Civilwar-concertina Connection

[squeezbxhvn]

Looking for the connection of the anglo concertina & the civil war...

Were there Anglos back then?

What do you think their styles were?

Who were the makers?

Maybe all imports?

Were they extremely rare & expensive?

Maybe only the Yankees had them?

How were they carried... In haversacks or in fancy cases?

Maybe only c/g 20 button boxes back then?

It might have been tough joining in with a typical fiddle player jamming in the keys of A,D or G.

I might think the concertina player was mostly a soloist?

You squeezbox buffs!!!... give me your imput....

[JimLucas]

Looking for the connection of the anglo concertina & the civil war...

You might start by browsing this Topic. Also this one.

 

And if you use the advanced ("More Options") search facility here to look for "civil war" references, you'll find quite a few Topics (2 pages worth, in my browser) with mentions. Mostly one mention per Topic, but I think they add up to a fair amount of information, as well as an indication of how much we still don't know.

 

Happy hunting.

[Stephen Chambers]

Looking for the connection of the anglo concertina & the civil war...

You might start by browsing this Topic. Also this one.

 

And coincidentally the Concertina Library has today added an article by C.net member Dan Worrall, A Brief History of the Anglo Concertina in the United States, which you might find interesting. In it Dan attempts to reconstruct the mostly-forgotten history of the Anglo concertina in the United States.

 

You might also find this thread of interest: The Concertina In U.s. Folk Music, A question related to Southern culture.

Edited April 15, 2007 by Stephen Chambers

[OLDNICKILBY]

Surely Old Ironsides would not have allowed such instruments of jollity,but then if it had steel reeds it might have made a difference

[Stephen Chambers]

Surely Old Ironsides would not have allowed such instruments of jollity,but then if it had steel reeds it might have made a difference

Ahem, I think they mean the American Civil War!

 

Though you might enjoy this thread: I Know What He Means But...

[JimLucas]

Surely Old Ironsides would not have allowed such instruments of jollity,but then if it had steel reeds it might have made a difference

Different Civil War, I think, though we each had our "Old Ironsides".

 

You Brits had Ollie Cromwell.

 

We Yanks have our own "Old Ironsides", officially the USS Constitution, a frigate launched in 1797. And I'm sure concertinas would have been allowed on board her (once they had been invented), as they come under our constitutionally guaranteed "freedom of screech".

[d.elliott]

No, Cromwell came much later.

 

In the real and still un-resolved Civil War, I thought that our 'old Ironsides' was a Yorkist, or was it a Lancastrian? It was so long ago, I was only a lad ....

 

I do remeber that Henry Tudor was a Taffy, so he played a 'Jones'

 

Whilst Dick III played a Duet with A horse, a horse.......

 

Dave E

[Stephen Chambers]

In the real and still un-resolved Civil War, I thought that our 'old Ironsides' was a Yorkist, or was it a Lancastrian? It was so long ago, I was only a lad ....

Dave,

 

Couldn't both sides of the Pennines just agree to have pink roses?

 

But 'Old Ironsides' was Oliver Cromwell's nickname, and I should know 'cos he came from Huntingdonshire, the same as my Chambers ancestors!

 

However, he did relieve the siege of Hull ... though some might wish he hadn't

 

I do remember that Henry Tudor was a Taffy, so he played a 'Jones'

 

Whilst Dick III played a Duet with A horse, a horse.......

Wot, and Willie the Conqueror was a Frenchy, so he played a Lachenal????

[d.elliott]

Stephen,

 

Bill the conk was a Norman, so that's what he played! Presumably with typically French accordion reeds, just as Normans do today.

 

As to roses, no not Pink PLEASE!!!!, White for our purity of thought. We were prepared to accept the Lancastrians living under our white rose badge, but they had to spoil it and go red, just showy I suppose.

 

Dave E

[Stephen Chambers]

Bill the conk was a Norman ...

And a fine Norman conk he had too!

 

... so that's what he played!

Of course, how could I get it wrong!

 

Presumably with typically French accordion reeds, just as Normans do today.

Well, Antonelli reeds might be typical of what many French (and so-called French) accordion makers use today, but aren't they made by the Romans (or somesuch) ...

 

So I guess King Harold must have played a Saxon?

 

Must've been tricky, "On his 'orse with his 'awk in his 'and"

 

As to roses, no not Pink PLEASE!!!!

There's no pleasing some folk!

Edited April 18, 2007 by Stephen Chambers

[Robin Harrison]

Talking about historically accurate concertina players, remind me who presided at the Bloody Assizes ?

Robin

[JimLucas]

As to roses, no not Pink PLEASE!!!!

Opposed to rose-colored roses?

 

Sounds like a rosé whine to me.

 

Of course, being a USAn, I'm probably insensitive to your local equivalent of our Confederate-vs.-Yankee historical obsessions. (Interesting that we don't seem to have any groups advocating a return to British colonial status. )

[Mark Evans]

We Yanks have our own "Old Ironsides", officially the USS Constitution, a frigate launched in 1797. And I'm sure concertinas would have been allowed on board her (once they had been invented), as they come under our constitutionally guaranteed "freedom of screech".

 

I have taken the kids on board several times over the years with whatever relative that came to Boston wanting a tour of the town. Each time I step across the gang plank it is very moving. She's still a commisioned warship in the Navy.

 

For important occations they tow her out into Boston harbor. My favorite appearence was when the worlds tall ships visited ...Magnificent! After a refit and restoration, I don't recall the year, she was towed out into open water and for several minutes dropped canvas and was under her own power. A very moving moment.

 

I only hope a concertina and fiddle were on board playing the Ships Are Sailing Reel for a double helping of "freedom of screech !

Edited April 18, 2007 by Mark Evans

[Dan Worrall]

I only hope a concertina and fiddle were on board playing the Ships Are Sailing Reel for a double helping of "freedom of screech !

 

Not sure about the tune, but I'd say chances of an anglo being on board were high. Amazing what you can find with Google and morning tea:

 

The Boston Folk Festival Chanteyboat

www.bostonfolkfestival.com/Chanteyboat.html - [Cached]

Published on: 9/25/2004 Last Visited: 12/30/2004

 

Celeste Bernardo Celeste Bernardo is Director of Education at the USS Constitution Museum. For eighteen years Celeste has worked as an interpreter, educator, and manager at a number of maritime related sites across the country. She was the originator of the annual Sea Music Concert Series at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park in 1989. A concertina enthusiast, Celeste twice attended the Willie Clancy Traditional Music School in Miltown Malbay, Ireland, and Boston College Irish Studies Program, " Gaelic Roots." She holds a Master's degree in history from Northeastern University and is a graduate of the Munson Institute of American Maritime Studies. Accomplished on the anglo concertina, guitar, and 5-string banjo, her repertoire includes sea chanteys and traditional songs of the sea. She has sailed the Brig Pilgrim and the U.S Coast Guard Eagle , and has performed at numerous music festivals on the East and West Coasts.

[Ken_Coles]

You can see a picture of Celeste Bernardo at the 2003 Portsmouth (N.H.) Maritime Music Festival here.

 

Ken