SIMON GABRIELOW

A cheerful tune - Adam's flowers; every garden gets them [ Dandelions!] whether you want them or not you will almost certainly find one growing, with the cheerful bright yellow flowers looking like little sun rays [ soon to turn to feathery seed heads and parachute all over the place!] - Then you will soon get more growing, like an invasive botanical army marching all over your garden! A man called Adam likes to grow them [ that's another story completely].

You do not have to spend a real fortune to make music.. it depends upon your budget, and your developing skills. There's alternatives to suit every budget. I am well known on here by now to keep using my one and only ( Hohner branded) Stagi Italian constructed Anglo 30 button concertina.. it suits me and has been faithful friend for some 25 years now. By now of course, some issues, with over 2 decades of frequent use. But who doesn't after years of continued use..? Most of which I learned to fix myself, but otherwise very happy with it. Steel reeds strong toned ( constructed in Italy).

I wrote this back in about 2013. It is a complex work for a soloist [ on melodic line mainly]. It is inspired by some wonderful coastal scenery of which I often walk along by on the North Yorkshire coast [UK] Cliffs, of chalk, that tower above the waves below, and then caves or nooks in cliffs and strange, mysterious, rocky outcrops all formed by the sea. It is also illustrated with sketches of the scenery itself. The last movement is called 'The Seashell' and is moderately fast and tricky to play [with chromatic twists in it like the curves and spirals on a sea-shell]!

Use those lovely deep sounding bass notes [left side lowest buttons] when you can too - they add real power to some tunes, and can also reinforce chords.

Looks very scientific indeed🌝

If you have a camera with video feature on it and reasonable quality microphone built in ..then it can be used quite successfully, I have found, for audio music sessions. The microphone will face onto where you sit to play and pick up general sound very much as a viewer or listener would be in position as they listen to you.. and need not be too close to the instrument.

Attachment size problems?.. Try compressing attachments to smaller size in your submissions if you can.. choose average quality but do not need the very highest .. I have found works better myself.

You can find harmonizing notes by tying out button combinations and listening to how well they do ( or don't sound ) to your ears! Without needing to be overly scientific about the process. Play about and find out good sounding notes in combination yourself, by pressing several buttons together.. and you will eventually learn by experience. Genetally on Anglo if you press two buttons together same time you already make a 'third' simple sort of harmonising notes. Press three together and you have a chord.

This is a short piece I wrote recently which has a little reoccurring motif in the notes and is played only moderately [ single notes] could be easily harmonised and is also intended really for any instrument.

I used a method when starting out with V shape above notes ( indicating left side of instrument) whereas for right side the v was below stave. Of course the V only indicated when note made by pulling out bellows, if no V then bellows pushed in. You did not need to put the shape on every note that required it.. only as a reference ( like a kind of shorthand) reminder. What it did achieve was very thorough understanding of each note in pieces,as could be used. And very quickly like the other method you soon found you needed it less as you progressed. But serves as useful method for tricky passages🌝

I do not criticise the adoption of the system, so much as sometimes the long horizontal line seems too long to make clear where it is intended to be used [ assuming for someone beginning]. I simply used a marker like a V shape above draw notes - and none [ no V shape] meant inward bellows movement. These could be placed more precisely directly over the notes.

I do think that the way this notation is printed can be confusing for beginners, in the way the in and out of bellows is indicated - it seems slightly vaguely represented on the page, with the line over the top of note, or notes, often being mildly unclear on where it is to be used. Just an observation not a criticism.

At last... Someone else that holds their concertina with all hand, and fingers, inside the straps ( other than myself that is!!!!!)😊😊😊

When staring out by using 20 buttons should be fine , as it will give you an idea how the instrument feels in your hands. And as regards English or Anglo for different music they are both worthy in their own rights. And Anglo can play in different keys also when you get 30 buttons level. You can play then in any key you want. 20 buttons will probably be fine as there is one excellent performer on this forum whose playing, particularly on 20 button, is very expressive and well known to us all of its capabilities. 30 buttons will give more choice of tonal key range.( If you need it).

In recent months I have been also delving into writing Duo works for instruments, and I like to gently interweave the two parts closely together. This work[ Cuckoo theme] was later made into a solo melodic single line piece afterwards, but this duo came first. It is a jaunty and eccentric tune, which I play on concertina, and my more recent additions ' Chalumeau' [wooden early version of the later Clarinet]. The 'Cuckoo' call keeps occurring throughout the 2 and half minutes of the short piece, almost as if the birds are nearly competing with each other, yet it is a 'Duo' NOT a duet, and so they instead add a bit of the calling and it ends with the same distinctive 'cuckoo sound before completing. I have also attached my image showing the first pages of the SOLOIST version, recently completed, of which the images have been incorporated into the duo film.

More likely that they tend to be written in a certain kind of signature rhythm. Eg. Like minuet is usually on 3/4 time ( three beta to bar). So these other kinds are often written with a 2//2 rhythm or two beats to bar etc.. or maybe 2/4 and so on. there are bound to be exceptions to the rule of course. It's just the general rhythm adopted traditionally ( in my opinion) that the book is probably giving you a very basic guide to understanding.

Lovely mellow sound🌝

Yes ( as David Barnert states here). that's also good alternative advice.. there are many people who are able to play purely by ear, and do not need to read or want to read music on the page. It depends on you the individual🌝

I made a visual diagram of all the notes, when I was starting, placed out on the staves [ with button numbers indicated] in a more straightforward way. I will try and find it and put image on here maybe [ hope will not confuse even more!!!]

Very cheerful and amusing😊😊😊.

Oh you do have a lot of questions😊😊. But do not let things worry you too much as you will eventually understand the instrument and it will all become second nature soon enough. As for notes on bass clef ..there are several on concertina below middle C placed here and there, including low B flat and A below that, and a wonderful deeeeeep. Bass C at lower button 1 on left side ( C major middle row). Sounds like a steam ship leaving port sounding the horn! Hard to explain it all in a few words, but some nice deep notes for left hand to use alongside the treble notes🌝🌝

Regarding my noticing the tablature in sample shown ..( Steve).. I see what you mean.. because I used for a long time a simple V shaped Indication above a note to indicate bellows pull out ( which I found easier) but there's many ways of doing things 🌝 I thought the line was a bit confusing for learners.

What I mean is in that particular sample there appears to be no outward pull line above ( indicating) as I assume is on the other outward bellow produced notes. That seems to indicate bellows out for that note. The G notes are in bellows and the A note is outward bellows produced, on diagram it has three 5 numbers on the notes with no indication for bellows use or the difference to then produce the A. ( to aid a beginner in playing).. I hope that does not sound too overly explained🌝🤔

It looks, to me, that the numbering system on that sample has an error in the print as the A natural button can (on Anglo) be made by that same button used for G natural, with bellows simply pulled out..whilst keeping your finger on the same button.🌝

In my own personal opinion - often you can be flexible, as regards tempo indications, [unless number is indicated on a metronome ] so Allegro could be quite rapid, or even moderately played, and so on.. depending upon how you interpret music at that point. You can use a slight 'rubato' [ mild pause on a note] on certain notes to emphasise a feeling or stress a note, which also gives a micro second extra space to get ready for more quick moments ahead n a piece.