Henrik Müller

Oh, I am not the un-earther - it was quite a long time ago, forgotten who. Even more interesting I found the out takes (not-used film) that varney found. Much found close-up details of the router at work. - and a Happy, Belated New Year to all! /Henrik

Larry - welcome to another world... About bellows direction I think there are two schools (in lack of a better term): those who change direction on certain notes and those that don't. I don't - at least I don't think I do. When I change consciously, it seems to be guided by the fact that certain phrases or melody runs "feels"/sounds better on the push than on the pull or vice versa. But what I do is use the bellows for emphasis, down to single notes, all the time. About fingering/Irish Music on the English After 6 intensive years developing something like a fingering system or fingering guide, I'd say the best advice is to be prepared to neglect all you hear a Good Lad should do when it comes to "which finger on which button". I've managed to surprise myself a couple of times by - in frustration or despair - throwing a finger upwards where it definitely "shouldn't" be and realizing that "What?! It works!". Emphasis again Apart from using the bellows for emphasis, I also use the "never the same finger twice on the same button"-rule. Que? Emphasis? Yep: it is difficult to emphasize the second note of two by using the same finger twice - it becomes like "A-A". With finger switching you can do "A-A". Maybe it is time to record a little tune, with notes and fingering added... /Henrik

Never play before didle or lilt... My only contribution - sorry, Gusten /Henrik

Wonderful! Thanks for posting. Grand! Historic stuff - /Henrik

Lightbulb indeed! Alright, then we better get the out takes from the film - what they cut away. Reed pan router-wise (new word, eh?) it is much more interesting than the edited film. Here it is (courtesy "varney" of c.net (because I kept forgetting where it was...)). Have patience with the little fella selling his own newspapers! The Wheatstone out takes start at 9:56 and the lady putting the end plate on is clearly having a bad day; no wonder thay cut it. If I may paraphrase the old "All good things in life are free" to "All well-working things in life are simple"... /Henrik

Hello, Andy - Marvel away - you have certainly picked an interesting subject, there The reed pans were done on a very special router, probably developed by Louis Lachenal himself. Since Lachenal worked, externally, for Wheatstone, it is likely to be one like this (from the Wheatstone factory): The image a video frame from an archive film about the Wheatstone factory. You can see it here. /Henrik

Nah - sounds Oz to me ;-) /Henrik

Thanks, Leo - Amazing - how do you find this stuff (I mean the Swedish site)?! /Henrik

A good friend of mine bought this gem for a small amount... The strange thing is the background: a maypole - which is a very Swedish thing. So was it done in America, done in Sweden, or was the maypole added (clearly, the "PIP, pip" (sound) was added). My friend is richer now - /Henrik

- and off my head, I am sure that Kirk Douglas played concertina as Ned Land in Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", 1954, the jolly sailor he was! /Henrik

I am listening to Jack and Cormac's "Na Fir Bolg"-CD right now. What a treat - theres' some lovely stuff there, highly recommended! /Henrik

I forgot that you can get a glimpse of Mary Ellen, in grand style, in the compilation of short clips I did at Éigse Mrs. Crotty 2008: Go to time 2:16 in clip Anyone who wants the full clip - as audio only - feel free to contact me. /Henrik

I am happy to say that I was there, too, that afternoon. It was indeed a privilege - here are the photos from the occasion: /Henrik

Actually, Alan, the very first time I was in Bradfield, I arrived one day too early, walked down to the Royal and ordered a pie. In my youthful ignorance I ate it all and had to pay for it later: on the way up the hill from Dungworth I was overtaken by a snail... /Henrik

I am still considering Kilrush - /Henrik

A strange need indeed - I certainly recognize it.... and why does it have to be the loudest tin whistle on the planet /Henrik

Hi, Jody - yes, so far. But the experience with this has triggered a lot of new thoughts...so, let's see. /Henrik

Hi, all - As promised: my web site wasn't dead, only resting and is now up again in better form and with its own domain name. In the signature. /Henrik

Hi, Mary - I think you have to look at fingering with a slightly wider scope: If you look at the fingering of a fifth jump in isolation, you may find that it's easier for you to pull the index under the middle, but in the larger picture, i.e. what has happened before the first note and what will happen after the second, will almost always decide for you. /Henrik

Good man, Dick - I am pending - /Henrik

Hi, Bob! I like your new ears!! /Henrik

If a recording ends up in the archives it will be viewable internationally. The archives are here. /Henrik

If it is old stuff you need, here's a good place for that - legal, too. /Henrik

I know this is an old post, but... Recently, I had the privilige to be asked to play a piece (of my own choice) at friends' wedding, the ceremony taking place in the cathedral in Lund in southern Sweden. Considering the reverberation time, I played an Irish slow air, Bhean Dubh an Gleanna (The Dark Woman of the Glen). A mighty, mighty experience, also demonstrating the value of doing one's home work: I find airs very difficult to learn and had spent two weeks getting it right; that paid off. /Henrik