Anglo Concertinas

The Anglo concertina is also English (i.e. it comes from England). Its name is short for Anglo-German concertina because it uses a layout system similar to the German Chemnitzer Konzertina. It plays a different note when a button is pressed and the bellows compressed than when the bellows are expanded. This suck-blow operation is similar to a harmonica's. Irish traditional musicians use the Anglo to play fast melodic reels and jigs (and they call it the Irish concertina). Others (notably John Kirkpatrick) have explored a rich polyphonic use of the instrument.
Anglos have two or three curved horizontal rows of buttons. Two of these rows play a diatonic scale, each in a particular key. These two keys are normally a fifth apart, for example G and D. The third row (where present) provides accidentals and notes needed to make more note combinations possible in each bellows direction.

This is a prize Jeffries Anglo. Jeffries made instruments that were not nearly so pretty on the inside as Wheatstone's and Lachenal's, but they have a wonderful loud singing voice. Note the strap to go over your hand, leaving all your fingers to play buttons with. The Anglo is more like a piano in that the lowest note is nearest to your left pinky and the highest note is nearest to your right pinky.
This is a modern anglo made by Colin and Rosalie Dipper. It is a Pride of Albion model (the name is cut into the fretwork above the buttons).
This anglo was made by Charles Jeffries. Its small size makes it unusual. If it is like other Jeffries concertinas, it doesn't have a small voice though.

More Anglos...


English Concertinas, Duet Concertinas,

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