CNet TOTM July 2013, just as a second step to this month's final version...

Roslin Castle (with chords) - Take 1

Again, CNet TOTM January 2014, one swapped note corrected, repetition of B part rearranged, sadly the timing is not sufficiently consistent, guess I will provide "final" version within this month.

(work in progress still dedicated to Iris Bishop who introduced me to this lovely tune)

(edit  Jan 16 2014, recorded and provided a third (and near final) take which I'd like to recommend to the gentle listener...)

Josefins Dopvals (reworked)

My first attempt in self-accompanied singing - pretty content with the (I'd say: kind of hypnotic) sound of the concertina - voice not properly recorded by that single notebook mike.

Thanks toJody Kruskal for the inspiration!

Mole In The Ground (Demo)

Somebody o'erthere at CNet mentioned this song this morning and provided the lovely take from its author, Ciril Tawney - I simply had to try and then record it (mixed up one word in the first line, sorry). Still experimenting with positioning the notebook for (still unedited) recording. Will have to go for a proper mic I guess...

Grey Funnel Line (Demo)

Recorded for CNet's TOTM February 2014, which actually is Sherriff's Ride, a Morris tune, obviously related to this Raggle Taggle stuff. I added a B part based on the Morris tune's one but adapted to the style of the Irish tune I am familiar with. Still suffering from a cold, will record a better focussed two-runs-through take shortly.

Raggle Taggle Gypsies' Ride

Again, CNet's TOTM February 2014 - more successful, twice through, but still too much of a struggle - will improve on that too.

Raggle Taggle Gypsies' Ride (twice thru)

This is meant to reply to user Stuart Estell (via concertina.net) who provided a great take of this lovely Mixolydian version recently which I sort of adapted to my style of accompaniment and singing (lyrics in parts different). Work in progress...

Barbara Allen (take 3)

CNet TOTM April 2014 - another evening, another take...

Zelda (take 5)

Re-recorded after not much doing the song but having performed it in public very recently. Certainly much improvement regarding the miking, OTOH still some embarrassing flaws in some details which I hope will not spoil the whole thing however...

Mole In The Ground (re-recorded)

This is an impromptu live recording, just from my repertoire - in anticipation of CNet's TOTM May 2014 (or, if that will turn out otherwise, as a starting point for a work in progress anyway).

This tune is apparently adapted from Mozart's KV 536. My arrangement might take it one more step farer away from this origin, but it still has this Mozartian spirit, hasn't it?

Michael Turner's Waltz - after W. A. Mozart (impromptu)

Alsways wanted to play this one since I heard it from Guy Wolf on YouTube - kind of learned and unlearned several times - this is it for now, still struggling (and one to many A-parts), but you get the idea I'd guess. Feedback of any kind appreciated!

WIP - you might like to listen to the second "steady" version as well...

Chanter's Tune

Didn't play this for about a year; arrangement derived from my playing the tune on the piano; had been a bit like a Reggae there which might still be imagined from this take... :)

Recording occasioned by a revived "Beatles" topic a concertina.net.

Let It Be (instrumental)

This will most likely be "Tune of the Month" June 2014 on concertina.net, a lovely Finnish waltz - I gave it a first try for about an hour making choices, arranging and playing in anticipation of things to come...:)

Had tried out two versions, one from the dots with added harmony, more modal or "celtic" then, the other one as to be heard here. My starting point for this second attempt was a lovely klezmer-ish version on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvC80hNT1UM, but of course I didn't (couldn't!) leave it at that... ;)

A bit rough, but that's my first take, guess I will re-record it, better rehearsed and maybe varied as well...

Emma's Waltz

The first of "my" Nordic dance tunes is identified by a gentleman from Sweden via concertina.net - it's actually a waltz song with the title as mentioned - but another guy informed me that it is danced as Long Dance / Polska as well, so I left the first part (including my doubling) as is, but played the beautiful B section more in waltz style (or at least had that in mind), with a different - simpler - melody! I love this version of the tune, being so very Dorian in that descending melodic figure...!

Two good takes had been ruined by my notebook having distorted the sounds and even swallowed short parts this evening, the third one - which is posted here - is technically clean but suffering from a telefon ring unfortunately - I chose to leave it at that, as it is more or less musically satisfying (as far as I can take it now, getting nervous bit by bit...).

Thank you Gjert and Steve for the advice with the first tune!

Var Det Du Eller Var Det Jag - Set

Just noticed: concertina.net, Theme Of The Month June 2014 is "Let's Polka" - therefore a quick recording of one familiar and one newly taken up, to be improved...

Polkas: Tip Top - Johnny I Do Miss You

a bit of nonsense this time, or self-portrait of a down-and-out macho sailor - which I hope I'm not, and never will be quite alike, except for just a song... :)

All For Me Grog

Another great song which I was finally getting about in the aftermath of that great week of the Baltic Shanty Festival - to be regarded as a first attempt, recorded live as always.

I dedicate this to the fellows mainly from Switzerland who'd been amiably accepting the two of us on board the lovely schooner "Banjaard" and have their own smashing version of this fine song.

The words I have compiled from mainly the older "Rolling Down to Old Mohee", combining the verses with the well known chorus... Hope that works for the sympathetic listener...

Rolling Down To Old Maui

take 2/3, couldn't improve on it this evening - this has been learned and sung in joyful anticipation of our upcoming vavancies in England (Devon this time, and maybe some days in London).

I picture us standing onboard the ferry to Dover once again..., and we'll sight the shores of England when the grey dawn brings the light.... :)

Rolling Home

Searching for what I've learned in the meantime is called "Randolph" I found this hymn which prompted me to play it in F with a slightly folky arrangement (just as you might expect from my side anyways) - WIP, B-part still needs som work...

God Be With You Till We Meet Again - instrumental

2nd couple of tunes from the Dahlhoff collection, Polonäise (!) a + b from book 2, p. 239 (in 3/4)

(ignoring the two-part setting which exists here)

Polonaisen 2 - 239

Concertina.net's TOTM April 2015 (which had been my choice too this time), still a bit uneven, but I hope you'll enjoy it anyhow like I do...

Harliquin Air

Third attempt of playing and recording this beautiful TOTM of May 2015 - although still not without faults, I guess this is where I get as for now (unedited, as always - just some reverb added). However, I still like the recurring final notes (ornamentations) better in the second take...

I dedicate this recording to my friendly audience at the 41st Scheersberg Pentecostal Folk Meeting. "Musicians play for musicians" can be quite intimidating, but these guys were just humming along the lines of this melody (my initial tune) therewith giving me perfect support and delight. Thank you so much for a unique experience and remembrance!

Da Slockit Light (Tom Anderson)

(two more recordings of this new set available as yet - the latest being "take 3": https://soundcloud.com/blue-eyed-sailor/jamie-allen-vedder-michel-take-3)

First demo recording for concertina.net's TOTM June 2015 ("Vedder Michel"), the first (so well-known) tune being added and adapted to the spirit of the second one, which is played following the cheerful video of a German folk trio called "Deitsch" (see YouTube) but transposed up to Gmaj in order to avoid an octave shift/leap from A to B...

Jamie Allen - Vedder Michel (demo)

Inspired by concertina.net's ThemeOTM June 2015 - Waltzes - I finally recorded this remainder from my revolutionary youth - always kept these tunes in my mind, the first being a marching song with the topic of Soviet and German sailors around 1917/1918, the second one a funeral march (referring to the 1905 Revolution) which I however play as a waltz (guess I've heard it before that way). Hope to not offend anyone...

Matrosen von Kronstadt und Kiel -  Unsterbliche Opfer

Another contribution for concertina.net's Theme Of The Month - June 2015, Waltzes - two songs I recall from primary school, the first one being  a  (sort of trad-faking) "Wandervogel" song (but the A-part seems to be based on a traditionell Alsatian tune, and it's AABA as you'll hear), more an Austrian "Ländler" in fact, the second one a waltz song from Sweden which is quite popular in Germany (with its German lyrics, not many people knowing that it's actually a Scandi tune).

Heißa Kathreinerle - Och Flickan Hon Går I Dansen

Two 3/4 pieces that I usually play as a set, like here. Had recorded each one already as a single track, but not as a set - the reason for recording was mainly to emphasise the "Minuet" pattern of the first tune (which had been ascribed to Johann Sebastian Bach due to its being included in the Notenbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach - the second tune is better known as "Michael Turner's Waltz" but in fact written by Wolfang Amadeus Mozart, and I'm playing it more like the Austrian "Ländler" it might have been supposed to go like (and altered the B-section compared with both sources). Have to rate it WIP as the recording is not to my entire satisfaction, not just a few flaws but still timing not as steady as it should be... However, hope you'll be enjoying it as it is now...

Menuett (Petzold) - Ländler (Mozart)

first recording with my newly acquired Wheatstone "model 24" concertina (which prompted me to resume my playing)

Nancy (first attempt)

Old French - Chanter's Tune

my first attempt with the tenor-treble, WIP

(and in any event: what a sound, no EQ applied!)

Fanny Power - The South Wind

My first Anglo recording (discovered the instrument just weeks ago) - 20b Lachenal

(enthusiastic WIP, so to speak) (no EQ)

adding: following a request, you'll find a demo recording with my model 24 EC, recorded subsequently and played in Cmaj as well (rather high, but for closer compatibility) as follows:

https://soundcloud.com/blue-eyed-sailor/moncks-march-shepherds-hey-ec-demo

Monck's March - Shepherd's Hey

demo recording for comparison against the Anglo version:

https://soundcloud.com/blue-eyed-sailor/monks-march-shepherds-hey

Monck's March - Shepherd's Hey (EC Demo)

(see new take: https://soundcloud.com/blue-eyed-sailor/ich-weis-nicht-rocking-carol-1)

part of discussing the second tune at concertina.net: https://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?/topic/20770-shepherds-rocking-carol/

just a provisory version, paired with the German song "Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten"

Ich Weiß Nicht - Rocking Carol

inspired by this thread:

https://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?/topic/20789-the-wexford-carol/

with a link to a very meditative version of the Wexford Carol

WIP

Wexford Carol - Third Carol

a better take, just in time for Christmas 2018 (against all odds, which is two broken cars to begin with, and not to my entire content, but alas, I hope it will still be enjoyable for some).

Ich Weiß Nicht - Rocking Carol (Merry Xmas)

TOTM March 2013 - CNET

work in progress, file to be replaced

The Fiery Clockface (first attempt) - Take 2

CNET TOTM April 2013 - a rough first take before listening to others'

Vals från Boda - Take 1

a musical sign of life - a spontaneuos live recording after having set up a decent audio recorder for my smartphone

ein kleines musikalisches Lebenszeichen, spontane Live-Aufnahme nach Einrichtung eines Audiorecorders auf dem Smartphone

Kolomtanz - Sailor's Hornpipe

spontaneous live recording for the "Tunesday Tuesdays" group on 
Facebook

Nancy Clough

another Tuesday Tunesday thing - very much WIP, introducing harmonies step by step

Sadler's Wells

Having played a bunch of pretty different instruments but mainly the piano for some decades, I luckily  took up the English Concertina in the summer of 2011 out of instant inspiration and can't get my hands off of this great little box (which is such a fine solo instrument as well as allowing some modest self-accompaniment when singing songs). Find more content at concertina.net.

Update: After a  hiatus due to technical failure of the beautiful instrument shown on top of my page I resumed my playing in October 2017 following the acquisition of my "new" Wheatstone model 24 (while the Lachenal Excelsior is awaiting some future restauration)

Update II: Having finished my denying the need of a Tenor-Treble to myself, I now own and am playing a beautifully (looking and) sounding metal-ended Aeola as well, which happens to be my main instrument - however the ET is still not being neglected...

Update III: Happily added the 20b Anglo (Lachenal and Crabb) and Crane Duet (again Crabb) to "my" instruments as of October/November 2018 :)

blue eyed sailor

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