Hallelujahal's Blog

Salvation Army Concertina

hallelujahal — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:59:13 +0000

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.

Here’s a new Baby!

hallelujahal — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:09:14 +0000

Here’s the latest addition to my harmonica gang! Hohner 265 Bass Harmonica. This bass was played in the British Comedy Harmonica trio – ‘The Three Monarchs’ during the 1950s & 60s. It’s just arrived, and I’m quite happy with it – though very much in the early stages of learning to play it!

Here’s a quick soundclip of it

Have just made a rough recording using my little chord harmonica – the bass and my old Hohner 270 chromatic harmonica. It’s an old Salvation Army Chorus called ‘O Jesus, be thyself to me a living bright reality’ – the recording is a little bit rough as I’ve just very quickly recorded it through the microphone on the laptop – but it gives me a sense of how the bass might sound in an ensemble type situation.

O Jesus be thyself to me

Leaving Lismore

hallelujahal — Sat, 21 May 2011 16:26:45 +0000

Leaving Lismore on Button Accordion & Recorder

Here’s a little recording made recently of the OLd Vintage Hohner Double Ray that I have. I’ve just had the bass end modified to give me a couple of extra chords that I use more frequently

Leaving Lismore

Hohner El Rey del Vallenato F/Bb/Eb for sale:

hallelujahal — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:21:03 +0000

NOW SOLD!

~~Hohner El Rey del Vallenato F/Bb/Eb for sale:~~

~~This is the one I’ve been putting off as I really do like this box – but needs must, especially as I’m hoping to get another box soon…and as we’re moving shortly here it goes!~~

Hohner ‘El Rey Del Vallenato’ in F/Bb/Eb (black) – beautiful condition. Purchased brand new from Rees Wesson on the 28th Sept 2009 – it is excellent condition and plays really lovely. It’s a three-voiced instrument and has a beautiful shimmering sound to it. It cost me £570 when new less than two years ago and I need to realise at least £350 for a quick sale plus post & packing for it otherwise it’s going nowhere. I will include the new gigbag that came with it and a pair of leather straps. These three-voiced boxes are quite difficult to get hold of, I’ve not seen them generally available for sale in the UK – though I’ve not really looked around lately. Here’s a pic and soundfile:

Vallenato FBbEb

Another picture:

Another soundfile – a brief tune played in each of the three keys (F/Bb/Eb) to give an indication of sound & register.

~~the 3 rows~~

hallelujahal — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:25:45 +0000

Hohner Pokerwork…Ugly but Nice!

hallelujahal — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 09:25:01 +0000

***Now Sold – thanks for all the enquiries folk!***

A great little player – not a lot to look at – but great on the inside! Here’s some pics – I’m selling this as part of my great box clearout before our move:

Updates & Upgrades…?

hallelujahal — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 20:47:50 +0000

Anyone any experience of updates & upgrades out there…? I’ve recently done an upgrade on this site to include mp3 sound files here…seems like an awful lot of money more required to enable video posting. Can someone tell me how to link youtube videos to these blog sites?

God Bless

Here’s a little test for you…?

hallelujahal — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 12:02:15 +0000

Hi – long time since I’ve been able to get around to updating this blog – so thought I’d have a little fun whilst getting back into things. Below are 7 recorded tracks of the scale of C Major all played on various accordions…can you guess which is which? For your information there’s the following instruments being played:

Hohner Pokerwork Melodeon in C/F; Hohner Carmen Piano Accordion (2v); Baile Piano Accordion (3v); Stella Piano Accordion (2v); Roland FR-1 Piano Accordion; Primo D/G Melodeon; Hohner El Rey del Vallenato Melodeon in F/Bb/Eb.

All can be heard playing the scale of C major at roughly the same sort of speed & tempo. Go on…have a go!

Blessing Everyone!

track1 track2 track3 track4 track5 track6 track7

Well…it’s started!

hallelujahal — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:40:57 +0000

Well, yes it’s has started again – yesterday our little brass ensemble (including melodeon & clarinet) undertook our first carolling engagement for the season. It was at Hassop Hall in Derbyshire which was the venue for the Eastwood Ladie Probus Annual Dinner – to which we’d been invited. This was our third time with the ladies and as usual it was a really good fun occasion with lots of lovely singing – indeed a number of the folk there were also from a local operatic society so the voices were in really good fettle!

My oh my, my lips hurt today though! I only played for about and hour and a half and by the end they were truly buzzing – which serves me right for not bothering to pick up my instrument on many occasions during the last 12 months!

The melodeon didn’t feature much until the end of our little carol concert – however it was remarked upon by a number of the guests as being an unusual and little seen sight these days??? Oh well

Anyway, not only was the message of Christmas proclaimed, but there was lots of love and laughter. And during the singing a collection had been taken up – so some much needed funds were contributed towards The Salvation Army’s Homeless & Hungry in Chesterfield Project.

This year we have seen a dramatic increase in people and families in crisis coming to us for help. We help where we can of course, our primary aim is to ensure that individuals do not go hungry. To this end we are blessed by the many people who support us by donating food and money to enable this support to happen – without the goodwill of so many people much of what The Salvation Army is known for simply wouldn’t happen – so thank you to all!

The real meaning of Christmas started a very long time ago!

God bless you all this Advent!

No Brass in Sight!

hallelujahal — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:51:34 +0000

A friend has brought to my attention the archives of The War-Cry in Canada – they make wonderful reading. And above is a front cover photo of a 1909 edition featuring the work of The Salvation Army in Dawson City in 1909. I really enjoy looking at the above picture – especially the assembled group of soldiers outside the Dawson City SA Mission Centre – look, not a brass instrument in sight! It warms my heart to see early day salvationists! Guitars, banjos and a drum was the only band needed to spread the Christian Message. Hallelujah! I wonder how the work is going in Dawson City today? Perhaps someone will enlighten me.

God Bless You!