Hi, I'm new to the site and thinks its great. I play piano accordian (Saltarelle Clifton) and am trying to emunlate that stunning button accordian sound. Would welcome any friendly tips from the more experienced (other than the obvious - learn the button box instead!). Any advice welcomed. Thanks Phil Barratt
Listen to Alan Kelly's playing... Enough said! Alan is an amazing player from Roscommon. He has 3 great albums out at the minute: "Out of the Blue", "Mosaic" and "Fourmilehouse". Alan really does make the piano accordion sound like a button accordion. I would definitely rate him as Ireland's BEST piano-accorion player. So my tip for you is start listening to Alan's albums, you can find them on his website: http://www.blackboxmusic.ie and if you feel more comfortable with the button accordion, then stick with it, and Alan Kelly has proved you can get that "stunning button accordion sound". Hope this advice was useful and good luck.
I know 3 really excellent piano box players - 2 of them on this site. So reveal yourselves, Conan and Pete. All that prejudice you sometimes hear is absolute nonsense once you've heard any of these lads play.
Ummm BEST piano accordian player?? According to you maybe murrough- I dont go in for all that stuff, 'so and so is the best out of everyone in the whole world'. Your favourite piano accordian player would probably be a better phrase. My favourite Piano Accordian players are Mirella Murray from Letterfreck (I think) - she has a wicked album out with Tola Custy and Colet O'Leary who lives in London and who plays with 'The Bumblebees'
Hey there, PN, you will take flack, from time to time, but if you learn to really play well people will learn to appreciate you. More than once I've had it said to me "I didn't realise a piano accordion could sound like that," etc.
Having said all this, I don't think you should get too hung up about sounding exactly like a button box. Lot's of Irish piano-key players can fool most of the people some of the time on a recording, but that's daft. I love the way the button box sounds. I probably love the fiddle more, though. I spend more time emulating fiddlers than I do any kind of box player. My point is - be the best piano-key player you can be. The two systems have different strengths and limitations - don't compare apples and oranges. The thing is to get deep into the music and play it with sensitivity.
One final thought. The folk at mad for trad have a CD rom tutorial taught by Karen Tweed that might be worth checking out.
Mirella is indeed a great player "bb", and a great girl (Mirella's originally from Claddaghduff in Connemara [near Clifden], and it's "Letterfrack" [e, not a, by the way - it's Liz & Yvonne Kane who are originally from that part Connemara, namely Letterfrack), but Mirella is an amazing player and very very modest, and great craic. "All that stuff" meaning??? I said I would rate him as the best player in my opinion (as in I really like his style), but if you feel the need to be antagonistic bb, then bring it on... Mirella's a great girl and a great player and I'm not taking anything away from her playing... Surely it doesn't take an Einsteinesque IQ to infer or deduce that that "I would rate him as..." means the same as "my favourite"... so maybe you should "rephrase" before you decide to be flippant about other people's opinions bb, just my opinion
I wasnt being flippant about your comment Murrough, otherwise I wouldnt have bothered replying to it. I just dont get all this 'best' thing. At least you know trad, but someone else could've posted something along the lines of 'James Galway is Ireland Best flute player' and all the new people around the world might actually believe it. I like Alan Kelly's playing as well.
PS thanks for the spelling lesson - I really appreciate it, I used to live in Connemara and still cant spell it. (who are liz and yvonne kane?)
Liz and Yvonne Kane are two fiddle playing sisters who used to play with Sharon Shannon. They have one great album of fiddle duets and I believe another just released. They do quite a lot of Paddy Fahey stuff. I daren't 'rate' them but would recommend a listen. It's a CD that's always in my car.
Beebs, believe or not it's been raining in Perth.
ITM/thread relevance: We don't have any piano accordion players here in Perth - at least not playing ITM in sessions. But two years ago we did have a visit from the reel/real Father Kelly once (as in the tune). He wasn't bad but his bass notes meant that I more or less had to stop playing accompaniment.
Bribanjo - yes I've played with Brian Dolan, several years ago at the Coach and Horses in Harlesden. He must be a good age now. And the 3rd PA player I was referring to was in fact Christian, whom I've been recently sessioning with at the Woodman. If someone should go make an album who hasn't yet, it has to be Christian.
Thanks Rab and Bri! If you keep saying those things often enough you might even start to believe them :¬)
Cheque in the post.
Alan Kelly is about as good as I've heard, but all the players mentioned above are great so first thing to do is listen, listen, listen.
Typical button accordion ornamentation and style is a lot different to that of the piano accordion so you'll need to work at nailing those differences; for example, cuts and rolls are generally different on both instruments, both in terms of notes played and phrasing.
Also, piano accordions sound different due to the groups of reeds used. One thing you could do is have your current accordion swing tuned (somewhere between wet/musette and dry/unison). It would probably cost around £50-£60. You could do what I did and buy one already tuned that way - Fantini are selling custom boxes like this. They sound a lot closer to the button accordion.
Like most instruments, its not the notes you play, its the notes you dont play that make all the difference.
A detatched style goes a long way to emulating a Button Acc (something a lot of legato-only PAs find difficult).
You can imitate the ornaments but they have to be in the same place in the tune that a button accordionist would put them in (to fit in with the fingering etc).
Sorry to be repetitive but I agree if you're looking to emulate (sp?) a button box sound then Alan Kelly does have that rythmic style.
- although I would suggest it's more of a BC sound (triplets and so on) rather than the bouncy C#D style but I'm a novice box player so correct me if i'm wrong.
Come to think of it, Donald Shaw (capercaille) has a very similar style of playing to Alan Kelly. (and they both play together in the Mike McG band - although Shaw is on keys.)
I generally play double reed at sessions unless it's just me and one other instrument playing a set, e.g a flute, which happens quite frequently. In this case I switch to a single reed register - "clarinet" as it's very quiet. I generally try to play relatively softly anyway.
So in answer to your question, no I don't think it's rude at all for you to ask your friend to switch registers; in fact, he should know to do this out of respect for the music. Either that or just play quietly. There's this myth that accordions can only play at one volume - bloody loud. That may be true for pipes, depending on the reed, but definitely not for accordions.
Conán, our Ruadhrai says you're a noisey hoor, he says "you hear him coming before you see him", (HA HA - ONLY MESSING!!!). Ruadhrai was saying you're an absolute gentleman and very civil, but you're always losing your accordion :P - I was just talking to Ruadhrai on the phone there, him and Da are just back from playing in Spain over with wee Jason O'Rourke (I think). I knew I remembered your name from somewhere Conán and could never quite place you, but Ruadhrai was reminding me that you were over at that Dranouter Festival in Belguim one year at the same time as us, must have been around '97 or '98? - Sorry if I didn't say a proper hello to you before on here, but just wanted to try and place you first. So you're out of Béal Feirste now and are living in London? Hope that's all going well.
BB, no probs, got your Email, thanks. Sent you one back, so hope I didn't sound rude in my post to you above, I was just trying to give Phil the best advice I could.
Tell your Ruaidhrí I'm sending the boys down to Ennis to pay him a wee visit, and that he won't hear THEM coming! :¬) hehe how is he? Hope the family's keeping well. Are you heading down to the Tradfest yourself? Hope you all have a great time. I know Jason O and Davey Maguire are going so it should be a good laugh. They'll be glad to hear I'm not going over this time so no JCB. Ruaidhrí's right about losing the box. I lost two; luckily both were second hand and pretty cheap. One I left in a park in Lorient, the other is somewhere behind Archway tube station in a brown bag. Needless to say alcohol was involved on both occasions.
Let that be a lesson to accordion players everywhere; I mean, you're not likely to lose them through theft, are you?
These days I'm a bit more careful, or so I tell myself.
Let me know if ye are ever doing a gig over here!
Liz and Yvonne are good mates with Mirella, http://www.thekanesisters.com - 2 sisters from Letterfrack, both great fiddle players and very nice girls too! No relation of mine by the way, just the same surname. The Ní Catháin Sisters sounds nice now come to think of it.
Everyone's as good as can be here Conán, buiochas le Dia. Ha ha, don't think our Ruadhrai would hear a fleet of tonka-trucks coming, so your safe to send down the boys for a quick hit. Nah, unfortunately I won't be heading down to Ennis this year, but I'd say it'll be great craic as always. I'll pass on my regards to him for you. Will keep you posted sure!
"we were talking about you and nell earlier, and we've decided that you 2 have to come for a visit (bb is dictating for me because I am shy and I am drunk and I can't spel;
"
You're dictating to BB? Oh but of course - she'll be sober. Well I'm seriously thinking about taking a trip to OZ next year so count me in. As for Nell, we'll have to ask her.
Just remain calm, nobody's gonna get hurt. We're just taking this thread to the corner of the Falls Road, we'll let you go and then we're gonna set it on fire. Think of it as the price of Freedom
I went there. and shankill. i did the whole touristy taxi thing, and all i really wanted to do was get out of the taxi and play tunes.
bb is going "say 'from dow'" because i am so stupid.
Goodnight, sweet dreams! if it helps, try to count spoons players jumping over a cliff. In your head (of course, if you could count them in real life, that would be even better)
One moment now, if I foreshorten the bloss on your bleather. Encroachement spells erosion. Dunlin and turnstone augur us where, how and when best as to burial of carcass, fuselage of dump and committal of noisance.
But since you invocate austers for the trailing of vixens, I would like to send a cormorant around this blue lagoon.
Phil, just had a thought there after everyone's useful advice on the physical alterations you can make to pimp your piano accordion to sound like a button accordion. Another good idea would be to do what I imagine the likes of Alan Kelly might have done, which is to listen to lots of button accordian players, and try to achieve the ornamentation, sounds etc they are getting, by learning by ear. I would suggest listening to great button accordion players like: Maírtín O'Connor, Dónal Murphy, Shane Mitchell, Peter Carberry, Martin Quinn, etc etc. - I've listed some mp3s here to give you an idea of who's doing what: http://www.reeltrad.com/holla.htmlhttp://www.dervish.ie/download.htmhttp://www.reeltrad.com/newalbum.htmlhttp://www.fourmenandadog.com/audio.htmlhttp://www.blackboxmusic.ie/mosaic.htm
Hope this helps, but I'm sure you know of them all already, Murrough
Regarding the tradition, I remember Phil Cunningham telling me years ago about a session in Cork, where none of the so called traditional players would play along with him, as he was playing a piano accordion, there were some so called big names in that session, and I have never thought the same about them since.
Invertebrate musician who can play(?) too many instruments, but has *stooopidly* never devoted himself to one in particular (except, possibly, the harmonica[???]) and regrets never having lessons on the fiddle or even piano accordion
Thanks to you all for the advice. Not sure about Geoof Wallis's suggestion to chop the box up and go to a Button one! I'm really grateful to you all. I'll get on with the "homework" and keep you posted. Once again many thanks. Next time someone looks down on me for not having a button box I'll at least know I'm in good company! Phil Barratt
Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Hi, I'm new to the site and thinks its great. I play piano accordian (Saltarelle Clifton) and am trying to emunlate that stunning button accordian sound. Would welcome any friendly tips from the more experienced (other than the obvious - learn the button box instead!). Any advice welcomed. Thanks Phil Barratt
# Posted on November 9th 2004 by PNBarratt
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Listen to Alan Kelly's playing... Enough said! Alan is an amazing player from Roscommon. He has 3 great albums out at the minute: "Out of the Blue", "Mosaic" and "Fourmilehouse". Alan really does make the piano accordion sound like a button accordion. I would definitely rate him as Ireland's BEST piano-accorion player. So my tip for you is start listening to Alan's albums, you can find them on his website: http://www.blackboxmusic.ie and if you feel more comfortable with the button accordion, then stick with it, and Alan Kelly has proved you can get that "stunning button accordion sound". Hope this advice was useful and good luck.
Murrough
# Posted on November 9th 2004 by Murrough
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
I know 3 really excellent piano box players - 2 of them on this site. So reveal yourselves, Conan and Pete. All that prejudice you sometimes hear is absolute nonsense once you've heard any of these lads play.
# Posted on November 9th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Ummm BEST piano accordian player?? According to you maybe murrough- I dont go in for all that stuff, 'so and so is the best out of everyone in the whole world'. Your favourite piano accordian player would probably be a better phrase. My favourite Piano Accordian players are Mirella Murray from Letterfreck (I think) - she has a wicked album out with Tola Custy and Colet O'Leary who lives in London and who plays with 'The Bumblebees'
# Posted on November 9th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Hey there, PN, you will take flack, from time to time, but if you learn to really play well people will learn to appreciate you. More than once I've had it said to me "I didn't realise a piano accordion could sound like that," etc.
Having said all this, I don't think you should get too hung up about sounding exactly like a button box. Lot's of Irish piano-key players can fool most of the people some of the time on a recording, but that's daft. I love the way the button box sounds. I probably love the fiddle more, though. I spend more time emulating fiddlers than I do any kind of box player. My point is - be the best piano-key player you can be. The two systems have different strengths and limitations - don't compare apples and oranges. The thing is to get deep into the music and play it with sensitivity.
One final thought. The folk at mad for trad have a CD rom tutorial taught by Karen Tweed that might be worth checking out.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by kris
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Mirella is indeed a great player "bb", and a great girl (Mirella's originally from Claddaghduff in Connemara [near Clifden], and it's "Letterfrack" [e, not a, by the way - it's Liz & Yvonne Kane who are originally from that part Connemara, namely Letterfrack), but Mirella is an amazing player and very very modest, and great craic. "All that stuff" meaning??? I said I would rate him as the best player in my opinion (as in I really like his style), but if you feel the need to be antagonistic bb, then bring it on... Mirella's a great girl and a great player and I'm not taking anything away from her playing... Surely it doesn't take an Einsteinesque IQ to infer or deduce that that "I would rate him as..." means the same as "my favourite"... so maybe you should "rephrase" before you decide to be flippant about other people's opinions bb, just my opinion
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Murrough
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
I wasnt being flippant about your comment Murrough, otherwise I wouldnt have bothered replying to it. I just dont get all this 'best' thing. At least you know trad, but someone else could've posted something along the lines of 'James Galway is Ireland Best flute player' and all the new people around the world might actually believe it. I like Alan Kelly's playing as well.
PS thanks for the spelling lesson - I really appreciate it, I used to live in Connemara and still cant spell it. (who are liz and yvonne kane?)
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Liz and Yvonne Kane are two fiddle playing sisters who used to play with Sharon Shannon. They have one great album of fiddle duets and I believe another just released. They do quite a lot of Paddy Fahey stuff. I daren't 'rate' them but would recommend a listen. It's a CD that's always in my car.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Donough
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Hi Donough, hows it going in sunny perth?
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Visit Leeds if you're going to Yorkshire. That's the heaven for piano accordion players. And don't forget Phil Cunningham, who inspired Alan Kelly.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by slainte
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Beebs, believe or not it's been raining in Perth.
ITM/thread relevance: We don't have any piano accordion players here in Perth - at least not playing ITM in sessions. But two years ago we did have a visit from the reel/real Father Kelly once (as in the tune). He wasn't bad but his bass notes meant that I more or less had to stop playing accompaniment.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Donough
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Bribanjo - yes I've played with Brian Dolan, several years ago at the Coach and Horses in Harlesden. He must be a good age now. And the 3rd PA player I was referring to was in fact Christian, whom I've been recently sessioning with at the Woodman. If someone should go make an album who hasn't yet, it has to be Christian.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Thanks Rab and Bri! If you keep saying those things often enough you might even start to believe them :¬)
Cheque in the post.
Alan Kelly is about as good as I've heard, but all the players mentioned above are great so first thing to do is listen, listen, listen.
Typical button accordion ornamentation and style is a lot different to that of the piano accordion so you'll need to work at nailing those differences; for example, cuts and rolls are generally different on both instruments, both in terms of notes played and phrasing.
Also, piano accordions sound different due to the groups of reeds used. One thing you could do is have your current accordion swing tuned (somewhere between wet/musette and dry/unison). It would probably cost around £50-£60. You could do what I did and buy one already tuned that way - Fantini are selling custom boxes like this. They sound a lot closer to the button accordion.
Good luck!
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Don't forget Karen Tweed.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by John J.
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Sharon Shannon
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by snowyowl
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Like most instruments, its not the notes you play, its the notes you dont play that make all the difference.
A detatched style goes a long way to emulating a Button Acc (something a lot of legato-only PAs find difficult).
You can imitate the ornaments but they have to be in the same place in the tune that a button accordionist would put them in (to fit in with the fingering etc).
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by geoffwright
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Sorry to be repetitive but I agree if you're looking to emulate (sp?) a button box sound then Alan Kelly does have that rythmic style.
- although I would suggest it's more of a BC sound (triplets and so on) rather than the bouncy C#D style but I'm a novice box player so correct me if i'm wrong.
Come to think of it, Donald Shaw (capercaille) has a very similar style of playing to Alan Kelly. (and they both play together in the Mike McG band - although Shaw is on keys.)
I've seen both playing Salterelle Cliftons too.
Alex
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Kazoo and Bones Player
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Hi Jim
as it's very quiet. I generally try to play relatively softly anyway.
I generally play double reed at sessions unless it's just me and one other instrument playing a set, e.g a flute, which happens quite frequently. In this case I switch to a single reed register - "clarinet"
So in answer to your question, no I don't think it's rude at all for you to ask your friend to switch registers; in fact, he should know to do this out of respect for the music. Either that or just play quietly. There's this myth that accordions can only play at one volume - bloody loud. That may be true for pipes, depending on the reed, but definitely not for accordions.
Conán
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Conán, our Ruadhrai says you're a noisey hoor, he says "you hear him coming before you see him", (HA HA - ONLY MESSING!!!). Ruadhrai was saying you're an absolute gentleman and very civil, but you're always losing your accordion :P - I was just talking to Ruadhrai on the phone there, him and Da are just back from playing in Spain over with wee Jason O'Rourke (I think). I knew I remembered your name from somewhere Conán and could never quite place you, but Ruadhrai was reminding me that you were over at that Dranouter Festival in Belguim one year at the same time as us, must have been around '97 or '98? - Sorry if I didn't say a proper hello to you before on here, but just wanted to try and place you first. So you're out of Béal Feirste now and are living in London? Hope that's all going well.
BB, no probs, got your Email, thanks. Sent you one back, so hope I didn't sound rude in my post to you above, I was just trying to give Phil the best advice I could.
Murrough
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Murrough
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Tell your Ruaidhrí I'm sending the boys down to Ennis to pay him a wee visit, and that he won't hear THEM coming! :¬) hehe how is he? Hope the family's keeping well. Are you heading down to the Tradfest yourself? Hope you all have a great time. I know Jason O and Davey Maguire are going so it should be a good laugh. They'll be glad to hear I'm not going over this time so no JCB. Ruaidhrí's right about losing the box. I lost two; luckily both were second hand and pretty cheap. One I left in a park in Lorient, the other is somewhere behind Archway tube station in a brown bag. Needless to say alcohol was involved on both occasions.
Let that be a lesson to accordion players everywhere; I mean, you're not likely to lose them through theft, are you?
These days I'm a bit more careful, or so I tell myself.
Let me know if ye are ever doing a gig over here!
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Liz and Yvonne are good mates with Mirella, http://www.thekanesisters.com - 2 sisters from Letterfrack, both great fiddle players and very nice girls too! No relation of mine by the way, just the same surname. The Ní Catháin Sisters sounds nice now come to think of it.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Murrough
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Everyone's as good as can be here Conán, buiochas le Dia. Ha ha, don't think our Ruadhrai would hear a fleet of tonka-trucks coming, so your safe to send down the boys for a quick hit. Nah, unfortunately I won't be heading down to Ennis this year, but I'd say it'll be great craic as always. I'll pass on my regards to him for you. Will keep you posted sure!
Murrough
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Murrough
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Murrogh - didnt get any email from you. Weird. PS I know who Liz and Yvonne are - was trying to be funny but it obviously did not work.(as usual)
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
I doesn't work... bit like you Bridie.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Conan - are you trying to confuse me at 2:10am in the morning - have you no shame boy???
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
hehe you ARE tiddly! Wish I was over there.
:¬) big hugs
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
okay conan - just for you here is dow....
"we were talking about you and nell earlier, and we've decided that you 2 have to come for a visit (bb is dictating for me because I am shy and I am drunk and I can't spel;
"
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
conan and nell you must come to australia we are going for a cigarette.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
You're dictating to BB? Oh but of course - she'll be sober. Well I'm seriously thinking about taking a trip to OZ next year so count me in. As for Nell, we'll have to ask her.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
I am *definitely* up for a trip to Australia!
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Nell
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Come to Oz now I will personally pay for both of your flights
inmy dreams
says dow
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
nell & conan come to australias
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
You both can obviously stay with us as long as you both like....
ps Not drunk
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
hey both of you you can be sick in bb's toilet inste4ad of the other way round
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
That was Dow (drunk obviously!) I would never do that! from bb.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
HIJACKKKKKKK!!!!
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Just remain calm, nobody's gonna get hurt. We're just taking this thread to the corner of the Falls Road, we'll let you go and then we're gonna set it on fire. Think of it as the price of Freedom
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
I went there. and shankill. i did the whole touristy taxi thing, and all i really wanted to do was get out of the taxi and play tunes.
bb is going "say 'from dow'" because i am so stupid.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
seriously, thank you both for having a sense of humour, you know who you are. good night we are going to pass out xx
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by bb
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Goodnight, sweet dreams! if it helps, try to count spoons players jumping over a cliff. In your head (of course, if you could count them in real life, that would be even better)
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Even better if their jumping ON a Cliff...the one I have in mind has the surname Richards.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Now that would be a sweet dream!
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
It would be a Summer Holiday....
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
One moment now, if I foreshorten the bloss on your bleather. Encroachement spells erosion. Dunlin and turnstone augur us where, how and when best as to burial of carcass, fuselage of dump and committal of noisance.
But since you invocate austers for the trailing of vixens, I would like to send a cormorant around this blue lagoon.
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Lint - upon - Tweed
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Someone's overdosed on Joyce....
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Phil, just had a thought there after everyone's useful advice on the physical alterations you can make to pimp your piano accordion to sound like a button accordion. Another good idea would be to do what I imagine the likes of Alan Kelly might have done, which is to listen to lots of button accordian players, and try to achieve the ornamentation, sounds etc they are getting, by learning by ear. I would suggest listening to great button accordion players like: Maírtín O'Connor, Dónal Murphy, Shane Mitchell, Peter Carberry, Martin Quinn, etc etc. - I've listed some mp3s here to give you an idea of who's doing what: http://www.reeltrad.com/holla.html http://www.dervish.ie/download.htm http://www.reeltrad.com/newalbum.html http://www.fourmenandadog.com/audio.html http://www.blackboxmusic.ie/mosaic.htm
Hope this helps, but I'm sure you know of them all already, Murrough
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Murrough
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Regarding the tradition, I remember Phil Cunningham telling me years ago about a session in Cork, where none of the so called traditional players would play along with him, as he was playing a piano accordion, there were some so called big names in that session, and I have never thought the same about them since.
# Posted on November 11th 2004 by tirvaluk
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Invertebrate musician who can play(?) too many instruments, but has *stooopidly* never devoted himself to one in particular (except, possibly, the harmonica[???]) and regrets never having lessons on the fiddle or even piano accordion
# Posted on November 11th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
Thanks to you all for the advice. Not sure about Geoof Wallis's suggestion to chop the box up and go to a Button one! I'm really grateful to you all. I'll get on with the "homework" and keep you posted. Once again many thanks. Next time someone looks down on me for not having a button box I'll at least know I'm in good company! Phil Barratt
# Posted on November 11th 2004 by PNBarratt
Re: Piano Accordians in Trad Irish Music
I haven't looked in detail but this link looks quite promising.
http://www.accordionheaven.com/cgi-bin/Store/AccShop.cgi/947260380/xxx/Cat2AccSBIrish.html
# Posted on June 23rd 2005 by gbuckholtz