grumpyhermit

I just tried to click on the link and the page that came up said that CEOL has been discontinued. Bob

I've heard it called the Orangemen's Anthem, I believe it was in one of Tristan Jones' books, probably the semi-fictional Ice. Bob

Shenandoah, maybe? Bob

Could it be an Anglosh concertina? Bob

I think that too much focus is being spent on Great Britain and the US. There is a huge world out there that doesn't speak English, yet the concertina travelled to those places, as well. Are there a few concertinas down in the wreckage of the Titanic and other shipwrecks? I'd be willing to bet that there are. How about South Africa, Singapore and the other far reaches of the British Empire? Bound to be some out there somewhere. Some in South America, maybe, brought and traded by sailors? I'd say that there is a good chance that there are. Has anyone heard accordion music from Arab countries? I have, and I imagine that they have a few concertinas in the souks and bazaars throughout the Arab world. Having said that, the concertina is a comparatively fragile and finicky instrument, with far more things to go wrong with it than a violin or guitar. Probably a lot of them have ended up on the junk heap when the bellows cracked and broke, or buttons stuck, or reeds becamed clogged with dust or simply rusted away. I just don't think that there are as many out there as the old ledgers may suggest; nowhere near as many. Bob

Well, neighbor, if this sort of things happens a lot, it might account for the small numbers of concertinas out there in comparison with guitars. (And concertina players, for that matter! ) Bob

Mr. Lucas, when you get the Jackie, be sure to let us know what you think of it, or even write a formal review, as I plan to buy one myself and would like to know how good they are. Did Wim Wakker indicate the delivery time for it? Thanks! Bob G. Evans

You sure you're not thinking of "Concertina", by Tori Amos? Maybe it was "Squeezebox" by The Who. Bob G. Evans

Bandoneon? I always thought that was an album by Paul McCartney..... Bob G. Evans

I personally wouldn't mind seeing a forum of this type, and especially a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). The Concertina.net homepage has a wealth of good information, but the forums are where you go to get answers. Beginners might be intimidated to ask a question on a forum that seems to be made up of various arcane subjects, and be more comfortable in a room where seemingly dumb questions are handled gently and kindly. A FAQ would be helpful because it would answer some of the most common questions outright, such as: 1. Why do concertinas cost so much? 2. Stagis cost up to $800 US, but everyone says they stink! Why? 3. I just want to play sea shanties, what concertina should I buy? 4. Where can I find books/instruction tapes for my concertina? 5. Why does my dog howl when I play my concertina? 6. Why does my girlfriend howl when I play my concertina? 7. Should I get an English or an Anglo? 8. What's a duet? Please note I am not asking these questions with an expectation of answers, I am just throwing them out there as examples. Your input and suggestions appreciated. Bob G. Evans

I'll be accruing vacation round about then, and may actually have an instrument and my car working well, for a change. Since I live in NC, maybe I'll be able to attend and get a chance to listen, at any rate. Since I at this point plan to buy a Jackie from Concertina Connection, maybe Bob Tedrow will consent to look at it and write a review for Concertina.net. Just a thought, and I'm not committing, but I thought I'd at least put myself down as a possible. Bob G. Evans.

I am not a musician, so I can't speak from any personal knowledge base, but I can paraphrase an interview Frank Zappa did with Guitar Player magazine. He was quite scornful of Hollywood music scoring, comparing the use of scoring to the most obvious and blatant of laugh tracks. According to FZ, the cellos signal dramatic moments, a major 7th chord signals love scenes, etc. And how many times does a saxophone start playing when a sex scene begins? So apparently there are still certain keys/instrument combos that evoke particular emotional states. "Humor rules in the timbre domain." (Frank Zappa) Bob G. Evans

I wasn't certain of the terminology, but English do come in Treble, Baritone, etc., like saxophones, correct? What is the correct term? Thanks for correcting me, by the way. Bob G. Evans

I don't know how feasible this would be, but since there has been so much discussion of Ebay auction concertinas, I was wondering if it would be possible for those who know a great deal about concertinas to give the newbies among us pointers about what we should be looking for or avoiding in an auction instrument. I don't want to step on any toes, if a discussion is posted of an instrument purchased by a member of the forum, commentary should be off-limits unless permission is granted. For example, on a recent Ebay auction, #2559703598,which was listed as a Lachenal English 48-button (key not specified), went for a song at just over $350 US dollars. Did it slip thru the cracks? Is there something there obviously wrong that a newbie wouldn't notice? This would be a great way for us to share knowledge and acquire expertise without working in a free-reed shop or being often exposed to the instruments. It might become the most popular part of the forum, who knows? What do all of you think? Bob G. Evans

Speaking as another newbie, I am going to go the inexpensive route first, and buy a chinese-made "Jackie" from the Concertina Connection. They are quoting 230 US dollars for an English, which is what I want, and you can trade it in for one of their own Geuns-Wakker concertinas, or even a rebuilt vintage instrument. I don't think you're going to receive much encouraging advice about buying used instruments on Ebay. I get the feeling that Ebay is seen as a private hunting preserve for "experts" and cognoscenti, and tyros really shouldn't be there. Just my opinion, folks. Bob G. Evans