous reeds are referred to here? I can think of many alloys that are non-ferrous. What are the reeds in this fine looking instrument made of? Robert

Just in case this has not been mentioned already: there is a clearly visible (Lachenal?) concertina in one episode of the new Witcher series. Of course, I should be practicing rather than watching Netflix. Robert.

It certainly looks like the famous "golden" Aeola: Alf Edwards had the bellows gilded, and I think this instrument matches various photos of same. The golden treatment gradually wore off over the years. As featured elsewhere, Alf Edwards had several sets of reed pans that he could exchange in the concertina according to musical need. best wishes, Robert

Out of curiosity I messaged the seller, and he responded that he saw similar concertinas for sale online for between $4,000 and $7,000 (yes that is thousands). I wonder on what planet? RJ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/354531095961?hash=item528bb33599:g:S6cAAOSwk5Jjyi4b&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsGitZqxeYFeOdujEM%2FaxjikfMMzoNM9i6hDG%2BSQpg%2FKc2LHzRWx3n9e9Le9daY5%2B4EFFn%2FlUDO8YnbgZ54p2la6ebVo7b%2FGlatVgZOGxjj1Ncr19kXwshZOEJOtoEiczJbgNHiYGNT8kaaIsd2ArACd7f7N6Ih2TFq3LDrbUBiFlLW1MZwspIO4GiZ8Bicl30srwTOuI8Ezy2xkWe2bMm%2FkSoYFzUxQ%2F%2Bo%2B6eYTm05CV|tkp%3ABk9SR5rtkaC7YQ

Richard is 100% right. It is strange, but so well established now, that concertinas are associated with sea shanties. I knew the late Stan Hugill slightly, in Britain. When he sang he was really LOUD. He learned some of his shanties before the mast, as an old time sailor. If the shanty is a work song, at sea, on deck, the sailors have to be able to hear it above the howling winds, flapping sales, roaring seas. The shanty is a work-song, not a relaxing entertainment. So our beloved concertina does not suffice (!). And no one would be playing a concertina while others worked. But the romantic association of concertina and sailing ships is very satisfying for song accompaniment on shore, so why not? Providing we do not confuse history with artistry . Robert

The traditional way to learn tunes in Ireland, Scotland, the Appalachians, was to learn to sing the tune first. In other words it was in the memory before you worked on the fingering. An older musician would sing the phrases to the younger, who would sing them back until they were correct. The instrument was not touched until the tune was learned.Then the fingering learning. Then the decorations... I would be fairly certain that many people on this list will be able to sing some tunes that they have not (yet) learned to play...so we still benefit from memory for music today. Memory before playing, before reading. Gradually this method, which is classic for an oral tradition, seems to have diminished. Robert

Some years ago I had a full set of uilleann pipes (in C) made of lignum vitae by Alan Ginsburg. When the set was new there were some shrinkage movements and very fine hairline cracks. Over a few weeks of playing every day, the entire instrument settled down. The hairline cracks disappeared before there were any discussions about repair or replacement, and they never reappeared. This was in a classic wet English climate in Wiltshire, and the pipes were made in a wetter climate in North Wales. The chanter and regulators sounded magnificent, and the whole set had a warm expressive sound. And a distinctive "piney" odor. Lignum Vitae...the Tree of Life. Robert

Regondi was a virtuoso guitarist. So was Paganini...though he did not play concertina. RJ

On English Concertina (56 button Edeophone) I always enjoy playing in Bb. I like the sound and the feel of Bb. I am thinking of having my concertina "dropped" a tone, so that the C scale sounds Bb, the D scale sounds C, and so forth. It would be interesting to hear input from the concertina makers, tuners, and experts on this idea (please?). Robert Stewart

At this time, Wim Wakker is definitely making concertinas. He is currently making a baritone for me, his Parnassus model, which should be ready by January, possibly February. I believe that the workshop there makes sets of instruments on a schedule. I have not had any email problems, and have always received prompt and helpful responses. best wishes, Robert

yes it is still available. Several people have shown interest, but no one has committed yet. Do please send me a Private Message if you want to proceed: if you buy, I can make a donation to Concertina.net rather than throw money at Ebay where the Edeophone Duet is currently listed. Where are you located? Best Wishes, Robert.

Greetings Steve. What is your experience/opinion with your Parnassus concertina? You can send me a PM if you prefer (if in forum should this be a separate thread?) best wishes, Robert

oOOPs!!! Highest note on the RHS is, of course, the high G as shown in the chart.