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Tom Hall

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    Stolen Concertina

    in General Concertina Discussion

    Posted

    In a very good news update from Mudcat:

     

    Best of all news - Alan has just heard from Hobgoblin in Birmingham that they have held his concertina from someone wanting to sell it.

     

    There will be some formalities no doubt; it's currently in the police station.

     

    So thanks all who passed around the info.

    Folk Songs And Folk Song Roots

    in General Concertina Discussion

    Posted · Edited by Tom Hall

    Forebitters, being the most travelled traditional songs, tend to have far more variants. Thus not all Dreadnaughts are the same. One of the three cited by Hugill has the "Derry Down" refrain.

     

    The "Flash Frigate," (the "Fancy Frigate" in Palmer) is essentially the same as

    "La Pique." This last song was included in the MacColl-Seeger collection, "The Singing Island" and also contains the "Derry Down" refrain.

     

    "La Pique" was a "blood ship," and in one version, like Valdemort, is unnamed. Lloyd dates this song to about 1838. The "Dreadnaught" was not built until 1853, thus making "The Flash Frigate" the basis for "The Dreadnaught."

     

    Some versions have a refrain of "She's a Liverpool packet, oh Lord, let her go."

    Folk Songs And Folk Song Roots

    in General Concertina Discussion

    Posted

    This tune can be traced to the song, "King John and the Abbot of Canterbury" and dates to no later than 1729. Chappel maintains that it was current in the reign of Charles II, and the story line goes back to the 15th century. However, he does not trace the tune back, but it does smack of older times.

     

    I am very curious as to the "May song" mentioned. I have a few May songs in my repertoire, and more in my library, but none, to my knowledge, to that tune. Can you get the words?

     

    BTW, May Day in Britain is the coming of Summer. The seasons there are a bit different than those in the US. Thus, what to Americans is the Summer Solstice (first day of summer) is Midsummer; the Winter Solstice here is the first day of Winter, but on the continent, it is Midwinter. Same for the Equinoxes -- Tom

    Concertina Player/folksinger Bob Zentz Coming To N

    in General Concertina Discussion

    Posted

    Bob Zentz in Concert

    Sunday, March 20, 2005 at 2 p.m.

    Upstairs at The Press Room

    71 Daniel Street, Portsmouth, NH

    -- A Smoke-Free Event --

     

    Bob Zentz, noted American folksinger and multi-instrumentalist, will be performing upstairs at the Press Room, 71 Daniel Street, Portsmouth, NH on Sunday afternoon, March 20, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. This will be a smoke-free event, with a modest $10.00 admission. Recordings will be available as well as the best potables for the thirsty. Bob's website is -- www. BobZentz.com.

     

    Join us for an afternoon of Sailor Songs -- from the Age of Sail to the Age of Sonar. Bob Zentz is a traveling performer, teacher, multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, songwriter, and nautical folklorist from Norfolk, Virginia. Performing on banjo, melodeon, concertina, guitar, harmonica, jew's harp and cittern, his repertoire includes original, contemporary and traditional songs and tunes of the folk who work on and near the water.

     

    A Bob Zentz concert is a smorgasbord of contemporary, traditional and original songs, tunes and chat, linked by the artist's philosophic perspective, thematic-logic and a strong sense of history, humanity and humor. In performance, the audience becomes involved, creating a spirit of community through shared choruses and related ideas.

    From traditional Celtic tunes and ballads to science fiction songs, sea songs and chanteys; from tales of "old timers and old rhymers" to poetry [set to music], each show is a unique testimony to Bob's vast repertoire and varied personal interests. Bob Zentz is, a singer of songs, old and new, about people, places and times gone by, as well as a player on dozens of the usual, and unusual unplugged folk instruments. He is a collector of stories in verse, a teller of the tales behind the songs, a commentator on the ecology of the human spirit and a scholar of the evolution of "home-made music." And, sure! Bob Zentz sings some songs he writes...but, that's just because he couldn't find 'em anywhere else!

     

    Among other feats, Bob also entertained a school of dolphins with his concertina. I will post the thread from Mudcat as soon as I can track it down.

     

    Hope to see some of you at the show -- Tom

    In Massachusetts March 7-12

    in General Concertina Discussion

    Posted

    I had not read the other responses beforw my last post.

     

    Allison, our Daff O'Dills here are from Ireland.

     

    Ever since the inauguration of 2001, the weather has gone berserk; nature abhors a vacuum. January thaw in February? January weather in March, less than two weeks before Sprng? No mud season for the past three years? Real Spring used to be a long weekend in early May; we haven't even had that for the past five years!

     

    Great grump -- Tom

    In Massachusetts March 7-12

    in General Concertina Discussion

    Posted

    Fear not! I will be there. BTW, Ken et al., the Press Room does not open until 4:00. I'll be getting there before 4:30 when the session begins to take shape.

     

    The current forecast calls for snow starting around 8:00. There are two scenarios; one for nuisance snow on Saturday and another for a foot or more. Since most of my firewood is buried under the last pile of white shit, I am most earnestly hoping for the former plan -- Tom

    In Massachusetts March 7-12

    in General Concertina Discussion

    Posted

    Looking forward to seeing you, Ken; its been too long. Any other takers? Allison?

     

    On another note, button acordion/concertina player/ multi instrumentalist/ singer Bob Zentz will be doing a special performance at the Press Room on Sunday aftrenoon, March 20th at 2:00 PM. I'll post a separate thread later -- Tom

    English Buyer's Guide Posted

    in Concertina.net Official Business

    Posted

    Well done, Ken !

     

    Right off, I can't think of anything to add, but as I have more time, I will send some commentaries, mainly about my own personal quest and resaons for same.

     

    Now, when I am askd about taking up the English, I will have a site to send folks to. Your erudition wil save me a lot of expaining time.

     

    BTW, that Lachenal New Model looks awfully familiar -- Tom

    Concertinas At Nh Maritime Festival

    in General Concertina Discussion

    Posted

    Thursday, 23 September marks the beginning of the Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival.

    Although not as concertina heavy as in previous years, we will have Jeff Warner on English, Bob Webb on Duet, John Roberts on anything he likes, Chris Stevens on Anglo and button accordion, and yrs truly on English. We hope to have other box players in attendance, especially at the singarounds. For more information, check out the website:

     

    http://home.earthlink.net/~pcontrastano/fo.../pmff_index.htm

     

    Hope some of you can make it - Tom

    Milwaukee Concertina Bar

    in General Concertina Discussion

    Posted

    It must be about 10 years or more since I was in the Concertina Bar. My wife is from Milwaukee and while there to visiet her family, we decided to stop by.

     

    Thursday was open mike night, so we stopped by in the afternoon for a beer and to sign up. This is a classic neighborhood corner bar. Art has every imaginable bar toy, concertina based and otherwise. At the bottom of the snack menu was "Turkey Gizzards." I did not pursue this. Another sign said, "If you wife calls and you're not here, you tell her."

     

    When we arrived that evening, Art had advised the regulars about the "strange concertina" that was going to be domonstrated. The man with the number two spot insisted that I take his slot. So fascinated was he that I feared his nose might get caught in my bellows.

     

    It was a great time. We wwere not allowed to pay for our drinks. Linn was pulled onto the dance floor for her first polka in thirty years: I found myself in the parking lot listening to a new tape of a local Polish band. And they all seemed to enjoy my offerings of O Carolan tunes and traditional forebitters.

     

    No matter what kind of music you play on whatever kind of squeezebox, you will be heartily welcomed there. Say "Hello to Art for Tom and Linn.

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