The Concertina in Australia Today: Photo Essay, Part 1 |
Australia is one of four countries where the concertina has been played continuously from the 1850s to the
present (the others are England, Ireland and South Africa). My wife and I made a trip there in April 2011 and met
many Anglo concertina players, some of them descended from old-time players. The old time music and dance
scene in Australia is alive and well, and memories of long-held traditions (including old styles of playing the
concertina for dances in the bush) are strong. The traditional musicians we met are all very friendly, open, and
very generous in sharing their traditions.
An article describing the status of concertina playing in Australia today is in preparation for the Papers of the
International Concertina Association, to be published later in 2011. I thought the following photos might be of
general interest to concertina players, and have placed them here in advance of the planned PICA article.
This photo essay is freely available for individual use. Further distribution and commercial use are prohibited
without the written permission of the author.
© Dan Worrall, 2011
present (the others are England, Ireland and South Africa). My wife and I made a trip there in April 2011 and met
many Anglo concertina players, some of them descended from old-time players. The old time music and dance
scene in Australia is alive and well, and memories of long-held traditions (including old styles of playing the
concertina for dances in the bush) are strong. The traditional musicians we met are all very friendly, open, and
very generous in sharing their traditions.
An article describing the status of concertina playing in Australia today is in preparation for the Papers of the
International Concertina Association, to be published later in 2011. I thought the following photos might be of
general interest to concertina players, and have placed them here in advance of the planned PICA article.
This photo essay is freely available for individual use. Further distribution and commercial use are prohibited
without the written permission of the author.
© Dan Worrall, 2011
The Nariel Valley of northeastern Victoria is a once-remote area in
which old-time social dancing has been retained to the present, along
with Anglo concertina playing in the old octave style in the key of C,
as used for the dances.
which old-time social dancing has been retained to the present, along
with Anglo concertina playing in the old octave style in the key of C,
as used for the dances.
The old Nariel community dance hall, now defunct, has been partly
supplanted by a nearby festival grounds since the 1960s. Dances in the
Nariel area consist of polkas, waltzes, quadrilles, schottisches,
varsovianas and the like, along with some later dances like the
one-step. See link for a video example of one of their varsovianas.
supplanted by a nearby festival grounds since the 1960s. Dances in the
Nariel area consist of polkas, waltzes, quadrilles, schottisches,
varsovianas and the like, along with some later dances like the
one-step. See link for a video example of one of their varsovianas.
A monument erected to the memory of Con Klippel III, who played a
key role in keeping the old music and dances alive. Con played the
concertina and the one-row accordion. Con's grandfather (Con Sr)
came to Australia from Germany in 1849. The monument is on the
Nariel festival grounds.
key role in keeping the old music and dances alive. Con played the
concertina and the one-row accordion. Con's grandfather (Con Sr)
came to Australia from Germany in 1849. The monument is on the
Nariel festival grounds.
Keith Klippel, son of Con Klippel III, playing the old flutina his great-grandfather
brought from Germany in 1849. At his feet is his father Con's Lachenal Anglo.
Keith plays both Anglo and button accordion for the Nariel dances, as did his
father and grandfather before him. His Anglo playing is typically in the old octave
style, which matches the needs of the dancers quite well.
brought from Germany in 1849. At his feet is his father Con's Lachenal Anglo.
Keith plays both Anglo and button accordion for the Nariel dances, as did his
father and grandfather before him. His Anglo playing is typically in the old octave
style, which matches the needs of the dancers quite well.
The late Con Klippell (III),
with his Lachenal Anglo
concertina (see photo of Keith
Klippel, below).
with his Lachenal Anglo
concertina (see photo of Keith
Klippel, below).
The old Nariel Band, ca. 1960s. Standing at the
rear with their concertinas are Keith Klippel
and his father, Con Klippel. Neville Simpson is
seated in front of them, playing the button
accordion. Illustration from
www.NarielCreekFestival.org.au.
rear with their concertinas are Keith Klippel
and his father, Con Klippel. Neville Simpson is
seated in front of them, playing the button
accordion. Illustration from
www.NarielCreekFestival.org.au.
Note: for an explanation of octave-style Anglo
concertina playing, see the Summary of The Anglo
Concertina: A Social History Information on the book
itself may be found on the home page of this website.
Detailed musical transcriptions of several pre-folk
revival Australian players are included in this book.
concertina playing, see the Summary of The Anglo
Concertina: A Social History Information on the book
itself may be found on the home page of this website.
Detailed musical transcriptions of several pre-folk
revival Australian players are included in this book.