Wolf Molkentin

Jim's lyrics made me smile (guess you know what I mean by that) as well...

Just adding: Regarding the button layout his is included in the usual one. Apart from that, I can't judge on the use of wrist straps instead of thumb straps with the EC. Pinky rests I don't need anyway...

Now that's a strange looking EC. It only seems to have three columns of button plus an odd one at the top and it has a full hand strap as opposed to thumb straps. As to my understanding his self-built English Concertina has, of course, all the "white keys" of Cmaj/Amin and the likes (making up the two middle rows) plus the accidentals be it to the left or to the right which appear with an Anglo of (at least) three rows, i.e. the F# from the G row of a D (C/G) Anglo and the notes from (at least; I'm not sure where he drew the line) the third row. Hope that helps...

That's in fact what had come to my mind once starting to play the Boda Vals last year...

Not quite...

Here's the link. Thank you for that, Jim - and here's the conclusion to which the author has come and which as I believe can be shared right here without embarrassing anyone: Was Pete political? Of course. He was political as Walt Whitman was political, as Clarence Darrow and Woody Guthrie were political; as, for that matter, all of us should be political. He felt that ordinary people deserved protection from bullies of all stripes and his was the gift of being able to express this belief in music and in the way he lived his life.

two empty posts as to my computer screen...

Despite the title, I believe that's it (can't listen to the clip right now). And he's named Henrik (which I hadn't right previously).

You might look for recordings from our member Henrik Müller from Sweden - he's playing a mean EC in the Irish style ... (edited to erase the "d" in the Christian name)

A case of "ineluctability" in the best sense - he has always been there, mattering... I immediately imagine him standing at different places picking his banjo and sharing his message it jointly being a musical, social and political one... Let's play and sing his songs! R.I.P., Pete!

...and it's not just one more click, at times it takes many trials and errors even to get the mobile version and then discard it - just the error message previously...

David, the additional problem reported was IMO the "hijacking". As to me, when using a smartphone the user will repeatedly (but unpredictably) be redirected to the (non-working) mobile version. That's sort of annoying, albeit not a serious problem... Best regards - Wolf

I do mind...

7-7-7, if nothing else it's a compliment for Jim B. regarding his choice of tunes...

There's not much rhythm on a power blower........Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! But I also do have trouble with timing on the concer, usually speeding up is the issue. It's hard, for me anyway, to keep good time just playing solo without some kind of rhythm backing. I've done a few other tracks during my last recording session which I'll eventually upload. You might detect a few wobbles on some of them. I know this speeding-up disease all too well... Anyway, your inspirational recording has - after repeated listening which I quite enjoyed - prompted me to a.) play the tune (in the different key of a minor, which would suit my singing better too) myself and b.) watch this lovely movie again yesterday, which definitely made our Saturday evening... Thus thank you for your post Steve! Best wishes - Wolf

Again, same as with me, happens every day... And since I have an iPhone 4s I seem to be using a slightly less outdated piece of technology...

Given these reeds are not that expensive it might nevertheless be more appropriate not to blow the reeds but to keep them dry and just pluck them using a piece of paper or thin cardboard.

That's just what happened to me as well...

The usual notice when canceled as to me.

You should see me up there with a power blower, doing the gutter cleaning dance! I bet you'd step in time!

Or the tube from a liquid hand soap dispenser - at least that's what I did some years ago, and it worked out fine that far...

Very nice Dick, uhm Steve! I can quite imagine your standing on the roof top... (and it ain't a typo I'd guess; just a limitation of the forum software...)

Since I can't comment that much regarding the Anglo, let me take on the Melodeon part (and finally come back to the Anglo from here). The ADG box will be as fine a squeeze as is my GCF one - "Have your fun!" would be sufficient then. OTOH it seems that you are kind of "blaming" the (basic) scales (such as D major) "along the rows". IMO that's in fact what the melodeon is all about... I was quite delighted with my first one (a Hohner Pokerwork Single-Row just in C). The expanded options of the 2- and 3-row instruments haven't changed that at all. If these scales are really bothering you you might better chose the CBA or PA (and maybe not even just an Anglo concertina - our member Hendrik Müller from Sweden is doing eminently well with ITM on his [self-built] English Concertina). I apologize in advance in case I should have misread what you are saying.

Patrick, David has it absolutely right regarding the classical doctrine of part writing, and you may choose to observe it. However, I didn't find the parallels that distracting in this case. But if you were working on your arrangement in any case I would suggest replacing the tonic chord at the end of the first half of the A part by something else (such as the dominant, just like you have it at the end of part A). Edited to add as to why I made my suggestion: You proceed with the tonic when resuming the A phrase, so I would not return to that chord just before - but of course that's matter of taste... Best wishes - Wolf

As to me, it's nicely arranged and played, with a delicate touch on buttons and bellows...