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THE CONCERTINA
A Short Outline by Ivo Baldoni
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The Concertina pertains to the family of free reed instruments,
most noted by the Accordion.
Development of the Concertina was around 1830 by an Englishman named
Wheatstone, an expert in acoustical physics. In the beginning, it was called
the AEOLA and latter the CONCERTINA. In that same period,
the Germans were creating an instrument similar in many ways but different,
thus the DEUTSCHE KONZERTIVA (German Concertina) was being built.
This instrument made its way into England and was openly excepted by the
Irish musicians as well. To differentiate the two, the names ENGLISH
CONCERTINA and the ANGLO-GERMAN CONCERTINA was used and later
abbreviated to ANGLO CONCERTINA which is still in use today.
Currently there are 4 types of concertinas plus 2 types of Bandoneons
in this family of musical
instruments.
ANGLO CONCERTINA:
Diatonic system, each button gives a different note (sound) on the
push and pull direction of the bellow. Generally playing in 2-3 key
ranges. Most used system,
well suited for folk, song accompaniment and Irish music. Generally
six sided and some models
have tremolo tunings.
ENGLISH CONCERTINA:
Full chromatic instrument with each button producing the same note
(sound) on the push and pull direction of the bellow. Thus not limiting
you to any music key.
Each end has 4 rows of buttons, the two center rows correspond to the
natural keys and the
outside rows are the sharps/flats (accidentals) keys. The notes of
the scale alternate between the
left and right sides. The buttons very on different models between
30-64, normally the standard is
48 buttons. There are 3 tonal ranges (like the violin family) TREBLE,
TENOR AND
BARITONE. The note range is G bellow the staff to C three octaves
above middle C. Generally
eight sided with a smooth dry tuning (no tremolo). Well suited for
all styles of music.
DUET CONCERTINA:
Full chromatic instrument, which is a more recent development.
Incorporating the features of the chromatic English note scale on the
right hand and the melody
accompaniment like the Anglo on the left hand. Not the most used concertina
and most difficult
to master.
CHEMNITZER CONCERTINA:
Diatonic system, the largest size in concertinas, rectangular in
shape with generally 102 buttons. Incorporating various tunings and
register combinations. Most
used in American Polish music, especially in polkas and waltzes.
BANDONEON: Rectangular
in shape similar to the Chemnitzer concertina. The Bandoneon has a
vibrant tonal quality most used in Argentinean Music, especially Tangos.
Currently offered in
Diatonic 52 buttons or Chromatic 75 button systems. |
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