Ken_Coles
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Posts posted by Ken_Coles
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When did you email me? I usually get stuff pretty quick, whether through the system or on my private line, though the latter sometimes gets backed up. (alimentary mail).
Will check it, though it may be a day or two -- I have a busy business trip coming up.
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On the sites I'm aware of, this is undertaken with caveats clearly posted. The webmaster allows the links to scroll off after a period of time. This allows the URLs to be updated by the original contributor. The webmaster shouldn't have to do everything! If members are indeed what makes a site interesting and vital, then some bit of participation is required. Why shouldn't, as you point out, each contributor give the best information to this ongoing effort?
I have been lurking throughout this very interesting discussion. It may be that the best home for it is elsewhere. But here, we could do something like this...A subforum with a volunteer moderator. You submit your URL and description to him/her. They vet it (to make sure it is a link to a recorded tune site; this means related or idle discussion goes elsewhere, not in the URL list) and approve it for posting. We can set it to rotate out old listings after a fixed time if desired (6 months? 12 months?).
I'm still just speculating...soon we can ask Paul to weigh in on all this. There may be other possibilities I don't know about. You all are correct that if you wait for one of us to write code it may take a very long time!
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Just got a really nice songbook yesterday at the Button Box
These coincidences are getting to be too much! I was in there between 4:30 and 5:00. When were you there, Wendy? Went to the Contra Dance after that -- good time.
Ken (practicing my scales on English - token on-topic comment!)
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As soon as these posts started I thought a list of links to people's own recordings would be great. But I kept my mouth shut...IF someone can simply list all the URLs for me, I can make a formal, static page here on C.net. But they, or someone, would need to commit to keeping the list up to date --- I already have too many other noble projects that haven't gotten done yet; ditto for Paul. And I don't want to know I am neglecting yet another item. Another reality is that links and sites come and go; you'd be surprised how fast it happens. I have nearly always stuff on the big Links page that need fixing (true right now, for example).
A subforum here that is very specific to recordings of people playing concertina might be useful and easier, subject to human nature (tendency to drift to other topics etc.). Maybe someone would be willing to moderate that subforum, which means we set it up to give you some privileges with the software to rearrange posts, etc.
Give us your thoughts; we're listening (if distracted).
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We can make your report and pictures a formal article here if you like. Just let me know.
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Okay Jim,
I guess you scared Ken and he won't grab your points.
No, I've just been too busy at work lately (likely for the rest of the school year!), so my time here is limited to reading and the essential maintenance. Y'all are the best custodians of humor anyway, doing much better with it than anyone official could do. So I leave it in your capable hands.
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Ken, PLEASE tell me that you don't play while driving.
No, I'm not that busy yet. But Dirk Powell tells how when he first started Cajun accordion, he was so obsessed that he played while driving a car!Concertinist Ian Robb does a nice version of "Home in Pasadena" on one of his CDs (sans concertina, I believe).
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I'm also old and new, and in two places! I've been a member of Concertina.net more or less since it started, and did join the old message system, but didn't until now join the new forum system.
Is anyone else here in Southern California?
Paul,
Yes, we can be few and far between here, and parts of California and New England have more players that most other areas. Jim Swope in Long Beach knows most everyone and used to host get togethers now and then. I crashed one when visiting my parents, which I do perhaps twice a year (they are in Pasadena -- nearly as smoggy as your area). Dennis Kiick used to be in Claremont, but I haven't been in touch with him in a while. Jim and Dennis both play anglo - I'm not sure if I've ever run into an English player around there. Both were members of the old forum and are signed up for the current system, though I haven't seen them around here recently.
You could probably set up shop as the first teacher of EC around there. If I were nearby I'd sign up for lessons with my Lachenal treble!
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I thought I would revisit this topic with a report (and put off grading papers for a few more minutes). As a first step, I have humidified the cases of the two concertinas I have with me in Mass. Wow, the cranky low reeds in the English now work fine. They used to growl, rattle, etc. and no amount of fiddling (!) seemed to help.
Of course I knew this all along and am preaching to the choir. Just like I knew I should get a complete physical as I am newly middle-aged, but I was too transient and/or medically indigent to do so. Well, I finally did and they found something that needs treating but may not be a problem if we manage it right (no, I won't go into details). The same lesson learned again. Maintain the concertina, and maintain the player, to increase the life span of both.
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Ken_Coles Posted on Mar 2 2004, 08:57 PM
So where did I end up? I'm living in two places right now. Maybe I should see if I can spot my dot.
According to the omniscient Concertina.net satellite, you were eastbound on I88 the day of the survey. Where would you like to be? Oahu is not an option.
Hey, how did you know I drove that way? I am happy to be in Mass. or wherever you put me, as long as I can keep playing concertina!
My, many clever wits here, as always...
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So where did I end up? I'm living in two places right now. Maybe I should see if I can spot my dot.
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Topic moved to General Discussion per Lester's request.
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I can easily move this thread...is General the best place, Lester?
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Three contributions from Geo Salley are now posted. These include an article on Stagi/Bastari repair, remarks collected from the Old Forum on playing triplets, and an introduction to using the Tune-O-Tron. Thanks to Geo; check them out.
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The inside of the Stagi Hayden is an interesting twist also, as David B. and Rich M. can confirm. A photo of that would be an interesting contribution also.
Good on ya, as we all see about once a week a new player posts here wanting to know how to fix something, so there is a batch of potential readers out there.
I should mention that three drafts by Geo on various topics are finally up. I'll get them linked and announced later today.
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Not only great music, but the Basques know how to put on a great festival! There was a large Basque community in Nevada where I used to do field work as a geologist in the 1980s. Great time.
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I'll second a point others have made above on how to sustain all these hobbies -- no TV. Yes, I miss the opiate effect, especially at the end of a difficult week with the kids like this past one. But in 1981 my grad-school apartment-mate moved out and took his TV with him, and I never got one. Only 18 months in the years since have I lived in a home with a TV set. Not only a big time saver, but saves me about $400 - 500 a year on cable fees. When I am in a motel and surf what is on, I am absolutely appalled (if my high school students watch that stuff every night, it is no wonder they are so nutty). They should pay me to watch that stuff.
Of course, the Internet is starting to fill the same niche, so I can't be too righteous.
And I don't have a spouse or kids, though I am open to that and it may happen some day. There will be less time for music then, but I'm OK with that.
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Let me clarify two things. I don't believe the BB or any other established dealer would deliberately misrepresent or overprice an instrument. They give you an idea of what the current market (many buyers and sellers) is, or sometimes what price an owner of a consignment sale wants to ask. You have to compare what the overall market says with whay YOU find worth the money. I am voicing my _personal_ opinion. In my universe, concertina values would be ranked slightly differently. This concertina (or any concertina) may be (and probably is) perfect for somebody. But all you can do from a distance is ask other people's opinions.
Which brings me back to my first advice: I believe it is best to take the time and effort to try instruments like this when considering a purchase. You might talk to the BB about what it takes for you to try the instrument out with an option to change your mind and return it.
My second point is that I feel this way because we are talking about amounts of money (for the best concertinas) that would buy you a fine old grand piano. Amazing to me.
Just my two cents.
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I know John is as much an instrument packrat as I am (between us we had Indiana "covered"), though I am lucky to have perhaps less means to indulge this habit than he does.
So what are you playing now John? Your Morse...? -
Or you can come over and use my computer! but don't write too many long messages
(I am only a couple of miles away right now. We'll have to jam sometime.) -
I've tried 7 or 8 1950s/1960s Wheatstones now (both anglo and English systems). My experience is that they vary a lot. Some are really not so responsive (which is high on my list for an expensive concertina, maybe not on yours) while others are quite good. The prices they fetch nowadays are justified for the best instruments I've tried (better than a Lachenal but not as good are prewar etc), but they are overpriced IMHO if you happen to get one of the lesser ones. I say that because those lesser ones are less responsive than the quality accordion-reeded makes, which cost half as much. Your mileage (and opinion) may vary if you play styles different from mine, e.g. some folks happily pay the difference for the tone they prefer.
In other words, I wouldn't buy one without trying it or having someone whose playing and judgment I know personally try it for me. Good advice for any vintage concertina, and certainly for these.
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Music, music, music, music on concertina, music on my (so-called French) horn, music I play on my radio show as a Dj, music preferably with others in a group, dancing to music, working to the music in my head. I got over being self-conscious years ago and want to do as much as I can while I can.
I had lots of other hobbies years ago, this is the one that survived.
(Grin)
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Thanks guys, will add it to the ever-growing to-do list.
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Tom, it turns out the software has the "Official" area set as moderated. So all three of your posts were waiting there in a queue until I happened to look at it today. So I told the server to post your third one. Guess this means I need to check my own topics as moderator periodically! [still learning!]
Happy Green Traditions Day!
in General Concertina Discussion
Posted
I'm only a couple of Kms from Wendy, but for me the snowstorm is a great blessing (it means a day off work, if you haven't guessed). Something to do with teaching kids who get in trouble as often as my students do.
Play a tune, today and every day you can.