Big Mystery - Decide For Yourselves

[Geoffrey Crabb]

Hi all,

My doesn't this topic move fast. Can't keep up

 

I am sorry that my offering has caused disappointment to some in that it might curtail the discussion prematurely, but it was an attempt to add a little fact into the proceedings.

 

Dirge,

My response did state that I have listened to the clip and the CD. I only claim the Bluebell Polka to be performed by my father. Although Colonel Bogey was in his repertoire, he used a different arrangement.

 

Malcolm,

The Bluebell Polka was played solo.

 

Jim,

It is sometimes very difficult to determine if more than one instrument is used when only being able to hear a performance. I have my own views on the performer of Colonel Bogey (now published) and if so, then a 72 McCann Duet was the instrument used solo. With these larger concertinas, the physical volume of the bellows and the mass of the instrument diminishes the right side noticeably affecting the left whereas large handfuls of low left hand chords can reduce the volume (loudness) of the right hand notes due to ‘air drainage’ by the larger reeds. This effect is usually described and noticed as ‘the left swamping the right’. Unfortunately this is common with the majority of duets (and sometimes the lower pitched Anglos) unless extra special attention is given to the fitting/profiling of the reed tongues and positioning of the lower pitched reeds on the reed pans to make the most efficient use of the air available. The very best custom-built instruments received this attention. (Apologies for getting technical).

One must also remember that the majority of players of whatever type of concertina we are hearing in these older recordings only had the one instrument for years and therefore able to concentrate to adapt and perfect their performance to the capabilities of that instrument.

 

All,

I congratulate Alan Day, his helpers and the contributors of the material for making it possible for the versatility of the concertina to be heard by so many. Such a pity that many of the performers are no longer with us to enjoy the praise they deserve.

 

Keep an eye and ear out for any amateur recordings of the trio performances of of George Crathern, Herbert (Bert) Green & Bill Bullen (AKA Billy Hartford). Cracking stuff on three, yes three 81 McCann Duets.

Memorable stuff.

 

Geoff.

[Alan Day]

Sorry to raise this subject again,but I have recently received some new archive material in cassette form, which will be an important private collection.Amongst the first from this collection is a cassette clearly marked on one side Alf.I have now listened to this a number of times and I can confirm that EVERY track is the playing of Alf Edwards .

The other side is clearly marked MAURICE and the early two recordings are the key to this players ability and style.He is practicing on HIS OWN and struggling with the first two numbers,there is no doubt in my mind that it is one player and an incredible one at that, just from the second tune. The majority of the rest of the cassette is exactly that which started this debate.

If one side is ALF Edwards in TOTAL why would not ALL the second side be MAURICE Harvey (son of Jim Harvey) a member of the Kensington Concertina Band one track of which is featured on this cassette?

My first impression was that this is one player and I have not changed my mind.With these further recordings I will let Iris Bishop have a listen and see what she thinks.

Approved or not there is no way some of these recordings will be missed off Duet International.

I am still hunting down Maurice but no success yet.

I may get permission for this second tune to be posted on here and start this debate again.If it does happen please keep an open mind about this,listening to an incredible player who can do things most cannot is easy to write off as being a number of players,or multi tracked.Listening to John Kirkpatrick once more playing Gigue live it can be done and is not impossible for him.

Al

 

Edited to correct typing error

Edited March 1, 2007 by Alan Day

[Stephen Chambers]

FWIW, I think that all the tracks I've described as "Duet" are performed by the same player (could it be Jim's son Maurice?).

Al,

 

Hmm, could I have been (at least partly) right after all?

 

But Maurice's father was one-time ICA Secretary Jim Harvey who wasn't a member of the Kensington Quartet, although he took me to one of their rehearsals at Alf Edwards' flat many moons ago.

Edited March 1, 2007 by Stephen Chambers

[Alan Day]

FWIW, I think that all the tracks I've described as "Duet" are performed by the same player (could it be Jim's son Maurice?).

Al,

 

Hmm, could I have been (at least partly) right after all?

 

But Maurice's father was one-time ICA Secretary Jim Harvey who wasn't a member of the Kensington Quartet, although he took me to one of their rehearsals at Alf Edwards' flat many moons ago.

 

Sorry this is my bad wording.Maurice was a member(not his father) with Charlie Jeffries,Tom Jukes,Charlie Parsley etc.

 

Al

[Alan Day]

I have permission to post the first two recordings of Maurice Harvey,has anyone a cassette to CD facility ideally in the UK and knows how to post two tracks on here? If so please send me your address and I will do a cassette and post it off.

Ta

Al

[John Wild]

I have permission to post the first two recordings of Maurice Harvey,has anyone a cassette to CD facility ideally in the UK and knows how to post two tracks on here? If so please send me your address and I will do a cassette and post it off.

Ta

Al

 

I could do the first part, recording from cassette, but do not know about the second stage.

 

Regards

 

John Wild

[Alan Day]

I have permission to post the first two recordings of Maurice Harvey,has anyone a cassette to CD facility ideally in the UK and knows how to post two tracks on here? If so please send me your address and I will do a cassette and post it off.

Ta

Al

 

I could do the first part, recording from cassette, but do not know about the second stage.

 

Regards

 

John Wild

Chris may do the second part John.

If he agrees I will send you the cassette.

Al

[Chris Timson]

Chris may do the second part John.

If he agrees I will send you the cassette.

Watch (or listen to) this space.

 

Chris

[Alan Day]

Thanks for your note Chris.

I have moved things on.I have had a long chat this afternoon with Jim and Iris Bishop.Firstly Jim is going to do a CD of the tape and an MP3 of the two representative recordings I have selected.

The first is Maurice just practicing a tune,it will include his mistakes because I want to show you all that it is one player.It is a nice country dance tune played in Anglo style.The second tune also includes mistakes and once again shows clearly it is one player,it is why I have not cleaned up this recording.Please listen to the style as it shows this players capabilities.Stick with the recording and you will hear about the best example ever of Duet playing.

Iris is sure it is one player,she thinks the left hand notes are either muffled to give clarity to the right hand or that on the recording the left hand is away from the mike.

I would be grateful for all your comments,if you disagree please say,I am only offering more evidence and I think much clearer than before,but see what you all think.

The recordings are not fantastic quality, but the playing (even with the mistakes)will make up for it.

 

Chris I will get the MP3s sent to you if you would post them on here I would be grateful.

It should all happen in the next few days.

Al

[Chris Timson]

Here are the mp3's:-

 

www.concertina.info/odds/mystery1.mp3

 

www.concertina.info/odds/mystery2.mp3

 

Chris

[Boney]

Fantastic! A real inspiration, there.

[Alan Day]

Many thanks Chris

Al

[Randall Cayford]

Here are the mp3's:-

 

www.concertina.info/odds/mystery1.mp3

 

www.concertina.info/odds/mystery2.mp3

 

They are both very familiar sounding. What are the names of the tunes?

[Clive Thorne]

Wow ! Two lovely pieces and the second one is just mind blowing in the technical skill.

 

Its actually heartening to know that people who can play that well still make mistakes. Obviously a mild mannered man as well as a brilliant concertina player - If I make mistakes in the middle of a tune it's generally accompanied by a few choice expletives!

 

I must learn that first tune! I really like the second tune as well, but thankfully its so far ahead of my ability that I'd be silly even to think about it.

 

Clive

[wes williams]

Its actually heartening to know that people who can play that well still make mistakes. Obviously a mild mannered man as well as a brilliant concertina player - If I make mistakes in the middle of a tune it's generally accompanied by a few choice expletives!

Clive,

Not so much a man as a boy. Maurice would have been in his early teens in the early 60s. And the recording was being made by his Dad! Here's a photo of Maurice from the ICA Archive, courtesy of Malcolm Clapp.

[Dirge]

Excellent inspiring stuff. But what is the second piece? Someone's put a lot of work into arranging it for the duet. It sounds like the overture to a long forgotten show to me. If there's an ICA link could it be something from their library? A Stanley arrangement perhaps?

 

I bet he was sweating by the end.

 

Wish I could do that...

[Alan Day]

I was introduced to Maurice when visiting his Father,he was living in an upstairs room almost as a recluse.He completely gave up the concertina after getting polio and was playing the guitar when I went into his room .He was still fairly young when I saw him. The theory is that he was rebelling againsts his Father who pushed him very hard as a lad,obviously seeing his potential. I have many more outstanding recordings of his playing which we will put out on Duet International, but only as "thought to be the playing of Maurice Harvey",unless I can track him down.

Nobody has yet said they agree with me however and the recordings may still have to go out as Mystery Artist,certainly listening to a lot more of the tracks than you have heard it certainly seems to be the same style and the tape clearly states "Maurice" as being the player featured.

If any duet player of reasonable standard would like to hear all of this tape then please contact me privately.

I will have to limit the number however to just a few.

What sort of player would he have been if he had carried on,I shudder to think.

Al

I forgot to mention that the ICA hold Duet music in their archives and Iris Bishop (X ICA archive manager)was telling me that there are some which are equally as hard as this to play and some harder.If it was written for Duet then at one time someone must have played them.

There was no tune details with the tape.

Edited March 9, 2007 by Alan Day

[Clive Thorne]

Its actually heartening to know that people who can play that well still make mistakes. Obviously a mild mannered man as well as a brilliant concertina player - If I make mistakes in the middle of a tune it's generally accompanied by a few choice expletives!

Clive,

Not so much a man as a boy. Maurice would have been in his early teens in the early 60s.

 

 

Even more impressed!

 

Clive