english concertina players in ireland

Subject: english concertina players in ireland
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 02:16 PM

It has been mistakenly suggested by FRANK EDGELEY on a different forum, that there were no english concertina players of any note[2003].
I myself have been living in ireland since 1990, then we have geoff woof, MADELINE O DOWD[ all ireland champion].Tony crehan[ Juniors son]vincey crehan[ his brother]. plus acouple of others I have seen recently but dont know their names.
all these people are / were very good.
I MYSELF have recorded several lps and c d s featuring IRISH MUSIC, I recommend my last cd as the best NAUTICAL AND which features several sets of tunes and a slow air CAPE CLEAR [ IRISH], of which I am very proud. I challenge any anglo player TO PLAY CAPE CLEAR AS WELL, Sorry if this sounds big headed but I am absolutely fed up with this concerTina [ one system better than another]CRAP. they all three of them have strengths and weaknesses, that can be overcome by a good player,Its the player not the system that counts. DickMiles

Subject: RE: english concertina players in ireland
From: GUEST,HSA
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 04:07 AM

I just ignore it Dick. As you say it is crap and the people who preach it just do it to wind others up. The prevalence of Anglo Concertinas historically in the west of Ireland is, I believe, largely because they were cheap. Not because it's a "traditional Irish instrument".

There are several very good concertina players around London playing Irish music on the English. There is a Comhaltas teacher in North London who plays the Duet! Personally I play Irish on the English - by accident rather than design - mostly with Irish musicians and no-one where I have played (including in Ireland) has ever suggested that I am playing the "wrong" sort of Concertina. I understand that Mary MacNamara, although renowned for the Anglo, also plays other types (English, Duet). If anything I find people generally know very little about concertinas and are interested in the differences.

You can probably play Irish music successfully on most instruments. I think it is down to the player not the instrument whether it is good or not.
Perhaps we should start a thread on "the most unlikely instrument I have heard Irish musiclayed well on". I could nominate the harpsichord for start.

Just get on and play. There are bigots everywhere (especially in certain forums on e-space where they are invisible).

Helen

Subject: RE: english concertina players in ireland
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 05:31 AM

We had, for a very short while, a Sunday afternoon music session in our folk club room. When I took my anglo I was told I played it 'wrong'. I play Morris tunes, some other English dance, and one Breton tune, as well as accompaniment to songs. The person telling me proceded to show me how to play it 'right' by playing Irish music in D across the rows. I told her that I may not play it right but at least I can play with both hands at the same time:-) I don't play at all well or anywhere near often enough btw but I have sung in folk clubs for many years so it didn't phase me at all. I didn't play there again though. The Sunday sessions only lasted 3 weeks...

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: english concertina players in ireland
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 05:32 AM

Oh aye - moral of the story - There are pratts in all walks of life but the Irish sessions I have seen appear to be particularly well blessed;-)

Subject: RE: english concertina players in ireland
From: GUEST,JIm Martin
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 09:16 AM

Geoff Woof's now living in France.

Subject: RE: english concertina players in ireland
From: GUEST,The Bald Prima Donna
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 02:13 PM

Is Captain Birdseye capable of writing in English?

Subject: RE: english concertina players in ireland
From: GUEST,Rowan
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 06:44 PM

When Geoff was living in Australia, playing English concer and Northumbrian pipes at first and then making uillean pipes, repairing concertinas (including mine) and making the occasional flute (also including mine) he played a ripper "Spey in spate". He also spelled his surname "Wooff".

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: english concertina players in ireland
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 09:53 PM

To GUEST BPD, You have scored an own goal.Presumably you mean ,is Captain Birdseye capable of writing good english.
5 other correspondents recognised that I am writing in English, NOT FRENCH OR ITALIAN.So clearly you havent learned how to communicate in the english language yourself.A clear case of the pot calling the kettle black.    .
even if you dont like my style of writing or my punctuation. It,s clear im not writing in Swahili but English.

Subject: RE: english concertina players in ireland
From: greg stephens
Date: 17 Sep 06 - 05:43 AM

Surely the relation of the English to the Anglo is rather similar to that between the piano accordion and the button accordion(or melodeon).
The Anglo and the button are much easier to play dance music well on, because the in-out mechanism lends itself easily to bouncy playing. But that is not to say that it is impossible to play bouncy music well on the piano accordion or English concertina: it is just very difficult. Some exceptional people manage very well. The same discussion happens in Louisiana. Clifton Chenier managed a fantastic sound on the piano-accordion for his Creole/zydeco music, whereas the vast majority of his colleagues used melodeons for the same sort of thing.