Robin Harrison

she collected it in Vermont, not Massachusetts. Neither is anywhere near the Appalachians. But who knows? Maybe her source said it was an Appalachian tune My mistake ! But it's an interesting question...lets wait and see if Steve has any further information. Robin

................Just to back up a bit. Steve said "as has already been mentioned it is traditionally performed to the Appalacian tune Maud Karpeles put to it. " All I've ever been able to find out was that Ms.Karpeles collected the tune in Massachusetts. Any info to suggest it is a tune from that area ? Robin

I've handled this instrument as well and I thought it was on the average to poor side really.....I was actually astonished that such a good looking instrument was so average. I expected so much more. I did agree with it's previous owner though that it is probably the best looking anglo ever. BTW..........to be clear, no one is impugning the sellers honestly etc only that he has a bizarre way of handling on-line sales for an auction involving a substantial amount of money.....as in refusing to give relavent information . Robin

..............very funny ! Were you thinking along the lines of a contentious question like "What's the serial number' ?

Lovely; I'm just about to order my copy. Adrian, us all being concertina nuts here, having viewed all your YouTube videos (and loved them), are you playing three different Jeffries duets ? Jim, I completely agree with you. We both love playing for our respective Morris sides but sometimes it's great not to be constrained by their needs and see where the tunes takes you. Robin ..............there; ordered.

Do you recognise a difference between loud and piercing? Would you describe your Dippers as screamers? Hmmm. not sure about the former question. Have just come back from our Toronto session. The acoustics are such that i have to struggle to hear my 4-voiced ADG melodeon I lead the session with but could clearly hear Paul sitting across from me (very nice too) So maybe piercing but just a great sound. They are certainly not screamers but I couldn't come up with a suitable adjective....the response of the reeds is, as you would expect, a lovely timbre from pp to ff. And the beauty of playing such an instrument is that it's really seldom you need to play it loud......there are so few occasions when you need to be in the red zone (Morris excepted probably) BUT there ain't nothin' growls like a Jeffries at the bottom end! Robin

And, since you ask, I have never come across a really screaming wood end job, (although it would have to be a Jeffries wouldn't it?) Just to reply to Dirge here.........Paul Read and myself each had a Dipper made as sisters a couple of years ago that are quite the loudest anglos I've heard (and I have heard many Jeffries)...........both wooden ended. To this point; I've started wearing a soft ear-plug in my right ear after about a year ago I found had a constant pain in my right ear after playing this thing.......I realized that part of the problem was that I was sitting about three feet away from a window on my RHS when practising and I think the very loud sound was being reflected straight back at me....this never happened with a Jeffries (same keys) I've now moved to a different place but still use an ear plug for this particular Dipper. I should also note that that at our Toronto English session in a downtown pub, the acoustics are aweful but I can always hear Paul's instrument. Robin

...............there is a switch on the back of the H2N that gives an extended battery option by temporarily turning off other options; which is fine for extended recordings. I don't know if other dig. recorders do it but the H2N can be hooked up with DSLR cameras which usually have inferior quality internal mics. I love mine............Robin

.........in case you were interested. Tune info. at bottom. Robin Karpeles.UptonOnSevern Stick.EFDSS journal.1933pdf.pdf

And is the tune he's playing the "Demon Daffodil" ? Not sure about the "faustian acolyte" reference. Also lovely opportunity to hear more easily what John is doing on the left hand by virtue of the recorder location...............often so difficult to separate the "channels" . Robin

Much, much more than a just concertina player. He is the creator of the excellent Concertina Library. Robin

.............and this is always worth reading fron the Concertina Connection web site. Robin http://www.concertinaconnection.com/bellows%20technique.htm

...........but also the way he played as well. I've always thought that if William learnt from his father, then it would be fascinating to know how his father came upon this unique style. Did he develop it in isolation.......... did he learn it from someone else's playing. Was William or his father the creative force behind this wonderful way of approaching chording. We'll never know but it's an intruiging speculation . Robin

I lead a session twice a month in a pub, the Caledonian, in downtown Toronto where we play primarily English tunes. This recent session I am delighted to say we had 7 concertinas present ! 6 anglos and one lone English. 2 Dipper anglos (they are brothers), 1 Jeffries, 2 Edgleys, 1 Wheatstone and a Dipper English Before you English players start feeling sorry for your mate, let me tell you he plays an Dipper English that is probably the loudest concertina I have ever heard. He yields to no man! The 2yr old Dippers Paul Read and I play are wonderful, wonderful anglos and really loud instruments ( both wooden ended.) Paul Read is 4th from the right and I am on the extreme right. Loads of fun. Robin

Wrong forum ! Sorry .

Glad people are responding to my question. My intention was to alert anyone thinking of buying this instrument that there is a body of knowledge available to them that may help their buying decision. I was put off by the seller when I asked a few relevant (and innocuous) questions. Recently a Tortoiseshell Aeola went for something like 8G on eBay.........but it was a vanishingly rare instrument of great beauty and probably played like a champion. Having played this Wheatstone anglo,I think it is a vanishingly rare example and of great beauty. Robin

............I played this anglo once........did anyone else ? Robin

.....good spotting, Jim. Flaxley Green was written by the same person who wrote the Horn Dance .

..........no takers for this ? Middle Index Middle 3rd Pinky Index Middle 3rd. At first blush you might think it's complicating it unnecessarily but sometimes, and here's a case, when the little finger is in the right place at the right time ! Practising fingering such as this helps you through those passages where it's nice to avoid "finger hopping" to give a smoother feel. The fact you can smooth it out does not make it smushy if you practice the crisp articulation. And I'm a big supporter of Jim's suggestion of practising these less obvious finger patterns. I find it remarkable how quickly these become easier. Do 'em 10 times (perfectly) 3 times a day for a week and see how far you've come. Try this lovely tune Johanna..........you'll soon see where you have to give it some extra thought and when with much practice you can struggle through it, it a great feeling of accomplishment and from the point of view of technique, you've learned a vast amount. Robin Flaxley Green Dance.pdf

...........I have an anglo that was used by a member of the Albion Country Dance Band that he had had Colin Dipper put on very long buttons because he was also a guitar player and didn't want to damage his nails. I had Colin put on much shorter ones. It does surprise me how much difference the length seems to make..........I have another anglo with what I think are longer buttons and I really don't enjoy playing it. I try to tell myself it shouldn't make any difference becuase your finger pads don't actually touch the end-plates. Robin

If and when you are ready for a better quality instrument contact Paul Read on this website. He lives in Toronto (west side) and is an accomplished repair-man and often has anglos for sale. He will advise you honestly...for instance if you have your cheap Italian anglo repaired it will cost you more that it is worth. You can order valves etc here....Dave Leese As Bill says there are a number of sessions around Ontario. I lead the Toronto one where we play only trad English tunes (whatever that means). The Cambridge one is similar and closer to you. The others Bill can describe further but they sound like they would be too far for you. None of them are beginners sessions though so the thing to do is to come along and listen and see if you like it. Then the work begins. Hope this helps. Robin

Sold off eBay to a C.net member. As I advertised the advertisment on this forum,I have sent a donation. Many Thanks to all who were interested. Robin

..........my Dad loved sailing.........so Tennyson's Crossing the Bar with the lovely folky setting that is popular right now. Robin "And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark "

Sure will..........I'll bring along a modified-but-non-permenanly Jeffries. Robin

.............yep, the same one. Now I'm getting some technology to bend to my wishes, I'll post a vid. soon of how it looks when being played. Robin