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Al, if you can pick me up here in upstate New York, I'd be happy to come along, too. Wonder if it's the same Gordon? It will be a pleasure David. Al So Alan can do the Saint Nicholas thing. Cool. Alan

If anyone is interested, I will be at the Borders at Henderson and Godown approximately 1-4? today,while my wife attends the Columbus Guitar Society meeting, should anyone want to talk concertinas. Alan

Having now played a Morse and an Edgely, I still think I prefer my Tedrow, but if my choice was one or the other, I liked the Edgely better myself, but that was purely personal. Given the weak US dollar, and the current strength of the Canadian, the Morse might make more sense for a European at the moment. A North American should try to find someplace where he could play all three if at all possible (or four, including the Herrington.) I think we should be thankful we have so many makers now on both sides of the pond to chose from. Alan

go with the Rochelle, it is twice the instrument. Alan

You know, I am surprised we are this cyber-active, as the concertina is the ultimate steam punk instrument. Alan

A pound sterling is a quid. A pound weight is a pound. A "bob" was the pre-decimal shilling, worth 12 old pence, 20 to the pound. Now sadly disappeared, along with the farthing (1/4d), ha'penny (1/2d), thrupenny bit (3d), tanner (6d), florin (2 bob), half-a-crown (2 shillings and sixpence), and the ten-bob note (bill). And the pound note itself, now replaced by a dull coin. The powers-that-be keep trying to get us to use kilos, but hardly anybody does. Prepackaged stuff is in metric, but for loose goods most people will still ask for 2 pounds of potatoes, although they'll be priced in kilos. Until the Government relented recently, traders were being prosecuted for using the old measures. We buy fuel in litres, but judge our car's performance on miles per gallon. None of which has anything to do with concertinas! Interesting, I remember being told it was only us "idiot" Americans who had trouble with the metric system, usually by the socialists that want to shove it down our throats. Not that I really care, I am comfortable with either system. Alan

I actually did show up, even though Eva said she couldn't. I figured if she took it seerious, so might someone else. Anyway, I too could use the occasional sit down with an English style player, not really being interested in playing Irish music. Listening is just fine. I can sit down with a sheet with the tune and play a melody just fine, and in several keys at this point, but the left hand chording still is difficult fof me especially putting it all together. It doesn't take long for me to memorize a melody. I think I need to probably do the same type of thing with the chording, making note of the direction of the notes on the other side. (Admittedly both Jody and Brian have told me this.) Then there is putting the voice over the top of it after I learn the rest. I still think the occasional get together here is a good idea. With as many players as we have here, we can act as mutual support if nothing else. Alan

I think I got this figured out. A dapper looking guy like Peter must have lots of ladies hanging about. He just needs to teach to two of them to play, have them play in unison while standing back to back. This way we can see the fingerings as they play. See what having such a sharp hat can do for you. Alan

Sounds romantic, doesn't it. Alan

At one point at the Dublin Irish festival we had five area anglo players together at Bob Tedrows table, including Randy, Brook and myself. We had also had another fellow with a new Rochelle, and a fellow playing sea chanties on an old twenty button hohner. The current president of Columbus Folk Music plays a Wheatstone English, I think his name is John. I haven't seen anything from Mary Ann Robison on line recently, but she also lived around here a year ago when she was active on the board. My personal intrest is old-time and western music. That is off the top of my head, as far as players, but there are probably a few more. Alan

Knew that. And I attended a worksop by Brian Peters last spring down in Cincinnatti. Jody and Brian are playing more in the styles I personally are interested in, myself, than Noel. I don't know what Miss Eva is interested in. I am just thinking that we have enough players here that we could get together and occasionally bring in various folks to give workshops. Between times, we could act as support for each other, sharing resources and knowledge. The internet is great, but it doesn't beat being able to see folks face to face, being able to try out instruments that folks already have when someone is looking to upgrade and trading information. I learned a lot by going out to NESI last year, as I could see what folks were doing. Likewise, the time I spent with Bob Tedrow when he was up here was useful. I am tempted to just say next Saturday i will be at the Sawmill Borders at one and if any one wants to talk 'tinas, cool, just because it would be worthwhile. If enough folks showed up, maybe in the future we could get Greg or Wally to come up, or Frank to come down and talk to us. Or if we heard about someone coming through the Midwest, we could arrainge for Central Ohio to be a stop. For that matter, it might be a way to arrainge for trips and car pools when someone is nearby but not able to come to Central Ohio. If the instrument is in a revival, and it appears to be, a local group would also be useful in helping new and young players obtain information and guidance. Just my thoughts, nothing is written in stone, but untill we get some folks to that level they can teach, or someone moves here, it just seems like the next best thing. Alan

There are a handful of us around Columbus, but nobody at instructor level. I still think it would be nice to get everyone together once in a while just to play and talk. Actually, if we had a group together, maybe we could get someone like Jody to come out and do a workshop. Greg J does the occasional beginners workshop in Cincinnatti, but it sounds as if you are past that. I am perfectly willing to get together with anyone around town to talk 'tinas. Alan

Get ahold of Bob Tedrow, no guarentees, but I think he might be able to help. Alan

Part of the reason we use a post office box instead of the household address--it is hard to steal an instrument out of the PO box. When your instruments are pretty much all your wordly wealth, you do what you can to protect them. Alan

bt the pictures show tn buttons on a side, so I suspect we just have a typo. I remember seeing one like this with a chimney as well last year at NESI, I think it may have belonged to Rich. Alan

One nice thing about a harness or saddle shop is that is that they can possibly whip one out while you are there. I know the local Mennonite harness shop here would. Alan

Just tell your wife that no one will mind if she joins in on her mandolin and guitar and what a great time she will have. Alan

I spend a lot of time dutring breaks and lunch playing my concertina sitting in the truck. The worst that has happened to my is being impressed into the occassional lunch hour session, where I was comlemented for not playing the concertina at breakneck speed like some of the players at local irish sessions. Actually, I have received complimens on my playing during breaks across the board by people from all the various ethnic and cultural groups that seem to end up there in the spring and summer scoring seasons. I even had somebody give me a fairly nice 120 bass piano accordian this summer. We did have a compatative piper work with us a few years ago, who practiced before work and during lunch. She occassional took a friday or monday off to attend compatitions. Alan

Guys, this sounds too much like work, where I just left. Alan

I've picked up sheets of left hand chords from both Jody and Brian Peters at workshops, though they were meant for thirty button instruments. In the "english" style of playing, the left hand is generally used for chording, while right does melody, like some piano playing styles. i don't think I've ever seen a chord chart for the right hand. Alan

I don't see a link, Bob, or any buttons. Alan

Tullamore Dew. As this is sacred uisce, it needs to be spelled properly. (yes I know, my spelling isn't always consistent, but this is important.) Excuuuuuuuuuuse me!!!!!! However you spell it, it worked it's "magic". Personally I could'nt stand the stuff. Bottom's Up! Perry Now that's just sacrilage. Alan P.S. Maybe next year I can make it out there again

Tullamore Dew. As this is sacred uisce, it needs to be spelled properly. (yes I know, my spelling isn't always consistent, but this is important.) Alan

As I recall, Scottish singer Jean Redpath taught for several years in grade schools near the southern New England coast (somewhere in Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts). There are a lot of Portuguese-descended fishing communities along that coast, and I remember her saying she was waiting to hear of some future musicologist theorizing about how so many of them came to have singing traditions of Scottish ballads, complete with Scottish accent. It would be, if they were left in isolation, but it is hard enough to find the traditionall Portuguese forms out there, though it can be done. The modern communications forms of radio and television just kills a lot of traditional forms. Last time we were out there, Robin (1/2 Portuguese) and I did find a local fado station and listened for hours. Robin's sister, the music teacher, just looked at us funny and asked "Why?," when we mentioned it. Funny thing is this is the same sister who is always trying to get me to give her my hard found Lomax and Sandburg books, "for the children." I envy those people who still live where they have a living tradition available to them. I just don't know how long it can last in the western modern world. Alan

I would have thought the obvious solution would be to not wear trousers. Which is why I think we need to encourage more young ladies to play concertina. They have far better legs than any of us old men. Alan