From Cba To Concertina

[Stiamh]

What advice would you give to a clown/mime artist who wants to learn concertina to use it in her acts?

 

She plays continental button accordion and is wondering whether a system exists that follows the logic of the CBA keyboard. She has a bit of resistance to the idea of a push-pull system.

 

I know a bit about Anglos and Englishes and can arrange for her to try out tinas belonging to friends of mine. But I don't know whether any of the duet systems would correspond to the CBA keyboard in any way.

 

BTW price is a consideration - your average clown/mime artist is struggling to make ends meet, so there is no point in recommending something that is not available reasonably cheaply. I tend to think she should forget about correspondence with the CBA and set herself to learn a new instrument, and go for something like a Jackie or Rochelle. But you guys may have more a more informed take on the matter.

 

Thanks in advance for all opinions and suggestions!

[m3838]

I tend to think she should forget about correspondence with the CBA and set herself to learn a new instrument, and go for something like a Jackie or Rochelle.

 

Thanks in advance for all opinions and suggestions!

 

You are absolutely right.

I've seen a few clowns with concertinas, all of them had English.

I also think that since she is a clown and probably wants to be funny, she might do better with tiny Mini Stagi.

It's really small, inexpencive (?) and has useful range.

People will be amazed at how much sound and utility comes from a tiny "toy".

Russian system diatonic accordions are playing same note on pull/push and if she gets some smallish accordion, it has some correspondence with the CBA. I also know that there are very very small tiny one reed CBAs. One is from Pigini "Peter Pan" and I heard it is very good. The price is $1500 or something.

Hohner and Weltmeister sell very small 3 and 5 rows CBAs with 48 to 70 basses. Not bad, if she is concerned with weight and she doesn't want to re-learn. She can sell her big (probably) CBA and buy smaller one.

[Theo]

The Haden/Wiki duet also has a uniform keyboard, like a CBA, where a tune can be transpoised by choosing a different starting buttons, and using the same fingering pattern. I believe the actual pattern or notes is different though.

[Theodore Kloba]

I've seen a few clowns with concertinas, all of them had English.

Now that we have ZiziAllaire's friend and Mattamar Pazzolov (those champions of alliteration), this can be taken literally. In the context of the occasionally recurring Anglo vs. English discussion it means something else entirely.

[mike averill]

Perhaps a bandoneon would be a good middle ground - They are made with both B and C system fingerings at reasonable prices. Try this

http://cgi.ebay.com/B-System-Bandonion-Ban...1QQcmdZViewItem

[m3838]

Perhaps a bandoneon would be a good middle ground - They are made with both B and C system fingerings at reasonable prices. Try this

http://cgi.ebay.com/B-System-Bandonion-Ban...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Very true, but expencive.

What is the reason for a choice?

Is it the weight, the size, the fragility of the instrument? Why change and start learning from scratch?

[Stiamh]

Very true, but expensive. What is the reason for a choice? Is it the weight, the size, the fragility of the instrument? Why change and start learning from scratch?

 

Thanks for all the ideas. As I understood it, my friend's idea is to be able to integrate a traditional feature of clowning into her acts. But I'm sure weight is an issue.

 

Her CBA is seriously heavy of course, but I would think that a "band onion" at 4.5 kg would be ruled out. I mean, I can't imagine anyone wanting to play that yoke standing up, with that kind of weight on your wrists, without even thinking of zooming around a stage or circus ring with it.

 

The Stagi mini appears to be an Anglo-model only, am I right? Pity because I think she's more likely to plump for an English. I'll present her with all the options but so far I think a Jackie is the only likely candidate.

 

Cheers

Steve

 

PS "clowns with concertinas"... I can see myself making use of that idea when the opportunity presents itself

 

EDIT PS I see I was wrong, the Stagi mini is an English. But not particularly cheap. What would the range of an 18 button model be? 18 notes = 1½ octaves I suppose.

Edited November 23, 2006 by ZiziAllaire

[Larry Stout]

The Stagi A-18 is an 18 button mini English Concertina. Button box has them on their current stock list at

http://www.buttonbox.com/stocklist.shtml

[Stiamh]

The Stagi A-18 is an 18 button mini English Concertina. Button box has them on their current stock list at

http://www.buttonbox.com/stocklist.shtml

 

Tanx Larry - you posted as I was correcting myself.

[Alan Day]

One of finest players of the miniature English was the late Tommy Elliott an example of which will be on English International.Tommy was part of the Musical Elliotts and he can be seen playing on the Pathe News Website which also features his daughters.The other master of the miniature was Perci Honri who will be on Duet International which I will start in the New Year.

Al

[m3838]

Very true, but expensive. What is the reason for a choice? Is it the weight, the size, the fragility of the instrument? Why change and start learning from scratch?

 

Thanks for all the ideas. As I understood it, my friend's idea is to be able to integrate a traditional feature of clowning into her acts. But I'm sure weight is an issue.

 

 

Clown with concertina is not a traditional act, but rather one of few cliches the public has about clowns.

She might find she need serious dedication to the instrument, so it will become not a Clown with a concertina, but rather a Concertina with a clown. Another unfounded cliche is that clowns must wear white mask with the red nose and act mindlessly silly.

I'm from Russia, and russian circus was stationary and seriously supported by the state. I've seen many clowns, some very good and few top notch. Almost none fit the cliche. The best ones were often without any makeup (well, almost).

I'm sure she will make wise decision, and will not become yet another clown, desperately trying to extort a chuckle.

BTW, check out Slava's Snow Show by russian clown Slava Polunin.

http://www.slavasnowshow.co.uk/

He does wear all the makeup you can iimagine and they do have an act with a concertinas. But the concertinas are fake.

[Stiamh]

Clown with concertina is not a traditional act, but rather one of few cliches the public has about clowns.

 

Well I have seen quite a lot of clowns in traditional circuses (mainly on TV when I was younger), and in street performances, alternative theatres, and "nouveau cirque", but I had never heard of a clowns using concertinas until I read about it somewhere, maybe in here on an old number of C&S magazine. Perhaps it's more of a cliché in Russia, or perhaps I'm just an ignoramus.

 

And you needn't fear for the quality of my friend's performances, nor the musical parts of it. She's good and she takes her calling very seriously. Thanks again.

[Hooves]

Castagnari makes a very small accordion they call the "Giordy", its a bit pricey at around $800, more than the stagi mini, but thats an option too. I would guess the Giordy is better quality than the 18b, and its actaully smaller I believe. Plus its a Castagnari.

 

How about one of those really cheap toy accordions you see on ebay, with only 1 row and a price tag less than $30? She could try it and if it doesn't suit her act she can give it away as a party favor.

 

Then again theres always horns and the elegant resonance of the kazoo.

[m3838]

Castagnari makes a very small accordion they call the "Giordy", its a bit pricey at around $800, more than the stagi mini, but thats an option too. I would guess the Giordy is better quality than the 18b, and its actaully smaller I believe. Plus its a Castagnari.

 

How about one of those really cheap toy accordions you see on ebay, with only 1 row and a price tag less than $30? She could try it and if it doesn't suit her act she can give it away as a party favor.

 

Then again theres always horns and the elegant resonance of the kazoo.

Well, you can't sing or tell stories with the cazoo.

I think I saw some small 2 rows (4x4 buttons) at Lark in the Morning at $600. Not a Castagnari, but a good brand too. Also italians sell 1/5 row Organettos. I agree, it will be more cheerful than a concertina, easier to play and a bit louder too.

[JimLucas]

Clown with concertina is not a traditional act, but rather one of few cliches the public has about clowns.

In the US I never saw an clown with a concertina, but in Western Europe the concertina seems to be commonly known as the "clown harmonika" (where "harmonika"=accordion). Not all clowns play concertina, but it's a longstanding tradition that some do, and many people over here have only ever encountered the concertina as part of a clown act. But "clowns" themselves seem to be viewed differently here, too. Humor is definitely part of the act, but it's not necessarily silly. When they play music, it's rarely for obnoxious sound effects or a look-how-awful-I-am parody, but rather a serious and impressively competent instrumental performance.

 

Just two days ago when a local photographer learned that I play concertina, he began reminiscing about how as a child he fell in love with the instrument when he saw a clown playing one in a circus.

[m3838]

[Larry Stout]

It looks like they are playing English Concertinas but of a make I've never seen before. Any guesses what they are?

[Jeff H]

What about the Harry Geuns modified Bandoneon with the CBA keyboard

 

Made in China designed by Geuns... around $800 US as I recall