Marcus

Are either of the publications available for download? I've downloaded all the readers tapes, but would love to download the magazines.

I find it strange that even though the Boer style of concertina remains exceptionally popular in South Africa and is played by young and old there appears to be a void of tutors in this style. I think it's a wonderful style and is released in recordings almost as often as Irish concertina! Am I wrong in this assumption? Can anyone point me in the right direction for Boer style concertina tutors? I think Bertram Levy's new tutor could help in expanding a players capabilities in playing chromatically, but in order to practice Boer tunes, it seems we have to transcribe the music from YouTube videos and audio recordings.

I thought I may have to transcribe it myself. Just was trying to save myself the effort!

Anyone?

That will be fantastic. I've all the readers tapes downloaded, but it would be awesome to download the magazines themselves.

I have a very lightly used Hohner Black dot double ray B/C button accordion which I'm looking to sell to fund the purchase of a traditional reeded concertina. Is anyone interested or do you know of a good venue to sell such an item? It's in fantastic condition - I spend all my time playing the concertina and the accordion just doesn't get used. Please message me for pictures if you're interested. The black dot goes for $1100 at the Buttonbox. I'm asking $900 plus the cost of shipping - it comes with a soft gig bag. I will also include 3 tutor DVDs: Learn to play Irish Button Accordion with John Williams Learn to play the B and C Button Accordion with PJ Hernon Irish Button Accordion techniques with Peter Browne

Wondering if anyone has the sheet music available for this tune http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_bW63U9R-k It's a Boer tune and I love it!

Awesome Daniel! I have to say that I really enjoy the traditional stuff. I just needed to know what to look for!

Found a South African mp3 store which has CDs by Manie Erasmus - Rhythmmusicstore.com Here he is playing - really great style! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35Mu9O6aGV4

Thanks Leo. I'll try that, but I was hoping for cd quality recordings and I don't mind paying for them. It would be really cool if there was something available on iTunes or CDBaby.

Does anyone have any recommendations of recordings of Boer concertina music. It's great watching the videos on YouTube, but I'd love to download and album or 2 to enjoy!

It's nice to hear it played in a different style.

Great tunes Jody! A real mixed bag with pulsing concertina the whole way through! What more could we ask for?! Highly recommended for all concertina aficionados. There are far too few CDs in styles other than Irish!

Has anyone tried this? It looks interesting.

I agree Frank!

The blog is great Tomoyuki! I am green with envy at your collection of instruments - I can't imagine how difficult it must be to choose which to play!

Sounds good. Nice timing. Perhaps throw in some octave playing and a few chords to accentuate the end of each phrase.

I came across this blog while perusing YouTube http://irish.cocolog-nifty.com/flute_concertina/ Apart from being a very luck guy - 7 concertinas no less! There's a great little challenge to match the different concertinas to their rendition of the same tune. I was truly impressed by the hybrid concertina made by Frank Edgely in this challenge. And I'm sure you'll all have just as much trouble as I did matching them up! Just goes to show that although we all lust after a traditional instrument the hybrids easily hold their own and the sound produced is remarkably similar!

I was in the same predicament as Nisse when I first decided on the concertina as my instrument of choice. Located in Bermuda it is impossible to find any instruments to try or rent. I had hatched the idea of trying a concertina and had to wait months before a scheduled family holiday to the UK before even seeing one in person! I remember being adamant that I had to be at John Dipper's workshop on the English Concertina at Sidmouth folk festival and diligently showed up every morning for class. John was the person who recommended that I try the Anglo as I wanted to play Irish music and possibly the odd Morris tune. I ended up trying Anglos all over the festival, and was completely blown away by the pricing! I settled on a Stagi 30 button - maybe I should have gone with a Lachenal 20 button. I had never even played an Anglo at this point! I picked up Mick Bramich's tutor and have never looked back. I have no opportunity of playing with other Anglo players unless I travel to other countries, but that doesn't hold me back. Maybe my techniques not perfect, but I have a great time and it's forums like this where us isolated concertinists can at least feel a part of the free reed world! I have to say that after six months of playing the Stagi became a bit of a hinderance to playing reels upmto tempo. I ended up ordering a Morse Ceili - purely based on customer reviews. Again there was no chance of trying one! I was not disappointed. Sure it would be great to be able to play an authentic reeded concertina, but my Morse can do everything I need it to do and now I'm the only hinderance to my own progress! I have to also recommend the Skype lessons offered by Jody Kruskal and other top players. For players like me the Internet is a treasure trove and technology allows us to connect. I have been taking Skype lessons with Jody and the quality and personal instruction are more than worth the investment. All that to say that if Nisse takes up English, Anglo or any other system, she's joining a great community and starting on a very interesting adventure. Nowadays, being isolated from other players is inconvenient, but not insurmountable! Good luck!

This is a fascinating thread. I have to add a penny's worth! Truly emotive music can be performed on any "instrument". If a player is of a sufficient skill level to be able to transcend the notes and enter the realm of pouring their souls into a piece it is an amazing thing. There are many technically proficient players, but quite often when you hear them play pieces of a less technically demanding nature they can sound soulless and mechanical. I always laugh when I think of the line in Amadeus where Salieri states - it just has too many notes - although in that case it was untrue - there are many cases where technical brilliance can overshadow true feeling.

Now that's played with feeling! Fantastic!

Jody is the "king" of chords! And I personally recommend and vouch for the quality of his Skype lessons!

Very nice instrument. If I was in the market and had a few grand to spare! Good price! Good luck!