Hereward

Thank you Dave - this is excellent. I have set other songs of Kiplings to music and sung them myself but had not actually seen this one before. I have been rather haphazard and never got round to getting a complete collecton of his poetry. Looks like I should. Ian

I think the "oldies" never had the oppurtunity to start out with these starter concertinas, hence lacking experience with them. Especially from the view of a beginner. Yes, I guess you're right. When my wife started there was the choice of lachenal, jeffries or wheatstone and not a lot else. That's why she's no help in my quest for a cheap concertina, apart from pouring mild scorn on the Stagis etc. she sees in sessions. Alright for some eh? Given the price of these old instruments, it's no wonder that only relatively old timers like I am rapidly becoming have the spare moolah to afford them. That means, without these reasonably priced beginners instruments, we would have a problem recruiting enough new players young enough to become experts and to keep it alive after we've popped our clogs. So perhaps we should rather rejoice in the fact that they exist and not bash on about how superior our Lachenals, Jeffries and Wheatstones are. Or don't we care about the future of this instrument? No players = no instruments kept in playable condition. Ian

Well John, I guess that begs the question; How much time would you be prepared to do, to get your hands on your ideal Concertina? Cheers Dick It's how much time you have to do once you get hold of it just to sound halfway decent that gets to me (not really, I love it). Ian

I will leave your main question for others far better qualified than I am to answer and will just say that it is said that the devil has the best tunes and I find this a devilish instrument too. However, after a bit of a fiddle with it you find yourself curiously reluctant to give it up. I think if you pay the devil his fee, he pulls a blinder (but then I'm an incorrigible pagan and would say that). Ian

Well said Chris. I just visited Chris Algar and upgraded my instrument; unfortunately, downgrading my bank balance rather painfully at the same time. The more observant amongst you will perhaps have noted that my avatar has transmogrified (how's that for a word?) into something Chris was impressed with and he passed on his excitement to me. Ian

I've seen more ostriches than is good for me and yours looks just right for a Doofus Strauß. (Strauß is German for ostrich. Like Richard Strauss - the ß is similar to 'ss'). Ian

I have spent loads on what a notorious chap who shall remain nameless called the Three Kings: Smoking, Drinking and ......... The rest I wasted (the old ones are the best). Ian

They're a bigger target than we are? Ian

My wife is the biggest fan of Ostriches going (I know I think it's weird too but what can I say to her - I play a concertina!). Thanks LDT. Ian

I'd like to stop it and get off sometimes too. Ian

Others will probably know better than I but I think that these would sell at festivals and so on. Let's see what others have to say. Ian

If I wore fluffy pink slippers my father would die of an apoplexy (whatever that is when it's at home). Ian

What do you think? In my mind an instrument is worth it if I can play meaningfully for longer than it took to save up to buy it. Now that I have a first-rate Wheatsone (according to Chris Algar who should know) I would reverse this and believe that I have to earn the right to keep it by learning to play it as best I can and looking after it for the next generation (hopefully a long way off though). Is this just sophistry though? Ian

If my wider family only threw rotten fruit I'd feel lucky. Stones would be more likely. Luckily my wife has more patience with my struggles and better taste than to only like modern music. Ian

Sounds like the studio acoustics are all wrong; far too "bright". By the way, is Reg Hall still in Croydon? I used to see him, occasionally, at an Irish music venue. Regards, Peter. You are right about the acoustics and I am often surprised that so-called experts seem so bad at this. Sometimes the BBC have bands on the television and the sound engineer doesn't have a clue. I couldn't do better but I have ears and can tell when someone can't either. Ian

I never thought I'd be happy to be called a social misfit - until I looked in a mirror and thought about my life that is! Ian

Talking of Civil Wars, during the English one, a minor battle (Alton, Hampshire) saw the action finish up in the local church. If you look in the photos below, the second one is a close-up of stonework at the bottom left of the doorway. Holes from musket balls can still be seen in stone which, at some date, will need to be replaced. My family lived about four miles from this church at the time! On the subject of pseudonyms, if I had one, I'd probably get totally confused and end up trying to message myself! Many years ago, in one class at school, out of about 40 boys, 8 of us were named Peter. Nowadays, I hardly ever find someone else with this name. Reminds me of a certain song ........ Where have all the Peters gone ............ ? Interestingly, the defender of Alton Church was Si Richard Bolles and I belonged to his Regiment of Foote when doing English Civil War reenactment as a kid. We were based in Pompey area and finally were forcibly disbanded by the Army Council on dubious grounds. I don't live near a castle now only the Grand Union Canal. Ian

That is a lovely tune and nifty playing too. Ian

You can go by whatever monicker you like so far as I'm concerned. It's just that this will all die out without some youngsters taking an nterest and you being one of them is simply great news from where I'm standing. I used to be a pretty good tree climber as a nipper and I often climbed over the wall of the castle just down the road from me too. Last time I saw the castle I could hardly believe that myself. Now I would only do such things if my life depended on it. The one enemy no-one can defeat. Ian

I'm one of the new people who didn't know about this. Thanks a lot for posting it again. My piggy bank is now empty (but more of that later). Ian

Thanks Woody. I have signed up. Ian

I suppose king trumps knight but knight is a good name for sure. People called king should not get excited because they are no more likely than the next man to come from royalty. The name probably refers to someone working in the king's household. King's Swineherd, for example. How you get from a knight to a dog with dubious ancestry is quite another matter (just pulling your leg George). Ian

Does that mean I'm too old to engage in weird fantasies or go along with the joke? You're probably right but one good thing about a few years under your belt is that you don't care anymore and can be as daft as you like. Most people would probably call me to task for being too serious, so occasional moments of madness are good for my soul. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Ian

I presume that means sticks, bells and the likes ....... did you enquire? A nice instrument on sale would be too much to ask for I think. Ian

The 'concertina' or 'bendy' bus has had its day as the Major stated yesterday, and London is to get a new Routemaster (the bus without doors one can jump on and off of.). Ian