Charles Wheatstone BBC Radio 4

Subject: Charles Wheatstone BBC Radio 4
From: cptsnapper
Date: 27 Nov 07 - 08:36 AM

As I write I'm listening to a lunchtime programme on BBC Radio 4 about Charles Wheatstone, the physicist & inventor of the concertina.

Subject: RE: Charles Wheatstone BBC Radio 4
From: Kampervan
Date: 27 Nov 07 - 09:00 AM

Very interesting programme.

Never realised that the man who invented that instrument of physical torture - The Wheatstone Bridge - also invented the concertina.
Fascinating.

Subject: RE: Charles Wheatstone BBC Radio 4
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 27 Nov 07 - 10:18 AM

It was a lovely programme. Among others it featured Messrs Townsend and Anderson. I recommend a listen! It's called Wheatstone, his Sighing Reed and it's up on Listen Again.

Subject: RE: Charles Wheatstone BBC Radio 4
From: Emma B
Date: 27 Nov 07 - 10:54 AM

A fascinating programme

this should get you there

Subject: RE: Charles Wheatstone BBC Radio 4
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 27 Nov 07 - 11:02 AM

It was actually an account of how Wheatstone developed the English concertina from the flute harmonique, through the acoucryptophone and symphonium. Who knew that free reeds were once called fixed springs? I didn't. Or that Wheatstone got his first patent in 1830 for the application of a new principle in musical instrument construction?

The Dave Townsend interview was particularly good in publicising the work of Concertinas at Witney. Who says the BBC does nothing for trad music (even when, like this, it seems to emerge by accident?)

Music Feature

Subject: RE: Charles Wheatstone BBC Radio 4
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Nov 07 - 12:23 PM

What was interesting was how quickly it was embraced by the classical world, and musicians generally. If only people were so open to innovations nowadays. there are still some folk clubs where a microphone is looked upon as an agent of the devil.

Subject: RE: Charles Wheatstone BBC Radio 4
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 27 Nov 07 - 01:12 PM

I thought that was bodhrans.

Subject: RE: Charles Wheatstone BBC Radio 4
From: astro
Date: 27 Nov 07 - 03:06 PM

Well, it's very interesting to hear about Wheatstone...I love to have my students do the circuit analysis of the Wheatstone bridge and I have used it in various applications in the laboratory (for finding unknown resistances).

My mate, Desert Dancer, is the player of a concertina based on Wheatstone's invention, which would be a much more pleasant time for my students, if they could hear it played rather than doing the circuit analysis.

Astro

Subject: RE: Charles Wheatstone BBC Radio 4
From: GUEST,clockwatcher
Date: 28 Nov 07 - 07:50 AM

I believe he also invented the rheostat, which was used more or less unchanged in railway signalling well into the mid 20th century.

Subject: RE: Charles Wheatstone BBC Radio 4
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 28 Nov 07 - 12:42 PM

I thought the social history was really interesting in that when it was all sparkily new and expensive it was classical and then as the price became more affordable it was "hijacked" (to quote the Beeb not me) by the folk community.

There are some benefits to doing long car journeys for work

Sarah

Subject: RE: Charles Wheatstone BBC Radio 4
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 05:08 AM

yes ,a good programme,the Concertina Bands used to play Brass band music and folk medleys,and also music hall.Dick Miles

Subject: RE: Charles Wheatstone BBC Radio 4
From: Alan Day
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 06:12 PM

There were a lot of areas that were glossed over like the Concertina Bands as Dick suggests with no demonstrations of what they sounded like.Much of the recorded material I understand hit the floor,so a great deal was left out.Let us hope that it has generated sufficient interest to warrant a follow up.
Al