Robin Harrison

John, any links to Thomas Restoin ? Not much on Youtube. Robin

You're right, Jim, probably never occurred to him...................I had just been listening to some Boer music was impressed, yet again, with their rangy approach............ I was also wondering if not using his little finger is common in Irish music..............I've seen Irish button accordion players just use their middle three digits. In my playing it's a critical finger to use, so interesting to see it not used . Tony............. I love it when people ask that question..........Anglo or duet or indeed English. It seems to me that a player has managed to transcend some of the mechanics inherent in an instrument. Robin

I agree...................Terrific anglo concertina playing. So comfortable around the keyboard and interestingly he does not use his little finger at all on his right hand and very good bellows control evidenced by his sparing use of the air release button. The inspirational part for me is his how free from the "home key" idea he seems to be. I wonder if his inspiration was the South African style of 40 key playing.................. Robin

Would you use the same glue for the top run, as well? Anything to beware of when replacing this ?...........I have a set of bellows whose top run needs replacing and have been putting it off until I know what sort of glue I ought to use. Robin

'Bout this time of year I like to sit down and review all the new tunes that I have most enjoyed playing ( or am trying to learn) in the preceding 12 months. I wonder if anyone else might like to see what I've been up to and in turn share their own For the first time I have nominated an winner......................this is all quite arbitrary and will change tomorrow ! So here we go. Sport ........heard from the playing of Michael O'Reilly Joe Bann's Barn Dance..........Jack Talty & Cormac Begley ( CD "Fir Na Bolg") Grenadier's Return ( John Kirkpatrick via Rich Arrowsmith) All in a Garden Green ( fabulous anglo from Adrian Brown in Dapper's Delight......CD "Indoors") Red Ribbon ........... Playford ? Grey Bull..........discovered last week from the playing of Kathryn Tickell But the winner is................PIXIE WINGS...............written by Jody Kruskel. Just a delightful, smooth, English Country Dance infused tune. I have attached music for all the tunes except Jody's . It under copyright in his book " Cool tunes for Hot Dances". I look forward to hearing about yours. Seasonal greeting to all. Robin How soon we forget ! Mylecharaine's march too ( see Jim B's post but here's the music) Spórt.pdf Joe Bann's & Gypsy Princess.pdf Grenadier's Return in D.pdf Grey Bull Hornpipe.pdf All in a Garden Green.pdf Mylecharaine's March.pdf

Jim, is that the crazy 7/8 tune the Fogs dance ? Have you ever posted the tune (sheet music) on this forum ? Much impressed........... I think you danced it at Marlboro this year . Robin

Lovely playing and interesting tune, Will. Well done Do you have a pdf of the notes ? Robin

Exactly, hence my post.............it was clearly an over-simplification but in the context of how this thread arose perhaps more helpful than this........ Robin

I think if anyone were trying to learn how to harmonise a melody line ( on any of the concertina systems) and had no real idea of how to do it(..............I wonder if would not encompass many of us here.....)I think starting with Geoff's excellent suggestion is a great way to start. It is a reasonably simple way forward and gives great satisfaction and does sound great. You can learn how to do this yourself without instruction. However there does come a time when the randomness wears off as ones ability develops. This is where Dave's perfect little exposition, summed up in one paragraph, tells you all you need to know for a very musical sounding accompaniment. Really, there's little left to add to what he says . If you become comfortable doing what Geoff recommends, Dave takes you to the next level. There are of course a stages beyond this where you are in the seriously good/professional area..........example of this in Tona's playing of Xotis earlier in this thread. His left hand work is so interesting. Well done these people...... Robin

Just thought I 'd quickly mention a CD I received this week. Truth to tell I know very little about Irish music but I am totally enjoying this album. My first great pleasure is that Jack & Cormac play either together or singly with no other accompaniment. They let their concertinas do the talking. When friends have given my Irish concertinas albums over the years I have found the accompaniments, often guitars, intrusive. That's just me but here there's nothing to get in the way of just engaging with the music these two engaging musicians play. Secondly what makes this recording so much more interesting is that they ( Cormac I believe) plays a baritone C/G and occasionally a bass anglo that adds a layer of sound that is so unusual. There is often a lovely growly accompaniment going on. Finally, their style of playing seems to allow for much more left hand work than you often hear with Irish players that again makes for a more varied experience. I would be interested to hear what any Irish concertina players here think of Fir Na Bolg. I wonder if it will not become a concertina "classic" in the sense that the performers have the confidence in their abilities, and their instruments and arrangements, just to let the music unfold. Robin This is the first track .........Joe Bann's Barndance & Gypsey princess https://www.youtube.com/?gl=CA&tab=w1

Glad you watched it all the way to the end Jim. That is a new dance choreographed by them to the tune Horseshoes and Rainbows by the late Oliver Schroer. Funky tune, eh! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGTUZygCTxs ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-_sjz6Iazo He died shortly after this concert.) ............agreed; it's an evolution .

This is a favourite topic of mine; I like watching rapper so much. Being located in Canada and a Morris sort, I see a lot of these young teams and they are marvelous to watch. Enthusiastic, daring, exuding fun and passion for the dance. It's exhilarating to watch; I think at an ale in 2012 there were 5 sets in one dance; amazing. However, the speed at which they perform, they seem to me to scamper around and not dance.(same as the older guys in Jim's video above). It changes the whole dynamic of the show. Second , if you don't wear leather shoes, the stepping sounds like a soft shuffle not the crisp ,"as one" sound. Try this...............played much slower giving the men time to dance . Stone Monkey. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZoDCIIjNqE Start at minute 1 and watch their beautiful stepping. Finally.........to admit some self-interest, my daughter dances for the Toronto Women's Sword and can be seen at minute 4 and to admit even more self interest, that bloke in a yellow jacket at the beginning playing a melodeon is me ; playing for the Toronto Morris men. And that's Paul Read at the front right, top of the set. When it's pouring rain a beater melodeon is the way to go. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdlot7hgj_I

Nice take on it Jim. BTW....is the spelling a typo ; should there be another "i" or not? Robin

Tom Kruskal......plays a 1960's Crabb.

I'm right with you there, Felix. Really doesn't matter where a tune comes from but I too like to know it's origin...........it's interesting to speculate how it may have been played relative to how I would approach it on the concertina. best Robin

..............just signing off for the summer. Lots of excellent takes on this lovely tune, I look forward to returning to c.net in October. Robin

I really try not to spend too much time on my computer and so the face book etc isn't my thing and much as I enjoy and benefit from C.net, I didn't look at the TOTM thread until a week ago. Just one more thing to do ......... I think I'm hooked now. Really enjoyed hearing other peoples instruments and playing and discussion carried out with the usual C.net courtesy. So here's my first contribution https://soundcloud.com/the-harry-robinson/roslin-castle-treble-baritone I was using a Zoom H2N and then recorded the 2nd part listening to the 1st part through computer speakers which were somewhat drowned by the Baritone so it's all a bit rough. The arrangement is from the book I mentioned above, Pipers companion (Vol VII). I don't think it's been mentioned before; I found this info about the tune on a YouTube video played on a gamba. "Air from McGibbon's 2nd col. (1746) and Oswald's Caledonian Pocket Companion vol. IV (1752)." Robin

hi David...............not being completely au fait with abc,( although I do use it,) it's not 100% clear to me what this site does. Do you input abc tunes or paste them in ? Someone mentioned elsewhere on this site there was/is trouble with the tune converter. I was unable to convert the abc of this month's TOTM in 2 different sites...........is there a issue out there? thanks Robin

You guys are SO quick and helpful...............and when I really meant Em !! Sorry 'bout that...............brain glitch. In the meantime I've found a couple of pdf's with ornaments and a 2nd part. Also attached is Lovesick Polly, the second tune that John Townsend plays with this tune on his album There is also a second part for Roslin Castle published Derek Hobbs Pipers companion (Vol VII) Wild Hills of Wannies that looks interesting. Robin

Can anyone help...........I'm trying to convert the tune to Bm ( so I can play it on the D row of my anglo) but from this thread, I cannot get the abc notation to convert either on the C.net converter or the Mandolin converter. Only the title and "reel' comes up; nothing else. Probably a glitch on my laptop but could someone post a pdf in Bm ? Many thanks Robin

Hi Patrick..........since you ask for advice mine would be, practice like crazy; you've got the makings of a fine anglo player. AND Gary Coover 's book will give you lots of help with what to do with the left hand. Regs............Robin http://www.amazon.com/Anglo-Concertina-Harmonic-Style-Coover/dp/0615747353

Hey Jim...........may be thread creeping here but can you put up Nick playing "Picking Up the Meadows" ? I've got it but can't seem to post it. Not a video, more is the pity but a consummate piece of concertina playing. Robin

.................and here's another, much cheaper alternative that apparently you can drive a truck over. You never know. Robin http://www.ebay.ca/itm/STORM-IM2075-GREEN-CASE-WITH-FOAM-PELICAN-HARDIGG-/200935644029?pt=US_Camera_Cases_Bags&hash=item2ec8b29b7d

For new bellows, send the frames to John Connor...................he makes ( in my opinion ) the best anglo bellows around. Around £400 I believe; they are really really nice. Robin

Often a conversation in this forum, I noticed this link on the posting for the sale of a Jeffries ( see Buy & Sell). They look expensive but great protection for a beautiful concertina ..............see the advert itself for an image of the case. Robin http://kingham.merion.co.uk