Sixteen concertina players from YCC and NECP joined the annual joint gathering, this year hosted by the YCC in Leeds on 18th September.
We managed to squeeze ourselves in the Corner House Club's billiard room where the YCC normally meets and started the day with tea and cake (Helen & Ruth had baked cakes – thanks to both - & others brought biscuits and other treats). The Corner House kindly provided an urn & cups – duly thanked as they also did the washing-up afterwards!
 
Carolyn began the band session by conducting us in the first of the pieces she had brought, chosen to acknowledge the funeral being held the following day of Queen Elizabeth: “March & Canzona (from 'Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary') by Henry Purcell.
 
Then Dave from NECP took over & conducted: ‘An American Folk Hymn Medley’ – not tunes we recognised but good strong melodies.
 
After lunch, friends from NECP played a number of pieces they had brought with them to share with us.
 
Fristly, from within the NECP group, 2/3 of Raggletaggle – Roger & Su – with the addition of Patrick played a composition from Su’s husband, Brian, entitled: ‘Kerry’s Waltz’. This was played beautifully on trebles & all three parts were clearly heard.
Then Dave & Pat played ‘Duet No 1 for Cellos’ by James Hook (of ‘Sweet lass of Richmond Hill’ fame) on a baritone & a bass. People enjoyed the deeper sounds these made in what was a complex piece but beautifully played.
 
We then moved on to our second band session – Carolyn presented a Tango – ‘Adios Muchachos’ and a swinging number, ‘Sam’s Song’ (aka ‘The Happy Tune’).
Dave took over & conducted his second piece: ‘Tyneside’, incorporating folk melodies from that area.
 
There was one final tea-break & attempts – unsuccessful – were made to finish all the cake which maybe was wise as we all needed to be sharp for the “final play-through”. Roger kindly recorded this with his small portable digital recorder placed. He managed to clean up these recordings to remove extraneous noise & they are a good record of our playing. Ruth was able to further clean up the recording of ‘March & Canzona’ which you can hear by clicking the link.

Members of YCC who were present were: Helen Graham, Steve Griffiths, Carolyn Wade, Rhona Stevens, Ruth Flint, Adrian Jackson, Graham Heffernan.
Members of NECP who joined us were: Dave & Pat Turner, Roger Gawley, Jadwiga Billewicz, Richard Burton, Patrick Gilbert, Marianne Pybus, Su Childs, Keith Partington.

​Soundcloud file of March and Canzona by Henry Purcell ​https://on.soundcloud.com/Gj7ww