Aldon

Welcome & thanks for the arrangements! I'm looking forward to trying them out. (FYI "We Three Kings" got cut off at the bottom of the page.) I like to play arrangements straight from the hymnal. Especially Christmas music. Usually the soprano & alto parts make a very nice arrangement on their own without any tweaking. Occasionally I'll add notes from the bass clef, and often I'll create my own harmonies on the fly. I hardly ever write out arrangements of Christmas tunes, but I have made arrangements of other music. Thanks again! Aldon

Thanks Chris. Good points. And a nice dose of cold, hard reality. We need a wealthy benefactor who cares about concertinas enough to invest in the research. Any takers?

Bowed, plucked, percussion, and woodwind instrument makers have taken the plunge in to high-quality synthetic instruments, but it seems that concertina makers are reticent. The only concertina (low-end) I know of is this one. I have no problem with synthetics if the sound is musical. My main flute is a GUO Grenaditte (Grenaditte is a man-made material) and for me it out-performs any metal or wooden flute I've played. I'd love to have an English concertina made with carbon-fiber ends, Kevlar/Goretex bellows, and silicon seals with space-age alloy reeds... How about you? Please discuss, dream, or dis'.

There isn't really such a thing as a 'pre-tuned' reed. Makers of accordion type reeds supply them tuned to within 10 cents of the nominal pitch. The pitch changes a small but significant amount when they are fitted so the final tuning has to be done in situ. If the problem is simply that the reeds are out of tune as Stephen suggested then getting new reeds is not an effective solution, just an expensive way of possible getting slightly less out of tune reeds. Replacements are also unlikely to be exactly the same physical dimensions so its also likely that some modifications to the woodwork of the concertina might be required. The reeds fitted to the few Mayfairs I've worked on have been top quality, not something you would want to replace unless they were actually broken, or rusted beyond use. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. It looks like there's no easy answer for me. How much do you charge for a refurb. and a Mayfair?

There isn't really such a thing as a 'pre-tuned' reed. Makers of accordion type reeds supply them tuned to within 10 cents of the nominal pitch. The pitch changes a small but significant amount when they are fitted so the final tuning has to be done in situ. If the problem is simply that the reeds are out of tune as Stephen suggested then getting new reeds is not an effective solution, just an expensive way of possible getting slightly less out of tune reeds. Replacements are also unlikely to be exactly the same physical dimensions so its also likely that some modifications to the woodwork of the concertina might be required. The reeds fitted to the few Mayfairs I've worked on have been top quality, not something you would want to replace unless they were actually broken, or rusted beyond use. Thanks for the info!

They're 50 year-old accordion reeds, so you won't get the exact same ones from anywhere. Do they actually need replacing, or are they simply out of tune? The left hand Bb has a warped reed that needs straightening, and the Es on the RH side need tuning. All of the reeds could use adjustment for voicing, offset, etc. I don't mind doing this stuff myself but was hoping for a quick way to take care of it.

Me too!

That's what I was assuming when I made this poll, and it's the style I've switched to, but it seems there are more ways to use 4 than I was thinking.

Thanks! I didn't know that. Were there changes made during those years that are traceable (like dating a VW Beetle), or were the models consistent over those 5 years?

Where can I purchase pre-tuned reeds for my Mayfair?

Since my Mayfair doesn't have a serial number I can't use the Wheatstone ledgers. Is there some other way to tell the age? I bought the Mayfair on this page: http://web.mac.com/ironbear_/bearpawfiddles/Free_Reed.html if that helps with identification.

I have been playing 3 fingered for the last several years, but last week decided to explore 4 fingers after looking at Regondi's Golden exercise with fingering marked for both 3 and 4 finger style. I'm pretty much sold on 4 fingers now: -It makes sense to my brain and fingers in a way that 3 fingered style never did. -It also makes sight reading much easier for me. -It makes my pinkies happy to get in on the act. So, how about you? Are you a 3 or 4 finger player?

Well judging from the lack of replies I'm going to guess that the Stagi is probably not worth my time. Oh, well, back to the search.....

Hi ya'll. My first English concertina was one of the cheap Stagis so I'm aware of their general lack of quality. This newer 56 button model looks nice, but how does it play and sound? Please share your experience with this instrument. Here's a linK: http://www.buttonbox.com/other-concertinas.html It's the last concertina under "English Concertinas" Thanks, Aldon

Very cool and very creative! (I have a Guiness harp tatooed on my arm.....)

Thanks for posting those videos! Very nice playing!

I have a couple of tunes posted at: http://www.nowhereradio.com/onemanband The one titled 'Ahe Lau Makani' is a Hawaiian song written by Queen Lili'uokalani. I'm playing English concertina and accordion on that one.

I'm using jazz theory here. Classical theorists would analyze the same progression as V7/V, V7, I. (They would say, "The Five-seven of five, to the V7, to I. ) You are correct that in Classical theory it moves from the key of G to the key of C. In Jazz theory, however, it's just seen as replacing the Dm in the key of C with a D7. To change keys in Hawaiian music we usually vamp in the original key, then introduce the new key with the V7 of the new key. So going for C major to D major would be D7, G7, C, A7, D (the new key). Some Hawaiian musicians, though, will vamp in the new key right away. So C to D would be a straight E7, A7, D vamp. Occassionally, Hawaiians will use a static modulation, where the key just changes without any modulating chord. In the C to D example they would finish the verse, vamp in C, then start the new verse in the key of D. Hope that helps instead of making things more confusing!

In Hawaiian music a vamp is the chord progression that's played to introduce the song. The same progression is also played between each verse, and to end the song. Usually it's a II7, V7, I progression. In the key of C that would be D7 to G7 to C. In the intro. it's usually played twice. Between verses it's played once, and at the end of the song it's usually played once or twice depending on who's playing it..... It seems one of the unifying factors for using the word 'vamp' involves repetition. Interesting question! Aldon

I was just playing through a hymn book last night on my EC. I don't actually play the 4 part harmony, though. I usually just play the soprano & alto parts, and add other chord tones when they're easily accessible. It works out rather well. It's nice to hear others are out there doing the same thing. I DO wish I had a duet concertina though! Oh well.

I like the Amazing Slowdowner. It's easy to use, and does the job well. I've used it to change keys of tunes and to bring recordings up to standard pitch. It's pretty cool software. I haven't tried the other programs out there.

Aldon, You mean this one?? I saw a signature at the right side of the painting and did a Google search and found a gallery at: http://ireland.iol.ie/~solamar/main.htm While seaeching I came accross another concertina-related picture: Yup, that's the one alright! The one you found is cool too! If I didn't spend all of my on instruments I'd definitely put some cash into getting some of those paintings. Thanks for the help!

I really like the second one. (Can't get it to 'quote', so it's not showing up here.) Is he the same one that did the whistle player in the car? That artist has got style. Is there a gallery online?

That music's awfully spooky looking. My brain freezes up just looking at it!

If I recall correctly there was a scene in China in the movie The Red Violin where they were playing accordion. (Am I misremembering this?) It's a good movie anyway. I'd watch it again!