soloduet Posted December 6, 2020 Share Posted December 6, 2020 In this video I talk about my unexpected encounter with the Spirit of a Cornish Hobo during the lockdown, and how He tried to play on my own concertina. I also give a tip that can work for all systems concertina players, in order to be sure to identify the Spirit of a Cornish Hobo if you happen to meet One: https://youtu.be/bhyhfjmFbdQ 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wunks Posted December 6, 2020 Share Posted December 6, 2020 Hauntingly beautiful. As a railway worker for 37 years I had many encounters. One stands out: A young fellow late in November knocking dirty icicles from beneath a boxcar into an old soup can to make coffee. I asked if it wasn't late to be heading south. He politely informed me he was headed for Bangor, Maine! There's a song there for sure... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted December 6, 2020 Share Posted December 6, 2020 Interesting (and a fine performance!). Your story is reminiscent of Giuseppe Tartini (1692–1770) and his story of how he wrote his “Devil’s Trill” violin sonata. Quote One night, in the year 1713 I dreamed I had made a pact with the devil for my soul. Everything went as I wished: my new servant anticipated my every desire. Among other things, I gave him my violin to see if he could play. How great was my astonishment on hearing a sonata so wonderful and so beautiful, played with such great art and intelligence, as I had never even conceived in my boldest flights of fantasy. I felt enraptured, transported, enchanted: my breath failed me, and I awoke. I immediately grasped my violin in order to retain, in part at least, the impression of my dream. In vain! The music which I at this time composed is indeed the best that I ever wrote, and I still call it the “Devil’s Trill”, but the difference between it and that which so moved me is so great that I would have destroyed my instrument and have said farewell to music forever if it had been possible for me to live without the enjoyment it affords me. [Aside: I wonder whether the Devil might have been playing a sonata by Beethoven, who was born (250 years ago next week) the year Tartini died.] Did European migrant farmworkers actually call themselves “Hobos”? The word originated in the USA in the late 19th century. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Hersh Posted December 6, 2020 Share Posted December 6, 2020 Nicely played and arranged, and a great story! For those unfamiliar with Cornish Hobos, see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isel Posted December 7, 2020 Share Posted December 7, 2020 Lovely Didie! The repetitive bass line in the middle part does sound wonderfully intriguing to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soloduet Posted December 9, 2020 Author Share Posted December 9, 2020 On 12/6/2020 at 1:38 PM, wunks said: Hauntingly beautiful. As a railway worker for 37 years I had many encounters. One stands out: A young fellow late in November knocking dirty icicles from beneath a boxcar into an old soup can to make coffee. I asked if it wasn't late to be heading south. He politely informed me he was headed for Bangor, Maine! There's a song there for sure... Thank you Wunks, this memory is very moving! I wish this man could also play concertina like the Cornish Hobos. And after reading your comment I wonder if somebody like you, concertina player with a long railway worker experience, could be a possible Jack Chantegril? Well, even if you are him or not the book "When the River still Ran" could be a nice Xmas present to any concertina player interested in the Cornish Hobos and the Railway musicians... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soloduet Posted December 9, 2020 Author Share Posted December 9, 2020 On 12/6/2020 at 2:40 PM, David Barnert said: Interesting (and a fine performance!). Your story is reminiscent of Giuseppe Tartini (1692–1770) and his story of how he wrote his “Devil’s Trill” violin sonata Wow, thank you David, the parallel with the story of Tartini is interesting although a little too big! But I see at least 2 differences between the 2 stories: Tartini was dreaming, so his story is the result of his nocturnal imagination, a kind of fiction. In my case I was fully awake when it happened and I didn't have taken any product that could have reduce my lucidity. So it's just the difference between fiction and reality. The other point is that I have never had a servant, even in my dreams. On 12/6/2020 at 2:40 PM, David Barnert said: Did European migrant farmworkers actually call themselves “Hobos”? The word originated in the USA in the late 19th century. I don't know if english speaking people still use this word in Europe, but thank you also to clarify the meaning. That's too bad that we can't have the opinion of Jack Chantegril on the subject but what I feel is it could be some differences between the use of this word in USA and Cornwall. It's just my humble opinion but maybe the Cornish Hobo could be a little closer to the tramp, but the BIG difference with a tramp is of course that the Cornish Hobo can play concertina! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soloduet Posted December 9, 2020 Author Share Posted December 9, 2020 Thank you very much Daniel and Welcome Isra to the fan club of Cornish concertina blues! On 12/7/2020 at 8:21 AM, Isel said: The repetitive bass line in the middle part does sound wonderfully intriguing to me. Maybe the balance between the bass line and the melody is more audible on this other video because I was just in front of the mic: https://youtu.be/VaS_F8etuxA Actually for this bass line I was inspired by this wonderful video sent to me by a concertinist called Zach (maybe he is a member here?). As him I think that it is the best rendition of this tune after the one that I heard from the Cornish Hobo: https://youtu.be/b1Z4PAZX9Bs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wunks Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 1 hour ago, soloduet said: Thank you Wunks, this memory is very moving! I wish this man could also play concertina like the Cornish Hobos. And after reading your comment I wonder if somebody like you, concertina player with a long railway worker experience, could be a possible Jack Chantegril? Well, even if you are him or not the book "When the River still Ran" could be a nice Xmas present to any concertina player interested in the Cornish Hobos and the Railway musicians... I've never heard of this Chantegril fellow but he sounds like a kindred spirit. Interestingly, your video and my little story prompted a song to pop into my head. I'll share it with you if I can pull it all together😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 5 hours ago, soloduet said: Actually for this bass line I was inspired by this wonderful video sent to me by a concertinist called Zach (maybe he is a member here?). As him I think that it is the best rendition of this tune after the one that I heard from the Cornish Hobo: https://youtu.be/b1Z4PAZX9Bs And this video in turn brings to mind the performance by Bob Gibson that I have been familiar with since I was a kid in the 1960s (maybe it’s just the banjo, albeit played very differently). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isel Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 On 12/9/2020 at 12:05 PM, soloduet said: Actually for this bass line I was inspired by this wonderful video sent to me by a concertinist called Zach (maybe he is a member here?). As him I think that it is the best rendition of this tune after the one that I heard from the Cornish Hobo: https://youtu.be/b1Z4PAZX9Bs The more I hear it, the more I like it😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ritonmousquetaire Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 (edited) A great rendition as always, love your arrangements! That tune is great and works in many rhythms... Among the faster takes my favorite version is this one : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2lM1ISyNeo By the way, I wanted to listen to your version of Brassens's "La Marine" the other day, but couldn't find it anymore on youtube - did you get it removed? Edited December 25, 2020 by ritonmousquetaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soloduet Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 Thank you Ritonmousquetaire, it's always very interesting to listen to your comments and musical recommendations! Yes I removed the public access to my video of La Marine because at that time I wasn't really satisfied with the sound of the recording. Maybe because I recorded the video in my boat on the Marne river to be in the mood of the tune, but as it's quite tiny it sounds a little harsh aboard, even if I tried to correct it with the mics. But for you and the fans of George Brassens here is the link: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Sounds great to me (both the recording and the performance)! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soloduet Posted February 14, 2021 Author Share Posted February 14, 2021 Another version of the same tune: https://youtu.be/m9nL64ens9Q Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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