A Brief History of the Anglo Concertina in the United States |
The Anglo concertina was phenomenally popular and extensively played for both popular and sacred music
throughout the late 19th century in America, but most current American players are unaware of its earlier heyday.
This article weaves a basic history of its use in the US from anecdotes buried in newspaper accounts,family
histories, and photographic archives.
This article originally appeared in online html form at www.concertina.com (see link below), where it is freely
available for individual use. Further distribution and commercial use are prohibited without the written permission
of the author.
© Dan Worrall, 2007
Note: This 2007 research article is now somewhat obsolete, as it was extensively expanded and updated in The
Anglo-German Concertina: A Social History (2009); see Home Page
throughout the late 19th century in America, but most current American players are unaware of its earlier heyday.
This article weaves a basic history of its use in the US from anecdotes buried in newspaper accounts,family
histories, and photographic archives.
This article originally appeared in online html form at www.concertina.com (see link below), where it is freely
available for individual use. Further distribution and commercial use are prohibited without the written permission
of the author.
© Dan Worrall, 2007
Note: This 2007 research article is now somewhat obsolete, as it was extensively expanded and updated in The
Anglo-German Concertina: A Social History (2009); see Home Page
| 'The Immigrant Train' (1897), by George Ottinger, which depicts the artist's own journey west in a Mormon wagon train, in the early 1860s. Springville Museum of Art, Utah |
