bellowbelle

MaidInBedlam(ILoveMyLove).pdf I made a PDF for myself so I can learn 'Maid In Bedlam' (thanks to LDT). I wasn't going to share it for any reason but it took me so long to make the thing that, now, I'm going to make it worth its weight! (I recently got 'pdf merger' software so I can make files for my ereader.) So -- PDF with tune, chords, ABC, and lyrics is attached.

One question... Should the 'F' at the end of the 6th measure be an F-sharp? In playing this, that's the only thing I notice that breaks the pattern of arpeggiated chords. I only get to play the first and the last ten measures, since my Morse Albion EC only goes up to the high D. So, I simply leave out the middle ten measures! Even though I don't follow the fingering as given exactly since I don't use the 4th finger, having the fingering given is still VERY helpful. I still get lost sometimes on the concertina, and so the fingering is a good clue to help me figure out where I am.

I've given it a try and it will definitely be helpful. In fact, I was looking through my own pile of books recently to see if I could find some exercises to try and this fits the bill -- except that I am one of those who keeps the 4th finger on the finger rest at all times, so, I will be changing the fingering. But, it's still worth it to play. It's one of those things, it looks like, that will eventually, if painfully, fall into place and finally 'snowball' after I've played it a half-million times, and then be very easy. (I like those!) As for what I have in my own collection, well, a ton of stuff. (I do have Allan Atlas' book, 'Contemplating The Concertina,' too.) What I did find recently, but gave up on, was 3-part inventions by Bach. I just don't want to bother with that on concertina. I love to hear Bach played (I have Juliette Daum's cd, too... ) but those inventions don't 'fall into place.' So... I'll let you know if/when I conquer Regondi's Golden Exercise!

There's a really great new song by Paul Simon, 'The Afterlife,' a modern-day 'funny funeral' song, sort of... I don't buy a lot of CDs but I had to get this one. First line: 'After I died and the makeup had dried, I went back to my place...' I don't really know how to make it fit on a concertina but if someone does, I'd love to hear it (the Paul Simon song). In prison... concertinas were allowed? Crazy! Only thing I associate with prison & concertina is the concertina wire! (I hope I got the quote boxes in my reply to look right.... I usually use 'fast reply,' much easier.) Edit added: Hmm. Seems it may have been a BOILED potato: Lyrics

I like it! Sounds good. I sometimes play an old song that has the same last line but is otherwise different. ('I Love My Love' by C. Pinsuti.) Maid In Bedlam I like better, though.

And, while I'm at it... I once made up my own verse & chorus (parody, with a little 'fair-use' borrowing from the original... ) for Down-Hearted Blues. Here's Bessie Smith singing the original: But here's my version (another PG-13, probably... just like that armadillo song, heheh...): I also wrote a parodized 'concertina song' version to another Bessie Smith song, where I rhyme 'meanah' and 'concertinah' but that one isn't so much about the concertina as is 'Down-Hearted Blues For Concertina Players.' If you don't know or like the original blues/jazz song in the first place, of course, then my parody will seem not-so-hot.

There's always Arnold The Armadillo!

Ah, looks interesting, shall plug that into the 'converter' when I am home later and have more than just my NookColor to use. (And.... I just now discovered that I DO have a full keyboard on this gadget and could write in ABC if I wanted. Cool!)

I hope someone can find you the picture, Alan. I know this is far from it, but I did find this little dog. Not bronze, very cheap and too far for decent shipping, maybe, but... cute! (Edit added) Wow, these guys are cute, too... bulldogs... but definitely NOT very cheap.

Did not mean to over-simplify or sound know-it-all, because I certainly don't. There does seem to be a bit of (unjust) 'might-makes-right' even in the realm of intellectual works, which would usually, assumedly, be more on the end of progress and freedom. And, there are things that can jar the likes of a paper/ephemera dealer, such as finding (just an hour ago) my nifty little 1918 publication, 'Army Song Book U.S.' -- complete with cartoon illustrations -- completely digitized and available online via Google Books. Definitely devalues the paper. However, in some weird instances, that could actually enhance the chance of a sale. (Slightly off-topic but 'for instance' -- I am glad I got a NookColor ereader, but it has only intensified my preference for hard-copy books. I love the NColor for my own PDFs, email, gallery, crossword puzzles, etc... and some light reading, stuff I wouldn't want to bother to have on paper for keeps. Other than that, I want a REAL book.) The one most important lesson I personally received, re copyrights, was to not lock yourself out of your own house, figuratively speaking. I knew a songwriter who said, years ago re some of his songs, that he could no longer perform his own stuff some places, due to ASCAP. Royalty configurations or something.... I dunno. It wasn't something he'd intended to do. THAT, to me, was very weird. I think it has been the impetus for me to be on guard whenever the law is staring me in the face!

I use Vimeo, partly because YouTube never seems to upload my stuff. Vimeo has a section where you can choose your type of licensing. Here's a 'learn more' link they give: 'learn more' I go with: Attribution-NoDerivs Oops, the images didn't show up next to the dots.... I guess they're under copyright or something! I pay for the 'pro' or whatever level*, so I'm not sure if it's all the same if you choose the free level. *of vimeo dot com, that is.

I have an amp I love. I use it mainly for voice, but that's just because I'm not louder than my concertina. It's battery run, and holds the charge very well. It's... let's see, it's a Crate TX15 Battery Powered Guitar Amp Combo, 15W. I love having fewer cords and wires to get tangled up in. That doesn't really solve the mic-ing problem, but it might help, dunno.

Well done! Very creative camera work...

Hmm... Could be a nice way to bring up conversations about the concertina, since I can't carry around my concertina all day! (But... I don't like to wear 'crew' necklines. I wish there was a 'v' one or something other than crew.) Another edit... This is available from the C-Net store: http://www.cafepress.com/concertina2 -- see shirts I have one of those shirts somewhere (though, the picture is not of an English concertina), I'll have to see where that went...

I've had numerous hand troubles. I've discovered numerous solutions. (Doing well, for now.) I've found Aleve (over-counter med) to be effective at times. And, although you can't wear them while you play, you might try wearing a compression glove(s) at off times. This pair at Amazon is not the cheapest but they are amazing: Thermoskin Premium Arthritic Gloves And, yes, it's 3:21 AM, here..... I'm not lurking around on the other side of the world!

Well, I've heard more delicate playing with the foot bass... but I guess I wasn't feeling that way, this morning!

minor-key 3-chord improv This link goes to my site at vimeo.com. I intend to improve, both on instruments and with camera... but this was fun, anyway! I've tried to upload to YouTube but I never have much luck with that. So, that's one reason I moved to vimeo.

Thanks. I'll have to miss the cake, though... I won't actually be going to the party. I've let them know I LOVE Their CD, but as they know, I can't take the (usual) noise/atmosphere of clubs and bars. I would be able to take it if I didn't have to maintain conversations while surviving (how can some people talk and hear through anything & everything?) -- but, that never happens. I won't go hear any of my favorite performers at clubs, but I'll gladly listen to their CDs. Or go to outdoor concerts -- they usually work out.

Worcester Magazine article re Eyewitness So, it's what the offspring of one concertina player is up to. She does include some accordion, that's about as close as she gets! I've listened to their cd and I'm impressed. Well done, I say!

You play their music... buy their pictures? I love these old photos and have not wanted to part with them, but, nonetheless, they are for sale, now, at my site: blujay.com/MoonsAgoTunes

I'm not a music teacher, but I have this that I came up with: http://www.concertin...html?rec_id=399 This is tune number 399 in the Tune-O-Tron here at concertina.net. It's nothing you'd want to play except for getting familiar with the concertina, really. When I first started playing, someone who used to post in the forums here a lot but who has since left, I think, posted something in reply to me (regarding the same type of question), something about 'taking the knight's tour.' I had no idea what he meant and I still don't know if I've got it straight, but, all I can figure is that the finger patterns in this (399) remind me of -- I think -- how the knight moves in a game of chess. And I don't really play chess so maybe I've got that one wrong, too.)

Hmm, seems even the ghosts around here are hyper-critical -- 'brought the curtain down!!!' Okay, I KNOW we're not great. But, we were playing ALONE... or so I thought. Not even at a gathering/session/bus stop/whatever. I recently picked up the guitar again after many years (like, as of two days ago). So I was playing that and singing, and my husband was playing his harmonica. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the curtain -- fixture, rod and all -- popped right off the window on one side. It didn't just slip or slide - it was as if it were yanked. Weird! The song was 'Turn Your Radio On,' a sort of corny gospel song. Now, we have had radios and tvs pop on by themselves before, too, but I've always assumed it was some remote signal from somewhere doing that. I'm beginning to wonder just exactly how remote... -- Not afraid, but, gee whiz, I'd like to at least be able to sound bad in private and not have to put the house back together in the morning.

I'm destined to remain at home playing for a rabbit (fine with me), but... I do know that 'moan,' because I've played/sang with some rather, uh, 'creative' (tone-deaf) people. But, I've been on the other end of things, too, though I feel the people criticizing me were rather egotistical and controlling. I remember one time when I barely touched the buttons of my concertina -- and I mean the correct buttons, too -- to lightly play along with a song at a gathering/singing session. The official guitar-player just about bit my head off, he was so mad. Another time, a guy decided he didn't like my foot bass, which I'd brought and played just for some songs as kind of 'show & tell' because it's an odd instrument. But, rather than say anything, he just got mad and deliberately kept changing the key of the song once we were already playing it, with an angry look on his face. I will NOT waste my time with those guys. I'm smart enough to know the difference between my being intrusive/rude/unmusical and their being control freaks. (I'm NOT saying that's what happened in the event that prompted this thread, or that there should be no leaders at sessions.) In fact, I was recalling my misadventures recently and I made up my own version of 'Wayfaring Stranger' as a laugh, but I don't think I'll even bother to sing it for my rabbit: I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger With a Mercedes Benz And a really good job And I like Woody Guthrie But I wouldn't let him in Don't you know he's a hobo?* How would HE hobnob? *(wasn't, actually)

Aha! I've finally figured that out, thanks to your help. I was able to add a wordpress blog (Hallelujahal's Blog) to my 'Blogs I Follow' (which shows up on the profile page, at least... I haven't added a widget yet). And YOUR blog is great, yes! So I've added that and look forward to reading more of it.

Hey hello. I still lurk around sometimes, just don't post much! I no longer do Facebook but I'm hanging on to Blogger. I've got about 2 other concertina players' blogs included in my list of 'Blogs I Follow.' Anybody else out there? I don't think I can officially add blogs from other sites like Wordpress, though I could bookmark them I suppose. But Blogger has an easy, automated 'Add' feature for all blogspot.com blogs. Hope your day is as nice so far as mine is, here... we finally have some beautiful weather and my wind chimes are playing away outside in the light breeze.