Robin Harrison

Steve, Conzertino............yes, it's a spectacular concertina and plays really well too. When I bought it from Chris he said it was made for a clown in Paris, France along with another; I didn't realise there were three made. Be interesting to find out the history but over the years nothing has come my way. Yes, it's 8" across the flats. I seriously think it out-blings any other concertina I've seen ! Robin

A rare and possibly unique concertina from 1914.........a fabulous concertina to look at and wonderful to play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEcuQcI-qRQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk-TBgWOIlw A baritone 56key key Aeola English concertina. Bought from Chris Algar who had the Concertina Connection do a full reno on it including having the end plates gold plated. Being a 56 keyed instrument, it means if you are good enough or well practised ( I'm not) you can play a tune in the upper register so it plays in the treble clef. It was apparently bought for a clown to use in a Paris, France circus. Chris bought it in Paris. It's in lovely condition and has been well cared for and properly humidified. It has a light action and is a pleasure to play. Comes with a case in good condition. http://www.horniman.info/DKNSARC/SD01/PAGES/D1P0560L.HTM PM me if seriously interested.....it is currently in Ontario but I am probably coming to the UK in November and the States in late May 9 Close to the Button Box. By coincidence, if you look at the advert at the Concertina Connection advertisement "From this ; to this" (when it appears)at the top right of this page... http://www.concertinaconnection.com/rare%20concertinas.htm This is the English Concertina featured ; it was originally gilt. I have two anglo concertinas joining me soon hence the sale ; I play English less than I used to .

I've just added a couple of You-tubes so you can see how it looks and sounds. It occurs to me that if you are looking for a quality English concertina and you are in the States ( or Canada) then the cost of this concertina ( I am selling it for what I paid for it) would allow you to have it tuned by the Button Box and still it would be a great price for such a good concertina. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJhDrXBiK4Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDqatqZu96o I'm I bought this a couple of years ago with the intention of re-tuning etc but really don't have any time in the foreseeable future to do the tuning and need to sell some concertinas ( new one coming in ) I have replaced all the original pads & valves and put new thumb straps on. It is in old pitch and the reeds do not have any marks on them that would indicate post-factory tuning. Bellows are fantastic and the ends plates are nice. Not perfect but good . Air release lever ( aka slide valve ) and buttons for wrist strap. Old straps are available but poor condition. Serial # 28030 ; 1919 http://www.horniman.info/DKNSARC/SD01/PAGES/D1P1220S.HTM I have not done any re-voicing of the reeds so although it needs tuning, it still plays well and has a strong and rich tone. No case......more images can be shown and a recording too. £2500 ( or US $ equivalent) plus shipping, insurance. I am going towards the Button Box in late May so could deliver near there.

I did. Congratulations to you both.......Robin

Chris Foster organises what is, I think, Iceland's only folk festival way up in the north in July. Great fun. The Toronto Morris Men danced there in 2012 when we toured the island. I loved it so much, I took my wife back last summer and we are looking forward to spending a longer holiday there. But do use duty free on the way in.......... Robin

Just a few years ago, we used the term "English Style" with the intention of distinguishing it from "Irish Style" If my recall is correct, it was Dan Worral ( an earlier poster in this thread) who concluded after his wide and detailed research that the term "English " was far too narrow and coined the term "harmonic". Am I right, Dan ? Robin

I was watching this video today. Click on the video link on the Crabb anglo. http://www.buttonbox.com/concertinas-in-stock.html#anglo It appears that the layout is Wheatstone. My intuition would have lead me to believe it would be Jeffries given their association. Any comment on this ? BTW...do you know what tune it is?

Stephen............the trouble I had with the type punches you sourced on eBay is the quality. I found they dulled fairly quickly and left a tear-out of leather.......so you buy another inexpensive set which in turn dulls. And eventually you have a draw full of sharp, new but unwanted other sizes. If you could locate the type Michael uses, eventually you'd be ahead. They appear better quality. BTW.........do you need any odd sizes of punchs ? I got lots !

Just posting this for those who may not have seen it before. Round Lachenal 1.bmp

Hi Michael............how thick (in mm ?) do your pads come out at. Thanks Robin

Question.....What's the difference between a terrorist and an accordion player ? Answer........Terrorist's have sympathisers!

That and the thumbs ! I once owned one of these baritone-trebles.....they were hard work sitting down!

Really enjoyed it..........thanks for sharing. Robin

As always; just lovely. Robin

Well thank you for taking the time to do this, Don. Wassail ! Robin

Really nice......thank you. Did you have the dots rather than tabs, each line written out separately...I'd love to have them if you so. Did you just pull the 4 parts out of SATB page ? Good stuff. Robin

I've sent him an email to alert him. Robin

I own the gold plated baritone referred to in the OP. It was supposedly commissioned as "one of a pair" by a clown in the circus in Paris in 1912. Originally gilt but completely renovated by Wim Wakker who plated the ends. I remember seeing it on eBay; Chris Algar bought it and went over to Paris to collect it. The information comes from him. However the Wheatstone records don't support the contention that 2 identical baritones were made....serial # 26380 It doesn't sound any different from other metal ended baritones I've played but it has that lovely distinctive Wheatstone baritone sound. It is phenomenal to hold and look at and and play. http://www.concertinaconnection.com/rare%20concertinas.htm However, the baritone is not an instrument I have bonded with; I was sure I would. I don't play it enough and would part with it.

..................are you teasing us, Chris ! ......................as in ................any images of it ?

Nicely played and thank you Wolf. Is it also part of your project to provide the sheet music too ? He asks with hope & self-interest ! Robin

Like Sean, I too like the Art Nouveau architecture & interior design and a great exemplar is the "House for an Art Lover"......again a Macintosh inspiration. Fascinating..... esp. it's history & building. If you're thirsty (after all that rich cake you've been eating !) visit the Drum & Monkey.....interesting pub with enough real ales to satisfy. Robin http://www.houseforanartlover.co.uk/ http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/thedrumandmonkeystvincentstreetglasgow/ Robin

Just the reeds ?

Thanks for spotting this Jim. I've distilled and personalised it so it is relevant to my practise (and it will print on one page.) Feel free to add comments. Robin Practice stratregies.pdf

Hi Jim..................not sure if these are smooth or not but they have a definitw NW feel about them. Egg'n Cabbage & Melody Iron I heard a snippet on Youtube played by Keith Kendrick and found the set on one of his CD's. We now play them in our Toronto English session. Also look at...... Falmouth Assembly & Creampot In spite of the name, Falmouth Assembly just screams NW at me; Creampot not so much but it is a great tune also played in our session. Hope they help. Robin 25_Falmouth Assembly & Creampot.pdf 55_Egg and Cabbage & Melody Iron.pdf

Hey, Stuart. I much enjoyed your treatment of this powerful song and the duet accompaniment. I thought concertina accompaniment worked well; the song is cry from the heart and I heard that. It's a song that has resonance for me for a number of reasons but to be brief, I was playing Cash's version of it only a month ago and my 27 yr old son (who has always been a NIN fan since he was a lad) heard it and came across and told me that Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) was the composer. He stayed and listened to all of it and was moved too. It was one of these parent /child moments that makes up for the shouting match I had with my daughter 13yrs ago about the merits of the Spice Girls v the Beatles. Thank you for sharing Stuart, and yes, I am still embarrassed by the last bit. Robin