Jody Kruskal Posted March 4, 2007 Share Posted March 4, 2007 I was surfing the net last night, looking for sound samples or pictures of the Anglo/German concertina tradition in Ghana. There are references on the web to this High Life and Palm Wine music tradition, but so little that I fear the concertina story is the same in Ghana as it is in so many places... wild popularity when it was first introduced in the 1850 or so and then pretty much disappeared a century later. Does anyone here know more about the concertina music of Ghana? One charming anecdote from the Clarke family tree site turned up. William Goodacre Clarke Born: 30 Apr 1846, Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire, England ROYAL NAVY - While in the Navy was associated with the wars of the ASHANTI, a tribe and Province in Ghana, Africa. After having his concertina stolen on board ship, walked through lion infested forests to Capetown, South Africa, to purchase another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Davies Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 Harry Scurfield is the person you need to make contact with.I am sure he played us some concertina music from Ghana at the Swaledale Squeeze in either 2005 or 2006. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3838 Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 (edited) After having his concertina stolen on board ship, walked through lion infestedforests to Capetown, South Africa, to purchase another. Lion infested forests!! "...When the storm had settled, and the sailors finished polishing the ancors, Pedro, an old Irishmen, pulled out rusty concertina and gently squeezed pearly keys. The powerful music enveloped the whole ship and it's distinctive vibrato seemed to put a spell on pirates' minds and bring them back home, to Ireland, to it's scourching heat of the plains, where careless farmer, paying too much attention to wandering piper, could be pounced upon by unsettled lion. The sea quietted down, through it's clear waters it could be seen that jelly-fish followed the ship on both sides of it's hefty stern, attracted by the music. The captain, a refined gentleman of african descent, brought his Pongos and joined the Irishman. A doleful song sprung from the upper aft, that housed the sailors and their captain: "Volga, Volga, Mighty River..." Large triangular sails, having cought last glimpes of setting sun, seemed to be burning. All was quiet, as though the whole ocean was going to bed, and only sailors' sopranos disrupted the tranquility..." Edited March 5, 2007 by m3838 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Booth Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 Whoa! Ghana to Capetown for a concertina is one hell of a hike. This is one serious music lover! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trilby Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 This isn't concertina related but on friday I bought Golden Afrique vol 2 ( The blue one) and it is magnificent. It is Congolese rumba/soukos music and though it doesn't to my knowledge have a concertina on it it does have an accordion player (Camille Feruzi ) leading a band. For those of a jazz/world persuasion it also has a very early outing by Manu Dibangu. It is a wonderful listen and I defy anyone not to tap their foot vigourously if not shake a leg! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jody Kruskal Posted March 5, 2007 Author Share Posted March 5, 2007 Whoa! Ghana to Capetown for a concertina is one hell of a hike. This is one serious music lover! Yes, be warned. The bite of the deadly concertina is tenacious. Once it clamps down on you it will never let go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Booth Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 yes, indeed! Hand me that jug of palm wine while I dig these fangs outta my leg...it's the only known antidote, you know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Worrall Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 I was surfing the net last night, looking for sound samples or pictures of the Anglo/German concertina tradition in Ghana. There are references on the web to this High Life and Palm Wine music tradition, but so little that I fear the concertina story is the same in Ghana as it is in so many places... wild popularity when it was first introduced in the 1850 or so and then pretty much disappeared a century later. Does anyone here know more about the concertina music of Ghana? Jody, I was on the telephone today with Jared Snyder, and among other things he tells me that he has some nice recordings of Ghana concertina music. If you wish to pursue, drop me an email; I have Jared's phone number. Cheers, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jody Kruskal Posted March 6, 2007 Author Share Posted March 6, 2007 I was on the telephone today with Jared Snyder, and among other things he tells me that he has some nice recordings of Ghana concertina music. If you wish to pursue, drop me an email; I have Jared's phone number.Cheers, Dan Yes Jared was telling me about the tradition, that's what got me started in the first place. He promised to send me some mp3s of 78s he has. There seems to have been quite a local market for those shellac 78s back in the day. The masters are supposed to exist somewhere in the Neatherlands but for lack of funds they have not been properly cataloged or released on CD. I might have a detail or two wrong, but that's the story. If Jared's 78s are as good as his tintypes they must be something to hear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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