Mark Evans
-
Posts
1,602 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by Mark Evans
-
-
Stephen, then the concertina has found its rightful, loving home. Of course, it was a brownish leather which is perfection and my hidden envious monkey is in utter agony.
Both my parents went in the early 1990's and I'm afraid I was not quite sane for much of that decade. My Dominique was a saint and stayed with me for which I will always be grateful.
Your beautiful concertina must be a sign of a corner turned.
-
Ah, tutor model. Have never encountered one in the flesh. Would be very interested to play a good brass reed instrument for song accompanyment though.
As I'm sure you've learned our dear Albion comes on strong and if not careful can overwhelm the voice in a quiet passage. There's that sticky business of the amount of air pressure it takes for an accordion reed to speak making song accompanyment a bit like Russian Roulette. I get better at it but can still suprise myself. Still, my Tina is a peach and could now never do without her (forgive me Tina, I didn't mean for you ta hear that bit about the voice)
.The bellows are now breaking in very nicely, and she can ever lovin' f-l-y!
-
Wise fellow! Monkeys have a poor sense of ownership and might in a moment enthusiasm and envy attempt a liberation. Bad monkey!
-
I've just bitten me lip! A beauty. Please don't tell me it also has light brown bellows, for that would complete my utter dispair! Aiyee!
-
Bienvenue fellow Albionist! What number is it?
I too love my Tina, #209 and yes she is light compaired to my old Aeola 64 note (me wrists hurt just thinkin' on it).
This summer I played the Edeophone 56 note the Button Box had and was shocked by it lightness (was as suprised by the sluggishness of the action in compairison with Wheatsone and yes the Wheatstone-like response of the Morse). So your Lachneal was heavy?
I also like playing along with my favorite CD. Try checking out the Recorded links page. I've been squeezin' along with our fellow C.Neters. Spent a pleasurable hour yesterday joining in with some of Henks offerings. EC and AC on Irish does work!
-
Planning something...perhaps, but I confess to having a now out of control case of Concertina Envy
. Seeing what I assume to be the Lucas Collection on another thead here has just aggrivated my condition. Stephen, please administer the coupe de grace and post a picture of your beastie.
-
Jim, that is a masterful touch...saw on Beautiful Dreamer. Bravo! I can well imagine they would be bellowing their approval. I certainly would have loved being there.
-
Yes Helen,
As if Jim didn't have enough musical irons in the fire already. But in the process of reading Jim's response I came up with a project for myself!
A couple of years ago my wife and I were asked to do a benefit concert for our childrens school. We collaborated with another couple from the school and came up with an evening of Cole Porter and Gerschwin songs. Our collaborators play violin (right hand in the score) and viola da gamba (left and in the score) respectively. It was a complete blast. Folks loved it (I loved it). We put on tux and evening gowns (I wore a tux for the record) and it was a total hoot!
Why not treble EC on right hand and bass EC or some other system on the left. I am a bit unsure of my ability to play the right hand and sing full out (gonna give it a try). This little monkey had best get busy eh?
."In the still of the night, as I gaze from my window..."
-
Great fun indeed!
Jim, you have the instrument then and the music! Well, this busybody monkey (attempting to justify this bit on the current thread)
might suggest starting with the Pablo Casals recordings...outstanding! You might later think about a few Baroque cellists like Pheobe because they are very spare with their use of vibrato.Truely a worthy long term project Jim.
-
Yes, It's the same sound he makes when given a good scratch on the belly or behind the ears.
He shows a definite opinion about music. I've been listening to Phoebe Carrai's recording of the Bach solo cello Suites (astounding, and high time someone with a baritone EC should start playing them...Jim?). Obi contentedly assumes his position beside my chair grunting.
Middle son (the Gothic Warrior) wants to share with me a band called Flogging Molly. So we throw the CD in it the player and wow the volume! Obi got very low to the ground and ran upstairs. Perhaps he thought it was Flogging Obi.
P.S. edit: Can't stay away from the recorded links page. On the Suites: Why not Duet system? Kurt Braun's rendition of "Jesu" brought a tear to me eye, bravo! What does this have to do with monkeys?
-
Restrain Obi? Don't have the heart. He's the only one in the house who actually enjoys my playing! Me big bully lays right beside me chair contentedly grunting as I squeeze away. How could I bring myself to restrain an elite musical conoscente!
He sorely put me to the test after eating my best pair of deerskin gloves however.
My Italian ain't what it used ta be!
-
Thank you Ken. I was unaware of Wes Williams very interesting article. Really enjoyed it. Must spend more time prowling something other than the forums, tune-o-tron, and the recording reviews on C.Net.
It seems concertinists rather than being contrary were at the mercy of an ever changing concert pitch standard. I knew it would be the fault of those cursed wind instrumentalists (no offense Jim).
A=440 as a uniform concert pitch not being established until 1939 was a shocker!
P.S. Just read your post Stephen. Thank you. This is very cool (my son is rolling his eyes as I type, and the words, "Get a grip" are forming...ah, he just decided to give me a well used gesture instead...Bravo!). I'm still dealing with concertina lust over your "new" instrument.
-
And a good thing too Hilary, for a monkey or my bulldog would make a very fast end of the mink skin!
-
Thank you for the reply Dave. I thought the "sharp" tuning was an option and not the general practice before 1900. Now I'm confused (which ain't nothin' new).
I assumed that the majority of concertinas produced before 1900 would have been tuned to the prevailing concert pitch of the day. Concertinists are a contrary lot...are we not.
P.S. Dave I just viewed your profile. Shape Note Singing....very, very cool.
-
Happy Birthday Helen! Have a delightful day!
-
Reading Stephens post on his newly aquired Aeola (concertina lust welling up within me) and my recent problems with the Recorded Links page got me thinking about the upward tendency of "standard" pitch.
My wife sings period Baroque music and the pitch will varry from 415 to 435 depending on the group and the composer presented (very cool that period performance business I think). Recently she had an engagment in Vienna where the Baroque ensemble performed at a whinning 448 which I understand is now considered "standard" there. She has also incountered close to that pitch with some German groups.
How long it will be before A=440 is just a memory for us all? Tuning a concertina up is not an inexpensive undertaking and I wonder how a vintage instrument might react to that. How much of the reed would be left for goodness sake?
-
Yes Jim, the volume is fine now and the download time is better as well (Home computer).
You are right about the work computer. ITS says the sound card has gone off. The thing is outdated and they don't think much can be done about it as they don't stock parts for that one anymore. Was laughingly told to request a new computer....Just think I will and flat screen while yer at it. Something about hell and freezing over?
-
Thanks for the clairification Sandy. I hear ya man, an' no doubt you are right.
Ain't into rules anymore. Have just (past year) retired from the "Opera-classical" scene. Had a belly full an' then some with rules, self appointed experts and conductors wavin' a stick in my face.
Returning to my various musical loves was just for my soul. I'm blessed in being surrounded by some remarkable musicians that have enfolded and healed me with bluegrass, old time, blues and my very special beloved celtic music. Sorry to sound like a weepy, whacky old man, but this wonderful C.Net is a part of that too.
Sandy, that's a mighty fine lookin' dog you've got.
-
Couple o Gators' bangin' on a box and a banjo...guess any monkey trying a little squeezin' might indeed end up Gator Cow!
It early it's early in the day for this, but I can smell K-Pauls Kitchen and me chops are a' slobberin'!
-
Ah, Na'leans! Now wouldn't a monkey come with one of those Morelli (Italian engineered) Cajun boxes. Ooh, ooh! I'd best hit ebay now before they're gone. Eeh, eeh, aah, aah!
-
But of course it does me hearty! Arrrgh!
-
Thank you Hermann. Sounds like you are very clear with the approach you wish to take...and it's a good one.
There are seisuin where an EC player will be looked at sideways for sure. I can only speak of my experience in the Boston Area. Sad thing is it's often a fellow squeezer that really gets worked up. We have a very old Irish community here with strong (some would say strangled traditions). It dosen't take long to see where I'd best sing one before I try and play (perhaps play)and in the tradition of a seisuin you have to be asked 'round these parts.
I found a home in a once a week seisuin close to my town (John Stone's Public House in Ashland on Tuesdays, ya'll come on down). Hot players who could give a hang about my EC not being an AC (wooden flute/tin whistle, fiddle, banjo/guitar, hammered dulcimer, bodran, another EC and Harp). They are a dream to make music with...but tradition lurks there for sure. They expect a concertinist should be able to sing (actually they insist you sing) but not accompany oneself. Funny eh?
I sing a lot of a cappella rep and the harpist accompanys the others songs (she's a master so who am I to complain, besides she is teaching me Gealic). Once in a while she misses a week and I accompany myself
.Don't worry about that strap thing man. Check out Wim Waaker (did I spell that right?)... Classical concertinist. There used to be a link on his site with his (I think) daughter playing an EC with straps and a charming duet with Wim playing with her.
You should hook up with Henk. EC and AC together is good (crunchy, but good).
-
Hermann, please forgive me. There I was going on about my foolish points (head shoved where the sun don't shine) and I refer to you as Helmut. Sorry.
Embarrassed beyond belief,
Mark the Churlish
-
Uh-oh! I'm afraid I'll have to kick over the caldron meself here:
No ornaments that start below the melody line? I wouldn't like to restrict myself there. One time through I might choose an appogiatura above the line and then second time 'round slide one in from below.
No legato? Harpist Mairead Doherty would have kicked me in the backside last night were I to have bounced my way through the opening of "Carolan's Draught" as she poured out her honeyed legato! (things bounced plenty in the C part)
No flute or fiddle rolls? My joy each week is immitating the fiddler and flautists "little extra bits." The fiddler particularly likes to suprise me with an immitation of one of my ornaments and boy do we giggle!
No full chords! Well, what am I to do? There's a guitar player across the circle in some out there tuning pouring out luscious quick chord change ups in the "Blarney Pilgrim" that makes me want to bay at the moon like a H-O-U-N-D! The C part comes up fast and I feel compelled to drop out of the melody and roar out staccto full D and G chords while the other lead instruments pound out the repeated notes! Can't live without that possible option.
There is no way an EC in the end can sound like an Anglo. It's okay to do it as best you can (and get pretty good at it too I'll wager) but yer gonna get a bit of ribbing from those who don't want the EC there anyway (unfortunately, they'll most likely be the free readers in the room). The chances of their conversion is slim and none. Here in the Boston area we have seisuin like a dog has fleas. Several I've been invited to and declined knowing I'd not be welcomed immitating an Anglo er no. That's cool and I understand. I've listened to several in quiet with me box left at the house. Excellent... but as I've posted here long ago "NO English Need Apply".
In the end, Sandys advice is sound if you want a chance for a seat at that table.
Now I think I'll "duck an' cover."
Sandy, no disrespect intended. You gave Helmut bible an' verse sho'nuff.
Pitch, Upward Bound?
in General Concertina Discussion
Posted · Edited by Mark Evans
Stephen,
The Salvation Army and the concertina is something I have been curious about. As a child I saw them playing in the street during the Christmas season, but there were no concertinas (States). I would have remembered them being a 10 year old concertinist living in Nothern Florida! Have seen pictures of Salvation Army ensembles playing all concertinas (from treble to bass, and from the image I remember seeing a duet), are there any recordings of their music original or recreated?