Roslyn Castle on Jay 80 key Wicki Hayden Duet

[vpo]

This is a re-recording of the new 80 key Hayden Concertina that I’ve been playing for the last 6 months (which I’m finding very intuitive and much easier to improvise with compared with the English Concertina…though they both have their strengths). I’ve used my new Momix Pro mixer/interface which is self powered, has a built in reverb capability and is much easier to connect direct to iPad camera without the need for a DAW app to add a little warmth and which I thought a bargain at just under £120. The previous recording was rather dry and the little bit of reverb I’ve added better reflect the actual tone of the instrument I hope.

Edited June 9, 2025 by vpo
Re- Recorded

[David Colpitts]

Very nice indeed! 

[David Barnert]

Nice.

 

Perhaps you’re not aware that what I believe was the very first example of a solo concertina player posting a tune on youtube (18 years ago) was Danny Chapman playing Roslin Castle. He was playing an English concertina, but he makes it sound like a duet (after the first 8 bars). Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/e8grHuyFyg4

[vpo]

Yes.. and played beautifully as always on his EC. Thanks for bringing that one back to the light David.

[mskow]

Sounds great. Can you share the range of your instrument? 

[mandojoe]

Sounds wonderful.  I am in line waiting for my own.  Are the bellows standard or did you specifically request this sort of double bellows?  Thanks.  

[Matt Heumann]

Wow, you really got the hang of that box pretty darn quick. But you did tell me when you got it that it was more intuitive for a piano player.

Excellent! But don't quit the baritone-treble, I really liked what you did on it!

[vpo]

On 5/22/2025 at 4:21 PM, mskow said:

On 5/22/2025 at 4:21 PM, mskow said:

Sounds great. Can you share the range of your instrument? M

RHS goes from G3 to G6

LHS from from G2 to C5

Where C4 is middle C on piano

Edited May 24, 2025 by vpo
Accuracy

[vpo]

On 5/22/2025 at 6:38 PM, mandojoe said:

Sounds wonderful.  I am in line waiting for my own.  Are the bellows standard or did you specifically request this sort of double bellows?  Thanks.  

Yes I asked for the double bellows. Good to have the extra air though it does mean you need to play on two knees.. which feels comfortable anyway. Instrument weighs 3kg and with the big bellows is a bit heavy for playing on one knee anyway. Hope you get yours soon…!

[vpo]

Thanks Matt.. And yes most of the effort has gone into learning this system recently, but as ever with these things, each instrument lends itself to different modes of playing.. and genres.. the EC actually lends itself to those nice scrunchy jazz chords and a particular way of playing. And I’m hoping playing the 2 completely different instruments will help to keep the little grey cells talking to each other!

Edited May 24, 2025 by vpo

[mskow]

15 hours ago, vpo said:

RHS goes from G3 to G6

LHS from from G2 to C5

Where C4 is middle C on piano

Thanks. Does that mean there are duplicate notes on each side? Within that range there would be 67 pitches, 37 RHS 30 LHS

[David Barnert]

14 minutes ago, mskow said:

Thanks. Does that mean there are duplicate notes on each side? Within that range there would be 67 pitches, 37 RHS 30 LHS

 

Yes. Duet concertinas (Hayden, McCann, Crane, Jeffries, etc.) in general have an overlap between the higher notes on the left and the lower notes on the right.

 

Here is the layout of my 46-key Hayden. Each row is half an octave higher than the row below it. The left hand is an octave lower than corresponding keys on the right.

 

|        LEFT HAND            ||        RIGHT HAND
|                             ||
|                             ||  Bb  C   D
|   F   G   A   B             ||    F   G   A   B   C#
| Bb (C)  D   E   F#  G#      ||  Bb  C   D   E   F#  G#
|   F   G   A   B   C#  D#    ||    F   G   A   B   C#  D#
|     C   D   E   F#  G#      ||     (C)  D   E   F#  G#
|                             ||
|(5th Finger)       (Thumb)   ||  (Thumb)       (5th Finger)
| ======HAND STRAP========    ||   ======HAND STRAP========
|
|(C) = middle C (both hands).

[vpo]

Yes on the 80 Key Hayden, all the Ab, Bb and Eb are duplicated to facilitate playing. With an octave difference between the sides.

[mskow]

Thank you both - I had been aware of the range overlap, but didn't know about the 3 duplicate notes. 

[Gregor Markič]

Wow, a glorious instrument. And beautiful playing. Thanx.

[vpo]