He brought it out to the Session, last Friday night, for a test drive & of course it passed with flying colours.
It certainly packs a punch for all the size of it.
Now, I don't get round the country so much these days & I just wondered how popular these wee Melodeons were becoming.
Do you, or does anyone you know, play one?
What are the most popular makes of One Row Melodeon today?
& finally:
Is there a finer instrument for playing Polkas & Slides on, I wonder?
I notice that Conán McDonnell, back in September 2006 reckoned that Damien Mullane played a Briggs. - "He waited a hundred years for it but apparently it was worth it. Having heard quite a bit of it I wouldn't argue."
Perhaps that was his 2 Row, Conán was talking about there, but does Briggs actually make One Row Melodeons too, I wonder?
I love the one row... In my travels there hasn't been a country where I haven't found them, sadly mostly neglected and rotting away in attics and the like, that includes Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. But I have also been blessed with hearing them played well. Of course, that also includes Cajun. There are two blessing about such an instrument, first you are confined to the one row, so more changes in the direction of the bellows, which when handled well gives a great lift to the music, and the proof exists in several fine recordings, some of which are in that section here, and here are two:
Huh? ~ Sorry, Terry 'Cuz' Teahan's recording isn't listed. It is a favourite. He was wonderful. Most of us will know the name by the tunes that carry his name... There are others but they aren't coming to mind at the moment. The imposed limitations are also why I prefer C#/D & D/D# two rows, more action with the bellows means more lift and spirit. I like the B/C in the right hands too, but I prefer the other tunings and the single-row.
Oh yeah, the other benefit, well, if it is the only instrument you've go you get to rest out and enjoy your drink at least every other time, when tunes are being aired that aren't in the one key you have on the one row... There are a number of exuberant accordion players that I would welcome being so limited ~ to be able enjoy that reduction in volume every once in awhile...where I could hear the other instruments and players more clearly...
The Castagnari in your first link Ptarmigan is a beauty. I wish I could convince my wife to get me one for Christmas.
I love to play on one row on my B/C box, nice punchy sound, lots of double stops--you don't have to have a one-row box to play one row (just have friends that are willing to accept the fact that you are in C is all). Marches in particular sound good in single row style.
I wish I could afford more instruments, like a D box in particular, but with boxes, it is much harder than whistles to build up a collection!!!!
It was my memory not working at the time, but this morning I had an epiphany... There is another set of tracks elsewhere but I can't yet remember where? My memory can sometimes be very disagreeable.
You can take the beer, I'm wanting charge of the spirits...
I was just drawn back here reminded of another one ~ Michael Kennedy, and an LP was made, but alas, while I've tried I've not had any luck securing a copy... Boo hoo!!! I will keep looking...
"Michael Kennedy was born in Flaskagh, County Galway in 1900. He got hold of a one-row melodeon in the key of G and remained loyal to the instrument for the rest of his life. Grey Larsen reports he used to say "There was never anybody as crazy for a melodeon as I was."
In 1923, he moved to Covington, KY, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, OH, working for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, and lived there until his death in 1978. He played the music he learned in Galway whenever he could.
Late in his life he helped fuel a revival of interest in Irish music in the Cincinnati area, a revival that eventually led to the Riley School of Irish Music and Craobh Riley, CCÉ. One of his great followers is Grey Larsen, who at age 18 in 1973 first met Kennedy and played with him as often as he could. Grey has recorded several tunes learned from Kennedy, and included a few cuts of Kennedy's own playing on his CDs. Kennedy recorded an LP in the 70s which is out of print, but well worth searching for.
His strong influence on Irish music throughout the region, due in part to Grey Larsen, led the CCÉ branch in Knoxville, TN, to chose the name the Michael Kennedy Branch in his honor."
How many of you are happy with one row?
How many of you are happy with one row?
A friend has just bought himself a new Melodeon & believe me it is a wee beauty - it's one of these little babies:
http://castagnari.com/accordeons/05/Melodeon
He brought it out to the Session, last Friday night, for a test drive & of course it passed with flying colours.
It certainly packs a punch for all the size of it.
Now, I don't get round the country so much these days & I just wondered how popular these wee Melodeons were becoming.
Do you, or does anyone you know, play one?
What are the most popular makes of One Row Melodeon today?
& finally:
Is there a finer instrument for playing Polkas & Slides on, I wonder?
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
That looks like a wee toy, that I had in my childhood.
Though I know nothing about Melodeons. Me friend has a two row Melodeon and it sounds like heaven haha.
I'll talk to him and see if I can get you some info.
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by Mahoney
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
'Play' is a big word for it, but I have great fun with my one-row Hohner. Makes loads of noise if you want it to.
Would love a 4-stop...
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by BrianR
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
On the new CCE website there's an audio download featuring Damien Mullane playing reels on a one-row melodeon. Have a listen to his astounding playing at:
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/new_mown_meadow_bonnie_kate/
I'd be very happy if I could play like that on a one row!
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by dogbox
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
Cha Beauty dogbox! Very tasty playing indeed & what a great, gutsy sound these boxes have!
Does anyone else here have any more links to good clips of mighty Melodeon playing for us to enjoy?
I found a few "UNUSUAL" clips on YouTube which might 'interest' you:
Melodeon Tune:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7-f6Folp0U
Schottis #51 e K J Björklund in 1 row old 2 stop Hohner G:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUjUaTr1tSI
Rheinlender after K J Björklund played on 1 row Hohner box C:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bEYOjzujP4
Polska #10 e K J Björklund on 1 row 3 stop Hohner G:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulCI7i3fef8
Obviously, one of the main men in this field is Johnny Connolly:
http://www.iol.ie/~ronolan/connolly.html
You can learn a little more about them here:
Irish Melodeons:
http://www.iol.ie/~ronolan/melodeon.html
Previous discussions here include this one:
Single row melodeon:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/8515/comments#comment249547
& this one:
Melodeon:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/12819/comments#comment263540
A good video clip of Johnny's playing would be nice ........
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
I notice that Conán McDonnell, back in September 2006 reckoned that Damien Mullane played a Briggs. - "He waited a hundred years for it but apparently it was worth it. Having heard quite a bit of it I wouldn't argue."
Perhaps that was his 2 Row, Conán was talking about there, but does Briggs actually make One Row Melodeons too, I wonder?
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
I reckon at least 2 rows a night is much more entertaining!
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by the wounded hussar
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
Ah Hussar, so you row up & then row back ........ down the river again eh?
Incidentally Hussar, is that how you got yourself wounded then eh .... too many rows?
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
I love the one row... In my travels there hasn't been a country where I haven't found them, sadly mostly neglected and rotting away in attics and the like, that includes Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. But I have also been blessed with hearing them played well. Of course, that also includes Cajun. There are two blessing about such an instrument, first you are confined to the one row, so more changes in the direction of the bellows, which when handled well gives a great lift to the music, and the proof exists in several fine recordings, some of which are in that section here, and here are two:
Tom Doherty
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1210
Huh? ~ Sorry, Terry 'Cuz' Teahan's recording isn't listed. It is a favourite. He was wonderful. Most of us will know the name by the tunes that carry his name... There are others but they aren't coming to mind at the moment. The imposed limitations are also why I prefer C#/D & D/D# two rows, more action with the bellows means more lift and spirit. I like the B/C in the right hands too, but I prefer the other tunings and the single-row.
Oh yeah, the other benefit, well, if it is the only instrument you've go you get to rest out and enjoy your drink at least every other time, when tunes are being aired that aren't in the one key you have on the one row... There are a number of exuberant accordion players that I would welcome being so limited ~ to be able enjoy that reduction in volume every once in awhile...where I could hear the other instruments and players more clearly...
The Castagnari in your first link Ptarmigan is a beauty. I wish I could convince my wife to get me one for Christmas.
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
The French Canadian Philippe Bruneau is / was an impressive player on one-row.
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by nicholas
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
John Kimmel, aka The Irish Dutchman, in my mind was the best on the one row D melodeon. I don't think he needed a two-row !
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by pennhorse
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
"John Kimmel: Virtuoso Of The Irish Accordion"
Submitted on January 8th 2006 by pennhorse.
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1894
Yes!!! ~ on both counts...
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
Some tracks of Kimmel can be found here ~
http://www.besmark.com/bluegrs.html
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by ceolachan
Note: just very short bits to tempt the ear...
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
Thanks for the link, coelachan, not enough people know about J. Kimmel, unfortunately.
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by pennhorse
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
Yeah pennhorse, I remember buying that Kimmel LP when it was first released [ NO, not the original 78s! ] & it is wonderful to listen to.
Thanks for the link Ceol, good to hear him again.
# Posted on March 5th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
I love to play on one row on my B/C box, nice punchy sound, lots of double stops--you don't have to have a one-row box to play one row (just have friends that are willing to accept the fact that you are in C is all). Marches in particular sound good in single row style.
I wish I could afford more instruments, like a D box in particular, but with boxes, it is much harder than whistles to build up a collection!!!!
# Posted on March 5th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
Al, why not get your wife to sell a couple of her Fiddles & then you could afford a couple of single rows, or at least one good one in D!
# Posted on March 5th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
More John Kimmel, just enter the name ~ et voila!
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?
# Posted on March 5th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
"More John Kimmel" - Very tasty - your working well there Ceol ................... as usual!
# Posted on March 5th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
It was my memory not working at the time, but this morning I had an epiphany... There is another set of tracks elsewhere but I can't yet remember where? My memory can sometimes be very disagreeable.
# Posted on March 5th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
http://www.juneberry78s.com/
# Posted on March 5th 2007 by ceolachan
& "The Listening Room"
http://www.juneberry78s.com/sounds/index.htm
# Posted on March 5th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
Ahhhhhhhhh Ceol, I'd nearly forgotten how good Andy McGann & Paddy Reynolds sounded together - delicious music .......... Yummy!
# Posted on March 5th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
I vote for ceolachan as ITM 's walking encyclopedia.
# Posted on March 6th 2007 by pennhorse
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
And we haven't even touched on the lovely one-row work out of Canada, Quebec and beyond...
# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
Alfred Montmarquette ~ musician & composer 1871 - 1944
The Virtual Gramophone: Alfred Montmarquette ~
& links to numerous recordings by this artist, MP3's, etc...
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/gramophone/m2-1041-e.html
"William Durette's Clog"
Key signature: D Major
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6602
"Clog De Champagne"
Key signature: G Major
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6701
# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
"I vote for ceolachan as ITM 's walking encyclopedia." Darn it, is it election time again! Oh alright then, I'll 2nd that motion!
But may I also propose myself as - gaurdian of *thesession's* Beer Cellar?
# Posted on March 25th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: How many of you are happy with one row?
You can take the beer, I'm wanting charge of the spirits...
I was just drawn back here reminded of another one ~ Michael Kennedy, and an LP was made, but alas, while I've tried I've not had any luck securing a copy... Boo hoo!!! I will keep looking...
http://www.detroitima.org/hall_of_fame/2006/kennedy_michael/index.html
"Michael Kennedy was born in Flaskagh, County Galway in 1900. He got hold of a one-row melodeon in the key of G and remained loyal to the instrument for the rest of his life. Grey Larsen reports he used to say "There was never anybody as crazy for a melodeon as I was."
In 1923, he moved to Covington, KY, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, OH, working for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, and lived there until his death in 1978. He played the music he learned in Galway whenever he could.
Late in his life he helped fuel a revival of interest in Irish music in the Cincinnati area, a revival that eventually led to the Riley School of Irish Music and Craobh Riley, CCÉ. One of his great followers is Grey Larsen, who at age 18 in 1973 first met Kennedy and played with him as often as he could. Grey has recorded several tunes learned from Kennedy, and included a few cuts of Kennedy's own playing on his CDs. Kennedy recorded an LP in the 70s which is out of print, but well worth searching for.
His strong influence on Irish music throughout the region, due in part to Grey Larsen, led the CCÉ branch in Knoxville, TN, to chose the name the Michael Kennedy Branch in his honor."
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by ceolachan
http://www.detroitima.org/hall_of_fame/2006/kennedy_michael/sorry_i%20_am.mp3
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by ceolachan
"Dark Of The Moon: Grey Larsen & Paddy League"
Including a few tracks by melodeon player Michael J. Kennedy
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1682
# Posted on May 11th 2007 by ceolachan