Internet Video Jukebox #37

December 2023

An online concertina video jukebox curated by Paul Walker.  Please send him your favourite YouTube links of concertina players (any system or genre, including your own recordings) at vjb@concertina.org.

Late Autumn greetings (“all through, the Wind and the Rain…”) from myself and also from ‘Tina enthusiast Steve Taggart, based in the UK, who has unearthed a fascinating bundle of clips from the Internet for CW readers.

First off, a big welcome to Michael Ketemer who contacted Concertina World: “Hi Paul, here are some links that you might find suitable for the Jukebox. These videos are of a Wheatstone Aeola accompanied by MuseScore backup tracks. The arrangements are mine, done as pre-production and guide tracks for my next CD. I am happy to share the MuseScore files with anyone interested.”

First, Michael plays The Alaskan Rag, by Joseph Lamb, on a Wheatstone Aeola (extended range concertina):

Followed by Judy and Jim’s Wedding, by Larry Unger, Wheatstone Aeola:

Next, some folk music. Darcy Farrow, by Three Times Through. Darcy Farrow was written by Steve Gillette and Tom Campbell. Margie learned it directly from Steve (they were both young folkies in Whittier, California), and it’s been recorded by John Denver, Ian and Sylvia, Linda Ronstadt, and more. This was recorded in August of 2014 by Jeff and Gale Peach and Greg and Margie Mirken. a.k.a. Three Times Through (who reached out to Concertina World a few months ago):

Then the group continue with a fine set of jigs: Coleraine/The Black Nag/Morrison’s Jig:

And now, a Christmas song from Provence, 16th century, N’autres siam aicí venguts. The concertinist explains, Un noël provençal du 16e siècle, tiré du Recueil de ND-des-Doms, Avignon. Arrangement for 46 key duet concertina, © Gilbert Carrère:

A Shine on Your Shoes, 1932. Tune written by Schwartz and Dietz, performed here on a restored 1918 Wheatstone English treble concertina by Michael Pierceall:

It Could Happen to You, also played by Michael Pierceall:

Tripping Down the Stairs Reel, on English Concertina with the flying fingers of Simon Thoumire:

Joe Wilson comments on the video, “It feels wrong for Irish music to be played on an English concertina, good playing though.” Would Concertina World readers agree?

Next, Maple Leaf Rag on concertina, played by the modest George plays music. He notes, “Here’s an arrangement of Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag for the 52-button Hayden duet concertina. I transposed keys and made a few modifications to fit the shorter range of the instrument. I probably couldn’t play this without the couple of ergonomic enhancements I made. I added 3D-printed thumb hooks and, more importantly, button caps which widen the button diameters to 9.7mm. The wider buttons make it easier to play two notes with one finger, helping to make up for having only eight fingers for playing versus ten for piano.”

Next, The Abbess (another great tune by Andy Cutting) on Hayden Duet Concertina by the cryptic Minimum Listenable Products. He writes, “This time I have recorded the right and left hand sides separately to xperiment/demonstrate that dynamics and articulations can be controlled better when melody is played independently from the bass. Video was taken when the melody only was played and mixed on Audacity.”

Minimum Listenable Products writes, “I am a self-taught beginner concertina-er (Since Dec 2019) based in Melbourne Australia. I am keen to learn from fellow duet players and also happy to share what I have found so far, if anyone is interested in duet concertina.” He provides an email address if any readers fancy getting in touch.

Incidentally the dots for The Abbess are freely available on the session.org website. And here’s a version by the tune’s composer Andy Cutting from Derbyshire. The video is set in a cavern!

Air on the G chord, played on bandotin by Soloduet. An adaptation of JS Bach “Air on the G string” (from Suite No 3, BWV 1068). He explains, “In 1871, violinist August Wilhelmj arranged the second movement of Bach’s third Orchestral Suite for violin and an accompaniment of strings, piano or organ (harmonium). On the score he wrote auf der G-Saite (on the G string) above the staff for the solo violin, which gave the arrangement its nickname. In Wilhelmj’s version the piece is transposed down from its original key (D major) to C major. Here it’s played on a bandotin in G major, so not on the G string but on the G chord.”

Thomas Chilcot Courante, Suite No.1 in G Minor III. Corente, on Anglo Concertina played by Goisaga:

Also by Goisaga, Scott Joplin’s Weeping Willow:

Caffrey McGurk Madge, The Association (Words: John Maybee; Tune: Ed McGurk).They explain, “The wreck of the three ships of the British fleet in 1707. The fleet was returning to Britain after the siege of Toulon. 21 ships of the line with Rear Admiral Sir Cloudsley Shouvel, two other admirals and 21 ships captains. There was a heavy sea mist, they thought they were off Ushant but were actually sailing into the Gilstone ledges off the Scilly Isles.” Recorded at Fleetwood Folk and Blues Festival 2019:

Here’s an Anglo solo. Liberty Bell played by Robin Madge on Andrew Norman/Gremlin D/G 30 button Anglo concertina:

Readers, please share your favourite YouTube links of concertina  players of any system or genre, or videos of your own performances, with the editor at vjb@concertina.org. Remember  – this is your jukebox!