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Henk van Aalten

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Posts posted by Henk van Aalten

  1. Great work Gary!

     

    I was surprised to see my name in the list because I did not give my tablature much exposure in the public domain. I fully agree with your "embarassing gawdawful mess" and exactly that was the main reason for me to make my own tablature. I was inspired by the French Harmonica tablature which is more or less a standard in France and is used in The Netherlands as wel.

     

    I am very content with my own system because I can fully understand it :wacko: Counting from your left pinky to your right pinky from 1 tot 10 feels (for me) very logical. It is for me a great help in finding the most optimal "fingering pattern" for each tune.

     

    Henk

  2. This is my own personal opinion, so don't everybody start getting hostile. I think drones on a concertina are not a good idea, especially on an anglo. A drone is supposed to be a steady background sound of a note which is compatible with the key in which the music is being played. (think bagpipe) On an anglo, at least, it sounds like a series of hiccoughs, not a steady, unobtrusive background sound, unless played sparingly, and with little or no change in bellows direction. If it is played sparingly, or intermitently, I wouldn't call it a drone... Then there's the issue of balance, which is where the Enlish system also applies. Drones are usually low of the melody line in pitch, and can overwhelm the melody in volume. It may be possible for very skilled players to use a drone, throughout a tune, or set of tunes, but I have rarely heard it done effectively.

     

    Frank,

     

    In general I agree with your point(s) of view. However with some tunes you could play "dronish" with an Anglo and use the "series of hiccoughs" as a rhythmic support that sounds a bit hurdygurdy-like... (as Howard Jones states in his reply)

    Listen to this Flamish Folktune that I recorded on a C/G Anglo concertina a few years ago. The melody (in C) is played on the C-row (right hand), whilst the "drone" (a G) is played with th left hand on the accidental row (when pulling) or on the C row (when pushing).

    It is by the way a very good excercise for "decoupling" the left hand and right hand movements.

     

    P.S. I just read the comment of Howard Jones after posting my original message, so I made an extra remark (between brackets and bold)...

  3. Hi Henk

    That was really neat!

    Could you let me know how you set that up on computer it's a great aid.

    Hello Michael,

     

    I made it "simply by hand" but there is a program that produces the same type of tablature from a simple ABC source. The point is however the program does not make the same decissions as I do with respect to playing a certain note or a series of notes in the pull or push direction.

    The program (or is it an app nowadays?) can be found at: http://members.quicknet.nl/j.coolegem/Mefa.html

     

    Henk

  4. My concertina has Wheatstone layout, and I find myself playing alot on the first three buttons on the inner (G) row, the G, B and D button. Maybe I just need to work up my left hand dexterity, but it feels like I should be able to play it without using my left ring finger so much on the G button.

     

    Ultimately, if someone could describe which button they use for every single tone in the tune, I'd be very happy. However, any little piece of advice is very welcome. If I can find a "smarter" way to play that particular tune, then I think I could work that in to alot of other tunes as well.

    Hi Gusten

     

    I've never played the Musical Priest before, but I have also a C/G with a Wheatstone lay-out and I gave it a try. I noted my finger-pattern in a simple tablature that (I hope) is understandable. I've attached the result as a GIF file.

    It is indeed a difficult tune and my tablature is a first approach.

     

    Have fun with it!

    post-37-0-47422400-1324151466_thumb.gif

  5. OK, Mutt, this one's for you :D:

    Some Alaskans support Sarah Palin,

    And some of them like to go whalin'.

    But I know one old geezer,

    Who's a Lachenal squeezer,

    And he gets my toe tappin', no failin'.

    Well although it's not my native language I give it a try:

     

    There once was a squeezer from Denmark

    He squeezed his cute anglo in the park

    But she said to him

    Oh come on dear Jim

    I'd like you to squeeze me in the dark

    :lol: :lol:

  6. The Dublin concertina is made by Harry Geuns according to traditional methods. Harry also makes high quality badeneons. In the past he worked together with Wim Wakker at the Concertina Connection, some time before Wim moved to USA. I visited Harry about a year ago for repairs and parts and I played some of his concertina's in Belgium. The action is very fast and light, it has delrin core buttons. They have a fine set of bellows made by Rini Geuns, that do not pull or push themselves. The reeds are very good quality italian accordeon reeds. I would say his concertinas (like Andrew Norman's) are among the best concertina's with accordion reeds I have ever played. It plays light and its weight is light too.

     

    Harry's website is here:

    http://www.bandoneon-maker.com/harrygeuns.htm

     

    Best of luck,

    Marien

    I can fully confirm Marien's post. The thing I can add is that I played a Geuns-Wakker (built by Harry Geuns) with pleasure before I sold it some time ago. You can still have a look at the small website (pictures and soundfiles) that I used to promote the selling.

  7. So working on Linden Lea, by Vaughan Williams and Bonny at Morn - which as far as I know is a Northumbrian tune which I play as a slow air - gave me a chance to play around with the harmony and do something different.

     

    What I now want to know is does it work?!

     

    Please feel free to be as critical as you like, it's the only way I'll learn. All suggestions/comments welcome.

    Carl,

     

    Very nice playing. I could not do better (FWIW).

    I'm sure you are on the right way.

  8. How are you keeping Henk Long time no c? :rolleyes:

    Hi Chas,

     

    Yes, we must meet somewhere at some concertina gathering!

     

    Life is very good to me:

    • No more the obligation to work
    • Enjoying my growing family (7 grandchildren)
    • Enjoying (more and more) my Wakker A1
    • Playing music together with nice friends
    • Looking forward to the Arran Concertina Event in a few weeks

    :) :) :)

     

    BTW: I enjoyed your singing "The Banks of the Dee"

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