Alan Day Plays Anglo Concertina.

[PeterT]

Alan Day dropped in this afternoon, and recorded the following tunes, all on 38 key G/D Jeffries Anglo:

 

They're taking it away:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SKjLn08B7Cs

 

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0pmPBRAzUQU

 

Pint of Cockles / Flapjack:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PH6ozwU_dq8

 

It's a sin to Tell a lie:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eSAWGLOiGUc

 

3 part Schottishe:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=U0W_eDxjT-M

 

Auntie Ada's Waltz / French Waltz:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XLYJtbqIeDg

 

Chasse Pain:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rnl2vY1zXms

[Leo]

Now that is a nice way to spend a half hour after dinner, watching and listening. Thanks Alan and Peter. I enjoyed them, except you guys make it look too easy.

 

Thanks

Leo

[Alan Day]

I must say I find it strange watching myself play for the first time.

Certain aspects are also interesting, as I was playing I realised that the concertina was too far across my knee. but that is a bad (and costly) habit I have got in to.By lifting the Right hand slightly it does however reduce the bellows drag over my knee however.

I lift my fingers off the buttons far higher than I thought I did.

I am now getting used to the hesitations and slight errors,but I forgive myself for that as it was only a "Lets have a go and see how we get on", session,

all recorded in a short while due to reducing light problems.

The George Session clearly shows what many have said ,that I am a miserable looking B--------rd when I am playing, something else I should work on.

An interesting experience and one I recommend you have a go at.

Thanks to Peter for his expert work.

Al

[Mark Davies]

I really enjoyed the playing Alan.I have been variously described as looking like "a constipated ferret" and as if "I am chewing a wasp"when I am playing so looking a bit miserable is no problem!

[Alan Day]

Thanks Mark

Is that with or without your clothes on?

Pretty cold on that peak at this time of year.

Al

 

PS Anyone interested in Breton Music at it's very best have a look at

Tri Yann Live "Franzozig". on U tube

No concertinas but worth the effort

Edited January 4, 2008 by Alan Day

[PeterT]

An interesting experience and one I recommend you have a go at.

Thanks to Peter for his expert work.

So, I can expect more telephone calls...............

 

My pleasure, Alan. Recording both yourself and myself has been an interesting experience. Whilst I can generally get my playing right, it's often taken me several attempts to get the camera view as I want it, to show the "right" angle and optimise the available light (not easy in the dark winter months!).

 

Distance of fingers from the buttons is another interesting point. If you thought that yours were some distance away, Alan..........

Seriously, it gets fingers out of the way, which is important if you play cross-row style on the Anglo, but I guess is equally important on other concertinas. I'm not saying that it has to be done this way, but it's worth experimenting. However far away you position your fingers, those little buttons will still be in exactly the same place. It's a confidence thing, as much as anything.

 

We can always learn techniques from other musicians, no matter how many years we have been playing. It's interesting that you observed, in the videos, what I had noted about the position of the concertina on your leg. I guess that from a technical view-point, there's no "right" or "wrong" way of positioning the instrument. When I first had my Wheatstone, the original bellows had seen 64 years of life, and were showing wear on the folds, as I suspect are yours. Having patched the bellows, I made a consious effort to develop a comfortable positioning to minimise any further wear and tear, and optimise my expenditure of energy! It was another 9 years before I had new (blue) bellows put on. They should be going strong long after I'm gone.

 

For the benefit of those who have not seen these videos on another thread, here's how I do it:

 

Position, hand-straps etc:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4esXds_v6xk

Bellows control:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=k9HGz6bHj68

 

Regards,

Peter.