Podzol

Hello! I play a Morse Baritone EC. I have played a couple years by myself using various texts like Concertina Workshop, Contemplating the Concertina, and also a copy of Regondi's studies that - for some reason - my library had. I read music just fine but have never even tried to memorize it until now. After much encouragment from an established member, I was asked to join in on a session. I knew that I would sit out for most all of it since I only had one tune memorized, which I played at home over and over again with my eyes closed and no cheating. Any way, at the session I managed to start my tune, which was a pretty easy one for me, so I thought (Sally Gardens), but with everyone else playing, I soon became completely lost and couldn't even come in for the dandy little endings of each line. I am not certain that I would have done much better even if I had the music in front of me, the music just completely blew any focus that I had. I was shaking, even! When I went home, I got out my box an could play Sally Gardens without a hitch at tempo. I just wondered, those of you who remember learning to play in a session, is this normal? Will I get used to it as I go more? I would really like to play my concertina with people. My dogs love it, and even sing, but sharing with hominids offers a less primal experience. Thanks! Blake

Here is a link to the article. And a chronology of the development of free reeds.

I had a Jack which sold quickly on Craigslist. Gives one hope that there will be more EC players!

I believe it's also "very similar" to an O'Carolan tune in O'Neill's. Planxty Scott? (I don't have my book handy.) Like this? http://www.8notes.com/scores/8120.asp?ftype=gif

I am playing a Baritone Morse Albion. It's WONDERFUL! I had the low A-flat swapped for a lower F to make harmony on some tunes where that is be more useful than a second G-sharp/A-flat. I am waiting for my Baritone Geordie from Morse, which will be done around the winter Holiday. It will be a merry one for me! As big as the Baritone sounds with three buttons down, I am completely drowned out by my husband's tenor saxophone when we play duets. Thinking of getting a mic. He doesn't seem to be able to play softer. I'll post a lighter version of the song when I figure out how I want to trim it.

Hi John, Thanks for the suggestion, and I agree now that you state it so clearly. I have generally been playing one verse without the accompaniment and one with as a balance, but I think you are correct. The big chords are so fun to get out of a little instrument... I feel POWER! But that's not always appropriate. Thanks again for your insight! Best wishes, Blake

Wonderful. I do look forward to it. I have enjoyed learning concertina so much, I have been playing many different types of music on it and my little Morse EC has proven to be a versatile and compact companion. I love the sound of the instrument when played with multiple voices, so I am working on my skills in that direction. Best, Blake

Thanks for sharing. It's lovey-- and is the performance! I love the accompanying line, too. It add so much flavor and lifts the melody rather than bogging it down. Any chance some sheet music/Midi will follow? I'd love to learn this tune. Blake

Hello All, I haven't been a very active user on the forum, but I appreciate it as a resource. Here's an arrangement I made for EC of a slow tune for you. It's my first arrangement, so if you have any constructive critique, it is welcome. Best, Blake Derwentwater.pdf

Hi Matthew, I think my difficulty is multifold: It's a bigger instrument, slower to voice than the Morse, and the actions is also relatively clunky. Beyond that I need to internalize the key layout. I'm a visual learner so this is tough for me (EC was hard for me in this way, too). I do love the logic of the Hayden system. It makes so much musical sense. And also I am jumping right in with the two hands. I can play things one hand at a time pretty well. I read the bass line fine; melody, fine. Putting them together, it's not as easy as on the piano for me! I feel like I am using my feet... On Top of Old Smokey is a 2-minute dirge in my hands!! I think I'm spoiled by being a quick start at things and I've finally met my match! It's a lot to learn all at once, so I just need to be patient with myself. The posts that people have made have been helpful and encouraging. I am trying to play some music that I found on-line arranged for McCann Duet by a David Cornell. I put in my own fingerings. I am using my pinkies more than I do with the EC. His collection has many nicely arranged pieces to my ear. Thanks for any additional ideas! Blake

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll look into those resources. The Hayden system is quite elegant and the musical part of my brain will get it at some point! I will stick with it. I like so many different kinds of music and that's why I decided to try the Hayden system. Thanks! Blake

Hi fellow Squeezers. I play a Morse baritone EC, which is about as light and lively as I can imagine for a Baritone instrument. At least, more so than my cello! I had so much fun learning that I decided to take on a bigger challenge, so I bought a Stagi Hayden Duet. Simply put, the instrument seems hard to play, although the system makes sense, it's really different than the EC. I'm getting a little demoralized, which is not like me. Can any one offer some advice, good tutorials? Thanks kindly for your words of wisdom. Blake

Hi All, I'm in Pennsylvania. I'm looking of ran Elsie in decent condition. I have a Like-new Jackie to trade. Blake

I tried my hand at repairing stringed instruments a few years ago. All of the instruments that I used this exact glue on fell apart when the humidity was high. None of the ones that I used traditional hide glue on were affected. Don't use it. It becomes like gum in humid weather and will stretch as the wood expands. I know you want some give in the glue prevent the wood from cracking, but this stuff is awful. Blake

Hello, I am just learning to play more than one note at a time... basic chords along with the melody. I haven't found much music out there except... Folksongs of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Author: William Cole. It has the name in the English and also in the native language, some history of each tune, lyrics in English and the native language in many cases, the melody, and two accompaniment lines, the second of which is quite playable with the concertina! The second line is written with the melody and 1 or 2 accompanying notes. It's very readable. Has about 100 songs. It's illustrated, too, which is novel. There are several copies (used) from Amazon partners for about $10 USD + shipping, and from Eagle Music in the UK http://www.eaglemusicshop.com/details1.asp...d-and-Wales.htm Blake

Hi Carol. You can email me, too, if it's more convenient. Does it have the black or cherry finish ends? p o d z o l (at) g m a i l . c o m. Thanks! Blake

I'm interested! I Just sent you a message on the concertina.net message service! Blake

Thanks for the Rostropovich video, He was on of my cello teachers favorites! Blake

Thanks, that clear up my confusion. But, yes, the Jack concertina is a baritone, one octave below the Jackie, one fifth higher than the cello's lower range.

Thanks, Chris. I'm learning. So I gather from this English concertinas don't come in other pitch ranges? my Jack's pitch range is from G to C, so I that's why I put that there, misunderstanding what G/C meant. I guess it means something else, like the actual key of the Irish concertina? I really didn't mean to make such a mess posting this. I'll have to check with someone who knows a thing or two before posting my errors! Thanks folks for helping me along.

It's actually in D major, but the key signature has been written incorrectly. The first sharp sign ought to be F# on the top line of the stave, not D# as shown. whoops! that's 'cause I am new to treble clef, I have the most experience with bass clef from the cello. Blake

Hi John, Thank you!!!! Thank you Thank you for that link. That will save my knuckles from music writing, thereby preserving them for the concertina. I used to play cello and loved to play this dance. I was recently thinking of starting up cello again, but after listening to some of the tin-eared performances recorded at my prime, I decided to switch to an instrument that would play the intended note more precisely. (I hear a small voice in the back of my mind saying "It's a poor craftsman who blames his tools"). The bellows of the concertina remind me a great deal of the bowing in the string instruments and I love playing a C# rather than a C-and-a-half #! Thanks again, I will have to check back once and again and see what great concertina adventures folks are having. Blake

Hi folks, I'm new here and new to the English concertina. I just bought a Jack. Thanks for the valuable information on these boards. It has helped orient me to the world of concertinas. I transposed one of my favorite pieces of music to play. It will work with the Jack or Jackie concertinas, and probably some others. It's supposed to be played very slowly, so maybe some advanced beginners/intermediate players will enjoy it. I hope you can read my music script. No, I can't play it yet. Maybe in a few months! Blake