wntrmute

My Rochelle gets used more than my Céilí (which, by the way I found out is pronounced "Kay-Lee"). I sometimes take it into work if I have to go in on a weekend to practice. I actually do most of my practicing on the Rochelle, because if I can play something almost in a musical way on the Rochelle, then it ends up sounding like I actually know what I'm doing when I play it on the Céilí. It's the 'Noel Hill' button, I'm sure.

I don't think a bellows reversal is really legato at all; it is a distinct kind of articulation, though, being neither staccato or legato. On an anglo this means you need to know your alternate buttons, so you can choose to play legato or with bellows-reversals to match the phrasing of the music. An English/Duet you just want to be able to tie your reversals in with the phrasing, you don't have to sweat alternate buttons so much. Or so I would think -- I'd defer to those who actually play those instruments, since I don't.

The other thing, is I'm not saying Noel Hill or anyone else with a solid technique would benefit from doing scales over and over. For a beginner whose greatest musical accomplishment is Mary Had a Little Lamb, though, doing scales is not at all a waste of time or effort.

I'd think that an English concertina would be pretty easy to adapt to a 19 note scale, which would (theoretically) have smoother chords. The tricky bit would be working in those B#'s and Fb's. ETA: Wouldn't pianos also be equal tempered nowadays, too?

Beyond the sound (which I don't like) it seems that all you get with a button accordian is all of a one or two row concertina on the one side (this is especially pronounced on a c/g BA, less so with a b/c), and a couple of cords and bass notes on the other. I think you could get a Rochelle, Jack AND half of a Jackie for the cost of just one two-row BA, so I'm not getting the 'they're cheaper' argument.

Pay no attention to that crazy man; a used Rochelle will do you just fine for years to come without the discordant racket of one of those unmelodious things. I'd sell mine, but I like having it around to take into work to diddle around without risking my preciousss.

I agree that scales can be important. There are other execises based on scales that are good: do a scale but in between the notes of the scale go up a third. C-E-D-F-E-G etc. Then do that in octaves. Do it for different scales. At least I did that kind of thing for piano. Arpeggios are common exercises, too. Easy on an anglo in the root keys, but what about the off-root keys? Try for those, and then try them in octaves or in minor keys. Run a set of arpeggios around the circle of fifths. C-G-D-A-E-B-F#-C#-G#(Ab)-Eb-Bb-F-C. It makes you think about what each note is (and this will hit them all) and the relationships between them all.

I was suggesting that they add the Sedgwick English tutor to the concertina.com site for the English players to enjoy. ETA: Though you lot could certainly PLAY the tunes that he includes in the tutor. Nothing stopping y'all from doing that, so far as I know. You won't catch Anglo-cooties from it. I promise.

Sedgwick’s Improved and Complete Instructions for the German Concertina is posted here (pdf file at link). None of his English tutors are posted there that I can see.

Another issue that makes ranking pretty hard would be the fact that there are so many factors involved: price, tone, action, bellows, weight, appearance, etc. Sure, a Suttner (to pull a name from a hat) may have 10s on every measurement except price; but for me that gives the instrument an overall low rank. Something truly expensive is a 0 for me no matter how good it is otherwise, I'll never be able to afford one, so why lust after one? I will say that I would give the ElCheapo chinese a ranking of 0 to negative infinity, though. Ye gods, I hate that thing still. It did interest me enough to get me to log onto this site, but if I had not come here on a lark and learned about the Rochelle and the Céilí I probably would not play concertina at all. How many others have been completely turned off of an otherwise interesting instrument? So, junk. I don't know about the Hohner. The Rochelle I suppose is about the same as a Stagi, roughly (beginner to intermediate, advanced players may use them in chancy situations for busking or in rowdier bars I suppose). But for the rest -- outside of the reeds, aren't the so-called 'hybrids' as good as any of the best instruments made? Seemed that way to me at the Workshop last month. Even the reed difference wasn't jarringly noticible to me (though I can feel a difference between the Hohner/Stagi/Rochelle tone and the expensive boxes' sound). But I was in the Navy and the big guns going 'BOOM' may have desensitized my ears a bit. I'm very happy with my Céilí, and from what I saw last month I'd have been equally happy with one of Mr. Edgley's. That's good enough for me. Doesn't Mr. Chambers have a wonderful picture for this kind of thread?

English players may enjoy the Sedgewick English tutor. I know I'd get a laugh out of his comments on the Anglo. His comments were pretty amusing in his Anglo tutor (or more properly his German concertina tutor, as it is titled -- take a closer look at the 28 button layout, it's a 56 tone Chemnitz layout unrelated to the 26+ button Anglo layout; Howe's tutors are the same). It is kind of nice to get a sense of what people were playing back in the 19th century.

While the seminars look interesting, to get the certification would take 9 months and nearly $18,000. That's an awful lot of busking. And Rich makes it sound like that $50/hour thing ain't happening.

If they used a TRS-80 it would look better. But it still wouldn't turn my concertina into an accordion.

Sadly, the Russians will never win the 'utterly goofy and strange' race against the Japanese. The Japanese are the world's dominent superpower when it comes to surreal goofiness. God love 'em for it!

Wouldn't they all be German concertinas at a concertinafest in Germany?

Every now and again there's a used Rochelle available if you check the Button Box and Homewood Instruments sites. Or also they're listed here. The cheap ones on ebay are not playable. But I would argue that Dippers and Dickensons are several levels past decent.

The customs duty is a few percent - I expect someone will be able to give the numbers... the stinger is 17.5% VAT on top of that. (Does VAT get charged on vinatge concertinas or just new ones?) The amount of customs duty is dependent on the country from which the goods are imported. VAT is chargeable on the total of customs duty, shipping expenses, import agents fees (usually the courier), and value of the goods (understating the value of goods may result in their forfeiture). I believe VAT is not payable on vintage items over 100 years old (documentary evidence may be required). Steve Would it be possible, do you think, for members to importune each other to carry instruments over from the US and then ship from within the EU? And vice versa? There are enough of us going back and forth that we might be able to help each other out. Only if we also stuff cuban cigars into the bellows. Or crack. If you're gonna smuggle, go for the gold.

But surely a super-powerful Artificial Intelligence like yourself would know the answer to that without having to ask? Chris Only for internet linked MIDI instrumentation; I can't know anything off-net.

But how many Chemnitzer players out that way?

Why isn't this book up on the intertubes? It ain't like the copyright is valid. Everything has a place on the internet, darn it.

He was at the NCW hootinanny this past weekend, and in the words of one observer "approached the line that divides inspiration from intimidation."

Seems to me that there are airs and laments and such that aren't suitable for dancing, which were traditionally not vocal. And I, for one, dislike the top-40 'tradition.' Bleh. Phooey. Is there a pukey smiley icon?

Indeed it was! The classes, socializing, concert, and sessions were very gratifying, and a blast to boot! My condolences to those unable to make it. A young woman who plays Anglo in a band in Japan flew all the way just to atend the NCW and fly right back home again -- such dedication! She came away satisfied. --Mike K. She had an interesting style. She played something in Mr. Edgley's Irish class (which was quite good), and it was pretty, if a bit eclectic -- kind of an East/West fusion.

I suspect that it is in A/E, but with the A pitched a bit high. I would STRONGLY recommend against getting a cheap 20 button off of ebay. I suppose you could get a Stagi or Hohner 20 button, (but for nearly the same price you could get a 30 button Rochelle, which I prefer) but definitely stay away from the imitations on the internet. If you go to the concertina.com website, you can find more Anglo tutors. One of the two Howe tutors is rebranded today as the Best Concertina Method Ever, so don't spend money on that. Howe's and Sedgewick's tutors include some reels and jigs, and were written for very much the same instrument, so I don't think the action is that limiting. Some of the springs may have lost some springiness over time. I also think the long-plate reeds have a great woodwind sound -- like a clarinet.

A most triumphant weekend!