The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #98241 Message #1943064
Posted By: Alan Day
21-Jan-07 - 04:18 AM
Thread Name: Concertina Bands
Subject: Concertina Bands
In the early 1900s from 1905 to 1925 annual Concertina Band competitions were held at Belle Vue Manchester(no competitions were held during the war).The bands mainly played brass band arrangements and even called themselves 1st Cornet,2nd Cornet etc.The total bands consisted of concertinas with the odd drum and one band had a harp.
The bands included The Ashton under-Lyne,Bolton,Heckmondwike,Premier(sponsored by Lachenal),Heywood,Manchester,Oldham,Mexborough and others.The Ashton under-Lyne band dominating the years after the war.
I have been lucky to hear the sounds of some of the top bands and they were fantastic and I intend to feature some tracks on the forthcoming English International.
During the period mentioned The Salvation Army were very active, but very few recordings of them exist and those I have heard are such poor recordings they could not be used for release.I do have a usable couple of recordings of The Plymouth Salvation Army Band (1993) which will be used on either English or the future Duet International (to be released end of this year early next).
I have details of The Heywood,Ashton under Lyne and Premier Concertina bands,but I would be very interested if any of you have any information at all regarding these old bands as it is a fascinating subject and represents times gone by that will most probably never be repeated.
I have approached BBC Manchester to see if they want to do a programme about this subject, but do not hold your breath.If I get a satisfactory response I will of course let you know.
Al