Peter Laban

It depends what you're shopping for and what your priorities are, doesn't it?

I suppose the two concertinas are very different objects with two very different uses. Which one you fancy really depends on whether you're a collector or a player. There's one story, from the world of uilleann piping, that comes to mind: Séamus Ennis was doing a recital for a gathering of pipers. During the course of the recital he talked about his pipes, a set previously owned and played by his father. The bag of the set was notoriously leaky but Séamus praised the design, by his father, and make of the leather bag with it's intricate decorations and other features. From the back of the ranks of pipers a comment came 'yes Séamus but if they don't hold the air they're not worth a fuck..'

I was inside ALDI's in Kilrush this morning, they had reduced the leftover fishing bags. Those will hold two not too large concertinas. Comparable to camera bags I suppose, albeit a good bit cheaper.

Fair enough, now if my pics were as nice as your reeds.. hmmm A simple, free, photo editing program like photscape would sort all the things to get a pic in shape to put it on-line. Just saying..

Mr Wooff! It really isn't that much hassle. After you have formatted your pics to a reasonable size (5-600 pixels along the long side will usually do it) you can either use the forum's attachment function or upload them to an external site like photobucket (which I use), flickr or one of those and insert the pic into your post by placing the location between image tags which can be done using the menu over the posting window, typing them in full or by using a browser addition like BBcodeXtra (in Firefox).

Yes, angel. And a bit reminiscent of the ones in Bath Cathedral.

I don't disagree with your point, I just feel it came a bit out of nowhere where this thread is concerned. In fact I believe there are a good few people around who have spent their lives as mediocre players who become 'the legendary so and so' just on the merit of not stopping living where some of the really important ones fall by the wayside, both literally and figuratively speaking.

In my mind there are more concertina players making a go of it when reaching a high age than there are players of other instruments. The physical ease of playing the instrument facilitating a longer playing life than that enjoyed by, say, players of the flute or fiddle who loose their air, intonation or bowhand where concertina players are still producing nice sounds at the push of a button. That was the only point I was making.

I suppose it has been mentioned before but Molly McCarthy (106), Bridget Dineen (106), Marty O Keeffe (101), and young individuals like Chris Droney (90), Junior Crehan, Gerdy Commane, Kitty Hayes and many others are examples of concertina players who just kept going (and in a few cases are still going). And flying it, into very mature ages.

There are plenty of folkclubs who publish their own selection of common tunes for example this collection That should probably do you but I'll add; The ABC Library of Morris Tunes Links to ABC tune collections

Yes she plays an Anglo.

Hmm, maybe you should explain what you think a 'chip' is. While the nomenclature of Irish music isn't very standardised 'chip' is not a term I have ever heard anyone use. Other than going for one after midnight once the music is finished anyway.

For the benefit of the forum it's maybe a good idea to flag up the 'Irish Concertina Ensemble' that will make its first appearance during the festival. It consists of Tim Collins, Micheál O Raghallaigh, Caitlín Nic Gabhann, Edel Fox and Padraic Rynne. They bill themselves as 'innovative' and promise to create 'a new sonic template for Irish Traditional Music on the Anglo concertina'. They're on on Friday 9th.

I may go in have a look if the mood takes me.

Hm, yes, snapping away from my corner. 2012 was a nice concert, concertina wise, and Marty O Keeffe's centenary (I am told he's still going although he hasn't been over since). The snaps from that year are still there, if anyone is interested: Willie Clancy Sumerschool 2012

That would be this one then:

On ebay you find : these (in the US) these (in UK) these (US again) these ()UK) and more.

pipers.ie even

You may the number of instruments carried traveling is part of this as well: I don't think he ever played other than concert pitch at the classes my son used to attend. He also tends to switch between several concertinas at gigs here. I also think I remember him saying about at least one of his concertinas that he will never travel with it outside Ireland and that's where the Carroll concertinas come in. I also seem to recall one of the Carrolls is indeed a C#/g#.

You can however register and for 25 euro get access to the entire archive of 20.000+ tunes, photographs and manuscript collections. All this is also on-line on the NPU website.

there's a bit of that floating around:

Not so sure about that Steve, for most instruments the names on the list bear no relation to the ones that actually turn up. I have also done some of these concerts (both the big ones in the hall and the lunchtime half hour ones) on five minutes notice. Pretty much the 'we need someone, you will do' approach to filling the bill.

Yes, she recently finished her PhD on the harping traditions of the Karen people of Burma, characteristics shared with Irish harping.

With the Willie Clancy Week just over the program for the 2015 Cruinniú has been published. Full details pdf download