Internet Video Jukebox #30

December 2021

Curated by Paul Walker

First, Rob Harbron who writes, “I’ve been really enjoying playing a piece of newly composed music for the English concertina – Timothy Johnston’s ‘Nocturne for English Concertina’.  I’ve been working with Tim, helping him understand how the instrument works, and I’ve really enjoyed getting my fingers round the piece. Have a listen here!”

Let’s raise a glass of mulled ale to ‘Tina enthusiast Steve Taggart who has excelled himself with a fascinating bundle of clips from the Internet. We’re again indebted to Steve. He writes:

“Paul, I’m not quite sure if this qualifies as a concertina as such, nor do I know who “Paul Lennon” is, but it’s still an interesting clip anyway. “Yesterday” played on a Striso duet prototype (striso.org) by Soloduet:

A cheerful little tune, well played on a very nice Bb/F Jeffries anglo, from another good owd boy from Lincolnshire. “That Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane” by Mikefule:

A very new one for you Paul (but sounding very old!), Matt Heumann’s “Fool’s Danse”:

And the same player for “The Third Man theme tune” (composed by Anton Karas and from the film “The Third Man”). Happy memories of getting our first black-and-white TV set, in the very late 1950s:

Free rendition of a klezmer tune originally from Romania in the repertoire of Akiva Ben-Horin, and brought to Catalonia under the name Xotis Romanès. Played on a Wicky (Hayden) duet concertina, by Soloduet [N.b. many players on YouTube prefer to use pseudonyms.] Nuff sed! Beautiful.

This clip presented itself today and I wondered whether I had ever sent it in to you before? If not, I certainly should have done. The tune itself was played a lot by the late husband of one Mrs Frost, the lady from whom, years ago, I purchased my most often used instrument.Now, I may just have made an arrangement of this… Matt Heumann plays “Beautiful Dreamer”:

I don’t know if everybody has seen this, but they should. Prof Rat, “The Entertainer”. Written by Scott Joplin, but the arrangement here (missing a couple of sections!) is based on one for guitar in “Folk-Country-Evergreens” by Karl Bruckner – now out of print I think, but there’s a new/expanded version “Folk, Rags & Spirituals”: Easy arrangements for Guitar, which is basically the same:

I came across this lovely film music whilst looking for tracks by John Nixon. So far this is the only one I found where I can actually hear JN’s English concertina. There are others, I’m sure. Orchestra Vladimir Cosma, The Escape of Alan and David (David Balfour) (Movie Theme):

Yes, there are! Album: Die Abenteuer des David Balfour – Originalmusik aus dem Fernsehfilm (1978) (Decca) (Telefunken) (Teldec). Orchestra Vladimir Cosma – Liam O’Flynn (Pipes, Tin Whistler); John Wright (Jaw Harp); John Nixon (English Concertina); Paddy Glackin (Fiddle):

On behalf of our readers, Steve, thanks so much for your hard work and sharing.

Welcome again to a recent contributor Janet Dows (reader from the USA) who sends the Jukebox these delightful performances (she is playing the C/G Anglo). Three songs played by Cacciatore di Tesori, Maxwell Poulos, Mandolin; Irene Herrmann, Mandolin; Jante Dows, Concertina; Kaethe Hostetter, Guitar. “Tarantella”:

“Anima Solitaria”, by Giovanni Vicari:

Biancuccia, by Giovanni Giovale:

Peter Dyson from Bellingham, Washington, USA writes, “In Internet Video Jukebox 28, you mentioned “Elsey’s Waltz” and Derek Hobbs. Derek is the man behind Rossleigh Music, and over the years he has published a dozen duet tunebooks. Most of the tunes are those popular in Northumbrian Smallpiping circles, but others come from farther afield. He is very well known and his duets appreciated all over the NSP world. Go to: www.rossleighmusic.com/ and click “The Piper’s Companion”  then “Read this first” to get a link on SoundCloud to Wind Energy ensemble. Including pipes and concertina.

Of course, the duets can be played by any two melody instruments, including, of course, concertinas. Because the tunes were originally intended for F pitch Northumbrian smallpipes, those books which include guitar/piano chords usually have two sets of chords, one set suitable for accompanying F sets and another set a tone apart to accompany concert-pitch instruments. Confusing for someone who doesn’t know the context. Anyway, there’s a bit of background.

Thanks Peter. Any links to concertina players performing favourite Northumbrian tunes will be much appreciated folks.

Who else to follow that? Concertina player Alistair Anderson and Northumbrian clog dancers perform at Alistair’s ‘Diamond Dazzler’ 60th Birthday celebration concert at The Sage Gateshead, 14th of May 2008.