Why ornaments bring a tune to life

Ornaments are not decoration for their own sake. In Irish and English dance tunes, a well-placed cut or roll gives lift, defines the rhythm, and helps the melody breathe. On the Anglo concertina, they also solve a practical problem: the instrument’s push-pull nature can make a phrase sound choppy. A crisp ornament smooths the joins and adds sparkle without changing the underlying tune. The goal is never to show off. It is to make the music dance.

The Anglo’s push-pull layout shapes every ornament

Unlike the English concertina, the Anglo gives you different notes on push and pull. That means every ornament must fit the bellows direction. If your target note is on the push, choose a cut note that is also on the push. If it is on the pull, find a pull note above it. On a C/G Anglo, for example, the C on the right-hand middle row is a push, and the D above it is also a push — perfect for a cut. But if you try to cut a pull note with a push note, you will get a bump in the air pressure and the ornament will sound clumsy. So before you add any ornament, work out which buttons are available in the same direction.

Cuts and grace notes: the basic building blocks

A cut is a very quick note above the main note, played just before it or between two repeated notes. On the Anglo, you tap the button and release almost instantly — think of it as a flick, not a note. A grace note is a short note before the main note, often from above or below, and it usually sits before the beat rather than on it. In English dance tunes, grace notes tend to be simpler and more melodic. In Irish tunes, cuts are sharper and more rhythmic.

Try this in a jig: instead of playing three identical notes, cut the second one. Main note, cut, main note. That single flick gives the phrase a lift that no amount of volume can match. For a slower air, a grace note from below can add a gentle sigh. The key is to keep the ornament short — if you can hear its pitch clearly, you have held it too long.

Rolls: long, short, and where they fit

A long roll is five notes: main, cut above, main, tap below, main. A short roll is three: main, cut above, main (or main, tap below, main). On the Anglo, rolls are trickier than on fiddle or flute because you must plan the bellows. If the main note is a push, the cut and tap must also be available on the push. Sometimes you can use a pull note for the tap if you change bellows quickly, but that often breaks the flow. Better to find a roll that stays in one direction.

• Long roll: best on longer notes in jigs, hornpipes, and slow airs. Keep the cut and tap very short so the main note still dominates.
• Short roll: ideal for reels and polkas where there is no time for five notes. Think of it as a single rhythmic flick.
• English tunes: rolls are less common. A simple mordent or a pair of grace notes often fits better than a full Irish roll.

Taste and restraint: don’t overplay

The biggest mistake is putting an ornament on every note. In a session, too many rolls can sound frantic and muddy the rhythm. In English dance tunes, a single well-placed cut at the end of a phrase can do more than a dozen ornaments scattered throughout. Listen to players you admire — you will often find they use fewer ornaments than you expect, but each one lands exactly where it should.

Try playing a tune with no ornaments at all. Get the rhythm solid. Then add one ornament per phrase. Ask yourself: does this help the pulse or the melody? If not, leave it out. On the Anglo, a clumsy ornament can also cause a bump in the bellows pressure, which disrupts the dance. Practise slowly with a metronome and record yourself. What sounds exciting under your fingers may sound busy to a listener.

Keeping your concertina ready for clean ornaments

Ornaments demand instant response. If a button is sluggish, the cut will be late. If the bellows leak, you cannot control the quick pressure changes needed for a crisp roll. A little maintenance goes a long way.

• Keep the action clean: dust and lint build up around the buttons. Use a soft, dry paintbrush to sweep the ends gently. Never use oil.
• Check for leaks: a leaky bellows makes every ornament feel vague. Test by squeezing gently with all buttons closed and listening for hissing.
• Store dry: keep your instrument away from radiators and damp cellars. After a session, wipe the ends to remove moisture, and let it air before putting it in its case.
• Reeds and response: corroded or dirty reeds slow the attack. If a note feels weak, a professional service may be needed — but regular, gentle care prevents most problems.

A well-maintained Anglo will reward you with crisp, reliable ornaments. And when the instrument responds instantly, you can stop thinking about the mechanics and start thinking about the tune — which is exactly where ornaments belong.