Susanne
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Posts posted by Susanne
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There were some Morris dancers in Rättvik at Rättviksdansen (A Swedish traditional dance event that goes on for a week in July) this year. I didn't see them for long and I don't remember what the music was like, but lately, after my concertina interest arose, I listened to some and liked it, and since it seems to be a common music for concertina, it would be interesting to learn some. With that said, I probably won't ever be a professional Morris dance music player, but it would be cool to try to play some.
You can't get any music only from printed music, at least not in the traditional music world where it's more about feel, flow, and rhythm than in (I think) classical music for example. I listen to lots of trad music of many kinds, and learn how a certain type of tune is supposed to be played. I learn from sheet music because otherwise I wouldn't know many tunes at all. It's mainly in Swedish trad and bluegrass I play by ear only, because in Swedish trad music I regularly meet people to play with, and bluegrass music lives by improvisation. In other music styles, like Irish music, I learn the melody and play it, either from sheet music or by ear, and learn the flow and feel from recordings. I use both ear and sheet music and I see great advantages with both.
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I usually learn tunes by ear on the fiddle and mandolin, but I'm not so familiar with the concertina yet, I'm just beginning to be able to pick up tunes that I already know, by knowing what note should follow the other. I don't think I would be able to pick up tunes I've never heard, not yet at least. I'll use sheet music and try to find recordings to listen to. When I learn tunes from sheet music, I play it from the paper until I know it and then I play it from memory.
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Thanks everyone for the help!
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Morris dance music is really nice and if I get it right, it is commonly played on concertina. where can I find some Morris music? Is there sheet music somewhere online? CDs? Sound clips?
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I'm sorry, but my boyfriend doesn't know what a guckulåt is.
I guess we'll have to live with that. Nice tune anyway. -
Very nice!!!!!!! What is it, a schottische?? Now you're giving me inspiration to play Swedish tunes...(I've mostly played Swedish hymns so far, or back-up, or Irish ballads) I have plenty of tunes like that.
I don't know what a guckulåt is...never heard of them. Sorry. But I'm quite new to Swedish trad (strange, but I started out with bluegrass and Irish music on the mandolin). I'm going to ask my boyfriend, he's been into Swedish trad for several years.
By the way, about Irish polkas, I think I've heard more Irish than Swedish polkas. Those CD:s you mention sound really interesting. I have a CD somewhere with a band from Kerry (I guess), playing more or less polkas all the time. I don't remember their name though.
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Thanks Henrik, it sounds great! If you play any Swedish tunes it would be nice to hear them too.
I'm moving forward with my concertina, I can play most simple tunes (like hymns) from sheet music and I'm beginning to be able to find my way on the instrument by ear a little bit. I'm having so much fun with it! I bought a book with Irish polkas last weekend so I'm going to try to learn some polkas. I can almost play the Swedish polka "Björklunds polketta" by ear. Quite slowly though.
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Is it possible to play crescendo/decrescendo on a concertina? How?
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There is a new slowdowner that is free. It seems good, I haven't used it a lot yet but it seems to be working fine. Go to Best Practice.
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Ok, thanks. Maybe not awkward, but not as obvious as the other chords. This one's at least better than the one I made up..
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I can't find the B chord on the chord chart. Tried to make one up by simply adding notes to each other, but it's a very awkward chord to play. Why is B flat there and not B?
For those who don't know, I play an English.
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I still don't get the m-j-r-n thing but it doesn't matter anymore, someone on here gave me a link to a layout and chord chart, very very good, showing the chords in their triangles, check it out here. This is what got me started. First, I tried to find the notes by ear as I do on other instruments, but didn't have any success at all. Then, I decided to try sheet music instead, since I read music and have that layout picture, so I look at the sheet music, and on the picture, it makes it quite easy to pick out tunes. I can now play a couple of tunes and chords and I'm actually beginning to be able to play a bit by ear, when playing by reading music I'm getting the hang of where the notes are placed and actually I can see some logical placement of the buttons which I did NOT at the very beginning. (but I've played for 5 days so I guess I still should be at the beginning).
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For every other instrument I've played, it's good to listen to as much mandolin/fiddle/whistle music as possible. so I guess this is good when learning the concertina too. But what concertina greats are there out there? I don't know of any, more than that I've seen the name Noel Hill being mentioned here and there. What recordings should I get? What would your suggestions be of good concertina music for listening?
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Hi all!
I just recently started playing concertina and I'm having great fun with it. Now I have this question. There is a Swedish polka named Björklunds polketta, which starts with three quite fast G notes, and I wonder, how do I play them to make it sound interesting? On the whistle you can play cuts and stuff when this occurs, how do I do on the concertina?
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Before, there was an abc music converter on concertina.net. I can't find it anymore, does anyone know the link?
It's on this page (in the Tune-O-Tron section)
Thanks!!!!!
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Go for the mandola-- I can say from experience that it is very hard to play a duet with someone who is playing a bombarde. And playing anything by ear may be hard for the next week.
Larry
Maybe our neighbours wouldn't appreciate the bombarde either. -
Before, there was an abc music converter on concertina.net. I can't find it anymore, does anyone know the link?
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Since I already got myself a good concertina, I could add a mandola or bombarde for my fiancé to the wish list.
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Wonderful!
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Thanks Henrik for that pic and especially the D chord!! I've only been using two-finger chords so far but I'll try those triangle things that also Jim wrote me about. I've been playing a lot today, when I had found the chords I played back-up while my boyfriend played the mandolin and it was so much fun!!!!!! Now I can actually accompany myself while singing, I mostly sing in the key of C. The next step will be to play melodies...I guess I'll have to sit in front of the computer looking at the chart and having some simple tune in notation beside me, and pick note by note. I wish I could play the rest of the night but I'm working early tomorrow....
Thanks for the fingering too. I read about it somewhere else, and using that fingering acttually made it easier to find the scale.
Ok, off to bed...another day tomorrow.
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Hi! I'm in the same boat. I bought my English concertina yesterday, and I'm struggling to find anything on it, I've found the C scale, and two chords, didn't really get that m-j-r-n thing but maybe I should try again..
Great fun anyway, isn't it??
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Ok, folks, now that I got myself an English concertina, what would you suggest that I start with? Right now I'm trying to learn the system, how to easily find the different notes and create some chords.
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I'm going to take some photos of my new baby as soon as I get hold of a digital camera (in two weeks) and I'll let you see it.
Now after some trying I've found the G chord and maybe the C. I can't manage to find the D yet. How long does it really take to learn to find the notes and play melodies without too many delays (=breaks while I'm
trying to find the note)? It seems impossible today, but I'm at least beginning to find the C scale. I'm using the chart from www.concertina.com, even it's for 48 key concertinas.
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Anglo or not, this was a chance I just couldn't miss. It probably happens once every 30th year or so that you can find a concertina for that price.. I don't know if the anglo is easier to play or not, but this one sounds at least as good as the anglos I've heard on the tunes page. And, I've realized how great it is being able to choose whether to pull or push! I'm really satisfied, especially for being able to start playing the concertina without being a millionaire. If this proves to be suitable for playing the styles I want, I may not wish for an anglo anymore.
I'm in contact with Jim Lucas and will go visit him after New Year. I may also try to go down for the Scandinavian Squeeze next spring.
Morris Music
in General Concertina Discussion
Posted
Forget about it. I can't express myself in proper English. I just wanted to find links and CD advice for Morris music to see if I can learn some. And hey - if you can play bluegrass on an English concertina you probably can play Morris music too.