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Lea NicholsonThe Concertina Record ()

The Concertina Record was originally released in 1980 on KICKING MULE Records (KM311). On deletion rights reverted to me. This is an extract from the original sleeve notes, it should give you a good idea of what the recordings are all about.

"The intention was to make an album featuring the English Concertina in a variety of different musical settings. Roughly speaking side one is fairly light in character, while the Brandenburg Concerto, which occupies most of side two, explores the Concertina's potential in an area of music with which it is not normally associated.

A full use of studio facilities has been made throughout, in that most tracks feature several concertinas 'multi-tracked', thus creating a concertina band effect."

Further info from: www.jamring.com


This audio is part of the collection: Community Audio

Artist/Composer: Lea Nicholson
Date: 0000-00-00 00:00:00
Source: Lea Nicholson
Label / Recorded by: Original Producer/Engineer: Nic Kinsey

Creative Commons license: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs

Notes

The following tracks are available:

THE LIBERTY BELL: a Sousa march, is perhaps best known as the theme tune for the BBC TV series 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'. This is a five part arrangement using two bass and three treble concertinas.

LEA RIGS: A Scottish tune with variations by the Northumbrian Piper Tom Clough. This was originally recorded on the long deleted 'Horsemusic' album. I was accompanied there, as here, by Robin Dransfield on guitar.

LASST UNS ERFREUEN: or the hymn tune 'All Creatures of Our God and King'. This is basically the organ arrangement, a touch of phasing on the concertinas gives it that slightly eerie effect.

COURTLY MASQUEING AYRES: Two early tunes taken from the John Adson collection of 1623.

4th BRANDENBURG CONCERTO (J S Bach): This is a full score recording of the concerto. Principal , 1st and 2nd violins, 1st and 2nd recorders are all played on treble concertinas. Viola and cello parts are played on bass concertinas. I could not find a bass with the range to play the contra bass part so that is played by Rod Argent on Synthesizer. The Continuo was played by Nicholas Kraemer, on a Harpsichord supplied by George Cochran.

About two thirds of this piece was recorded in the early part of 1975, Although it was late 1979 before the whole piece was completed.

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Reviewer: Just Mike - - April 18, 2011
Subject: Bach
On the now missing CD cover (where'd it go?) Lea discussed the making of the Brandenburg Concerto.

This recording is mixed from single instrument-at-a-time tracks and has many (as many as 5?) layers of concertina, plus the harpsichord, all performed in-serial by Lea, and mixed on late 70's era equipment (he didn't have state-of-the-art).

Reviewer: O'DBOL - - October 3, 2009
Subject: Need repeat performance of the Brandenburg
The Brandenburg setting on concertinas is so right that it needs to be performed more often. I like it so much that I hate to criticize, but the 1st movement is a bit stiff. I bet that after a few more performances, it would start to bounce delightfully.

Reviewer: James Banks - - November 23, 2005
Subject: Go Concertina!
As a fan of free-reed instruments, Bach, and Scottish music, I was happy to see this collection. This reminds me of a tape I got featuring the hammered dulcimer. It had similar repertoire (with a bit more of a jazz/world lean). Every obscure instrument should have its champion. My only complaint would be the timing in the Brandenburgs. The really fast passages came out fine, but there were some unintentional-sounding phrasings here and there :).

Reviewer: Jacobus Ichiro - - December 30, 2004
Subject: Thank You Lea
This is a wonderful 7 piece collection of classical jams by top-notch performers and audio-tech.

Any classical fan should pick this compilation up, it's just too good to pass on. Nothing too original, but Bach is timeless and solid.