John Whelan on Button Accordion

Here we present John Whelan, the 1983 All-Ireland Senior button accordion champion playing three reels: "The Killavil", "The High Reel" and "The Fermoy Lasses". Now living in Milford, Connecticut, USA, John comes originally from Luton, England. This music was recorded at the Comhaltas North American Convention in Boston in 2003.

More info and videos at http://comhaltaslive.ie

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Irish
• Trad
• Button
• Accordion
• Reel
• Comhaltas

[vicouspanda]

Im pretty sure that man just had an orgasm... while playing the accordion

[devilyo2]

eargasm... :O

[acordeonhobby]

felicitaciones, muy lindo canal. buena musica.

saludos

jose

[banjocordian]

@lamargreenleaf - I think there are two sets of reeds here, but it is tuned pretty 'dry'. Typical Irish button-boxes seem to have a wetter tuning (more offset between the two sets of reeds). I agree wet tuning gives a warmer sound - but too much, and it gets very discordant especially for chords (too much harmonics and vibratos stepping on everything).

[rsbsas]

Thats how it should be played there aren't too many people that can make button accordian sound like a concertina, He's the best.

[BlackitoOzora]

@vicouspanda Accorgasm?

[lamargreenleaf]

Most accordians/melodeons have at least 2 sets of reeds per note, which gives them at warmer sound. This instrument sounds like it has only one set of reeds, which gives it a "tinny" concertina sound.

[Efenstor]

Yeah. Whelan is the one.

[WAINOA]

Wow Im impressed that man is his music, how lovely to see some one get so much pleasure from hs own music absolutly brilliant I do play myself though its hard cause I dont own one ut by gum if I owned one right now Id throw it away... How lovely...

[MrLospedros]

ok , nella vita ci vuole passione...quella che hai tu....!!!!!

[NewEnglandgardening]

I guess with accordians, size doesn't matter, its what you can do with it. Nice musical journey you take us on.

[bibliojim1]

Man, is he having fun! Great playing.