Ever wanted to know what the sound of a sweet little brass reeded English Concertina wedded to the rough end of a congregation raucously (though very joyfully) singing sounded like? Look no further!
This is a little film clip shot by my 7 year old daughter whilst I was leading a service this afternoon. I’d asked her to look after my mobile for me – but look what she got up to – and she managed to keep singing herself.
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Comments
Al,
What a great clip. My services on Prince Edward Island in Canada use the concertina in the same fashion, but I am seated. I tend to play the melody line sparsely on the right hand and the chords on the left hand. My old twin reed Stagi in G/D helps to produce an organ-like sound in smaller worship settings. My C/G sounds a bit thinner. Should a BIG sound be required, then there is always the old Hohner melodeon.
Martin, formerly of Arthur, Ontario, Canada
Thanks for your message Martin – the sound quality wasn’t too great but I was quite pleased to hear that the little brass-reeded English concertina that I was playing nonetheless managed to be heard quite nicely and that the PA system picked it up ok. I’ve been told that I play in the ‘traditional’ Salvation Army style using chords with both hands, and just interspersing the odd melodic passage throughout the tune. I don’t really know whether that’s right or not but it seems to work for me. And as you say, for loud and quick (happy clappy stuff mainly) I will often use the melodeon or (heaven’s above!) the banjo-ukulele
Best regards
AL
Al,
Just a follow up on concertina use in Canada. I previously informed you of the Salvation Army’s use of the instrument, but now I have found an Anglican (Church of England) example that is actually in a museum in the Yukon. Apparently, it too was used in Dawson City during the Gold Rush. An earlier picture that I sent you shows a (non-brass) Salvation Army band in Dawson City. I was wondering if this concertina ever joined in. It would have been great!
Here is the site:
http://www.yukonmuseums.ca/treasures/olc/12.htm
Martin Dawson of Montague PEI, Canada
OK Al,
The link didn’t seem to work when I tested it from your blog (even though I copied and pasted it from the site) , so if you want, you might just Google it as listed below.
Concertina – Yukon Museum Guide: Treasures of the Yukon
http://www.yukonmuseums.ca/treasures/olc/12.html – CachedReddish brown concertina manufactured by Lachenal and Co., London … Mr. Bowen required a huge chest of tools to help build the Church and rectory and …
Martin