The Concertina!

[Walker]

Last night I was reading a little about the concertina, and what I discovered was fascinating. What a wonderful little instrument it is! Compact and light but with a sound that echoes the ages gone by... The three types of concertina I read about were the Anglo, the English and the Duet.

Each has it's own particular charms. The Anglo being popular in Irish traditional music and English Morris, is diatonic and bisonoric in design, giving a lift to dance tunes. Then there's the unisonoric and chromatic English concertina that is also a great "melody" instrument. It seems that both hands share the burden of creating the melody on these instruments as the "treble" notes are spread over both sides (especially on English Concertina). Some forms of harmony are possible on these instruments. However, there is something slightly different about the Duet Concertina. The right hand creates the higher treble notes and the left hand creates the lower notes (also a characteristic of the Anglo instrument). The Duet is very much like a free bass accordion or piano, and has a polyphonic & harmonising nature.

I like these instruments very much. There is something quite liberating about the Concertina. You don't have to worry about multiple voices, converter switches, cassotto or having the best part of 12 to 14kg sat on your lap. It's okay to play simple beautiful melodies, (whereas on an accordion or bayan many people often want a firework display of virtuosity). Plus the concertina seems to be less expensive than the 'price of a car' accordion. I believe the likes of the Charles Wheatstone Concertina also hold their value well too, but I am no expert on this.

Whilst the piano accordion is my main instrument, I just wonder if the concertina could be the next instrument on the list...

Duet Concertina, playing Scottish traditional air



English Concertina, playing old English folk tunes



Anglo Concertina, playing Irish traditional music



The Duet Concertina comes with many different system layouts, such as Maccann, Crane, Jeffries and Hayden (and many more). The system that is most used on modern Duet instruments nowadays is the Hayden system. It has a fantastic treble and bass layout that makes strong use of the circle of fifths (stradella or quint as we might call it ), whole tones & octaves intervals. It is considered an isomorphic system. I have a leaning towards the Duet Concertina with Hayden system, but think they (Anglo, English and Duet concertinas) are all excellent in their own right.

 

[LibraryJoe]

Well said. I enjoy my Duet, though it won't become my primary instrument.

 

[vivdunstan]

I started learning to play an Anglo concertina a year or two ago. My Yorkshire granddad played the concertina long ago. I’m really enjoying it, finding it a very compact box to get out. The push/pull difference is quite a contrast to my many decades experience with piano accordion. I’m still in the early stages, but enjoying it a lot. I favour playing in a harmonic way, with chord accompaniment, reflecting my accordion heritage. But yup, great fun. I have a Rochelle Anglo 30-button C/G concertina, which is a lower cost one, but satisfyingly responsive.

 

[Dingo40]

The concertina is quite popular in South Africa:
Try this :

Another example :

One more:

 

[vivdunstan]

Here’s a recording of my recent first go at the Coventry Carol on my Anglo concertina. The placeholder picture is of my concertina. The arrangement is from one of Gary Coover’s many books of Anglo concertina tunes,

 

[pentaprism]

Thank you all for the thread.

I myself have been learning Anglo concertina, even though I’ve been playing it less these days since I came back to classical guitar. Coming from the chromatic world, I think the way Anglo concertina makes music is beautiful and at the same time ugly. It must be invented by the cooperation of a maniac and a genius. The Anglo concertina can play so much music with only 30 buttons but at times playing a simple line of music can be maddeningly difficult.

I just want to clarify something. This statement is not necessarily true:

Plus the concertina seems to be less expensive than the 'price of a car' accordion.

In my limited experience, a good hybrid (using accordion reeds) Anglo concertina (e.g. Clover from Concertina Connection) is $2500+. A used one in decent condition is about $2000 (I sold a 2016 G|D Morse Céili earlier this year).

Anglo concertinas using true concertina reeds cost much more. The least expensive one is from Kensington Concertina for $4000 (IMHO, it can beat many concertinas of higher prices). A good used Kensington, if you can find one, is $3200 - $3500 (I also sold one, made in 2019, this year to fund a classical guitar). The Vintage model from the Irish Concertina Company costs about the same (3300 Euros) but I think the Kensington has better design.

Anglo concertinas, especially ones from reputable makers, hold their values better than accordions do.

I realize there are lower cost options. But IMHO, if one plans to stay long with Anglo concertina, (s)he should plan at least $2000. It’s not ‘price of a car’, but not necessarily less expensive than accordions either.

 

[Walker]

I have no experience of the concertina, though from what I have read I think they are fantastic. My great grandfather on my mothers side, who was Irish, played the melodeon, accordion, concertina, tin whistle and harmonica. Perhaps those who are used to other bisonoric instruments will find the Anglo to be fairly natural. I think the Anglo is particularly nice for dance tunes.

I realize there are lower cost options. But IMHO, if one plans to stay long with Anglo concertina, (s)he should plan at least $2000. It’s not ‘price of a car’, but not necessarily less expensive than accordions either.

Fair point. A good quality concertina is not cheap. I believe some of the Wheatstone's are very costly. I suppose I am reflecting on my own accordion choices, having explored a bit of free bass and having owned a Gola, Super VI etc. I am currently (half) interested in a fairly moderate stradella bass Pigini Polaris, which I received a quote of just shy of £9000 (the top free bass instruments are 3 times the price). I think accordion prices are crazy.

 

[saundersbp]

I am currently (half) interested in a fairly moderate stradella bass Pigini Polaris, which I received a quote of just shy of £9000 (the top free bass instruments are 3 times the price). I think accordion prices are crazy.

£9000
You could get a start on a nice solar power system or wind turbine for your house to survive the power cuts!
If I had money for a posh standard bass accordion I'd be tempted by this https://www.acorninstruments.co.uk/listing.cfm?inst=226
But I don't, so I'm not!

 

[Walker]

Beautiful accordion on Acorn Instruments there saundersbp! On reflection, maybe a wind turbine and a cheeky wee concertina is better value.

 

[boxplayer4000]

Walker:
Thanks for raising the subject of concertinas. Even although this is an accordion site concertinas often appear where there are accordions and like them, in the right hands, are very entertaining. I was aware they came in different styles and ranges so your article was very helpful in furthering that knowledge.
In the three video examples at the head of this thread I prefer the first as its a very good tune with its own harmony. The air, Roslin Castle, was new to me though the place itself is only about 6 miles from where I live.
In the second video the chap is playing tunes (albeit with heavy 'modifications') well-known in Scotland. One is called ‘Highland Laddie’ which has been a bagpipe standard since Adam was a boy and another tune is ‘The Girl I Left Behind Me’.
In the third video the tune ‘Out In the Ocean’ is better known in Scotland as ‘Far O’er The Sea’

I’ve used this rather shorthand version of the tune in band situations for more that forty years and it’s a good example of how traditional stuff still holds it’s own.

 

[dunlustin]

As they've cropped up, here's a few more bits and pieces:
Wheatstone's concertina (The English -1829 from memory) was perhaps above all a band instrument. Owned by millions, composed for by the famous, never cheap and never a folk instrument.
As it simulated the string family, it was arguably Wheatstone's answer to the Roland V-Accordion - that just had to wait another 150 years to be invented.
No doubt fiddlers sniffed at this instrument: you just had to hold down a button and press - out came a tuneful noise.
It is now most prominent in the NE England where it has become an acceptable substitute for their unwarlike pipes.
The Anglo, at first cheap and cheerful (No, pirates didn't play them) now less so. Bought in mounds by the Salvation Army they provided an accessible vamping accompaniment to their hymn singing.
If you like a puzzle, and without cheating:
Why, in your opinion did the SA favour Anglos tuned in Ab/Eb?

 

[boxplayer4000]

dunlustin: Ab/Bb tuning might suggest brass instruments were nearby. (?)

 

[Walker]

In the three video examples at the head of this thread I prefer the first as its a very good tune with its own harmony. The air, Roslin Castle, was new to me though the place itself is only about 6 miles from where I live.

I like the expressive performance on the Duet. I had heard of the tune Roslin Castle before, but it wasn't a favourite of mine because to me it is an old air that is mournful and echoes the mystery, medieval barons & brutality of these ancient places... like the ruins of Rosslyn Castle. Maybe that's what makes it such a good tune, it's haunting, as they say.

Why, in your opinion did the SA favour Anglos tuned in Ab/Eb?

Pass! I don't have a clue. Are a lot of S.A. hymns in keys that would only be playable with instruments of this tuning (to accompany singing)?

 

[dunlustin]

That didn't take long B4000 and Walker

In a tutor for the Salvation Army Concertina, written by William Booth's son, Henry, he explains:
1. It was for people with little knowledge of written music
2. When a cornet player said he was playing in Bb, he was in fact in Ab concert pitch. To avoid confusion (?), SA concertinas tuned in Ab were called Bb concertinas.
3. And Ab was the most common key used by the SA for singing.
Apologies for this detour to all those Accordion players who have no interest in concertinas - I have to admit to a long-standing fascination.

 

[Walker]

That didn't take long B4000 and Walker

In a tutor for the Salvation Army Concertina, written by William Booth's son, Henry, he explains:
1. It was for people with little knowledge of written music
2. When a cornet player said he was playing in Bb, he was in fact in Ab concert pitch. To avoid confusion (?), SA concertinas tuned in Ab were called Bb concertinas.
3. And Ab was the most common key used by the SA for singing.
Apologies for this detour to all those Accordion players who have no interest in concertinas - I have to admit to a long-standing fascination.

Nice one! I suppose there might be the added benefit that an instrument in Ab/Eb would prevent the S.A. players from getting ideas of playing any wild Irish and Scottish tunes too.

 

[pentaprism]

Here’s a price list of high-end Anglos.

 

[Jim2010]

For any interested in concertinas, a visit to concertina.net will be a real eye-opener. A tremendous amount of information. Very friendly and helpful people. Here are samples of some of the commonly played types of concertina. I've tried to include different types of music as well. I skipped Irish Traditional music on Anglo and/or English concertinas since I think most of us are familiar with it already since it is likely the most widely heard concertina music today.

English concertina:


Anglo concertina:


Hayden Duet concertina:


Crane Duet concertina:


Chemnitzer concertina




Striso "Hayden concertina" (played by same performer as in Walker's original post)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHglgCyL7_M

 

[boxplayer4000]

In a tutor for the Salvation Army Concertina, written by William Booth's son, Henry, he explains:
1. It was for people with little knowledge of written music

dunlustin: There's probably a simple explanation which I am failing to understand but I don't grasp why playing on Eb/Ab is for people unfamiliar with written music. (Is it something like because the Bb scale on a brass instrument is the same as the key of C on keyboard (no sharps or flats?)

walker: I agree about the rather dreary, almost sinister sound of the tune 'Roslin Castle' and I can resonate with the very dark pasts of some of these places. I spent a lot of time in nearby Borthwick Castle, in the period when it was restored into a very upmarket reception venue. I am normally a fairly cynical person in matters of the supernatural and hereafter but years later, after having left Borthwick behind, I read a book by a person from that Borthwick era, who I thought was even more grounded than myself which caused me to reconsider my beliefs.
It's probably worth explaining that the author of the book had long passed the period when it might have been a good commercial decision to have promoted the supernatural qualities of the castle. Much as in the manner that a sighting of the Loch Ness Beastie can be relied upon around March/April each year for the benefit of the tourist industry.

 

[Walker]

@boxplayer4000 They were hard times... In the mid 17th century you had the likes of Cromwell and his lot firing canons at Borthwick and Rosslyn Castle. When brutality reigns it's no wonder these places are not at peace.

 

[dunlustin]

B4000
Understandable failing - on my part.
My grammar: In "1. It was for people..." "it" refers to the tutor and not the concertina.
Booth recognised salvationists might have to accompany a tune but be unable to read the dots. The tutor is a 3-chord-tricks manual
for the likely keys. Booth figured if you could hold a tune you'd be able to work out - and vamp - the chords.
His book shows the keyboard layout with the buttons to be used blacked in.
As for the tuning - when a Bb brass player said he was in Bb he was in fact in Ab. (As you say C brass = Bb piano)
Cornet player calls " 'No night, there' in Bb"
Concertinist turns to her trusty manual of chords, finds Bb etc and does not need to know the notes are in fact the Ab chord; which are also the notes produced by the cornet.
Everyone is happy.
PS Booth, being a man of some experience, was aware that a Bb tune might well morph into F. He warned his users and gave the most likely keys to look out for.