| A CRANE SYSTEM DUET CONCERTINA -- SOUNDS AND IMAGES |
Recordings:Joy of Man's Desire, J. S. Bach 561 KB Minuet, J. S. Bach 336 KB My Country, 'Tis of Thee 252 KB My Creole Belle 493 MB Mairzy Doats 454 KB More recordings hereThe two Bach pieces are examples of what a duet can do with guitar transcriptions, note for note with no modifications. My Country 'Tis of Thee is an example of run-of-the-mill four part harmony rendered on the duet. Other examples could come from hymnals or books of christmas music. One would be hard put to find another instrument as portable as a duet concertina capable of this. It is no mystery why the Salvation Army once liked the Crane duet. My Creole Belle and Mairzy Doats are examples of playing from a fake sheet and "faking" everything but the melody with chord symbols provided. This was my original idea of what a duet would be good at and is pretty much where I live on the concertina. I have a large fake book filled with tunes and songs collected over many years from which I play and sing. The idea is that if one can not play well, at least be able to play a lot of songs. It has also been very enjoyable just to collect tunes and songs. Here is a play list of selected recordings. The recordings and the playing both fail to capture the best qualities of Mr. Crabb's instrument which sounds sweeter, richer and more musical than portrayed here. Crabb 10555 |
| |
Crane Duets Maccann Duets | |
About Me I grew up in Wisconsin and Arkansas. At the age of thirteen I took up the saxophone. I was a very avid and serious saxophone student through high school and three years of college as a Music major. I also played oboe and recorder in college. Before finishing my degree, I joined the United States Air Force as a Bandsman playing saxophone and oboe. After a 4 year tour, I returned to college and finished in History. I now live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with my wife and two children.I became interested in the concertina in while in graduate school. During the summer of 1977 I visited with Neville Crabb in the Crabb shop in Islington. After about an hour of trying several concertinas and talking, I decided that a Crane system was most suited for what Iwanted to do. In the fall I wrote Mr. Crabb and ordered the best available used instrument that could be found within my meager budget. The instrument, a Lachenal, 55 key Triumph, did not arrive untilMay of 1978. By 1987 the instrument was unplayable due to leaks in the bellows and ends. I acquired my current instrument, also from Mr. Crabb, in 1988. Kurt Braun |