[I am in love.]

Not that there was anything wrong with the other one...it's was great, but it's always amazing to see what a few more years of production can do to improve a product.

I agree - despite the high quality of Morse boxes from inception, the ones I've played at the last few NEFFAs have been IMHO significantly improved over older models. And I would include in that tone, playability, response, and button feel.

 

How could one recognize the new vs older ones, in terms of serial numbers? I'm looking at a couple of used Morses. Thanks!!

[Advice on buying]

That's true, Chris but can't you chaps just take the train everywhere?

 

Rod

[Religious Music]

Alan,

 

I gained a love of sacred music via the force-feeding of music school. Of course there wasn't much other music in earlier times. That said, I've got at least two hymnals and have used them to practice on as I begin the concertina part of my musical journey. I'm sure that you used book dealer would have one. No musical jokes about how much you could get it for ..

 

I am thinking that I may need to get a Duet, instead of my English, for the multple parts, though.

 

Cheers,

 

Rod

[What Have I DONE?]

I've been trying to attempt my Lutheran Hymnal on my Jack Baritone and think I might need to switch to Duet for that. Didn't Salvation Army like the Crane system for sacred music?

 

Rod,

Absolutely!

 

You remind me of my very first childhood experience of public music. With the aim of giving me a Christian upbringing without boring me with Church services, my mother took me to the Salvation Army Citadel on Sunday mornings. There's nothing like watching people playing live music to fascinate a child of 5 or 6, as I was at that time (over half a century ago!)

(OK, there's live music in Church as well, but you never get to see the organist playing )

 

At "our" Citadel, there was a clear division of musical roles: the brass band was responsible for leading the solemn or rousing songs - but the Captain's Crane/Triumph concertina came into play for the short, spontaneous, meditative Gospel choruses that were popular in evangelical circles at that time. This was what got me absolutely hooked on the sound of the concertina, and for the last half century I've been working towards that ideal. Now, thanks to the marvel of Internet, I have managed to obtain a genuine ex-S.A. Lachenal 48-key Crane - it even has the "Triumph" brand name on the straps.

 

This early experience also left me with a keen appreciation of brass-band music, but I've never had the opportunity to get involved with it actively. So many instruments - so little time! At least my son gave me the pleasure of electing to take up the trombone

 

Cheers,

John

 

John,

 

Good on you for geeing an S.A. Crane. Like most things you want, it will eventually come your way when the time is right.

 

I did manage to get a pretty full dose of band and orchestra music growing up and in college. It was music history that exposed me to the church's role in it. As to hymns, we used to sight sing them acapella on Thursday nights, just for practice. I haven't done that in a while, either

 

I won't tell about your half-century plus if you don't tell about mine!

 

Rod

[What Have I DONE?]

drbones,

 

Give me a shout if you decide it's not for you. I've been trying to attempt my Lutheran Hymnal on my Jack Baritone and think I might need to switch to Duet for that. Didn't Salvation Army like the Crane system for sacred music?

 

Rod Wagoner

Tucson, AZ

[concertina up in the air]

Hi Marien,

 

I'd expect that most people would carry on a concertina and have it in the overhead storage. That's what I'll do when I travel with mine.

 

Cheers,

 

Rod in Tucson

[Baritone Wanted]

Jim and Mark, thanks for replying.

 

Jim, a new one will be my option later this year if I can't find a good used one. I wasn't sure if the Morse would get abandoned quickly if the owner found a Lachnal or Wheatstone. But , it looks like there are precious few of those floating around!

 

Mark, doesn't Frank only make Anglos? I was looking for an english. I'm sorry that I didn't specify ... and will edit the original post accordingly.

 

Sincerely,

 

Rod

[Baritone Wanted]

Hi,

 

I've been working on my Jack and realize now why the missing accidentals are needed! I've been asking about baritones and was guided to the fact that I should look for a Morse baritone (English). If anyone knows of one or something similar, please let me know.

 

Thanks very much,

 

Rod in Tucson

[Geuns Baritone Concertina]

Hi Jay,

 

Is this instrument still available?

 

Thanks,

 

Rod

[First two hours and songs]

Have fun, and good luck!

 

Thanks, Fiddlehead Fern. Your website is pretty cool.

 

I didn't snatch it from the Fedex lady but pretty close. The cats weren't at all impressed. They'll learn, I'm sure. If this works out, I'm saving for a Morse Baritone but have to outgrow this one first.

 

I appreciate your encouragement!

 

Rod

[Optical Music Readers]

I doubt that I would be motivated to learn the concertina if a pre-requisite is to be able to sight read.

 

I need to start this with a disclaimer that I'm not any authority on concertina playing. However, I do have a degree in Music Ed .... so, if anyone is going to spend any time learning an instrument, it doesn't make sense to me to reinvent a musical language when one exists already. To write down an abc and time value system that is different that the common musical one seems conterintuative (geez, did I even spell that right?).

 

Personal opinon ... your resuts may vary.

 

Sight reading is one of the two most desirable skills that any musician can posess. The other would be, "sing me a tune and I can play it." After that, it's all mechanics.

 

David, I'm afraid I'm on you side on this one.

 

Sincerely,

 

Rod

[First two hours and songs]

Dave,

 

I'm an old music major so sight reading ... and singing ... are part of the landscape. I guess I was more exited about the brain reading the note and pushing the right button ... most of the time at least. I do agree with you, though, that sight reading is a good skill to have and would shorten the process of learning new tunes.

 

Rod

[First two hours and songs]

I'm excited. "Jack" showed up in the Fedex today. After two hours I'm sight reading from my Luteran Hymnal. Phrasing and control aren't great but the notes are pretty much there and my wife at least recognizes the tunes that I'm playing.

 

Sorry, just wanted to share with other students who haven't taken the plunge yet

[Jack vs. Jackie]

This has been an enlightening thread since I'm in bufflehead's postion as well ... buying my first concertina and wanting a baritone. I've ended up purchasing a Jack because I've not played before and don't have the >$1800 available for used Morse baritone. That said, I intend to begin saving for one starting now.

[English Baritone concertina Joseph Scates for sale]

Is this instrument still available?