C sharp and odd keys!

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

The question on forum someone asked about concertinas in E flat ( etc..) Got me thinking how odd it is to try exotic keys on concertinas.

C sharp is example as there's a need for several of your sharp notes in sequence to be used. 

I have button accordion ( my father's) keyed with a row in C sharp and row in C major.. where that sharp row sounds so lovely to play, and with comparative ease..yet switch to anglo ( 30 key)  and fingers Jump all over the place to reach the notes; its Ike going for a ride on a rocket to a very distant planet, of which there is a sense of familiarity, and yet, at the same time, being aware of a slightly mysterious exotic world.🌝

A wholly philosophical thought 🌝

 

[Matt Heumann]

Back in the 80s when my first Wheatstone needed its first overhaul/tuning, the restorers pointed out that only the notes in the keys of C/D/G showed any need for tuning and that that was why the instrument was so out of tune with itself. So I started playing tunes in F/Bb/A/Eb and besides becoming a better player, my concertina remained in tune with itself much longer and the mechanical responsiveness remained equal throughout the entire range. While this is not as big a deal for Anglos built in specific keys, it would be beneficial for EC & Duets to play as many keys as possible to maintain a well balanced instrument, even if its only one tune in each key.

[Johanna]

You know what sounds really good on a concertina?  "Entrance of the Gladiators," i.e., the circus music theme.  It's full of chromatic scales, so it gives all the buttons a workout.  And it's a convenient way of noting that bandmates/session-mates/etc. are being clowns.

 

I learned the whole thing years ago, but I lost it when I fell out of practice.  I really need to relearn it.

Edited November 6 by Johanna

[Matt Heumann]

 

10 hours ago, Johanna said:

It's full of chromatic scales, so it gives all the buttons a workout.  

 

 

Here's the type of tune I like to compose/play to keep all notes in sync:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1xa0dz9aq70g3fmsdipjn/ABp_lTMlg47SbWYJMApYOzg?rlkey=yezvlhiwl4fwypezx428sidai&st=1fdngy4y&dl=0

 

[Johanna]

10 hours ago, Matthew Heumann said:

 

Here's the type of tune I like to compose/play to keep all notes in sync:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1xa0dz9aq70g3fmsdipjn/ABp_lTMlg47SbWYJMApYOzg?rlkey=yezvlhiwl4fwypezx428sidai&st=1fdngy4y&dl=0

 

Fun!  I feel like it could make a good set with The Mathematician.

ETA: But no B-flats?

Edited November 7 by Johanna

[Matt Heumann]

8 hours ago, Johanna said:

Fun!  I feel like it could make a good set with The Mathematician.

ETA: But no B-flats?

Well, I always welcome players to modify tunes to their needs, so make a variation with flats!!! But for now play this after the original version in G:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zb78b521rrft8co76lhgu/what-was-I-thinking-Bb.pdf?rlkey=twh6l1s0v14rod0f75k810enz&st=h4tceen8&dl=0

[Johanna]

2 hours ago, Matthew Heumann said:

Well, I always welcome players to modify tunes to their needs, so make a variation with flats!!! But for now play this after the original version in G:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zb78b521rrft8co76lhgu/what-was-I-thinking-Bb.pdf?rlkey=twh6l1s0v14rod0f75k810enz&st=h4tceen8&dl=0

What were you thinking?????

[Pianist]

If you want something odd try Miss MacDermott by Carolan in F minor as in Donal O'Sullivan book on  Carolan.

(It's basically Princess Royal in a minor key and is usually transposed to G minor.)