Clare style of concertina playing

[mike delta]

Hello, is the style of concertina playing in County Clare particular to that geographic area or would it be classed as simply "concertina playing". I ask because I am curious in so far as fiddle styles of playing exist in different geographical areas of Ireland and I was wondering if the same may be said of concertina. If Clare does have its own particular style how may one describe it?  

Thank you, Mike Delta

[Ken_Coles]

Not only does Clare have a style, but east Clare and west Clare differ, is my general impression. The experts here will likely chime in. And didn't Gearoid O'H. write a dissertation on Irish concertina playing and styles? (same disclaimer - my recollection is hazy here).

 

Ken

[Takayuki YAGI]

I am not an expert, but you can hear the West Clare concertina music on the "Clare Concertina Styles" CD or "The Clare set" 6CD set from the Free-Reed label (Neil Wayne), and the East Clare music on Mary MacNamara's recent book with CD "Sundays at Lena's" (available directly from Mary or Custy's).

 

"Keepers of Tradition" is also a good concertina CD but it contains both West and East Clare players.

[John, Wexford]

11 hours ago, Ken_Coles said:

Not only does Clare have a style, but east Clare and west Clare differ, is my general impression. The experts here will likely chime in. And didn't Gearoid O'H. write a dissertation on Irish concertina playing and styles? (same disclaimer - my recollection is hazy here).

 

Ken

 

This article by Gearóid is freely accessible from Clare County Library:

 

https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/music/heartland_clare_concertina/introduction.htm

 

I hope this is of some assistance.

[Peter Laban]

Not one to solve in a few forum posts.

 

The way I see it, there are an awful lot of concertina players in Clare who, if you look at each in detail, have quite a variety of approaches to playing the instrument (especially if you look across the generations)  and yet manage to fall within the parameters of 'playing Clare (style)  music'.

 

In that sense, I feel,  'Clare style' would be how music rather than how the instrument is approached.

Edited September 21, 2022 by Peter Laban