gcarrere

Hello! Mine is exactly 19 cm. I don't know how much it is in inches...

Splendid! It reminds me a "régale", a reed instrument close to the organ. The meantone is perfect with this kind of music. Bravo!

I play the MacCann Duet, and in my experience (I've had an 81 button, then a 64 b., and now a 57 button) I prefer smaller boxes, that I can play on in a more "punchy" style. Bigger ones are too static in my opinion. I dont mind the lack of bass notes in the left hand side.

Hello everybody! I just give you a link to my concertina video, my humble contribution to the WCD! It will appear only on the D day, 6th february, on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/pvoD-gN6uPg

Here is an extract of "Le pont Mirabeau". An arrangement of mine of a melody by French singer and composer Léo Ferré (1916-1993), on a poem from Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918). Sorry for the low quality of the video, which had to fit here. Le pont Mirabeau p2.mp4

Great tune and sound of a superb instrument. Love your playing!

Hello, bonjour à tous ! I've just found out (with the help of "WaybackMachine") the hidden version of my old concertina site "Concertina français", which was closed a very long time ago. Not all pages are available, but it is to be considered as an archive. Unfortunately the scores pages cannot be opened, but I keep them available for anybody who will ask me for them. All texts are in French, English an Occitan. Enjoy!

A traditional tune from Provence : LA FILHA DAU LADRE Arranged for duet concertina by G. Carrère.

Wonderful pieces and perfect interpretation! Your concertina sounds as it was meantone tuned. Is it?

What a delightful tune, Adrian! I wonder if a 30 button anglo is lighter than a same size duet (46 button, I think)? I'll try tightening my straps, and play my easiest tunes as often as possible, keeping standing, as you suggest, and let my fingers and hands find the right position. Thanks!

Some news of my duet concertina channel: still only five tunes available, but I look forward to recording some more... as soon as I'll receive my new microphones (one of my microvox ones is broken), circa february, 15. I have all the scores of the tunes and arrangements. Just ask for them, I can send them in PDF. So long!

Nice, moving picture. Yes, just let the instrument stay in its natural position. That must be the best idea when playing when standind up! Thanks, Little John!

Wow! such a wonderfull tune, and wonderfully played! Surprinsingly your (beautiful) Crane duet tends to stay horizontal. Maybe it's possible with standard sized instruments: mine is bigger than that. Thanks, Little John!

Such interesting experiences! I keep the idea of the little finger, acting like on english concertina. But perhaps difficult on a McCann, when you're used to use your four fingers all the time. But I'll try, perhaps for simple tunes.

Hi Didie, did you finally try to play using that knee rest?

Hello Didie! That's what I did in the past every time it was possible, and still do today, I mean playing standing up, left end of my concertina on left thigh, left foot on a stool. I was just wondering if it was possible to play duets with both ends free, as english concertina players do ... but it's true they have this finger plate that helps a lot keeping the instrument in horizontal position. I've tried to tighten my straps, but with no significant results, apart from hinder the movement of the fingers!

Thanks Steve. I already have a Presonus Audiobox USB 96, that I received some days ago.

Thanks RAc! I learned a lot following your link. So I think I'd rather not use phantom power, and the PSU will do the job. I don't want to spoil my precious microphones.

Hi! I'm coming on this old topic... I'm trying to record some tunes on my concertina. I've been using Microvox mics for years in live playing, and very happily. Now for my recordings, I have a question : on my soundcard, do I have to switch on the phantom power ? Thanks!

Thanks Geoff! I'll try this, and get you feedback soon!

My McCann duet weighs 1,7kg. Not so heavy. But the straps are in a very eccentric position, I think, so when I hold it, it leans forwards.

Hi! I am a (McCann) duet player, and when I see early videos of great duet players, playing standing up on stage, sometimes on very heavy 81 button instruments, I wonder how they managed to do so! When I try my fingers won't face the keyboard properly. Anybody has an idea?

Hi Didie! Like Little John, I wonder if the problem would be the airtightness of the bellows and the valves,and quickness of response of the reeds, rather than the size of the bellows... Moreover a very long, flexible bellows must give a less "crisp" response of the reeds, as you experienced it. So I think 7 to 9 folds would be perhaps sufficient, even if you want (as I often do) to play slow, long phrases and full chords. Personnaly, I prefer to take into account the limitations of my instrument, breathing like an animal and having to catch often its breath, unlike an organ or a reed organ, and to adapt my way of playing to that... Nevertheless I'm happy that some inventive person like you decide to explore new solutions to be able to play exactly what you want! So I'm longing to know the next episode of your bellows adventure!

New tune, amaisingly played and arranged by Didie (soloduet), on his duet channel. Enjoy! Jacinto Chiclana (Astor Piazzola), played on duet concertina

Thanks Mister D.! Same with yours, of course!