The English concertina is a type of concertina, which is a group of musical instruments that use reeds to create sound. It was created in England in 1829 and was the first instrument in the concertina family.

This instrument can play all the notes in a musical scale. Its buttons are arranged in a rectangle with four rows that are offset. The buttons are unisonoric, meaning they produce the same note whether the bellows are pushed or pulled. It is different from other concertinas because the musical scale is split evenly between the left and right hands. When playing a scale, each hand takes turns pressing the buttons to play the notes in order.

History

The English concertina was invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone. His first patent for a similar instrument was granted on December 19, 1829, with patent number 5803 in Great Britain.

The English concertina was first used to play classical music, complex solos, and music for small groups. By the 1860s and 1870s, it became more common in music halls. The Salvation Army used all types of concertinas because they were easier to carry and use than brass instruments. They also published books to teach how to play complex music on the English system.

During the English Folk Revival of the 1960s, the English concertina became popular among British folk musicians, even though it was earlier used for art music. Karl Dallas noted that the word "English" in the instrument's name may have attracted some people during the revival. However, the instrument's ease of use and portability also helped it gain popularity. Alf Edwards often played with musicians A. L. Lloyd and Ewan MacColl. He taught the instrument to Peggy Seeger. His skilled and dependable playing helped the English concertina become widely used in the folk revival. His performances appeared on influential recordings like The Iron Muse and the Radio Ballads.

In the 1960s, Alistair Anderson became known for playing traditional dance music from Britain, especially from Northumbria. Many amateur musicians who play English folk music use the English concertina. Today, well-known performers on the instrument include Robert Harbron, Sandra Kerr, Graham Kennett, and the Scottish musician Simon Thoumire.

The English concertina was used less often in Irish traditional music compared to the Anglo concertina. Rick Epping plays Irish music on the harmonica while using the English concertina to accompany himself.

Although the Boeremusiek of South Africa’s Afrikaner people was mostly played on the Anglo concertina, some English system players were also recorded. In Boeremusiek, the term "4-ry" (four row) refers to the English system. Boer musicians used the word "English" to describe Anglo system instruments made by English companies like Lachenal & Co. and Wheatstone. These companies also made English and Duet system instruments, though less frequently.

While the bandoneon concertina became popular in South America, the English concertina gained some use in Bolivia, especially in the Cochabamba region. It is thought that the instrument may have been brought there by foreign workers who built the Bolivian Railway or worked at the Patiño mines.

Play

The English concertina is held by placing the thumbs through special straps and the little fingers on metal supports, leaving three fingers free to press buttons. Many players sometimes or always use their little fingers to press notes, allowing all four fingers to play. Thumb straps help support the instrument's weight. Larger instruments often have wrist straps or a neck sling for extra support.

The two inner rows of the concertina’s button layout form a diatonic C major scale, alternating between the two sides. On one side, the notes C-E-G-B-D appear, and on the other, D-F-A-C-E. The outer rows include sharps and flats needed for a full chromatic scale. This arrangement helps players move quickly between notes when playing melodies.

English-system treble and tenor-treble concertinas usually cover 3 1/2 or 4 octaves. Baritone concertinas are similar but play one octave lower. Bass concertinas play two octaves lower, contrabass concertinas play three octaves lower, and piccolo concertinas play one octave higher.

On treble, baritone, and bass concertinas, middle C is located on the second row of the left-hand keyboard, closest to the player. Tenor concertinas may have middle C shifted to the F note below it.

Tenor, baritone, and bass concertinas often include an air valve in the spot where the highest note would normally be. This air button is important for many bass concertinas, which only produce sound when the bellows are pushed outward, due to the size of their reeds.

Performers and repertoire

Giulio Regondi was a skilled performer and composer who played this instrument and the guitar. He helped more people learn about this instrument during the 19th century. In Regondi's traditional playing style, the little finger and the other three fingers are used. Metal finger rests are used very rarely. This method allows all eight fingers to play at the same time, making it possible to play large chords. In pieces like Bernhard Molique's Concerto No. 1 in G for concertina and orchestra, or Percy Grainger's Shepherd's Hey, four, five, and six note chords are common. These chords would be hard or impossible to play without using all the fingers.

Allan Atlas, in his book The Wheatstone Concertina in Victorian England, found six concertos written for this instrument.