Glenn Schultz sound file -- which key is this accordion in?

We have some evidence, however, that you may have to pay for the reeds.
Post Reply
David Johnson
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun May 12, 2002 6:00 pm
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Montgomery, Alabama

Glenn Schultz sound file -- which key is this accordion in?

Post by David Johnson »

I play a keyless flute and have been interested in a button accordion for some time--it seems there are a number of folks who play flute and some form of squeezebox.

I've read the pros and cons of B/C versus C#/D button accordions, but I'm not clear on the difference in sound. I found this soundfile of the late Glenn Schultz and friends, and I'm curious as to what key this accordion is in. Can someone tell from listening, and if so, how? Second, is this a wet tuning, or dry?

Finally, can you recommend somewhere online that I can find sound samples that would allow a good comparison of the two? Thanks!

This is the web address:
http://www.thinweasel.com/music.html Click on 1. Red Admiral Butterfly/Miss Pringle’s Reel (Glenn Wrote this one)/Teetotaler’s Reel
"For God so loved the world that he didn't send a committee."
User avatar
lixnaw
Posts: 1635
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 6:00 pm
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Isle of Geese

Post by lixnaw »

Hi David,

Imho, i don't think it's a good idea to choose an accordion based on a sound clip.
You're better off to get one in the same key as your nearest ITM accordion teacher. And if you need a plane to get there, or if it's really too far, than it's better to choose B/C, because there isn't any tutorial material on C#/D.
User avatar
StevieJ
Posts: 2189
Joined: Thu May 17, 2001 6:00 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: Old hand, active in the early 2000s. Less active in recent years but still lurking from time to time.
Location: Montreal

Post by StevieJ »

Hard to tell which it is from the clip mainly because of the other melody instruments. From the articulation in Teetotaller's I would guess (but with no guarantees) that the tune was being played on a D row. This doesn't necessarily mean it's a C#/D box, though - it might be a D/G, for example. It doesn't sound very wet, but it's not totally dry, either. Possibly a "swing" tuning - which is easy on most people's ears I find.

I wouldn't (and didn't) choose a system based on the availability of teachers or teaching material.

Depending on your musical experience and capacity for learning on your own, it is quite possible to learn the box without formal teaching. But having someone to ask questions of and give you occasional guidance is a good idea.

But this doesn't have to be someone playing the same system - an experienced B/C player will be able to give a C#/D learner a lot of help with basic technique, and vice versa. When I first started I got some invaluable pointers from a Québécois box player who plays one-row D and ADG boxes. If you want formal lessons, teaching you tunes note by note, that's another matter.

I think you ought to do a bit more research than looking for clips online. But many record companies and online stores have clips to listen to. For C#/D style, you could look for clips of Jackie Daly, Mairtin O Connor, Andrew Mac Namara and Conor Keane for starters. B/C players: Joe Burke, Billy McComiskey, Mary Rafferty, and the majority of other Irish players.

Steve
User avatar
Wombat
Posts: 7105
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2002 6:00 pm
antispam: No
Location: Probably Evanston, possibly Wollongong

Post by Wombat »

If you're going to go by clips you might want to chase up solo recordings. Jackie Daly's first recording was solo.
User avatar
rh
Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2004 3:14 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Location: SoFla

Post by rh »

some clips to start, most are brief though

B/C

John Williams, Steam
http://www.emusic.com/album/10862/10862093.html

Paddy O'Brien, Stranger at the Gate
http://www.emusic.com/album/10862/10862076.html

Joe Burke, The Funny Reel
http://www.emusic.com/album/10586/10586784.html

Johnny B Connolly, Bridgetown
http://www.emusic.com/album/10862/10862022.html

James Keane, (various) (I think he plays B/C, might be wrong though)
http://www.emusic.com/artist/10564/10564293.html

Josephine Marsh, Josephine Marsh
http://www.taramusic.com/sleevenotes/cd4008.htm

C#/D (or D/D#, same fingerings)
Tony MacMahon, Traditional Irish Accordion
http://www.emusic.com/album/10586/10586463.html

Patrick Street with Jackie Daly,(various albums)
http://www.emusic.com/artist/11590/11590525.html

Arcady with Jackie Daly, After the Ball
http://www.emusic.com/album/10586/10586395.html

Arcady with Conor Keane, Many Happy Returns
http://www.emusic.com/album/10606/10606154.html

Mairtin O'Connor, Chatterbox
http://www.emusic.com/album/10601/10601078.html

Sharon Shannon, (various)
http://www.emusic.com/artist/11590/11590048.html

Brendan Begley, We Won't Go Home Til Morning (also D Melodeon)
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process ... =nsa&nsa=1

Seamus Begley, Meitheal (two full-length clips)
http://www.solitairestudio.com/hummingbird-records.htm


D/C#
Joe Derrane, The Tie That Binds
http://www.emusic.com/album/10586/10586583.html
there is no end to the walking
User avatar
StevieJ
Posts: 2189
Joined: Thu May 17, 2001 6:00 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: Old hand, active in the early 2000s. Less active in recent years but still lurking from time to time.
Location: Montreal

Post by StevieJ »

I have just listened to that clip again. The only explanation for the many legato passages - it's a piano accordion.
David Johnson
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun May 12, 2002 6:00 pm
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Montgomery, Alabama

Good stuff!

Post by David Johnson »

Thanks for the info, especially the sound clip references--right now I'm congratulating myself for having asked for those--didn't know all that was available for the sampling.

My wife and I are leaving for Africa for about two months, so I'm not going to jump into a purchase. However,when we return I'd like to get one, and I'm leaning toward the Dancemaster ST-M or the Hohner Double-Ray. Any gut responses to those as entry-level instruments that will hold value? Anything else you'd recommend for under $1,000? Thanks for the info.
"For God so loved the world that he didn't send a committee."
User avatar
rh
Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2004 3:14 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Location: SoFla

Post by rh »

For an example of that old-time 4-voice wet sound, here's B/C pioneer Paddy O'Brien (RIP, from Tipperary):
http://juneberry78s.com/sounds/Paddy%20 ... assies.mp3
there is no end to the walking
User avatar
lixnaw
Posts: 1635
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2002 6:00 pm
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Isle of Geese

Post by lixnaw »

Here's a another clue about famous players and what box they're playing.

it's in french, but it's not too hard to figure out.

http://lgendrot.club.fr/musiciens/musiciens.htm
Bretton
Posts: 1447
Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2001 6:00 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: I've been playing whistle for a very long time, but never seem to get any better than I was about 10 years ago. I'm okay with that. :)
Location: Bloomington, Indiana

Post by Bretton »

I'm pretty sure Glenn played a melodeon (one-row accordion) but since he was playing guitar on that recording I guess maybe it was someone else playing.

I think the B/C or piano accordion guesses are probably correct...didn't sound like a melodeon or C#/D.

-brett
User avatar
StevieJ
Posts: 2189
Joined: Thu May 17, 2001 6:00 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: Old hand, active in the early 2000s. Less active in recent years but still lurking from time to time.
Location: Montreal

Post by StevieJ »

Bretton wrote:I think the B/C or piano accordion guesses are probably correct...didn't sound like a melodeon or C#/D.
The giveaway for me was the two series of descending triplets in the second part of Teetotaller - gf#e in the first phrase, f#ed in the second. Both are legato in the clip. Odd as it seems at first sight, you can play gf#e without changing bellows direction on both a C#/D and a B/C box, but f#ed on neither.
User avatar
Congratulations
Posts: 4215
Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 6:05 pm
Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
Location: Charleston, SC
Contact:

Post by Congratulations »

Am I remembering incorrectly, or is that clip in Eb? And does that have an impact of what type of accordion it could be?
oh Lana Turner we love you get up
User avatar
StevieJ
Posts: 2189
Joined: Thu May 17, 2001 6:00 pm
antispam: No
Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
Tell us something.: Old hand, active in the early 2000s. Less active in recent years but still lurking from time to time.
Location: Montreal

Post by StevieJ »

Congratulations wrote:Am I remembering incorrectly, or is that clip in Eb? And does that have an impact of what type of accordion it could be?
You're right, I hadn't noticed that. There is one possibility I didn't consider: it's a multi-row diatonic box in a flat key. Hohner "Club" models with 2½ rows pitched in Bb/Eb are reasonably common and on these boxes it is apparently possible to obtain an entire scale on the pull. There's one on ebay at the moment, item # 7415105511.

The other explanations I can think of seem less likely: a) the clip is speeded up b) the PA player is an expert at playing in unusual keys c) it's a CBA (continental chromatic button accordion, on which transposing is simply a matter of shifting your hand position).

Perhaps David should contact Glenn's family and enlighten us all!

Steve
Post Reply