Lachenal Anglo steel reeded in keys A-E

[d.elliott]

I have an A-E concertina on the bench for restoration. No: I do not mean Ab-Eb. This A-E is a weird tuning for an Anglo, as an English player these keys are no issue, but what sort of music would such an Anglo be used for? A Maj (3 sharps) is the key beloved of fiddlers and other racing car drivers, the E major key (4 sharps) I see in some traditional hymns. 

 

This concertina has been seriously played in it's life time so it must have had a niche,  but I am intrigued by it's application. The date is around 1895. 

[Mike Jones]

Hi David,

I have a 30k Jones Anglo tuned A/E probably from the very last few weeks of the companies existence (No. 28064). It is "Verdi" tuned to A=432 Hz and although I have no proof, I am assuming this was because it was an orchestral instrument for a particular piece or part of an arrangement or  as a remote possibility, for e.g. a Salvation Army band specialising in community singing. I'm leaving this as it is because I really like the sound and sonority of it and I play it at home for my own pleasure.

I also have an A/E (now all tuned A=440Hz), 20k Lachenal that was originally a C/G instrument but has been re-tuned at some time, probably in the 1890's  (it was made in approx 1885}. I've resisted doing anything about changing the tuning of this as the reeds are now so mangled. Its quite fun (as the Anglo is a transposing instrument) to play well known tunes usually originally in the keys of C or G just to see what they sound like and to assess if its worth changing the key signature and writing a new arrangement for the new key.

Lastly, its just possible someone may want an A/E instrument in order to get a full set of all possible tuning options. I had this ambition once only lacking a B/F* and C/C*. Eventually I came to the conclusion it was a pointless exercise and also, under pressure from my wife, am trying to downsize my collection of over 30 instruments to more manageable levels

Apart from the above purposes I can't see any other reasons for having something in A/E.

Mike

[RP3]

Years ago at one of the Noel Hill US concertina classes, 1996 IIRC, one of our classmates brought a new (to him) 26 button Jeffries Anglo concertina as originally tuned in A/E. While obviously being a bit short on notes, that was one fine sounding instrument. Why it was tuned at that pitch combination no one knows, but when it sounds that good - who cares?! Was great on airs.

 

Ross Schlabach

[d.elliott]

Thanks Mike, I fully understand the need to down size, and the 'domestic' pressures the wily ones can bring to bear. Thats why I bought a piccolo, but I still have the bass.

[Theo]

I had an AE to sell a few years ago.  It hung around for quite a while but eventually went to an accomplished Irish musician who hand been searching for an AE to play along with a piper who liked to play a set of pipes in B.  Using the fingering that would give D major on a CG gives B major on an AE

[Ken_Coles]

It is just a lovely, low-souding pitch. That's enough reason for me to have my Lachenal A/E (it is my wife's favorite instrument).

 

Ken

[Roger Hare]

Though it's now quite old, this article by Mr. Coles contains a few brief remarks on A/E which may be of interest?

Edited December 16, 2021 by lachenal74693

[cohen]

The most recent addition to my collection is a lovely Jeffries 38 key in A/E, it's from the C. Jeffries maker period tuned to approx. A=444. I have no idea what it was used for in the past, but for me A/E is pretty much the ideal anglo tuning; C/G can get a bit high across the top end, but with a G/D you are almost getting into baritone territory, A/E sits nicely in the middle with an instrument that sounds lovely and is responsive across the whole range. 

[d.elliott]

Thanks Lach74693, I did read the article before posting, by the way, I used to be in digs in Urmston when at university, is the Nags Head still going? most of my grant went over that bar. 

 

Cohen, Interesting observations, so I guess we are looking at a tenor singing range?, good for accompanying sopranos?

[David Aumann]

I have a 20 key, rosewood ended Lachenal in A/E. Serial number 57778, labelled Thos Dawkins. It’s the original tuning as reed stampings correspond to actual pitch. It has the Lachenal trademark. Probably dates to about 1879(?) Found in a bric a brac shop in northern Tasmania.    

[Roger Hare]

10 hours ago, d.elliott said:

[1] Thanks Lach74693, I did read the article before posting, [2] by the way, I used to be in digs in Urmston when at university, is the Nags Head still going? most of my grant went over that bar. 

[1] Aye, I suspected that you might have seen the article, but it's quite old now, and I thought that some of t'other posters might not be aware of it, as it's sort of well-hidden. You only know it's there if you know it's there - if you see what I mean. It's an interesting article in it's own right, I think.

 

I think I stumbled across the article when I acquired my lovely Ab/Eb (it's tuned in 'Old Phil', I think) which got me interested in different 'configurations'. (Thinks - that Ab/Eb needs tuning...☹️)

 

[2] Yup, the Nag is still going strong - I think you may have mentioned this a while back - I seem to remember about the time they had a refurbishment. Still selling pints at about one-half 'Lunnon prices', though I haven't been in myself - I frequent the Conservative Club by Chassen Park and the miniature railway...

Edited December 16, 2021 by lachenal74693

[d.elliott]

On 12/16/2021 at 9:18 PM, lachenal74693 said:

[1] Aye, I suspected that you might have seen the article, but it's quite old now, and I thought that some of t'other posters might not be aware of it, as it's sort of well-hidden. You only know it's there if you know it's there - if you see what I mean. It's an interesting article in it's own right, I think.

 

I think I stumbled across the article when I acquired my lovely Ab/Eb (it's tuned in 'Old Phil', I think) which got me interested in different 'configurations'. (Thinks - that Ab/Eb needs tuning...☹️)

 

[2] Yup, the Nag is still going strong - I think you may have mentioned this a while back - I seem to remember about the time they had a refurbishment. Still selling pints at about one-half 'Lunnon prices', though I haven't been in myself - I frequent the Conservative Club by Chassen Park and the miniature railway...

 

I remember the darts nights in the tap room at the Nag, playing on a wooden 'Manchester board'. I don't remember a miniature railway back in the late 1960's.   The days of my very miss-spent youth

[Robin Madge]

I know quite a few guitarist who play a lot in E and fiddle player who play a lot in A. It could be useful to play along with them.

 

Robin

[Stephen Chambers]

On 12/19/2021 at 11:23 AM, d.elliott said:

I remember the darts nights in the tap room at the Nag, playing on a wooden 'Manchester board'. I don't remember a miniature railway back in the late 1960's.   The days of my very miss-spent youth

 

Golly, I haven't seen a "Manchester board" since the early '70s, when I was a student there myself...

[d.elliott]

Wicked boards to play on, and you end up with ink stained hands!