My Dad, Bob Merhaut, had a big following in Chicago, Illinois who played a large concertina since hewas 10 yrs. old. He played Czech polkas and waltzes as well as the popular "standards". He died in 1983. I wish I could hear him again! But now that I'm 82, I have to find a "home" for my father's beloved instrument. This video gives me hope that some people still play this difficult instrument.
The concertina was invented in England in 1827 by Professor Sir Charles Wheatstone. The instrument in the video is actually a Bandoneon though it usually gets called a concertina in the USA .
Incorrect. The instrument in the video is a Chemnitzer Concertina. While similar to a Bandonean, it is different in a few ways that make it unique. The Bandoneans are typically a double reeded instrument (2 reeds per note, a high, and a low) and are octave tuned. They also have a different keyboard layout. Chemnitzer concertinas are also much more decorative. Bandoneans tend to be more plain. Bandoneans also have the option of being either chromatic, or diatonic. I’ve yet to see a chemnitzer concertina that is not diatonic. Chemnitzer are typically used in polkas and waltzes, while bandonians are typically used in music more like tangos. It can be very easy to confuse the two instruments though!
@@fireburst102 Bandoneons are always diatonic. Believe me, I'm from Argentina and Bandoneons are popular in Tango music (and I always talk with the bandoneonist because I am an accordionist and we have stuff in common). I ve never heard of Chemnizer concertinas, but that has the same structure of a bandoneon. It is true that bandoneons are double reeded but it doesnt define the instrument, accordions can also have meny registers and they are still accordions. Originally bandoneons were also for playing polka, waltzes (there are waltzes in Tango) and church music because it was born in Germany in order to replace the organ in processions and smaller churches. Then it became popular in Argentina because of the inmigration, and it started being included in Tango. Anyway, Bandoneon and classic concertinas are like cousins, they have even more in common than bandoneon and accordion
Well done Michael.. I have my Grampa’s 1940’s Pearl Queen.. I’ve learned that in some parts they call these Chemnitzer concertina, because of this design being made in Chemnitz Germany. I’m 63 and a beginner! LoL.. good to see a bright young fellow as yourself educating and entertaining us with such a rare treasure of an instrument and a snippet of a culture that is an echo of what it was.. even here in northwest Indiana where my Grandfather played a lot of dance halls and wedding receptions from 100+ years ago, up into his, and the ‘80’s. Thank you!
Very good video! I love the concertina! I’m 58 years old and I just started playing concertina 10 months ago and I’m practicing a lot and enjoying it very much!
Just stumbled across your video. I think I may have sat next to Jerry Menar once while I was playing with a polka band at the Mala Strana rest home in New Prague about three years ago.
It's something like a cross between an Accordion & an Anglo Concertina. It's basically a bigger version of the Anglo Concertina that sounds like an Accordion because it has multiple ranks of Reeds. It sounds like an Accordion but it's easier to play because all of the Keys are labeled w/ numbers, so you're playing by number (like the RalBar which is an Electric Dulcitar).
Make more lessons!!!! Your the only one actually showing details on how to play. Younger people that want to play may not have the resources to learn. But they could with you.
Love it, Keep it going!!1 I have a 20 button Anglo concertina and I'm working on teaching myself to play it. says Judy Corrette. I come from Wisconsin and they have a lot of polka music there.
Nice video. Such a shame to see how the word “concertina” has been misused and now it refers to a different instrument depending on the country, when really it should only refer to the English made one patented by Wheatstone.
Nice to hear one played quite well. Good for you! I think you were a bit remiss though in not pointing out that there are many types of concertina, the others being usually hexagonal or octagonal in shape, and being distinctly different instruments. Also, accordions are not defined by having a piano keyboard - there are a number of types of button accordion.
Great looking Concertina. Did you buy it from Brad Wehr? Looks like one he sold for me that was my Uncles. It had his name Leon on it. I think it was an A flat/ F ?
I appreciate and respect your presentation about the Chemnitzer concertina but would have liked to have seen one other thing. At the beginning of this presentation, you showed the differences in polka and waltz styles, which was fine. However, it is possible to play many different kinds of music on the concertina. In the 1930 to about 1970 era, much sheet music was written for different styles of music for the concertina. In that time frame and up to the present time, there were true master players of this instrument that showed the beautiful sounds that could come out of the instrument after years of practice and hard work. It would have been nice to have included perhaps 3 or 4 other kinds of tunes to show the possibilities of what can be played on this instrument, so people would not necessarily consider the concertina a "polka instrument". The piece you showed "That Old Gang Of Mine" in this presentation would have been a good one to play showing an example of an old time American standard. I do not want to sound critical as you did a good presentation. I just want people to see the concertina as a serious musical instrument.
Wrong. It's a Chemnitzer concertina. Bandoneons have more buttons on each side and the notes and numbers are in different locations. If you don't believe me, do some Internet searching about the history and characteristics of the instruments.
Thanks for the polite reply. I've been playing Chemnitzer concertinas for about 65 years and tried to learn a bit about them along the way. The two are related, but not the same. They both have an interesting history. @@dancemad1000
My Dad, Bob Merhaut, had a big following in Chicago, Illinois who played a large concertina since hewas 10 yrs. old. He played Czech polkas and waltzes as well as the popular "standards". He died in 1983. I wish I could hear him again! But now that I'm 82, I have to find a "home" for my father's beloved instrument. This video gives me hope that some people still play this difficult instrument.
Lovely to hear! I'm an aspiring concertina player but finding one where I live is next to impossible.
The concertina was invented in England in 1827 by Professor Sir Charles Wheatstone. The instrument in the video is actually a Bandoneon though it usually gets called a concertina in the USA .
That’s what I thought! I had to check the comments before the video started to see if anyone would have pointed that out.
It’s actually a Chemnitzer.
Incorrect. The instrument in the video is a Chemnitzer Concertina. While similar to a Bandonean, it is different in a few ways that make it unique. The Bandoneans are typically a double reeded instrument (2 reeds per note, a high, and a low) and are octave tuned. They also have a different keyboard layout. Chemnitzer concertinas are also much more decorative. Bandoneans tend to be more plain. Bandoneans also have the option of being either chromatic, or diatonic. I’ve yet to see a chemnitzer concertina that is not diatonic. Chemnitzer are typically used in polkas and waltzes, while bandonians are typically used in music more like tangos. It can be very easy to confuse the two instruments though!
@@fireburst102 Bandoneons are always diatonic. Believe me, I'm from Argentina and Bandoneons are popular in Tango music (and I always talk with the bandoneonist because I am an accordionist and we have stuff in common). I ve never heard of Chemnizer concertinas, but that has the same structure of a bandoneon. It is true that bandoneons are double reeded but it doesnt define the instrument, accordions can also have meny registers and they are still accordions.
Originally bandoneons were also for playing polka, waltzes (there are waltzes in Tango) and church music because it was born in Germany in order to replace the organ in processions and smaller churches.
Then it became popular in Argentina because of the inmigration, and it started being included in Tango.
Anyway, Bandoneon and classic concertinas are like cousins, they have even more in common than bandoneon and accordion
@@fireburst102 and let me say, judging by its sound, this one is double reeded actually, every note he plays sound with 2 octaves
Well done Michael.. I have my Grampa’s 1940’s Pearl Queen.. I’ve learned that in some parts they call these Chemnitzer concertina, because of this design being made in Chemnitz Germany. I’m 63 and a beginner! LoL.. good to see a bright young fellow as yourself educating and entertaining us with such a rare treasure of an instrument and a snippet of a culture that is an echo of what it was.. even here in northwest Indiana where my Grandfather played a lot of dance halls and wedding receptions from 100+ years ago, up into his, and the ‘80’s. Thank you!
That's some awesome polka playing the concertina. Almost as good as Larry and Leon Olsen. If not just as good. Great Job 👍🏻 Interesting video.
Very good video! I love the concertina! I’m 58 years old and I just started playing concertina 10 months ago and I’m practicing a lot and enjoying it very much!
Just stumbled across your video. I think I may have sat next to Jerry Menar once while I was playing with a polka band at the Mala Strana rest home in New Prague about three years ago.
It's something like a cross between an Accordion & an Anglo Concertina. It's basically a bigger version of the Anglo Concertina that sounds like an Accordion because it has multiple ranks of Reeds. It sounds like an Accordion but it's easier to play because all of the Keys are labeled w/ numbers, so you're playing by number (like the RalBar which is an Electric Dulcitar).
Make more lessons!!!! Your the only one actually showing details on how to play. Younger people that want to play may not have the resources to learn. But they could with you.
Excellently put together and presented. Thank you.
This is one amazing concertina. When I think about the concertina, I think about the music of Dan Witucki.
your great love the way you play the box as from chicago n love polkas so many great bands
He was my old teacher a long long time ago plays or sit in with my family's band often or use 2
Love it, Keep it going!!1 I have a 20 button Anglo concertina and I'm working on teaching myself to play it. says Judy Corrette. I come from Wisconsin and they have a lot of polka music there.
Nice video. Such a shame to see how the word “concertina” has been misused and now it refers to a different instrument depending on the country, when really it should only refer to the English made one patented by Wheatstone.
Nice presentation
Great video!!
Nice to hear one played quite well. Good for you! I think you were a bit remiss though in not pointing out that there are many types of concertina, the others being usually hexagonal or octagonal in shape, and being distinctly different instruments. Also, accordions are not defined by having a piano keyboard - there are a number of types of button accordion.
COncertina for LIFE!
Great looking Concertina. Did you buy it from Brad Wehr? Looks like one he sold for me that was my Uncles. It had his name Leon on it. I think it was an A flat/ F ?
Mike, Who is the manufacturer (brand name) of the Concerina you are playing in this video? If you would share that please..Thank you!
would really like to buy one for my daughter. How do I buy one for someone to help me? Thank you very much in advance
I appreciate and respect your presentation about the Chemnitzer concertina but would have liked to have seen one other thing. At the beginning of this presentation, you showed the differences in polka and waltz styles, which was fine. However, it is possible to play many different kinds of music on the concertina. In the 1930 to about 1970 era, much sheet music was written for different styles of music for the concertina. In that time frame and up to the present time, there were true master players of this instrument that showed the beautiful sounds that could come out of the instrument after years of practice and hard work.
It would have been nice to have included perhaps 3 or 4 other kinds of tunes to show the possibilities of what can be played on this instrument, so people would not necessarily consider the concertina a "polka instrument". The piece you showed "That Old Gang Of Mine" in this presentation would have been a good one to play showing an example of an old time American standard. I do not want to sound critical as you did a good presentation. I just want people to see the concertina as a serious musical instrument.
The notes you’re calling G and D are actually B and A.
That kind of concertina is more like a bandoneon with less notes than a concertina. (Thats a compliment)
isn't that a bandonion?
It's a chemnitzer concertina, closely related, but not the same (also bandoneons are a type of concertina)
Play the Lapland Polka
The concertina was invented in the early 1800s
That’s NOT a concertina - it’s a bandoneon.
Wrong. It's a Chemnitzer concertina. Bandoneons have more buttons on each side and the notes and numbers are in different locations. If you don't believe me, do some Internet searching about the history and characteristics of the instruments.
@nierenja. Thank you for enlightening me. 🙂
Thanks for the polite reply. I've been playing Chemnitzer concertinas for about 65 years and tried to learn a bit about them along the way. The two are related, but not the same. They both have an interesting history. @@dancemad1000