Concertinas 101
This is a
"broad stroke" explanation of concertinas, the
different keyboard layouts, reed types, and quality
classifications. Its purpose is primarily to provide
an elementary understanding of the differences
between the available models.
Concertinas
are available in 3 keyboard layouts
Anglo
-
each
button plays a different note on 'pull' and
'push', much like a (mouth) harmonica.
-
keyboard: consists of 2 (20 button) or 3 (30
button) rows of buttons per side of
which row 1 is in the dominant key, and row 2 in
the tonic key. Row 3 consists of
notes not included in the 1st and 2nd row as
well as a few doubles. Row 1 and 2 are in major
keys: C/G, G/D, Bb/F etc. Anglos are
available in Wheatstone/Lachenal and
Jeffries.
The majority of the anglos are Wheatstone/lachenal.
-
pros:
great for tonal and some modal (e.g. pentatonic)
music. Initially easy to play simple tonal tunes
because of the lay out of the keyboard.
-
cons:
partially chromatic, not possible/very difficult
to play outside the primary keys or non tonal
music.
-
use:
primarily in traditional
music. (e.g. Irish, English, etc.)
-
models:
Concertina
Connection models: Rochelle,
Rochelle-2 (R2), Minstrel, Clover,
Wakker models: A1, A2, A3. A4,
A5 and A6
English
-
each
button plays the same note on 'pull' and 'push',
like an accordion.
-
keyboard consists of 4 rows per side of
which the middle 2 rows are the 'white' keys,
and the outer rows the 'black keys' of the
piano.
-
pros:
fully chromatic, allows playing in all keys. The english is the 'original' concertina, and
has a considerable classical (19-20th century)
repertoire.
-
cons:
relative easy to learn single line melodies,
steep learning curve for original repertoire,
which includes polyphonic/chordal music.
-
use:
original classical repertoire, folk, ethnic
(also non European), jazz, etc..
-
models:
Concertina
Connection models: Jackie, Jack,
Busker, Rose,
Wakker models: E1, E2, E3, E4 and Parnassus
Duet
-
each
button plays the same note on 'pull' and 'push',
like the english.
-
keyboard: there are several keyboard layouts
in use. We build primarily Wicky, Hayden
and McCann duets.
The low notes are always on the left side
(accompaniment, bass clef), and the treble notes
on the right side (melody, treble clef), much
like a piano.
-
pros:
small duets partly, large duets are fully
chromatic, allows playing in most/all keys.
-
cons:
relative easy to learn single line melodies,
steeper learning curve for polyphonic/chordal
music.
-
use:
folk, jazz, some classical, etc..
-
models:
Concertina
Connection models: Elise, Troubadour, Peacock,
Wakker models: H1, H2, W1 and W2, C2
_________________________________________________ |
Concertinas can also
be divided into 2 categories
Hybrid
(with
accordion reeds)
-
Hybrid
concertinas look like 'normal' concertinas, but
the 'inside' is like an accordion.
Accordion reeds are much cheaper to produce than
traditional concertina reeds, and are less
sensitive to acoustic design requirements and
materials. Because of their construction and
reed size, hybrid concertinas are sometimes larger
than their traditional counterparts. Accordion
reeds are produced in several qualities.
-
models:
all Concertina Connection
models are hybrid concertinas
Traditional
( with 'real' concertina reeds)
-
Traditional concertina
reeds look and perform differently from
accordion reeds. They are more complicated to
produce, especially high performance reeds.
Because of this, they are much more expensive
than accordion reeds. Concertina reeds are very
acoustic-design sensitive, and their harmonic
performance is affected by differences in
chamber and cavity materials and design. You'll find them
in vintage concertinas and all the Wakker models.
-
models:
all Wakker Concertina models are
traditional concertinas.
_________________________________________________ |
Concertinas
can also be divided into 3 different quality classes
Entry level
-
reed
type: hybrid
-
keyboard: Anglo, English, Duet (Hayden)
-
models:
Jackie, Jack, Rochelle, Rochelle-2, and Elise.
Intermediate
-
reed
type: hybrid
-
keyboard: Anglo, English, Duet (Wicky/Hayden)
-
models:
Minstrel, Busker, Troubadour, Clover, Peacock and Rose.
Traditional
-
reed
type: traditional concertina
-
keyboard: Anglo, English, Duet (Wicky,
Hayden, McCann)
-
models:
all Wakker models
_________________________________________________ |
Trade in program
We understand that
most players prefer to start with an entry level instrument and
work their way
'up the
ladder' .
To facilitate upgrading, we offer a full purchase price
refund when one of the above models is
traded
in for an instrument from a higher quality class. The program
includes the entry level,
intermediate and traditional classes.
Copyright ©
2001-2021, Concertina Connection Inc., All rights reserved.
|