The books on this page offer background and history to our instruments, the music played on them, and the fundamentals of playing.
German and Anglo-German concertinas were by far the most popular forms of the instrument in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and were a favorite of working class people around the world. They were played by Irish peasants, London street musicians, Yorkshire mummers, Boer trekkers, Australian diggers, Salvation Army Lassies, and Zulu mineworkers. By sailors in the age of sail, Mormon pioneers in covered wagons, New Zealand sheep-shearers, and Inuit dancers in the high Arctic. By bushrangers and smugglers, music hall artists, street beggars, and just plain folks. These concertinas were a true global phenomenon, in many ways shaping the popular music of that era. They also are a modern phenomenon, enjoying a revival of interest that crosses international and cultural boundaries. This is the first comprehensive history of the instrument. This two-volume history makes extensive use of primary sources from period newspapers, books, and journals. There are over 440 illustrations, charts, and period photographs, as well as note-for-note transcriptions of numerous early recorded players. Vol. 1: 321 pages.
Volume 2, as described above. 271 pages.
"An important study of an important figure in traditional music." --Musical Traditions As Roger Digby's introduction states, "now, at the beginning of the 21st century, Dan Worrall has produced this collection of transcriptions which presents in conventional musical notation the exact notes that William Kimber played. This enables a precise understanding of the chords which are the distinctive and innovative feature of Kimber's music. ... It is the first time the music of a traditional musician has undergone such a detailed analysis." 28 transcriptions. Book also includes background essays on William Kimber, Anglo concertina history and styling, and explanatory notes to accompany the transcriptions. English Folk Dance and Song Society, 2005. 96 pages.
Chord progressions for 1000+ square and country dance tunes. 120 pages.
Songs from singers in Irish and English; jigs, reels, hornpipes, and airs from solo musicians and groups; step dances, set dances, and ceili dances from exhibition and social dancers - this second DVD from the television archives of RTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster, contains more than two hours of outstanding performances from across the rich spectrum of Irish traditional music. DVD
Songs from singers in Irish and English; jigs, reels, hornpipes, and airs from solo musicians and groups; step dances, set dances, and ceili dances from exhibition and social dancers - this second DVD from the television archives of RTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster, contains two and a half hours of outstanding performances from across the rich spectrum of Irish traditional music. DVD
Presented and researched by Nicholas Carolan, director of the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Dublin, Come West along the Road is now in its 11th series, and is the longest-running television series ever on Irish traditional music. The series consists of 13 half-hour programmes drawn from the first three decades of RTÉ television (1961-1989), with additional material from other television stations, newsreels, feature films, and private film footage. Some material is being shown for the first time, and most of the material in the series has not been seen since its first transmission up to 40 years ago. DVD
This fourth DVD from the television archives of RTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster, contains over three and a half hours of outstanding performances from across the rich spectrum of Irish traditional music. It features over 220 performers. DVD
The guide to maintenance and common repairs for owners of Wheatstone or Lachenal concertinas. Second edition. 52 pages.
Finally - a chord book for the right hand of the D/G melodeon! Contains clear diagrams with chords in every key, as well as how one might play scales (or parts of scales) in many keys on this instrument. Also contains a section on music theory and the construction of chords, complete with examples. 46 pages.
Theory and practice exercises for many scales and modes. 96 pages.
Clear, comprehensive instruction on musical terms and structure. 85 pages.
55 fiddlers and 22 accordion players from every province and region of Canada demonstrate a diversity of styles: Scottish, French, Irish; First Nations, Métis, Inuit; Ukrainian, Norwegian, Polish. The 64 tracks include early radio and television broadcasts as well as archival and out-of-print recordings. Accompanying booklet provides background and photographs. 2CD set 156 pages.
