A man standing in a garden holding an accordion

Artistic Temperaments | Dave Townsend and the English Concertina

Date: Saturday 15 February 11:00
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We explore the English concertina, invented in 1829 by Sir Charles Wheatstone, and intended to rival the violin as a serious solo instrument.

Dave Townsend, founder of the Mellstock Band, is one of the great exponents of English concertina. He presents a voyage through the history and possibilities of the only musical instrument invented by an Englishman, from the first Victorian virtuosi to its adoption in the parlours and the music halls, the concertina bands of the early 1900s, and its place in traditional music. This is a rare opportunity to hear the instrument tuned to mean-tone temperament instead of the more usual equal temperament, and accompanied by a piano tuned the same way! Wheatstone was a scientist, best known for his contributions to the development of the ‘Wheatstone bridge’, still very much part of electrical engineering.

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Tickets

  • £10 (£9 Friends)
  • Buy all three paid-for Artistic Temperaments events and get 15% off

Programme

Sydney Smith/Richard Blagrove virtuoso pot-pourris