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Englitina - English Concertina

5 • 4 Ratings

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Englitina is an easy to play, authentic-sounding virtual English Concertina. Touch the "?" to show the button note names. Touch the "i" to bring up the settings page where you may transpose the pitch up or down up to one octave in semitone increments. Touch the number to the right of the transpose slider to reset the transpose to zero. When transposed, the note labels do not change, just the pitch produced. The button layout and spacing matches the center portion of a standard Wheatstone Engish Concertina layout, providing all chromatic notes in the two octave range between D4 and C#6. When Charles Wheatstone designed the English concertina, he set it up to match sheet music, one side is the notes between the lines and the other is the notes on the lines. Because English Concertinas play the same note both on a push or a pull of the bellows, it is a very easy instrument to play on the iPhone. You simply touch the buttons on the screen to play the notes. To play, hold the iPhone between your thumb and little fingers of both hands, exactly like a real English Concertina, and press the buttons with your index and middle fingers. Scale patterns alternate between the fingers of the right and left hands. Notes are higher in pitch as you move from the outside to the middle of the screen. Multiple buttons may be pressed at the same time to play chords.
What’s New
Completely re-written from scratch in Swift 4! You may now transpose the pitch up or down up to one octave in semitone increments on the settings page (touch the "i") Touch the number to the right of the transpose slider to reset the transpose to zero. When transposed, the note labels do not change, just the pitch produced. Bug fixes and performance improvements.
Version 2.5.2
Version History

App Privacy

The developer, Michael Eskin, has not provided details about its privacy practices and handling of data to Apple. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy

No Details Provided

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Ratings and Reviews

Ratings and reviews are verified
5
out of 5
4 Ratings
  • Dottie in Virginia, 12.03.2012
    I'm playing my iPod!
    I've played English concertina for years, so when I got my iPod Touch, this was the first app I bought! And it's wonderful! I was a little frustrated at first until I got the "feel" of it and learned to hit the buttons accurately, but that happens amazingly fast. Same with relating to a 2-dimensional instrument instead of a three. Much of the time it seems like learning a new instrument, but sometimes I can close my eyes and pretend I'm playing my real one and the tune comes naturally. In two days, I am able to play a number of tunes, and I'm really enjoying the practice. The tone is wonderful, I think better than my Wheatstone. Stephen Foster tunes sound great, and jigs and reels are easy to play. I'm not listening to my iPod, I'm playing it! Show more
  • PERRY WERNER, 18.09.2010
    HURRAY FOR ENGLITINA!!!!!!!
    WOW. An iPhone App for the instrument that I play, The English Concertina!!! This wonderful App fits a major section of the standard English concertina keyboard onto the screen of an iPhone, in landscape mode, and once the player figures out how the keys are arranged and how the iPhone should be held, tunes can be learned and played with a bit of effort. There are no real buttons that can be pushed. There is no bellows to move back and forth, but those two concertina mainstays can be quickly dismissed once you get the hang of what is necessary to play it. It's a concertina. It's a completely new instrument. Either way of thinking is correct. I also find the use of the usual three fingers on each hand a bit difficult depending on where on the keyboard one is playing. I can already envision using only two fingers where three would be the norm on an actual instrument. But this drawback, if it is one, is overcome fairly quickly as you play. More than anything is the amazement I have that I can have a mini version, of sorts of my instrument. in my pocket with me at all times and at the same time I see it as a completely new instrument to try to master. I love it. I also love the fact that you can choose to play it as a baritone, an octave lower than the standard instrument, as a lot of my playing is done on an actual baritone English concertina. And, for beginner's, this can be an instrument unto itself whether you have interest in playing the English concertina or not. I can envision a new generation of performers that claim their main instrument as the Englitina. A lot of thought went into the design of the Englitina, Maybe most importantly the spacial relationships between the buttons, which pretty much mimics a standard concertina. Without this consideration, playing the Englitina would be very difficult, if not impossible. Also the sound is wonderful and quite authentic. In the end, developer Michael Eskin, has done a great job in putting this instrument in our hands. He has given a lot of thought to it and is always interested in making improvements. I also have one of his other Apps, "Ullitina" which is the same App pretty much as Englitina, but mimics the sound of a set of Uilleann Pipeswith and without chanters. So, a player of the Englitina can use the English concertina fingerings and have the result come out sounding like pipes. And, they sound very authentic. An amazing App indeed. Thanks Michael for all of your work on these!!!!!!!! Charles Wheattstone would be very proud of you!!! Show more
  • CandaceSoVan, 11.04.2010
    A cheap way to explore the wonderful world of English concertinas
    If you've ever wondered whether or not you'd be interested in learning to play a concertina, this is the app for you. Back in the 19th century, concertinas were affordable instruments, but nowadays, you have to fork over anywhere between US$1,800 and several thousand dollars to buy a decent English Concertina (either used or new). Some people start out with a cheap Chinese concertina (~US$125) or a clunky Italian Stagi (~US$1k), but this way, for the profoundly affordable price of $2.99, you can find out if this instrument might be for you. The application is very simple. Choose whether you want a treble or bass English concertina; choose metal or ivory keys (or press "i" to see the name of each note on the keys); set your volume and/or release speed; and you're "good to go." It's too bad that this application doesn't allow you to record your playing (that's why I docked it one star), but otherwise, it gives you a pretty good test run. In case you're wondering what an "English" concertina is, as opposed to an "Anglo" or "Irish" concertina. The English concertina is a chromatic instrument that has the same note played on both the pull and push of the bellows; whereas the Anglo is a dichromatic instrument that plays in only a couple of keys (e.g. C/G), and the "push" and "pull" notes are different. Also, an Anglo concertina has the low notes on one side and the higher notes on the other, whereas the English concertina alternates sides. This sounds quite peculiar, but for me, it feels very natural to play. Anyway, if you've ever thought about exploring the wonderful world of conertinas, Michael Eskin's applications provide a nice, cheap way to do so. Enjoy! Show more
  • mwreid, 12.01.2010
    Portability and a great simulation at a price that can't be beat
    I've played English concertina for many years. I downloaded this today and was playing tunes on it right away. It's an excellent simulation. If you've thought about taking up English concertina, this app will give you a good idea of how it works for a tiny fraction of the usual cost. If you already play one, get this app so you can practice at odd moments, in privacy (over headphones) if you wish. Show more

Information

  • Category
  • Age Rating
    4+
  • Price
    0.99 USD
  • Size
    41.46 MB
  • Provider
    Michael Eskin
Languages
English
Copyright
© 2004-2024 Michael Eskin. All rights reserved.