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Last Updated 
03/03/2002 

 

Club Accord February 2002 Newsletter 

Our guest for February was John Kirkpatrick. The famous folk singer, melodeon, diatonic accordion and concertina player. John has brought English Folk Music to the masses throughout his career, and hosted the BBC Radio 2 show "Squeezing Around The World" a few years ago. He plays a three row Diatonic Accordion (like Andy's), a one row melodeon and an Anglo concertina, not to mention his lovely folk singing voice. John is a highly skilled player & what he achieves from his instruments is unbelievable. Our members were a little bit apprehensive of what was to come but they were soon in awe of his playing. Over 60 members and friends listened to John's unique style of playing.

He began on his Diatonic Accordion with the "Napoleon March", followed by a few Sword Dance tunes from Yorkshire. We then heard John sing a lovely song called "Martha the Watercress Girl", followed by the song "Stanza Cottage". A change of instruments to the Melodeon brought forth a 1750's folk tune called "The Charming Maid". "The Rambling Comer" and "The Siberian Stomp" were unusual pieces in 5/4 time. Another change of instruments followed, this time to the Anglo Concertina, on this we heard "Prince William of Gloucester's Waltz" and a song called "Fields of Gold". To end the first half, John played "The Bells", a physically energetic action which produced soulful music as John literally swung the concertina around in a circle in front of him (from waist height to above his head), to produce an effect like church bells ringing. (Not something we would recommend copying on the accordion).

We had a very good raffle, and Andy Banks won the attendance members award for the 2nd time in twenty odd years. Our club players kept to the 'Folk Theme' with Andy playing "The Red Lark" and "Gooseburgh". The "Log Cabin" and "Liza Jane" preceded his final piece called "Honest Woman's March". Next came Tracey who played "Musette for a Magpie", "Bonnie Cuckoo", and few lively American Reels. Neil finished off the club players spot with "Looking for a Partner", "Flowers of the Forest", and "Princess Margarets Jig" in honour of Princess Margaret (Patron of the EFDSS) who had died that week. John started the second half with two tunes written by himself called "Sweet and Lovely", and the well known "Jump At the Sun" on his diatonic accordion. We heard a strange "Dance of the Jews" before he switched again to his melodeon for two hornpipes also written by him. On his concertina he played and sang "Sweet Little Dicky Bird", and "Put On Your Ta Ta Little Girl". Finally to round off the night on his diatonic accordion he played his famous renditions of "Blaze Away", (Yes Charlie someone else plays it too!), and "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square". Shouts for encore and a request saw John finish with Duke Ellingtons "Accordion Joe".
 
We look forward to seeing you all next month on March 11th ( Club night with a supposed Classical theme).