Thursday, February 19, 2009

Anglo Concertina Fingering Chart


Sunday, February 15, 2009

Edel Fox plays "The Drunken Sailor" Irish Hornpipe

One of the great old multi-part hornpipes, "The Drunken Sailor", played by concertina player Edel Fox from Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare. Edel was TG4 Young Musician of the Year in 2004 and has toured Britain and North America with Comhaltas.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Padraig Rynne Band - Marga's Moment

Padraig Rynne

Pádraig Rynne is regarded as one of the finest concertina players in Irish music today being described by The Irish alphabet stew as "one of the freshest sounds in Irish music". Born in County Clare, Pádraig grew up in a house steeped in Traditional Irish Music.

In his early years Pádraig won five all Ireland titles as well as three Oireachtas titles. By the age of seventeen Pádraig had all ready toured the U.S.A, Canada, Ireland and Australia as well as having recorded an album with the young band "Turas".

In 1998 Pádraig joined the well known band "Cían" with which he recorded two albums as well as touring the world extensively.

Since his departure from that band in 2001, Pádraig has worked and recorded with artists of the calibre of Arty McGlynn, Alan Kelly, John McSherry, John Jo Kelly, At First light, Flook & Tamalin just to name a few, as well as recording an album entitled "Live in Belfast" with Paul Meehan & Paul Bradley.

"Bye A While" - Padraig's first solo album was released in 2005. This long awaited album has some of the finest Irish musicians you can find in Irish music guesting on it. It shows the through ability of this young concertina player and the bright future that he has ahead of him.

Also, visit my MySpace page and leave a comment! Thanks, Pádraig.

The Anglo Concertina: A Handbook of Tunes and Methods for Irish Traditional Music

Book and CD by Frank Edgley, 2001
(text below provided by Frank Edgley)

Anglo Concertina HandbookFrank Edgley is a concertina player with over twenty years experience, and anglo concertina builder. He has played at several festivals in North America and has performed in duet with Chris Droney at the Mrs. Crotty Festival in Kilrush, County Clare. Before that, he led the Scottish Society of Windsor Pipe band to several North American Championships. This experience with Celtic music has given him an understanding of the music.

He has just produced a new concertina tutor called "THE ANGLO CONCERTINA, A Handbook of tunes and Methods for Irish Traditional Music." A 73 minute instructional CD is included with the book. It takes players or aspiring players from the basics to fairly complex embellishments and variations. Embellishments are explained and played slowly on the CD. Contents of the CD directly relate to the text. There is a collection of jigs, reels, hornpipes, slides, polkas, airs and marches that has been selected to be "concertina friendly". Several tunes have been broken down to present embellishments and variations.

For information on ordering, prices, etc., e-mail Frank at edgley@concertinas.ca , or fedgley@cogeco.ca