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

Roslin Castle (with chords) - Take 1

CNet THEME of the month November 2013 - Comfort Tunes

Minuet for Anna Magdalena

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)

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)

Used to play this on the PA several years ago - when discussion modes on CNet this tune sprang to my mind, so I gave it a (first)try with the Concertina.

Provided an improved version (see "CitK intermediate") now which I suggest for further listening...

Cook In The Kitchen (initial)

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)

A suite of my favourite O'Carolan tunes - recorded "live" in a row and therefore with some randomly allocated flaws. Anyway, hope you'll enjoy them...

O'Carolan: Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór - Planxty Irwin - Fanny Powers

WIP, by now reduced to a steady (marching) beat. Some takes this evening (this one actually being the fourth). Had thus to keep the one wrongful note for variety... :D

Chanter's Tune (steady)

Set of Playford's "Black Nag", followed by a 3/4 version of "Star of the County Down", concluding with the "Black Nag" again.

More hastily than I'd like to have it played, but again, it's a WIP which i hope is not just too annoying...

Black Nag Of The County Down

a song a shade lighter this time - learned from those early Dubliners recordings (as released on Transatlantic), hope you enjoy it as much as I do...

Farewell to Carlingford

Another  waltz (for concertina.net and anybody), a song very popular in northern Germany, with words in Low German language - about a girl waiting for her lover coming to see here in the night time at home where she lives with her parents...

Here's the lyrics, by special request:

1. Dat du min Leevsten büst, dat du woll weeßt.
Kumm bi de Nacht, kumm bi de Nacht, segg wo du heeßt,
kumm bi de Nacht, kumm bi de Nacht, segg wo du heeßt.

2. Kumm du üm Middernacht, kumm du Klock een!
Vader slöpt, Moder slöpt, ick slap aleen.
Vader slöpt, Moder slöpt, ick slap aleen.

3. Klopp an de Kammerdör, fat an de Klink!
Vader meent, Moder meent, dat deit de Wind.
Vader meent, Moder meent, dat deit de Wind. 

4. Kummt denn de Morgenstund, kreiht de ol Hahn.
Leevster min Leevster min, denn mößt du gahn!
Leevster min Leevster min, denn mößt du gahn!

5. Sachen den Gang henlank, lies mit de Klink!
Vader meent, Moder meent, dat deit de Wind.
Vader meent, Moder meent, dat deit de Wind.

Dat Du Min Leevsten Büst

concertina.net TOTM November 2014 - improved B-part, as for me

Trollspolska - Take 3

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

Concertina.net's TOTM January 2015, tune written by Nigel Eaton - having  been sort of sceptic in the beginning I came to like the tune by listening to several sung contributions - however this is an instrumental with an arrangement attempting to differenciate the repetitive parts (not repeats). Hope some will like hearing it played this way...

P.S.: By now I simply love the beginning of the B-section(with its striking use of the octave and leading note, rhythmic shift a.s.f.) - well done Nigel!

Halsway Schottische - Take 2

This is my being part of discovering the amazing world of the newly discovered "Dahlhoff" Collection, of - more or less northern German - dance tunes.

Michael Möllers, fiddler extraordinaire from Hannover, Germany, got me hooked - thank you so much for that!

First selection here is from the 1st book, pages 108 + 107.

To be continued...

Junge Printz Von Frisland - Englisch Offeria

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 May 2015 - as written by the late Tom Anderson, harmonies added

(still too, well, snappy - but I wanted, and still want to keep it sort of andante...)

Albeit still liking this first take due to its sort of straightforward approach I nevertheless point the sympathetic listener to my newer "WIP" posting further down the road...

Da Slockit Light (first version)

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)

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

See previous takes - gradually approaching what it's supposed to sound like...

Jamie Allen - Vedder Michel (take 3)

Newly taken up Melodeon (Hohner Preciosa Bb/Eb!) - various smaller issues with the instrument, but since this is  MelNet's Tune Of The Month too and the last day of June I decided to give my first recording with the Melodeon a go - pretty rough, please bear with me my being more or less a beginner with this Instrument...

Vedder Michel (Melodeon)

TOTM melodeon.net July 2015 (wonderful tune by Dave Shepherd) - still struggling with this Instrument but hopefully on my way - WIP, first take, to be improved...

Will post a recording with the EC too...

Rose Of Raby (Melodeon)

My very first piano piece (from just 50 years ago; had to get along without the low octave, a few more notes altered, however basically according to the dots this time), recorded as contribution for concertina.net's Theme Of The Month July 2015, "unlikely concertina music" - WIP, still lacking the accuracy and nonchalence as intended...

Händel Sarabande (WIP)

Theme Of The Month on melodeon.net August 2015, previously recorded with English Concertina for concertina.net (listen and see notes under the following):

https://soundcloud.com/blue-eyed-sailor/heisa-kathreinerle-och-flickan-hon-gar-i-dansen

WIP, and I've not yet found a way to record my melodeon takes as properly as when playing concertina...

Heißa Kathreinerle - Och Flickan Hon Går I Dansen (Melodeon)

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)

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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