Any advice on a good introductory book for someone struggling with concertina? Recordings that are absolute must hear? I'm in the boonies..
Thanks in advance!
Birgit
you don't say, but since you are playing irish music i'd imagine that the concertina you're strugggling with is an anglo. the best book i've run into is the recent one by frank edgley. you can find more about it here: http://www.concertina.net/fe_book.html
as to recordings, i'd suggest anything by john williams or noel hill. the two of them will give you a good idea of the breadth of what's possible on the instrument.
don't get discouraged -- practicing eventually pays off.
Hello Birgit, I play Anglo Concertina but I taught myself by ear. I wish I could help. I have been playing about 20 years. I guess allot of banjo players and Anglo Concertina players just play by ear. I like to sing as I play. I too live in the boondocks and couldn't find help. I sure love my squeezebox! I will give some thought to books and recordings you might get something out of. I love the old Concertiana and Free reed Mag. John Townley used to put out. That was super for people like yourself. John was a strait arrow and always had some really great stuff to help out the novice as well as the advanced player.
Mary MacNamera has two CD's and they are both wonderful. One is called "Blackberry Blossom" but I don't remember the exact title of her first one. I'm not at home, so I can't give you the info, but if you like, I can e-mail you. I have to install my new modem at home, since I tripped over the cord and broke the old one...
If you can possibly get to a teacher for a week (or a year....) I really recommend at least a few lessons. Fingering makes a huge difference in ease of playing as well as the prasing and 'lift' of a tune. I love my concertina, which I've been playing for about 2 years. I take it in the car and play while my husband drives.
Where, in the boonies, do you live?
Happy squeezing!
Cassie
Anything by Noel Hill is a must, including his album "the Irish Concertina". I'm pretty sure he has a new one out, and if you can get your hands on his duet album with Tony Linnane then do so as it's a classic. He also features on "The woman I loved so well" from Planxty. - great music and songs. Niall Vallely is a great technical player and is a little bit daunting to listen to - not my cup of tea; he at least gives you an idea of the capabilities of the concertina in the hands of a true virtuoso. Also if you'll permit me to plug an album by a friend of mine, Jason O'Rourke. It's called The Bunch of Keys and has more of a session "feel" to it than slickly produced studio album. Jason's a great concertina player who always gives a great lift to any session I've heard him play at. Hope this is useful
Who ever you go for, I would suggest solo recordings over a band. I've only heard a recording of Niall, but I went to a session he was at & thought he was great - it's fancy, but good. Noel Hill plays a much much simpler style, with an emphasis on swing - which is excellent. The only complaint I have about Noel Hill is that the settings are a little too simple sometimes. Noel is a mighty player, but his settings played by a musician who isn't up to his par can be kind of flat. Nonetheless I think they are a great starting point fo a concertina player, instead of focusing energy on ornaments or tricky phrases you can work on the most important thing about Irish music *the swing*.
Hi Brad
I was hoping to hear Niall play in the Crosses of Annagh (just outside Miltown) last year, just to see what he was like in a different environment. Unfortunately the place was packed to the gills and you couldn't hear any music to a great degree - I suppose this put him off playing. Luckily Noel Hill played at the end of week concert with a young fiddle player and he was a little more "off the wall" than on his recordings. I do take your point about the simplicity of some of his settings, in fact I read that he wasn't completely happy with his first album. His second recording is called "In Knocknagree"; I can only find one website which sells most of the recordings in question, including Jason's. http://www.buttonbox.com/records.html
No good advice from me, Birgit, i just wanted to drop you a note of encouragement. I heard concertina up close for the first time this year, and i was dumbfound by the power, agility and expressiveness available in a small package. It's a great instrument; i hope it catches on again!
concertina trouble
concertina trouble
Any advice on a good introductory book for someone struggling with concertina? Recordings that are absolute must hear? I'm in the boonies..
Thanks in advance!
Birgit
# Posted on May 31st 2002 by burek
Re: concertina trouble
Birgit, I meant to write you and forgot -- sorry about that...did you try John Williams's tutor? http://www.homespuntapes.com/artists/artistpage.asp?artID=422
Zina
# Posted on May 31st 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: concertina trouble
you don't say, but since you are playing irish music i'd imagine that the concertina you're strugggling with is an anglo. the best book i've run into is the recent one by frank edgley. you can find more about it here: http://www.concertina.net/fe_book.html
as to recordings, i'd suggest anything by john williams or noel hill. the two of them will give you a good idea of the breadth of what's possible on the instrument.
don't get discouraged -- practicing eventually pays off.
sarah
# Posted on May 31st 2002 by eleyne
Re: concertina trouble
I just discovered Michael O Raghallaigh & posted his album here
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display.php/168
you can get a copy at Elderly Instruments online
http://www.elderly.com/highlights/accordion.html
It's some of the best stuff I've heard on the concertina.
As well as John Williams & Noel Hill, you might want to listen to Niall Vallely (Nomos) I don't know if he's done any solo albums though.
I can't help at all with books, maybe Scoiltrad will start a concertina tutor.
Good Luck & don't get discouraged
Bye for now,
Brad
# Posted on May 31st 2002 by Mad Baloney
Re: concertina trouble
Hello Birgit, I play Anglo Concertina but I taught myself by ear. I wish I could help. I have been playing about 20 years. I guess allot of banjo players and Anglo Concertina players just play by ear. I like to sing as I play. I too live in the boondocks and couldn't find help. I sure love my squeezebox! I will give some thought to books and recordings you might get something out of. I love the old Concertiana and Free reed Mag. John Townley used to put out. That was super for people like yourself. John was a strait arrow and always had some really great stuff to help out the novice as well as the advanced player.
# Posted on May 31st 2002 by Maxwell
Re: concertina trouble
Try www.madfortrad.com there are tutorials available, The site is interesting
# Posted on June 1st 2002 by Northcregg
Re: concertina trouble
You folks are awesome. THANKS!!
Birgit
# Posted on June 3rd 2002 by burek
Re: concertina trouble
Mary MacNamera has two CD's and they are both wonderful. One is called "Blackberry Blossom" but I don't remember the exact title of her first one. I'm not at home, so I can't give you the info, but if you like, I can e-mail you. I have to install my new modem at home, since I tripped over the cord and broke the old one...
If you can possibly get to a teacher for a week (or a year....) I really recommend at least a few lessons. Fingering makes a huge difference in ease of playing as well as the prasing and 'lift' of a tune. I love my concertina, which I've been playing for about 2 years. I take it in the car and play while my husband drives.
Where, in the boonies, do you live?
Happy squeezing!
Cassie
# Posted on June 3rd 2002 by woman of the house
That would be "phrasing" and "lift." So much for my proofreading.
# Posted on June 3rd 2002 by woman of the house
Re: concertina trouble
Anything by Noel Hill is a must, including his album "the Irish Concertina". I'm pretty sure he has a new one out, and if you can get your hands on his duet album with Tony Linnane then do so as it's a classic. He also features on "The woman I loved so well" from Planxty. - great music and songs. Niall Vallely is a great technical player and is a little bit daunting to listen to - not my cup of tea; he at least gives you an idea of the capabilities of the concertina in the hands of a true virtuoso. Also if you'll permit me to plug an album by a friend of mine, Jason O'Rourke. It's called The Bunch of Keys and has more of a session "feel" to it than slickly produced studio album. Jason's a great concertina player who always gives a great lift to any session I've heard him play at. Hope this is useful
Conán
# Posted on June 6th 2002 by Conán McDonnell
Re: concertina trouble
Who ever you go for, I would suggest solo recordings over a band. I've only heard a recording of Niall, but I went to a session he was at & thought he was great - it's fancy, but good. Noel Hill plays a much much simpler style, with an emphasis on swing - which is excellent. The only complaint I have about Noel Hill is that the settings are a little too simple sometimes. Noel is a mighty player, but his settings played by a musician who isn't up to his par can be kind of flat. Nonetheless I think they are a great starting point fo a concertina player, instead of focusing energy on ornaments or tricky phrases you can work on the most important thing about Irish music *the swing*.
PS Conan where can i get a copy of Jason's CD?
# Posted on June 6th 2002 by Mad Baloney
Re: concertina trouble
Hi Brad
I was hoping to hear Niall play in the Crosses of Annagh (just outside Miltown) last year, just to see what he was like in a different environment. Unfortunately the place was packed to the gills and you couldn't hear any music to a great degree - I suppose this put him off playing. Luckily Noel Hill played at the end of week concert with a young fiddle player and he was a little more "off the wall" than on his recordings. I do take your point about the simplicity of some of his settings, in fact I read that he wasn't completely happy with his first album. His second recording is called "In Knocknagree"; I can only find one website which sells most of the recordings in question, including Jason's.
http://www.buttonbox.com/records.html
All the hairy chest
Conan
# Posted on June 6th 2002 by Conán McDonnell
Re: concertina trouble
No good advice from me, Birgit, i just wanted to drop you a note of encouragement. I heard concertina up close for the first time this year, and i was dumbfound by the power, agility and expressiveness available in a small package. It's a great instrument; i hope it catches on again!
# Posted on June 6th 2002 by glauber