Gusten

Thanks Leo, that's brilliant! And thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences, it's really helpful.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences! And you bring a good point Michael, my Rochelle would sound like nothing I can produce in the hands of a really skilled player. That's why I'm not in a real rush to buy something (though I do eager to upgrade). I do, however, want to learn what preasure and attack to use one a good instrument, instead of on one that is hard to play. That's the reason I'm looking for a hybrid. And then Jim comes along and repeats what echoes in my head, that producing the "perfect sound" might be worth some trade offs. Since I live in Sweden, there are not much instruments around to try out. I do occasionally meet people who play anglo, I'll have to really bug them about trying out their instruments. The only retailer I've found here only dealt with the very low-end Stagis, so I have to do most of my research on internet, and all your thougths are very helpful.

Tombilly, you're glad you made that choice, going with a vintage model? The flaws are made up for with the sound, playability, and as you point out - history? Having such an old instrument appeals me too, but I'm trying not get let that affect me when looking for an upgrade here. Ain't always easy, when looking at hundred years old concertinas that have history written in every little cosmetic "flaw" it might have.

Thanks Bill, for sharing your story! I'm glad it worked out for you! You bring up some issues that I really have experienced with the Rochelle too. Just one reply, and I'm already leaning towards one of the newer models. (I've heard great things about them all, so I sort of generalize them all as just good hybrids. Only exception would be the sherwood, which I can't find much information about.)

Hi, I'm shopping for an upgrade to my Rochelle. I've come across some really tempting offers, both vintage Jones, Lachenal type instruments, and new "hybrid" types (or whatever you call them). I can't make up my mind though, as I have two wishes that I don't think I'll be able to meet within my budget. I'll try and explain them below... The main reason I'm looking for an upgrade to the Rochelle is that it's started to limit my learning progress. Here, I feel that one of the new brands (Morse, Tedrow, Edgley, Sherwood (I wonder how playability on this one compares to the other similiar ones), etc.) is the choice for me. I'm more likely to get more "playability" out of these ones, than a vintage instrument in the same price range. I realize that I'll be looking at the lower end of the vintage instruments, if I'm looking for a used hybrid (or a new Sherwood). I really love, though, the sound of the old vintage ones, the steel reeds. I'm worried that I'll be glaring jealously at all other players I come across who use vintage instruments and produce that lovely sound. I'm fairly certain that I will not be able to find a vintage instrument within my price range that sounds "right", and still offers the same action, belows and reed response of the newer hybrids. I'm not really hoping to find the answer here, I just had to express my indecisiveness. I'm thinking that, as I'm still a young novice, should opt for the instrument that benefits my own progress the most, and then upgrade to something that sounds "right" to me when I can play the sh*t out of it. Or, am I thinking that I should opt for something that sounds right to me, which is still an upgrade to the Rochelle, and gradually upgrade in terms of playability to more and more expensive instruments that all sound "right" but gradually offer more playability? Any of you guys ever found yourselves at this same cross-row? What path did you go, and did you ever regret it? (I recall reading a similiar thred a while back, but couldn't locate it...)

I'm in the same boat as you. I've had my Rochelle for... should be three months now, and I'm out-growing it. It's a wonderful instrument, and I'm going to keep it for wild nights where I won't want to risk a more expensive instrument. It feels like time to move on, and I'm not yet prepared to pay upwards $3,000 for one. Any advice on what to get around the $1,200 price range? And preferably an instrument that is actually better than the Rochelle, not just a more fancy name. Thankful for all advice! Best regards Gusten

Ahh, interesting observations Henrik! I'll get to work on sending out some recordings and sheet music to the people around me, so I can get my first "Session for dummies" started within a few weeks. Could be a fun thing for everyone to do over the upcomming holidays! I'll definately see you sunday! I've scheduled dinner with the old folks early, in order to make it. I'll bring my Rochelle - not for playing, but just for showing anyone who'd be interested in giving it a squeeze.

I have, to my surprise, started to move from the strategy of putting together the most statistically common sets out there, to putting together my own sets of the most familiar tunes. I have to agree with Lawrence, that the uniqueness is part of the charm. If more seasoned sessioners visit our "newbie sessions", then they will know in advance that things will go somewhat slower than they're probably used to, that we have no old tradition ourselves to start from, and that (most of us) don't have a large repertoire to work with. And, better yet, if my guys know the most common tunes rather than sets, they'll be more likely to jump in every now and then when joining a session elsewhere. It does sound more fun to play a single tune in every set, than play a complete set out of every 2-4 sets. Thanks for the input guys, I think I'll take a different approach to this. I will save the list for my own purpose though, as I have more time on my hands (and ambition) than the rest of the folks I play with to learn more tunes. I'm in no way very skilled, but I have too much spare time

Small question: is this list with an Anglo or with an EC? I'm just beginning (EC), but I find a lot of session tunes quite difficult to play on EC... The list is of tunes in general. I myself am a novice on Anglo, but I'm getting the hang of most songs I know from before. My main concern is making it sound more "irish", but... No, my main concern is getting my friends a decent repertoire to begin with, hence the list

Sorry guys, I realize I sound rather lazy asking for this. After much searching on thesession.org, I've compiled a list of what seems to be commonly played sets. Let's start this discussion off with that, and maybe you can verify or sort out what seems to be common or not. Tarbolton/Longford Collector/Sailor's Bonnet Tulla/Skylark/Roaring Mary Lord McDonalds/Ballinasloe Fair or O'Rourkes/Irish Girl the two Copperplates the Bothy Band's Salamanca/Banshee/Sailor's O'Rourke's/the Wild Irishman The Teetotaller/The Scholar/The Traveller Haste to the Wedding/Tripping up Stairs Boys of Bluehill/Harvest home Speed the Plough/Shaskeen/Congress Cuckoo's Nest/Home Ruler Tone Rowe's/Rambling Pitchfork/The Black Rogue Rose in the Heather/Caliope House/Going to the Well Down the Broom/ The Gatehouse Maid The Humours of Tullycrine/ Mickey Callaghan's Rolling in the Barrell/ The Tap Room/ The Earl's Chair Lady Anne Montgommery/ Maude Miller/ Molloy's Taim in Arrears/ Hardiman the Fiddlers The Old Time Wedding Reel x 3 King George IV/ The Old King's Reel/ The King's Reel John Stenson's #s 1 & 2 Dinny O'Brien's/Farewell to Connaught The Blackberry Blossom/Dick Gossip's Doonagore/Road to Monalea/McGovern's John Carty's/Feeding the Birds/Bunker Hill Brosna/Mick Duggan's/Denis Murphy's Dickie Sherlock's/The Mountain Top/Last Night's Fun Humours of Tulla/The Bucks of Oranmore/Jolly Tinker Faroe Rum/Aandowin at da Bow/Forfeit o da Ship Fermoy Lasses / Dunmore Lasses / Limerick Lasses Jer The Rigger/John Ryan/Dennis Murphy Over The Waterfall/March of Saint Timothy The Tarbolton /The Longford Collector/The Sailor's Bonnet Thank you!

I’m fairly new to the Irish Traditional Music scene, and even more so my friends that I’ve inspired to join me in this wonderful journey. There’s great interest in the music in my surroundings, but not much knowledge. I’ve started joining sessions, and the enjoyment grows for every time! To quicken the development of my friends, I’ve decided to try and pull off some beginner’s sessions for me, my friends, and others who want to get a taste of it. We’ll play at a moderate tempo, and mainly play songs that were decided in advance. To do this, I’m going to compile a list of the most commonly played tunes, grouped in the most commonly played sets. This is where I need help. What tunes are the most commonly played at your sessions? I’ve found this question asked on a wide range of forums, so I’ve got a general idea there. In order for me to lead the session though, I’m curious of what set of tunes you fellows normally play? I understand that this various a lot from player to player, time to time, and place to place, I just want to get a general idea. I’m very thankful for all and any information on this matter! If you find my method to be bad, or hindering the development of a good “ear” for ITM, then I’d prefer to discuss that in private messages in order to keep this on track. I want to play ITM with my friends. My friends want to play ITM with me. My friends need some help on the road in order to play it, and I’ve got the time to write sheet music and make simple recordings for them. (And I’ve already gathered a whole bunch of recordings for them, for inspiration on how ITM is “supposed” to sound, and how every instrument is normally played to sound more “Irish”.) So, I might get a bit defensive if my method is criticized in this post, but I’m more than happy to discuss it in private messages. If you have any inputs on that, I’m all ears to ideas! Thanks you very much for you time! Best regards Gusten, Sweden

...lies in this instrument. I received my very first concerina this tuesday (Rochelle - lovin' it, but that's subject to another thread), and it can already express my feelings more than any instrument I've played before has been able to. I can improvise the melodies I hear in my head, and the concertina produces such vehement sounds... All I can say is that this is an instrument to grow with, and I'm glad I chose this path. I hope others can relate to this, and don't just play to be the loudest bugger in the sessions. Had a horrible day, finally broke up a six year relationship, and the concertina seems to understand my feelings. How else could it express my emosions with such passion? The fragments of my two first cents to this community - more to come!