Peter Brook

Think I got my copy from Hobgoblin in Crawley or maybe from a John Kirkpatrick gig? I have seen John with a few copies at gigs. I found a link to Dick Miles site at here http://www.dickmiles.com/myshop.htm

I also play a Norman like stuart and tried a Morse about three years ago. Personally, it was too light for me. I wondered what is made of to be so light. It sounded nicely and played well though. I've played a couple of traditional concertinas, namely wheatstone (40 key) and crabb (38 key), and I found them to be more similar in terms of weight, action and feel to my Norman than to the Morse. In my opinion the Norman/Morse are closer to a traditional concertina, as compared to the difference beteen a Stagi and Norman/Morse. The gap between the most expensive Stagi to the cheapest of the Hybrids I have tried is huge. The point made earlier about being close to a manufacturer appealed to me, being able to go to the workshop and see the concertina being built was special. It is a complex decision and not an easy choice but I think you should go on tone, weight, action, cost and ease of access to repair (that might be you if you are confident). The order of those factors for me may of course be different to the order for you. Edited to try and correct my english! Ah well!

"Concertinaists "Will" play, when sometimes it's "Kimber" to be silent. This can be a real "Tester" and listeners may "Scan" their options.

Melodeons in the duck pond, Concertina players' delight? Reminds me of a nonsense thing my wife and I say to each other that has about as much weight as most of these proverbs: "red sky at night: shepherd's pie. red sky in't morning: angel delight" It's a particulary useful phrase after you just been given "advice" that you didn't seek and has little relevance to your situation

Ayup Steve, Welcome to CNet, I am a fellow double agent and we have met in *real* life at Melodeons@Witney the last two years and I have thoroughly enjoyed the Sheffield "Melodeonista" meals you have organised both times. It's nice and busy in here even if I don't post regularly I always check in - there is always something happening all the best, Peter

You mean the sword dancers? From Sheffield? If so you must know Pat Malham?!

I think they (the new organisers) are having a few teething problems which is a shame and no consolation to you if you want information and you are trying to plan. For the first time in about 25 years my parents didn't recieve a christmas newsletter/artist update from the festival - this is a big deal for my parents as they are not computer or internet savvy. I've also heard from a friend who is a regular artist that he has not been contacted yet about his availability - and he has been each year for the past 15 - he thinks that they may have budget/venue issues this year. It has been getting harder for Whitby festival to keep venues, they keep getting knocked down and turned into holiday flats/accomodation. Maybe it's a transtion year, maybe these issues will be sorted in a few weeks?

I had the pleasure of seeing Last Night's Fun again on Saturday night in Hailsham. Although our tickets said "row E" it was bizarrely the second row and the chair in front of me also happened to be free which gave me a fantasic opportunity to watch Chris's fingers (well left hand mainly as he is very static when playing). In my opinion, Chris must be one of the finest players of anglo in the irish style, certainly in england. As has been discussed previously he only has four fold belows but the air control, particularly playing long chords and intricate runs was literally amazing. He hardly seemed to move the bellows but the concertina could be heard clearly in the mix. I spoke to Chris afterward and he said that he tries to play irish music gently and calmly focussing on the phrasing rather than the speed. He said that as a band they are always trying to slow it down so it doesn't become mushy and confused. This gives his playing (and the band's for that matter) a wonderful clarity whether he is playing slow airs, jigs, reels or accompanying a song. But I don't want you to get the impression that the music sounds slow - it really rips along at times - but the variety of material they get into the set is really satisfying. He is also very economic with his hand movements, the majority of the time he was playing on the G row (left hand) and triping up to the C row and accidental row when needed. But he still gets the trills, rolls and grace notes in that you expect in the irish style. If you get the opportunity to see Last Night's Fun go for it. They are simply wonderful. For those who won't have the opportunity to see them here is a link to their "myspace" bit which lets you hear three live tracks. http://www.myspace.com/lastnightsfun

I'm sorry to hear that he has been unwell, but pleased he is up to cornflakes. Please pass on my best wishes to Will. I have met him a handful of times and he very generously offered to teach me a few tunes down in Lewes - *life* gets in the way unfortunately. I'll send him an email myself as well and hope/pray he makes a very speedy recovery.

If the campsite is in the same place as the last few years it is at a school about 15* minutes walk from the main evening venues**. The site is fairy flat with hard standing (a school playground) and an area of grass. There have been fairly good temporary loos and showers in place as well. I am pretty sure that camping is limited to week season ticket holders though. *This time is subject to variation in relation to the amount of alcohol consumed........ **Venues change each year but I am thinking about the rugby club, football club, spa ballroom, metropole ballroom etc.

As a very keen follower of ocean racing I think that people were caught out because it was so early in the race and the forecast was so very wrong. I believe that everyone - RKJ included - will give the Southern Ocean a lot more respect than the North Atlantic and be much more cautious.

From John's Website http://www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk/news.asp 29 Sep 2006: Concertina in TV ads shock! There are a few adverts on the telly at the moment featuring a young girl playing a concertina. The ads are for Phones4µ, and the fabulous soundtrack - almost seconds of it - is played by yours truly. So far I've seen two with snatches of "Auld Lang Syne" and "The Somerset Wassail ". More to come.............

Sorry, I guess I am a stick in the mud! But go for it. Your reasons are all valid. i totally appreciated the weight issue and the speed of response. I heard the franglo at close quarters last year and it wasn't for me. I guess I am weird but I think Castagnari Lillys are cheating by only having one reed! anyway I hope you get lots of constructive feedback.

I just call it "octave playing" or "playing in octaves". It is great practice. I try to play scales in octaves in keys other than C/G (Amaj, Fmaj, Dmaj, Dmin, Amin, Emin) and for G I do scales in different fingering combinations using the C row or Accidental row for example to pull the G's. As others have alluded to it is a great way to explore the Anglo and helps in finding all the notes so you can then build chords. Scan Tester played octaves all the time but it means that some tunes get slightly altered. For example if the tune was going to go above top C say, he would just move the whole tune down an octave for that part of the tune and then move it back when the tune moved down. He mainly played this way for volume (as I understand it) for leading country dance evenings and when playing on Brighton Sea Front. The book by Reg Hall "i never played to many posh dances" is great and he talks about Scan playing Trumpet, Violin, Melodeon and Bandoneon as well. Will Duke plays in a style reminiscent of Scan Tester (on one of Scan's concertinas) but I think he is a better player and adds a lot more "decoration" to the music. I've never managed to get a CD from him but I've played with him 3 or 4 times and he great to listen to if you ever get the chance! What is also interesting is that Scan lived his entire life in rural sussex but his repertoire of tunes includes many so called irish and scottish tunes.

As a melodeon (english term for button accordion) player as well as an anglo concertina player I'm not sure why you don't just buy a 3 row melodeon tuned to GDA with 12 bases - or am I missing the whole point?

many thanks to everyone for the information. i'll post a picture following my next visit

Just where was the Crabbs shop? Which road and which number? I go to Angel at least once per week and fancy a little expedition. It's probably a kebab shop or taxi base now but I'd still like to find it.

I'll say it again.... with perhaps a are you all there now? of course if I am wrong i'll be and eating humble pie

For what it is worth - and taking into account what has been said above - I have a wish list of ultimate concertinas! I would love a 40 key Crabb in C/G 7 fold bellows I would lust both a 38 key C/G and G/D Jeffries For now the price is irrelevant as I don't have enough money to buy another concertina even a Stagi Having said that I am very happy with my Norman and for the price I think it is an exceptional instrument. I "think" the ultimate concertina is a 38 key Jeffries and of the vintage concertinas I have heard (and played) that would be my choice. I "believe" the current market value would be slightly north of £4000 GBP

John Kirkpatrick (simply down as teaching 'concertina'). That will be "English style" dance music or morris on 40 key c/g crabb anglo I would imagine [melody on right, chords on left], although I have been to a workshop where he looks at all the chords and keys that are possible on a 30 key C/G, and another one where he teaches how to play fast tunes well. wish I could go - have fun

Hi Ann, He's having a good innings, as he was Director when I went for a few days, back in 1988. For anyone who's not been before, Whitby is a great place, but not exactly flat! Carrying a couple of instruments for a few days certainly gets you fit. For session players, my impression was of a higher standard of musicianship than at Sidmouth (may have changed over the years). I must pop back one year. I dropped in for a few hours in 1995, when camping at Goathland (great place) for a few days. An interesting cycle ride; hilly going, hillier coming back! Regards, Peter. Malcolm has been saying "this will be my last year of organising" for a long time, although he did seem more definite this time! PeterT there are some fantastic roads around there but they can be busy (now a days). I cycled the coast road from Scarborough to Whitby about 20 years ago which was like being on a rollercoaster with my legs providing the only motive force up the hills! My cycling hero was Malcolm Elliot (from Sheffield) but he did not have length of career (or leg!) that Sean Yates had/s.

For anyone buying cross-border in the European Union (as an EU citizen) the Euroconsumer site gives excellent consumer advice. There is a specific section on buying from internet auction sites.

What would also be useful is to add some "standard times" for different manufacturing operations. The number of parts is important but the real expensive factor (which of course you know) is the time of the person hand building the instrument. By "standard times" I mean the average time at which most people could complete the operation repetitively without tiring.

Nobody should blame another for not being aware of some element of Netiquette, and nobody can stop another continually breaching such an element - however, as in any community, somebody that continually ignores the generally accepted rules for behaviour is likely to be considered no longer a part of the said community. - W Woody - I agree entirely with your post in particular this quote. Peter