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It seems to have become almost sacrilegious, verging on terrifying, to even mention the word Hohner to any free reed enthusiast; and certainly I have had my own share of thoughts on the matter, and many rude comments too - regarding my own use of such an instrument from other people. But I must stand up in support of some of the instruments marketed under Hohners own name; WHAT IS HE DOING? you may well say.. well just speaking with an alternative view to the usual narrative. After playing free reed instruments for over 34 years, and owning in that time only two instruments, showing how hardy they are in construction in that time.. I like to think that I speak from some considerable practical experience on the matter. My first concertina was a simple two row affair [made in Germany] and got me going very nicely; I played it, loved the thing, cared for it, and eventually wanted to move on to a more chromatic instrument. From a good music store in York [uk] where I live, I ordered a bigger model [ hohner]. And had to wait for several weeks for it to arrive in store from abroad [that was in 1999]. What a joy that day when I went to collect the instrument; I had hundreds of transcriptions of music all ready at hand to try out. Yes, true, there are many teething problems with the construction of such instruments, sticking buttons, slipping buttons, and so on; but I had it adjusted, and I persevered and learned to make my own subtle adjustments too, until over time it responded, the buttons freed up considerably, and the whole mechanism got easier to play. The proof to the system is simply this; 23 years of use by this January 2022 in years of almost continuous use. And I mean every day playing it, and complex pieces too. The big steel reeds give powerful tone, and the button action is smooth to touch. Every now and again you may have to service it which is easy overall, its only wood, with metal reeds, not electronic; and a few buttons I have replaced, which is likewise also easy to do. The sticking buttons I used a silicon lubricating agent applied to a fine brush first and applied over the fine escapement which freed up levers very nicely [never had do this more than once since!] And earlier on, when instrument was newer, I placed fine tape to levers to reduce slipping on buttons! Not that drastic really, as most instruments will require some adjustment with use over lifetime. And anyway these are internal alterations and do not show on the outside - nor do they affect the appearance or sound of tone. I write a lot of music for soloist; not specifically for concertina, or any particular instrument, for any treble based soloist.. and so I use the concertina to compose my stuff with; much as someone may sit at a piano to write. I have yet to find limitations in the tonal range of my concertina [apart from my own mortal ones] as to the range of notes or sound that I can find within it. So persevere with your new concertina [specifically hohner make] - as you may well find you make a good friend for life!

Beautiful, mostly unused Frank Edgley 186 Anglo Concertina. Practiced on a separate one, so this rarely sees daylight. (Actually, neither see daylight) 586 four nine one 4858 or, slower response to idontcheckitbutits@hotmail.com Metro Detroit area Have had inqueries about this piece, which i knew very little information. I emailed Frank directly, and received this response.... From: Frank Edgley <> Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 10:37 AM To: <idontcheckitbutits@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: Few questions about a piece my girlfriend bought It looks like a professional Model, wooden ends of bubinga wood. Depending on whether it needs tuning or other repairs, it should be worth 2000 to 2300 . On 07/03/2021 16:06, > She asked me to list it for her, but I know nothing about them except > what I am reading in the last few days. Hoping u remember this one. > It really is beautiful. If you can tell me the model and some > things about it, I would appreciate it. > > And , any idea of a fair market value or resale price would be great. > She said it has a soft case. Thanks so much , Patrick. Thanks for reading.......

Here is a link to the Saturday Evening Concert at this years Northeast Squeeze-In (NESI). It doesn't begin to explain how much fun the weekend was. And that the evening didn't end till hours after this concert ended. http://www.squeeze-in.org/2015Concert/2015ConcertRecording.html rss

I'm selling two vintage Concertinas. I don't know much about them, all I know is they work well. The large one was made in Germany The smaller one says "Vienna Concert" on it Thinking $250 for the large one and $150 for the smaller one. Do those sound like fair prices? Here's the craigslist ad I put together with photos: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/msg/5254250597.html

For those members who may not have read this article before, here are a couple of hilarious (well… to us now, at least!) paragraphs from 'A Brief History of the Anglo Concertina in the United States' which was posted on concertina.com The whole article is very interesting and well worth a read, but these passages stand out for their description of "working class" players in late 19th c America... Anecdotal evidence underscores the popularity of the concertina with the working class. Much comment in the newspapers was negative, as was this piece from the Connecticut Constitution in 1869, complaining of urban street noise: ‘No one interferes to stop any account of noise in the night and early morning …. At any hour of the night a fool in love with a concertina may disturb the whole neighborhood with noises he pleases to think music …’ A police justice in Jersey City, commenting on ‘a complaint of disturbing the peace, by the use of a so-called musical instrument at a late hour at night, pronounced this eminently humane judicial opinion: “Any man who will play a concertina on a stoop at 11 o’clock at night deserves the severest punishment the law allows. I think he ought to be sent to the State prison for five years”. The concertina often appeared within the crime pages, either as a stolen instrument ranking high on the list of treasures taken from an apartment, or as connected somehow with a domestic crime. A typical account from 1889 involves a burglary of a household where the thief removed ‘a boys overcoat, a concertina, an accordion, a pair of opera glasses and some small articles …’ In the days before recorded music, electronic stereos, televisions and mass-produced household appliances, items like concertinas and accordions were among the most prized items a working class family might own; such instruments provided the day-to-day music that people heard most. In an 1859 investigation of wife abuse, a male friend of the accused spoke up for his friend, saying, ‘As soon as they got in the ‘ouse, Mrs. Boyce threw a concertina at his ‘ed, and locked the door and ‘ollered murder’. In a similar domestic incident, a Polish-born defendant was ‘… deserting his wife, but before taking his departure he destroyed all the furniture he could not conveniently remove [by throwing it out the tenement window], beat his wife, and sat down amid the wreck and played his concertina’, before an arriving officer arrested him. In Hazleton Pennsylvania, 1895, ‘Joseph Washkovitch died at the hospital from a broken s kull. Last Friday he played the concertina at a Hungarian dance, and because his music was unsatisfactory, John Lapka struck him in the head with a beer bottle’.

Gardiner Houlgate, the well-known west country auctioneers are holding another sale of musical instruments on June 13th. Among the for sale items, are some concertinas, including a unique double-reeded 32 key Dipper anglo and a 46 key Jeffries anglo. See this link for more details. http://gardinerhoulgate.co.uk/Catalogues/mi130613/page004.html Chris

Yesterdays gig at the Washington DC Folk Music Festival : Jim Besser, Me, Gus Voorhees. Bass player you can't see is Richard Seidel.

A number of West Country Concertina Players meet monthly in a small village called Ruishton, near Taunton in Somerset, for band practice. Here is a short clip of them playing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xmHGI38NmM Chris

The West Country Concertina Players present their 30th Anniversay Concertina Weekend with Alistair Anderson, Iris Bishop and John Kirkpatrick at St Audries Bay - March 22nd - 24th 2013. More information at www.wccp.co.uk or contact John and Mal Derricott on 01-258-450927 or derricott1969@sky.com This 30th anniversary concertina weekend of excellent tuition for all concertina systems is being held at St. Audries Bay holiday park on the Severn Estuary - where the Quantock Hills unfold towards the sea and yes, we can go down the steps and walk on the beach! We are so fortunate in having a 'dream team' of tutors - Alistair, John and Iris will be leading us on this celebratory weekend. With the best tuition, there will be plenty of opportunities to spur you on and help you improve your playing technique, get new tunes and ideas, together with enjoying bar sessions with old and new friends. One of the WCCP's aims is to motivate and facilitate learning to play the concertina - with enjoyment as key - so you are most cordially invited to come and join us in March.

The West Country Concertina Players present their 30th Anniversay Concertina Weekend with Alistair Anderson, Iris Bishop and John Kirkpatrick at St Audries Bay - March 22nd - 24th 2013. More information at www.wccp.co.uk or contact John and Mal Derricott on 01-258-450927 or derricott1969@sky.com This 30th anniversary concertina weekend of excellent tuition for all concertina systems is being held at St. Audries Bay holiday park on the Severn Estuary - where the Quantock Hills unfold towards the sea and yes, we can go down the steps and walk on the beach! We are so fortunate in having a 'dream team' of tutors - Alistair, John and Iris will be leading us on this celebratory weekend. With the best tuition, there will be plenty of opportunities to spur you on and help you improve your playing technique, get new tunes and ideas, together with enjoying bar sessions with old and new friends. One of the WCCP's aims is to motivate and facilitate learning to play the concertina - with enjoyment as key - so you are most cordially invited to come and join us in March.