Welcome to my blog!

I've enjoyed playing Irish traditional music for many years in Japan. I usually play the Irish flute. I sometimes play the anglo concertina.

Satomi (my wife) also plays Irish traditional music. She plays the concertina, whistle and bodhran. She plays much better than me!

<Recordings>

There are more than 500 recordings on my blog. I usually record Irish tunes alone though I'm not a good player.

I love playing set dances, so I recorded many set dances.

http://irish.cocolog-nifty.com/flute_concertina/set_dance/index.html

Satomi and I recorded some tunes together.

http://irish.cocolog-nifty.com/flute_concertina/duet/index.html

There are lots of recordings I did when I joined sessions.

http://irish.cocolog-nifty.com/flute_concertina/session_live/index.html

<Musical Instruments>

We've tried more than ten concertinas so far.

http://irish.cocolog-nifty.com/flute_concertina/instrumentconcertina/index.html

And I've tried about twenty flutes.

http://irish.cocolog-nifty.com/flute_concertina/instrumentflute/index.html

I like repairing concertinas, too.

http://irish.cocolog-nifty.com/flute_concertina/cat22923700/index.html

I built a Clover Kit in 2012.

http://irish.cocolog-nifty.com/flute_concertina/cat23579418/index.html

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I hope you enjoy my blog!

Tomoyuki

Irish Flute: John Gallagher

I ordered a keyless flute in D from John Gallagher in March, 2017. I received it in July, 2019. It's a small hole Rudall & Rose. It is made of Delrin and its headjont is half-lined.

I like its tone and it's easier for me to play using ornamentation than my main flute (Grinter) because its tone holes are small.

I guess it will take some time for me to get used to it, but I enjoy playing it very much.

 

P. S.

I sold this flute to a Japanese flute player in 2022 because I haven't had time to play it. I hope he likes it. 

Anglo concertina: Carroll

I ordered a C/G anglo concertina (small instrument) from Wally Carroll in October, 2015. I received it in April, 2018. So, the waiting time was about two and a half years.

Layout : Carroll layout
Bellows : 6 fold bellows
Ends : walnut burl ends
Keys : 30 brass keys

It's very responsive. I guess it's quicker than Suttner or Wakker though it's not quicker than Dipper.

I really enjoy playing it!

(Hornpipes) Fitzgerald's, The Few Bob - Flute

I learned this set from "Rooska Hill" by Éamonn O'Riordan and Tony O'Connell.

I played my Grinter D flute.

(Reels) Over the Moor to Maggie, The Cup of Tea, The Woman of the House, The Mossy Banks - Session

I joined a session last August in Osaka, Japan. The fiddlers were mighty and splendid!

I played my Grinter flute.

(Jigs) The Humours of Kesh, The Hag with the Money - Session

I joined a session last August in Osaka, Japan. I love the second tune!

I played my Grinter flute.

(Polkas) Joan Crowley's, Din Tarrant's, The Siege of Ennis - Session

I joined a session in Osaka, Japan a few months ago. We rarely play polkas and slides at sessions though I like playing polkas and slides. :-)

I played my Grinter flute.

(Jigs) Bean Chairdin, The Traditional - Concertina

I learned this set at a session in Osaka, Japan a few months ago. The second jig is an Ed Reavy tune.

I played a 28-button Lachenal concertina.

(Slides) Barrack Hill, Maggie in the Woods, Dan O'Keefe's - Session

I joined a session in Osaka, Japan last month. I love playing slides at sessions!

I played my Grinter flute.

(Jigs) A Thousand Farewells, Man in the Bog - Concertina

I learned this set from "The Long Trip Home" by Joshua Dukes.

I played a Morse concertina (Ceili) that I had bought recently. It's a good concertina though I haven't been accustomed to playing it.

Irish Flute: Vincenzo Di Mauro

I ordered a keyless flute in D from Vincenzo Di Mauro (VDM) in August, 2015. I received it in May, 2016. So, the waiting time was about 9 months.

It is made of Delrin and has a fully lined headjoint. It came here without a case.

I like its tone, especially high notes. And it's easy for me to hold though I have small hands.

I guess that G and A in the second octave are a little sharp for me.

P.S.

I sold this flute in 2016.