J. H. Maccann, "How To Play The Concertina" (1902)

[Robert Gaskins]

A new document has been discovered, a booklet authored

by John Hill Maccann. It is reliably dated to 1902, and

this copy was discovered in Australia where Professor

Maccann was making an extended performing tour during that

year.

 

The text of the document consists of two sections: (1) a

part of the "how to play" text from Maccann's earlier

publication The Concertinist's Guide (1888); and (2) an

interview with Professor Maccann reprinted from The Era

theatrical newspaper of London, issue of 25 January 1902.

 

In addition to the text, the booklet contains some new

photographs of Maccann, including the first known

photographs of him playing the concertina.

 

How to Play the Concertina:

English, Anglo, German, and Duet Instruments

 

by J. H. Maccann, C.A.M.

 

On the web at

www.maccann-duet.com/howtoplay/

 

Pictures of all pages are available in two sizes,

and the entire document can be downloaded in PDF format.

[Steven]

Robert, that's a really great resource! Thanks very much for posting this.

 

Steven

[Daniel Bradbury]

I love the photo of J. H. Maccann "managing the bellows"!

[Robin Harrison]

...Interesting that he makes a distinction between anglo and german concertinas.

Is ,or was , there a distinction ?

 

( on the cover he says...How to play the English, Anglo,German and Duet concertina )

Robin

[JimLucas]

...Interesting that he makes a distinction between anglo and german concertinas.

Is ,or was , there a distinction ?

When I first learned to play (early 1970's, in New York City), the term "anglo" was reserved for those concertinas of English make, which -- aside from being made in England -- had different construction from the "German" ones. The term "German" was used for those made in continental Europe -- often even those made in places like Italy and Czechoslovakia, -- which used the German engineering/construction. It's only in the last 10-15 years -- in my experience -- that the distinction has been lost and the term "anglo" has come to be used for all of them.

 

Also, I believe the term "anglo" is just a reduction of the term "anglo-German", used to describe early instruments by English makers that incorporated the popular German keyboard layout.

[stuart estell]

I've just had a quick read through - I had absolutely no idea Maccann came from Birmingham. That's made my day