Concertina Mentioned In Today's New York Times

[David Barnert]

There's an article in today's (Sunday's) New York Times Arts & Leisure section about the New York Mandolin Orchestra that includes this:

 

 

Bernie Brachfeld, 80, is a retired dentist and has served as the orchestra’s manager for the last year and a half. (He is also the orchestra’s lone concertina player. Traditionally, mandolin orchestras relied on a concertina — akin to the accordion — to fill out the sound.)

 

Here's the accompanying picture:

 

 

[Randy Stein]

Back in the 70s and 80s I performed with this Orchestra. Serge and I also did the the Bach Double Violin Concerto with them.

Fun times.

 

rss

[Sarah Swett]

Gosh Randy, you have the most eventful concertina life!

 

I'm interested in the notion of a concertina 'filling out the sound' of string instruments. I've noticed this with fiddle/ concertina duets-- as though each instrument fills the wave gaps (if that makes sense), of the other and together they create a sound that seems to be more than a sum of the parts. Could this be physically true, or just ear hallucinations?

 

Sarah

[Randy Stein]

Gosh Randy, you have the most eventful concertina life!

 

I'm interested in the notion of a concertina 'filling out the sound' of string instruments. I've noticed this with fiddle/ concertina duets-- as though each instrument fills the wave gaps (if that makes sense), of the other and together they create a sound that seems to be more than a sum of the parts. Could this be physically true, or just ear hallucinations?

 

Sarah

Hey Sarah... you making it to NESI this year?

[Sarah Swett]

Sadly, no. Though that doesn't keep me from sighing over the registration form .

But 2015 almost for sure!!!

Are you going? Go ahead..make me jealous

[Randy Stein]

Sadly, no. Though that doesn't keep me from sighing over the registration form .

But 2015 almost for sure!!!

Are you going? Go ahead..make me jealous

yup, I'll be there. I had so much fun last year

[SteveS]

I'm interested in the notion of a concertina 'filling out the sound' of string instruments. I've noticed this with fiddle/ concertina duets-- as though each instrument fills the wave gaps (if that makes sense), of the other and together they create a sound that seems to be more than a sum of the parts. Could this be physically true, or just ear hallucinations?

 

Sarah

I agree this is an interesting phenomon. I play Nordic folk music (traditionally predominantly fiddle music) together with a fiddle or two and/or cello - with concertina it works exceedingly well. You might like to have a listen here.

[Stephen Chambers]

I can't say that I ever heard of a concertina being used to fill out the sound of a mandolin orchestra before, but when (multi-instrumentalist) Alf Edwards was playing trombone in Jack Payne's band, he'd do just that on his concertina with the violin section.

[Sarah Swett]

Indeed, Randy, I too had the time of my life at NESI last year. But though west of Boston, NESI is still far, far east of Idaho and until we get some quicker train service (how 'bout a bullet train from Seattle to NY????), my trips will be far between.

I do have a show scheduled in New Hampshire in September of 2015 though, so one way or another, I"ll be there then.

[Sarah Swett]

 

I'm interested in the notion of a concertina 'filling out the sound' of string instruments. I've noticed this with fiddle/ concertina duets-- as though each instrument fills the wave gaps (if that makes sense), of the other and together they create a sound that seems to be more than a sum of the parts. Could this be physically true, or just ear hallucinations?

 

Sarah

I agree this is an interesting phenomon. I play Nordic folk music (traditionally predominantly fiddle music) together with a fiddle or two and/or cello - with concertina it works exceedingly well. You might like to have a listen here.

 

Steve, this is amazing. The cello/ concertina combination is stunning -- and yes, it takes both instruments to a whole new place. Thank you!

 

Sarah

[SteveS]

 

 

I'm interested in the notion of a concertina 'filling out the sound' of string instruments. I've noticed this with fiddle/ concertina duets-- as though each instrument fills the wave gaps (if that makes sense), of the other and together they create a sound that seems to be more than a sum of the parts. Could this be physically true, or just ear hallucinations?

 

Sarah

I agree this is an interesting phenomon. I play Nordic folk music (traditionally predominantly fiddle music) together with a fiddle or two and/or cello - with concertina it works exceedingly well. You might like to have a listen here.

 

Steve, this is amazing. The cello/ concertina combination is stunning -- and yes, it takes both instruments to a whole new place. Thank you!

 

Sarah

 

Many thanks Sarah.