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.
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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. |
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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). |
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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. |