So is there a reason besides the holy tradition for players of irish music to stick to anglo?
Dwight,
Regarding CTS, my main problem is the base joint of my right thumb. Probably too many hours at the computer.
I am learning the Treble English Concertina (as has been mentioned, same notes on the draw and push, alternating between hands). This has the same range as the violin, at least up to c3. The instruction books I picked up recommend placing the left end on one leg when playing seated and working the bellows with the right hand. I found that this was not a good idea for me, but placing the right end on my right leg and working the bellows with my left hand works great. I have also been practicing standing using a ribbon around my neck to take most of the weight. The only stress I have been getting is from using muscles that aren’t accustomed to the exercise. No joint pain.
On the ease of learning, one thing that convinced me I should at least give it a try is that I am a reasonably good typist. So my hands are accustomed to working in patterns between the two. One of the reasons I didn’t choose the Anglo is the need to coordinate bellows direction with buttons to get the right notes. I found that once I got a good instruction book I was able to start playing recogniziable tunes after a very short period, although slowly. I am working my way up to speed on some ITM, ragtime, and Bach.
-Keith
Well, they say that the frequent bellows direction changes give a lift and bounce to the music that’s good for dance tunes. Personally, I think an awful lot of it is also just the holy tradition of it, but that’s a matter of some large debate. Many anglo players say you can’t possibly play an English for ITM, because it doesn’t have that bounce that’s a necessary part of the music. Other people then counter by saying the music doesn’t have that sort of bounce with all instruments, just the concertina, so if you can just view the English as a different instrument (or at least playing in a different style, closer to flute or fiddle), it’s perfectly legit.
There have been extensive discussions (read: arguments) about this recently both on Concertina.net and The Session.
There, you’re 2 cents richer, having gotten mine.
Steven
Soon I´ll be a millionair . Seriously, thanks Steven and I´ll check out the other discussions.
Daniel
HAMMERED dulcimer, to be specific. Just be sure to develop a hammer hold that keeps your wrists in a straight, relaxed position. I find that playing my hammered dulcimer bothers my bad wrist less than anything else I do. Hammered dulcimer is also easy on fingertips (you don’t need any), neck, shoulders, and back – I can play for hours straight without getting sore anywhere. I think it’s the most orthopedically gentle instrument of all. (Except, of course, if you get a really big heavy one and then try to carry it around! 
)
Sarah
Might be the name; Anglo is short for Anglo-German. 
Most likely it’s just about quirks of supply of cheap instruments at the time it first became popular. You can be fairly sure that the original concertina players in Ireland didn’t try all three systems and choose the one that worked best. For that reason, perhaps the easiest way to develop an original style on concertina is to play an English rather than an Anglo. But you would still probably be influenced by Anglo players.
Ok.. just found the thread… I will give you my take on it.
I would say that the concertina is intermediate in difficulty between the whistle and the button accordion. It doesn’t require the complicated fingering that the accordion does since you have two hands to span the notes, but at the same there are alot more distinct buttons to keep track of than the whistle has holes. In addition I would say that the whistle is easier for irish music in part because most irish whislte players play D whistles and the keys of D and G are pretty easy; When trying to figure out a tune, there are fewer wrong notes on the instrument to try. In contrast the most popular button accordions and concertinas have their home row in the key of C which means playing across the rows is necessary to play in D and G.. of course both instruments come in variations where the home row is in D.. but they have their own complications.. and the D/G Anglo is somwhat rarer.
Oh I forgot the English… Never really tried it.. so can’t comment on it. But I have heard several people play very credible irish music on it. The Anglo became the choice of irish muscians initially because English concertinas were much more expensive back in the day (As opposed to now ) being they were targeted at the Middle Class as opposed to the working class Anglo.
Anyway, all this being said, I would say easy is only a matter of getting started. I think to achieve true mastery of any instrument requires years of work and it would be impossible to say that say Mary Bergin didn’t have to work as hard as Billy McComiskey to master their respective instruments.
–
Bill
Unless you have respiratory problems, whistle is easier by far.
There are certain ornaments you can do with changing bellows direction on the Anglo that you can’t do on the English. But my guess of the main reason would be marketing – the English had a “parlour room” image and was associated with classical music. The Anglo (-German) was seen as more of a “folk” instrument. It’s certainly easier to play simple or improvised diatonic accompaniment on the Anglo.
Thank you Mary and Sarah,
I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of that. My music research budget is shot for this month, so I will have plenty of time to read up on them before buying anything. I have an old friend who plays them and this will give me an excuse to call her up.
BTW- I highly recommend the home physical theropy program form http://www.aboutcts.com/ . It has saved a number of careers without risky surgery. My only grip is that it doesn’t work unless you actually do the exercises. I do them thoughout the day when I have a minute that would have been waisted anyway.
Dwight
I also have carpal tunnel, and I find the whistle to be pretty easy on the hands, compared to my other two instruments, fiddle and pipes.
Sometimes if I am having hand trouble, I just go back to playing whistle, while pipes and especially fiddle thrashes my wrists.
J.
And, BTW, if you want further inspiration, just listen to a few of Joemy Wilson’s HD CD’s ~ They are beautiful!
Mary
I think there’s more to it than image or circumstances. The layout of a folk instrument often encourages a certain sound and a certain style. The push-pull of an anglo makes the music sound poppy and punchy.
The English conc. is a general-purpose musical instrument, meaning it can play arbitrary melodies in any key, like a piano. The anglo and button accordion have certain natural limitations, but those limitations also force the music to have a certain personality. On a piano accordion, personality is possible but optional.
Caj
so the anglo concertina is related to the whistle
while the english concertina is related to the re****er