Ptarmigan Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 (edited) Hello there - my first post here. No doubt this is old hat to you guys here but I just received an E-mail the other day, from a good friend who is living in Oz, who told me that a friend of his was in the market for a Concertina & had the option of two English ones, but was holding out for "the more suitable variety" (his words, not mine!) He went on to tell me that the Anglo variety are "virtually impossible to get your mits on ..... and they are usually around $5000-$6000, when available." Apparently there is only one maker over there who has a waiting list of several years. So his question was: "What’s your opinion on the 'English Concertina, for playing Irish music?" To be honest, I have only ever played the Anglo, & in truth I have heard Irish music played badly on an English Concertina, but I have also heard it played beautifully, so I thought I'd throw this open for our resident experts to chew over. Any thoughts folks, on any aspect of my friend's enquiry? Edited July 9, 2006 by Ptarmigan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Timson Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 I don't play English concertina and I don't play Irish music, but I have two friends, both members of this forum, who make Irish music on the English concertina sound like the only possible choice. There is no logical reason for restricting Irish music to the anglo, but there is a lot of custom and there are people who will tell you that you should only play Irish music on the anglo. Codswallop. You might just as well say you shouldn't play it on the flute, only the anglo. You should decide which system you prefer by handling them, then play the music that you want on the system of your preference. Believe me you will make a much better fist of it if you do it that way, I can appreciate that in Oz it might be more difficult to find instruments to try, but we have Australian members of this forum who might be able to advise on that front as well. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm clapp Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 In these days of the internet, prices here in Oz are very similar to prices in UK and the US. Perhaps, Ptarmigan, you can ask the friend of your friend to contact me and I may be able to pass on some suggestions as to how best to acquire an anglo. My details are in the concertina FAQ, or through a pm via this site. MC (NSW, Australia) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lildogturpy Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 I certainly have a lot of fun playing Irish music on the English concertina. I have never played the anglo so I can't say if it's easier to play but it certainly sounds different. Having said that I like the way it sounds on the English. Rather than trying to emulate the anglo sound with chords backing up the melody line I try to sound more like the fiddle. I get the impression that it's easier to play fast reels on the English but harder to get the "bouncy" sound characteristic of jigs played on the anglo. As long as I'm having fun I can take the comments such as "When are you going to get a real concertina?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffwright Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 emulate the anglo sound with chords backing up the melody line I thought that most ITM anglo players (who don't follow the older styles of playing) try to emulate the Uillean Pipes with drones & regulator chords as well as the usual ornaments used by pipers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Evans Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 Codswallop. You might just as well say you shouldn't play it on the flute, only the anglo. Aye! Codswallop! A word I must use in conversation...today if possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 Codswallop! A word I must use in conversation...today if possible. Alternatively, you could just slap somebody in the face with a fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm clapp Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 Codswallop! A word I must use in conversation...today if possible. Alternatively, you could just slap somebody in the face with a fish. Reminds me of a Monty Python sketch.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Evans Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 Reminds me of a Monty Python sketch.... And now for something completely different! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 And now for something completely different! And now for something completely different! Well, actually, that was completely the same, wasn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirge Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 Mr Cod invented and patented those funny shaped victorian pop bpttles that have a captive marble inside them that was held against the rubber seal by the pressure of the lemonade gas. These days they are usually referred to as marble bottles but originally they were, of course, called Codd bottles. They were mostly used for lemonade, ginger beer and the like, resulting in people saying things like "That's a load of Codswallop. Give me a PROPER beer." Hence etc... (sorry, did you all know that?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Evans Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 (edited) (sorry, did you all know that?) I did not and am very pleased to be in full command of codswallop. Edited July 11, 2006 by Mark Evans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Timson Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 They were mostly used for lemonade, ginger beer and the like, resulting in people saying things like "That's a load of Codswallop. Give me a PROPER beer." Hence etc... (sorry, did you all know that?) Pish! (Another word for Mark). Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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