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The Anglo-German Concertina: A Social History Dan M. Worrall. Fulshear, TX: Concertina Press, 2009. Vol. 1: xviii + 322 pp. Illus. Bibliog. ISBN 978-0-9825996-0-0. Vol. 2: viii + 272 pp. Illus. Bibliog. ISBN 978-0-9825996-1-7. US$38.00.
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My first impression of this two-volume set was that it is a Boy's Own Annual for concertina players. Clearly a lot of work has gone into producing this eclectic mix of information on different types of anglo/anglo-german concertinas, their manufacture, the conditions under which they were played, and the people who played them. Starting with the invention and development of the anglo-german (subsequently mainly referred to as the anglo) concertina, Worrall goes on to explore the history of the use of these instruments in England, Ireland, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and at sea. The work concludes with a chapter of transcriptions from the playing of some of the few recorded traditional anglo players in England, Ireland, South Africa, and Australia. Overall, a truly ambitious project! Even more so considering that the range of material presented includes cartoons, photographs, old advertisements, extracts from books and newspapers, statistical charts, tunes, maps, biographies, and lists of concertina makers and suppliers from across the world.
The volumes could have been edited more carefully,...