Maccann Duet Concertina

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Maccann Duet concertinas are designed to play a melody along with accompaniment or to play multiple parts at the same time—so a single concertina can “play a duet with itself”. Maccann Duet concertinas combine many of the advantages from both of two earlier types (called “English concertinas” and “Anglo concertinas”) and can be played in the style of either of those as well as in many additional musical styles, either by ear or from music notation.

Concertinas are small and light (but loud) bellows-powered free-reed acoustic musical instruments invented by the English physicist Sir Charles Wheatstone about 1830 as a high-tech innovation in musical-instrument design. Unlike accordions (invented about the same time), on a concertina each button plays one note at a time—no chord buttons. Despite the fact that the earliest “English” concertinas were intended to play only a single musical part, much like a violin, they were very popular in parlour ensembles and became something of a fashionable craze in the mid-1850s. Wheatstone and others worked on and patented a number of ways to extend his design so as to make a Duet instrument, but none was widely used.

The first successful design for a Duet concertina was patented in 1884 by a young performer, “Professor” John Hill Maccann. Maccann based his design on an earlier Wheatstone & Co. model, but licensed his patent to Wheatstone's competitor Lachenal & Co., and wrote both a tutor for his new instrument and a more-general “Concertinist's Guide” to promote it (his patent and both of his publications are available in full on this site). Fine-quality Maccann-system instruments were also made by Wheatstone & Co. after Maccann's patent expired in 1898, but Wheatstone never used Maccann's name to describe them.

Maccann had great success performing with his new concertina, including a command performance before HRH the Prince of Wales and a North American tour in 1890–1891, and his “Improved Duet Concertina” became the instrument widely used by professional performers in the late-Victorian music halls. Its popularity continued until 1939 but did not survive the interruption in production caused by World War II, and the art of playing the Maccann Duet had become almost lost by mid-century. During its production, a total of a few thousand instruments were manufactured. Today there are perhaps fifty people world-wide who play antique Maccann Duet concertinas.

Maccann Duet concertinas remain admirable and ingenious personal music-makers; they can be played in many musical styles, from simple to complex, and are excellent to accompany singing. The chief barrier to their wider popularity is that there are no new instruments, and refurbished antique instruments are now both scarce and expensive.

Robert Gaskins

 

Instruction

gaskins-chords-maccann How to Play Chords on Any Maccann Duet Concertina
by Robert Gaskins
Explains how to play chords to accompany songs on Maccann Duet concertinas of any size and from any period. Intended for beginners, assumes no knowledge of musical notation or theory. Includes a chord chart suitable for the lid of a concertina case. 51 pages.
Posted 15 February 2001
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cornell-beginners A Beginner's Set of Duet Concertina Arrangements
by David Cornell
Six arrangements all in the key of C and progressing from easy to more difficult, with detailed comments on fingering and technique and a diagram of left hand bass pattersns. Includes: On Top of Old Smokey (two versions), Oh Susanna, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Sweet Sixteen, and Scotland the Brave. 18 pages.
Posted 27 December 2001
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maccann-new-method-tutor New Method of Instructions for the New Chromatic Duet English Concertina ... &c.
by John Hill Maccann
Maccann’s own tutor, first published 1885 by Lachenal. Cover reads in part: "New Method of Instructions for the New Chromatic Duet English Concertina, with separate diagrams of keyboards and full instructions of proper fingering, so arranged that without a knowledge of music the instrument can be easily mastered ... Suitable for the 39, 47, or 56 Keyed Instrument. By J. H. Maccann, (Professor of the Duet English Concertina)." First edition, London: Lachenal & Co., 1885. 43 pages. Trim size 10 inches by 13 inches. Updated 01 July 2003: Fourth edition (date unknown), the cover of which reads in part "Suitable for the 39, 46 or 55 Keyed Instrument." 4th Edition. 43 pages. This copy was provided by Bradley Strauchen, Deputy Keeper of Musical Instruments at the Horniman Museum.
Posted 15 February 2003; last updated 01 July 2003
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» (4th ed.) read full document in pdf
rutterford-duet-tutor-fourth-ed A Practical and Comprehensive Tutor for the Duet Concertina
by Ernest Rutterford
The tutor for the Maccann Duet concertina which was published and sold by Wheatstone over a very long period. It does not contain the name "Maccann," but refers only to the Wheatstone Duet. (Wheatstone's Instructions for the Duet Concertina.) 4th ed. London: undated (1930's?). From an original owned by Chris Algar. 56 pages.
Posted 15 November 2001
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jeffries-maccann-chords-tutor Maccann Duet Chords Tutor Manuscript
from Robert Gaskins
A polished 76-page manuscript “chords tutor” found in the case of a matching 57-key Maccann Duet made by C. Jeffries Maker, 23 Praed St. The instrument and the tutor are dated c. 1915. This may have been a “semi-bespoke” tutor included with the instrument when it was originally sold. Unlike the much later Jeffries System manuscript tutor (c. 1960) written with a biro (ballpoint pen) in very rough style, this much-longer document was written with a split pen and is very carefully finished.
Posted 15 February 2003
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stanley-tutor-evans Stanley Manuscript Maccann Duet Tutor
by Henry Stanley
One of a number of similar manuscript tutors for the Maccann Duet Concertina written by Henry Stanley for his private pupils. Exercises, scales, chords, tunes of graduated difficulty, tips on technique. Hand written on music paper, 41 pages. This copy belongs to Richard Evans.
Posted 15 May 2003
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hayden-all-systems-duet-workshop All-Systems Duet Workshop Tutor
by Brian Hayden
Tutor for a workshop on how to play duet concertinas of all systems. Begins with notation, fingering, and chords for Maccann Duets, Jeffries Duets, Crane (Triumph) Duets, and Hayden Duets. Tunes of progressive difficulty, with increasing number of notes and then in keys with increasing numbers of accidentals, all written in notation based on the treble clef. Notes on chord patterns and on strategies for melody and accompaniment applicable to all systems of duet concertina. Presented to The West Country Concertina Players, 1994. 20 pages.
Posted 15 August 2003
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callaghan-reuben-shaw-video           Garland Films Presents: “Reuben Shaw—Duet Concertina Player”
by Barry Callaghan
On 7 February 1987, Barry Callaghan of Garland Films with fieldworker Graham Coyne filmed a lengthy interview and demonstration, in which Reuben Shaw talks about his life and music. He discusses early performers, his difficulties in finding music to study, and plays the Maccann Duet concertina from some of his collection of Henry Stanley manuscript arrangements. This film has been available from Garland Films on PAL VHS tapes for some time, but now the entire film is available on this website and is available on DVD from Garland Films. STATUS: Article is online now with still pictures, but video clips are not yet available for streaming (in production now).
Posted Coming soon
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gaskins-which-duet Which Duet Concertina—Hayden or Maccann?
by Robert Gaskins
A comparative review of two concertinas: a Stagi Hayden Duet concertina (c. 2003), and a Lachenal Maccann Duet concertina (c. 1900). Each instrument has 46 keys, and each cost £500 ($800) ready to play. On almost every measure, the antique Lachenal Maccann Duet turned out to be preferable to the modern Stagi Hayden Duet—by a considerable margin. The advantages frequently mentioned as belonging to the Hayden system (uniformity of fingering in all key signatures, automatic transposition) turned out to be significantly compromised by the restricted size of the Stagi. If you want to play a duet concertina, at present you will probably do best to buy a Maccann Duet.
Posted 01 March 2004
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Music

cornell-compendium Compendium of Arrangements for the Maccann Duet Concertina
by David Cornell
A single document containing forty-six intermediate to advanced arrangements plus an introduction to notation. (Includes all arrangements on this website.) 66 pages.
Posted 27 December 2001; last updated 02 November 2002
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stanley-arrangements Arrangements of Music for Maccann Duet Concertina
by Henry Stanley
Arrangements of music by Henry Stanley of Birmingham, a leading teacher and performer on the Maccann Duet concertina from the period between world wars, and an early member of the International Concertina Association. Stanley used his beautiful musical calligraphy to write personal arrangements and tutors for his many pupils. Most items from the Cecil C. White Archive of Henry Stanley Arrangements for Maccann Duet Concertina, augmented by contributions from Richard Evans and others.
Posted 22 January 2005
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History

maccann-patent-1884 Improvements in Concertinas (1884)
by John Hill Maccann
British Patent No. 4752 of 1884, Provisional Specification (12 March 1884) and Complete Specification (18 November 1884) with two figures. 4 pages. The one and only patent dealing with the Maccann Duet concertina. Maccann's invention creates a fully chromatic Duet (capable of playing in all key signatures) based on the older diatonic Wheatstone “duett” system.
Posted 15 November 2001
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maccann-concertinists-guide The Concertinist's Guide
by John Hill Maccann
The Most Simple Modern Methods; How to Play Correctly, With or Without a Tutor 8vo. London: Howard & Co., 1888. Images from a microfilm of a copy at the Bodleian Library, replacing a British Library copy destroyed in World War II. (Former British Library shelfmark D-7808.c.14.(14.), replaced by British Library microfilm Mic.A. 10532(4), Bodleian Shelfmark 17426 e 3(2).) Also a full transcription which is searchable in the Adobe PDF reader. 50 pages.
Posted 15 November 2001
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maccann-how-to-play How to Play the Concertina
by John Hill Maccann
A newly-discovered booklet, reliably dated to 1902. The text of the document consists of two parts: (1) a part of the "how to play" text from Maccann's earlier publication The Concertinist's Guide (1888); and (2) an interview with Professor Maccann reprinted from The Era theatrical newspaper of London, issue of 25 January 1902. In addition to the text, the booklet contains some new photographs of Maccann, including the first known photographs of him playing the concertina. There is a sample program of a recital by Maccann, a list of phonograph records for sale recorded by Maccann, and a catalogue of some of Maccann's published music compositions. This copy was discovered in the National Archives of Australia, where it had been deposited for copyright registration.
Posted 27 September 2004
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pricelists-wheatstone-duet Wheatstone Duet Concertina Pricelists
collected by Chris Algar
Most of these pricelists were found in old concertina cases. From internal evidence it is possible to date the lists c. 1910 to c. 1965 (plus one very early pricelist for Double duets c. 1850). These lists contain information about Wheatstone model numbers and descriptions which are useful to interpret the Wheatstone Concertina Ledgers. See also English pricelists from Wheatstone. See also Anglo pricelists from Wheatstone.
Posted 15 February 2003
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pricelists-lachenal Lachenal Concertina Pricelists
collected by Chris Algar
Most of the earlier "pricelists" here were printed as trade advertisements, in dated serials. Those actually issued as separate pricelists were found in old concertina cases; from internal evidence it is possible to date these c. 1890 to c. 1925.
Posted 07 March 2005
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horniman-wheatstone-concertina-ledgers Wheatstone Concertina Ledgers on the Web
by the Horniman Museum
Historical business records from C. Wheatstone & Co. are held at the Library of the Horniman Museum in London. The earliest ledgers from the Wayne Archives contain company sales records from the late 1830s to the 1860s (though with some large gaps) along with production records from the 1860s to the 1890s and some early records of wages and other payments. Later ledgers from the Dickinson Archives contain production records from 1910 to 1974, again with some gaps. All known ledgers have been digitized (some 2,300 pages in total) and made available free on this website for private research.

Search Wheatstone Concertina Ledgers powered by Microsoft
Posted 15 April 2003; Updated 15 June 2005
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maccann-in-america Prof. Maccann’s North American Tour (1890–1891)
by Robert Gaskins
Newspaper theatrical notices from the Brooklyn (New York) Daily Eagle describe John Hill Maccann’s appearances at Hyde and Behman’s Variety Theater, Brooklyn, in November 1890 and February 1891. Updated 22 December 2003: added a notice from the New York Times for 27 January 1891, during the same North American tour.
Posted 01 June 2003
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maccann-champion-of-america Professor Maccann: “America’s Champion Concertinist”
by Robert Gaskins
“PROFESSOR MACCANN, the celebrated concertinist, has brought back with him from America a fine medal, which became his property by a rival musician, Amducas Vestman, failing to meet the Professor in a concertina contest for the championship and $300. ...” From The Era newspaper, London, 2 May 1891.
Posted 01 June 2003
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macann-in-plymouth-1880s Professor Maccann Performs in Plymouth
by Robert Gaskins
Extended review of a concert presented by Professor Maccann at the Plymouth Mechanics’ Institute “on an instrument which he has just patented,” from the Western Figaro newspaper, Plymouth, 27 February 1885.
Posted 01 July 2003
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maccann-homepage John Hill Maccann
Directory
Concertina Library directory of all information on this website about John Hill Maccann.
Posted 01 January 2005
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Technology

gaskins-baffles Baffles for Maccann Duet Concertinas
by Robert Gaskins
Explains how baffles fitted internally can reduce the volume and/or change the tone of a Maccann Duet concertina, and how the sound of each end can be controlled independently so that the "balance" of an instrument can be altered. The motivation for adding baffles is most often to accompany a singer, to alter the sound-quality, or to allow a right-hand melody to be heard while playing left-hand chords. With 88 step-by-step photographs, and web sources (UK and US) for all materials and tools needed. 15 March 2002: Updated with photos of early Wheatstone wooden baffles (from Paul Hardy) and of Lachenal linen linings cut out individually around every button (from Joe Palof). Also added, a photo of a unique ten-sided Maccann Duet which, rather than quieting the left end with baffles, instead makes the right end louder by doubling all the reeds on the right side (now owned by Neil Wayne, photo from Stephen Chambers). 15 February 2003: Updated with photos and description of very early Pre-Maccann Wheatstone Double Duet No. 23 (1847-1848) which was equipped at the factory with conventional baffles on both sides plus a special baffle inside the reed pan on the left side--only--to balance the volume of the two ends.
Posted 15 February 2002; last updated 15 February 2003
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» read section 1: "baffles for maccann duet concertinas"
» read section 2: "step-by-step photographs"
» read section 3: "appendices, where to buy materials"
williams-hayden-chat A Chat with Brian Hayden
by Wes Williams
Brian Hayden was interviewed in 2001 about his background, his invention of the Hayden System, his views on other duet systems, and his suggestions for learning and playing the duet concertina. Contains keyboard diagrams for nine duet systems: the Early Wheatstone Duett, Early Wheatstone Double, Maccann, Jeffries, Crane (Triumph), Linton, Rust ("Piano"), Late Wheatstone Chidley, and Hayden. (There is also a PDF version of the article.) Also published at concertina.net.
Posted 15 February 2003
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hayden-fingering-systems Fingering Systems for Duet Concertina
by Brian Hayden
Overview of all the fingering systems for duet concertina which turned up in Hayden's review of prior art while preparing his own patent application. As published in Concertina Magazine (Australia) 16 (1986): 19-23; 17 (1987): 7-9; 18 (1987): 11-15; 19 (1987): 6-10.
Posted 15 November 2001
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chidley-duet-system The 'Duet' System, discussed by K. V. Chidley
by Kenneth V. Chidley
Review of the history of the duet concertina leading up to Chidley's own post-war "Chidley System". As published in World Accordion Review 6:3 (December 1950): 31-32. Also a differing version as reprinted with notes by Neil Wayne as K. V. Chidley, "The Duet Concertina--Its History and the Evolution of its Keyboard," Free Reed: The Concertina Newsletter 17 (Jan/Feb 1974): 15-17.
Posted 15 November 2001
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gaskins-jeffries-maccann-no-6-pics Photographs of Jeffries Maccann Duet Concertina, serial No. 6
by Robert Gaskins
Photographic documentation of a Jeffries Maccann Duet, serial No. 6, 57 keys, c. 1915. Marked on the right with an oval engraved C. Jeffries Maker, 23 Praed St. Raised metal ends, some construction details in common with Jeffries anglos such as linear reed chambers. Its matching manuscript chords tutor is also reproduced on this website. 54 photographs.
Posted 15 February 2003
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Research

merris-bibliography Instruction Manuals for the English, Anglo, and Duet Concertina: An Annotated Bibliography
by Randall C. Merris
A comprehensive bibliography with more than 200 citations for concertina tutors that were published from the 1840s to the present. Separate sections deal with English, Anglo, and Duet tutors. The annotations contain considerable historical material on concertina makers, authors and teachers, performers, and publishers in the UK, US, and elsewhere. The web version incorporates citations for tutors that have appeared or were located subsequent to the original publication (about 35 more by 2005) and adds over 100 scanned photographs of tutor covers. A number of the tutors are available scanned in full on this website, and these are indicated in the entries. The original publication was in The Free-Reed Journal 4 (2002): 85-118, and a PDF version of the printed article is also available online.
Posted 01 April 2003; last updated 31 August 2005
» read full article
» read Part 1, "English Concertina"
» read part 2, "Anglo Concertina"
» read part 3, "Duet Concertina"
» read original article (without updates) in pdf"
gaskins-twelve-sided-wheatstone A Wheatstone Twelve-Sided 'Edeophone' Concertina with Pre-Maccann Chromatic Duet Fingering
by Neil Wayne, Margaret Birley, and Robert Gaskins
A duet concertina (serial no. 35074) with a unique fingering arrangement, made by Wheatstone in 1938, turns out to be a realization of a design from Wm. Wheatstone's patent of 1861. The instrument is twelve-sided, a Registered Design feature of Lachenal & Co., and it turns out to be one of at least sixteen twelve-sided instruments made by Wheatstone between 1934 and 1941. The instrument is now in the collection of the Horniman Museum, London. As published in The Free-Reed Journal 3 (2001): 3-17. This HTML version of the article adds a number of additional photographs and active links to many of the sources cited in the published article. Updated 15 August 2003: Footnote 11 updated to record that Randall C. Merris has located instrument serial #33301, another of the set of three twelve-sided 40-key Anglos.
Posted 15 November 2001; last updated 15 August 2003
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inglis-history-of-duet History of the Duet Concertina
by Phil Inglis
When it was written, this was the only survey article on the subject, plus some anecdotes. The last twenty years have produced some additional information. As published in Concertina Magazine (Australia), 12 (Autumn, 1985): 18-19, 13 (Winter, 1985): 18-20, 14 (Spring 1985): 11-13.
Posted 15 February 2003
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hopkinson-cornell-re-reuben-shaw Memoirs of a Concertina-Playing Man: Reuben Shaw
as told to Phil Hopkinson, with an introduction by David Cornell
Memoirs of a player, a teacher, a link with the great British concertina tradition, and a fine story teller, who has played the Maccann Duet concertina for over fifty years. Reprinted from Concertina & Squeezebox, issue 29 (1993), pp. 12-17. Posted to honor Reuben Shaw’s 90th birthday, and to commemorate his appearance at the English Country Music Weekend at High Bradfield, Nr Sheffield, UK, 20-22 June 2003.
Posted 15 June 2003
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maccann duet trademark
U.K. trade mark No. 164,303,
published 21 April 1892,
concertina with portrait
and signature of J. H. Maccann

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