Irene S.

which had been included in the video too... No,in fact it's a different but similar one. I think quite a few of us took shots of that, thanks to the slightly humorous sight of 6'4" Ralph playing such a tiny instrument. But at the same time he pronounced it to be LOUD!!

Thanks for that Mike - I often wondered whose concertina that was. I have one or two of my own photographs of that moment or two.

Thanks for that Geoff - that was Fingers Galore, I take it? There were some photos in those which Bart had used that I had never seen before (although some of them were ones that I had taken - a mixture of the familiar and unfamiliar) - a nice mix..In my case I actually have a video of Ralphie playing concertina on the first day that we met personally, as he was playing out the Bismarcks at the last gig they played in 2006. At that point I had no idea that we would end up working together ... or indeed that I would be talked into taking up the Maccann duet by him.

Thanks Geoff. I very much agree - Bart made a good job of it.

I thought it might be appropriate to share here a video which was posted up yesterday by Bart de Cock, Belgian musician and friend of Ralph Jordan. Ralph died a year ago today, and this video is a tribute to him from Bart - it contains snippets of Ralph's playing, including a live performance by the Fraser Sisters (a band that he was a member of ) of his only composition ,entitled "Fairlop" or alternatively "Ralph's tune". The other tracks have been taken from his only solo CD "Eloise". http://youtu.be/XwRRxrYFJDQ

The link to the Mudcat thread is in the first post. My information came from thence.

Happily there is now a report on Mudcat that the concertina in question has been handed into the Gardai and is unharmed.

No takers at that price,relisted at the same price on 18 December at the same lower price and still no takers.

How do Ollie ...welcome to the Dark Side! Would that the Dark Sith Lord himself (Ralphie Jordan) were still with us. He would be rhapsodising about the introduction of another nutter to the world of the Maccann. World domination shall in the course of time be ours.

Oh dear...the way they were singing it at the Revels sounds quite funereal. When sung by the Rusper mummers each year it's usually quite a bit faster.

Which bands are you referring to Al? Looks like concertina bands, but I think the OP was actually asking about the reason for the supplanting of brass bands by tina bands. Did that really take place? After all, brass bands, as we know, are still very much with us, so I am not quite sure

Just to stick my pennorth in, lovely though it sounds, the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance tune (Wheelwright Robinson?) feels too slow to my ears.It's usually played at a more sprightly pace, as both of the videos of the dance in action (with fiddle playing) show. The slow pace makes it into a rather more sombre tune than usual. (One of these days I hope to see the horn dancers in the normal habitat - I've only seen them once, and that was out of context at a dance special at Sidmouth International Folk festival over 10 years ago). Having said which,as was said, you play what feels right for you !

Nice one Jim - made me grin. But I sincerely hope the snow gods are not listening!!

Thanks for your comments about that recording Jim. I should have added that the recording was also made by Ralph, who is much missed. His day job was that of sound engineer and studio manager with BBC radio for over 30 years. He played Maccann for over 35 years and was a very talented and sensitive accompanist and player. He was also very good at promoting the Maccann (I wonder how I ended up borrowing his second string box and buying one of my own, although it has been somewhat neglected of late).

Having tracked down the rehearsal recording that I was looking for herewith "The Moon Shines Bright" - Maccann duet accompaniment by Ralph Jordan, vocals by me. The song was collected by Lucy Broadwood from "the Goby men" (sadly, no names noted down) near Lyne House in Surrey in the late 1800s. The Gobys were travellers who were well known in the Dorking and Horsham areas of Surrey and Sussex. The carol itself has been collected in various different versions around England, mostly in the format of a May Day carol, but this version is definitely a "New Year" carol. It is often known as the Bellman's Carol. I wanted to post this as an example of Ralph's accompaniment, always very rewarding to sing against. https://soundcloud.com/surreysinger/the-moon-shines-bright

Very nice, Al. I don't know that one; I do know the Sussex Mummer's Carol, which is a beautiful seasonal choral piece that traditionally closes out the Christmas Revels shows in the US. Agreed - nice playing Al. :-) Jim - having found a video of the Christmas Revels performance, I can happily report that Al would know that one, as it was collected by Lucy Broadwood from the Rusper mummers in Sussex in the late 1800's, and is still sung by the Broadwood Morris dancers when they perform their Mummers Play on Boxing Day in Rusper every year. Herewith a link to the notes for two Sussex mummers'carols collected by Ms Broadwood http://www.sussexarch.org.uk/saaf/mumcarol.html At the moment I am hunting for a recording I have of a rehearsal of "The Moon Shines Bright", another carol collected by Ms Broadwood, on which Ralphie Jordan is playing concertina accompaniment to my singing, It fits the theme ... and in my eyes and ears it is always worth hearing what he was capable of on the Maccann duet. I can't see anything in the rules which says that the recording has to be now and current ... I hope!

Geoff - it is indeed the Eric recording on Anglo International, and Ralphie playing it on the Maccann duet. And I am happy to buy Duet International when and where it comes out, despite the fact that I already have English International and Anglo International already. Roll on the day when it becomes a full set.

Eh? That's a rather puzzling comment , the meaning of which escapes me - a bit like saying that a book is a book?Christina Rossetti's poem was written in the 1870s, but not published until 1904. Holst's setting of the poem was the first one in 1906, but Harold Darke's arrangement of 1911 was actually voted Best Christmas carol by an international group of choirmasters and choral specialists in 2008. There are quite a few other settings of the poem, including one by Benjamin Britten and another by Bob Chilcott. All of which is quite off topic .... sorry!

Re Bourree d'Aurore Sand, for those of us who don't get on with ABC notation and want the notes without cutting pasting etc, herewith a link to the notation http://archive.folx.org/tune/bourree-2-temps/bourree-aurore-sand-934 Nice to see a classical piece. Shame that it's the "wrong" version of In the Bleak Midwinter. I've always been a devotee of the Harold Darke arrangement, and find the Holst one far too syrupy. All a matter of taste, I suppose

Certainly the entry in the Yellow Pages for Aeolian Restorations leads via link to the page for Aeolian Pianos of Galashiels - established 50 years ago. Google Aeolian Restorations and 1897, and you end up with a page devoted to the Aeolian Company. 1897 was a significant year in its history, and it owned and ran Vocalian Records .... but the company was based in the states and went into bankruptcy in the late 1950s.Mysterious.

As I recall Dirge actually bought a Maccann duet which had a couple of novelty buttons on it a couple of years ago.

Yes indeed Irene.... sold to a young man who is studying music at a conservatoire in Paris and has been playing Duet for a year or so.. I think he will do well with this fine instrument.

Huzzah. Glad to hear that the beast is staying intact.

I'm afraid so Al.He was playing on the track, but not the concertina in question. :-(