Accordion’s are the reason electric guitars were invented.

As accordion’s were my first instruments to learn, I thought this picture was appropriate to start this thread.

Accordion’s all in a Row:

Chas

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The accordion’s basic form was invented in Berlin in 1822 by Friedrich Buschmann. The accordion is one of several European inventions of the early 19th century that used free reeds driven by a bellows; notable among them were:

The Aeoline, by German Bernhard Eschenbach (and his cousin, Caspar Schlimbach), 1810. It was a piano with an added aeoline register. Similar instruments were the Aeoline Harmonika and Physharmonika. Aeoline and Aura were first without bellows or keyboard.
The Hand Physhamonika, by Anton Haeckl, a hand type produced 1818 and patented in 1821.
The flutina, by Pichenot Jeune, ca. 1831.
The concertina, patented in two forms (perhaps independently): one by Carl Friedrich Uhlig, 1834 and the other by Sir Charles Wheatstone, of which examples were built after 1829, but no patent taken out until 1844.
An instrument called accordion was first patented in 1829 by Cyrill Demian in Vienna. Demian’s instrument bore little resemblance to modern instruments; it only had a left hand keyboard, with the right hand simply operating the bellows. One key feature for which Demian sought the patent was the sounding of an entire chord by depressing one key. His instrument also could sound two different chords with the same key: one for each bellows direction (press, draw); this is called a bisonoric action.

At that time in Vienna, mouth harmonicas with “Kanzellen” (chambers) had already been available for many years, along with bigger instruments driven by hand bellows. The diatonic key arrangement was also already in use on mouth-blown instruments. Demian’s patent thus covered an accompanying instrument: an accordion played with the left hand, opposite to the way that comtemporary chromatic hand harmonicas were played, small and light enough to for travellers to take with them and use to accompany singing. The patent also described instruments with both bass and treble sections, although Demian preferred the bass-only instrument owing to its cost and weight advantages.

The musician Adolph Müller described a great variety of instruments in his 1833 “Schule für Accordion”. At the time, Vienna and London had a close musical relationship, with musicians often performing in both cities in the same year, so it is possible that Wheatstone was aware of this type of instrument and may have used them to put his key-arrangement ideas into practice.

Jeune’s flutina resembles Wheatstone’s concertina in internal construction and tone color, but it appears to complement Demian’s accordion functionally. The flutina is a one-sided bisonoric melody-only instrument whose keys are operated with the right hand while the bellows is operated with the left.To(FLUTINA Photo)

When the two instruments are combined, the result is quite similar to diatonic button accordions still manufactured today.

Further innovations followed and continue to the present. Various keyboard systems have been developed, as well as voicings (the combination of multiple tones at different octaves), with mechanisms to switch between different voices during performance, and different methods of internal construction to improve tone, stability and durability.

Approximately 2.5 million Americans play the accordion

This tiny musically inclined youth, quite resembles me, with my curly blonde hair, playing an accordion almost bigger than I was.

Chas

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The accordion as main instrument for Vallenato Diatonic button accordion (German make, early 20th century).
In Colombia, the instrument was first introduced by European immigrants and merchants mainly of German origin through the Antilles Islands in the early 20th Century, where local troubadours from the Caribbean Region used it as an instrument to accompany their sung messages. This form of music developed into the musical genre called Vallenato, representative of Colombia.

The instrument was popularized in the United States by Count Guido Deiro who was the first piano accordionist to perform in Vaudeville.

Accordion is the main instrument in the musette style of ballroom music in France (a style now largely out of fashion) and in the 1950s chanson singing, which has a revival in the form of neo-realism.

Mexican Norteño music also relies heavily on the accordion. The instrument was introduced into Northern Mexico by German immigrants during the 19th century. Mexican bands like Ramón Ayala y sus Bravos del Norte, Los Tiranos Del Norte, Los Cachorros De Juan Villarreal, Los Huracanes Del Norte, Los Invasores De Nuevo Leon, and Los Cadetes De Linares have made very successful musical careers out of their lively riffs. Chicken scratch (also known as waila music) is a kind of dance music developed by the Tohono O’odham people. The genre is derived from Mexican Norteño and evolved out of acoustic fiddle bands in southern Arizona, in the Sonoran desert.

The accordion is an important instrument in Dutch folk music, and often the only melodious instrument when clog dancing. It is also significant in Scandinavian folk music, with notable performers including Finnish accordionist Maria Kalaniemi. Scandinavian-influenced British folk music has, in recent years, also featured accordionists such as Karen Tweed.

The accordion is commonly used as part of dance and ceilidh bands in English, Scottish and Irish traditions.

Accordion is also a central instrument in Zydeco, Cajun music and in Polka, heard in Europe and North and South America.

The accordion gained notoriety in the 1990s when Jaleel White portrayed an accordion-playing nerdy neighbor (Steve Urkel) on Family Matters. In the English-speaking pop-music world, it is often seen as the epitome of an “uncool” instrument parents force their children to learn in lieu of a different, “cooler” instrument such as the guitar; however some popular rock music acts, including “Weird Al” Yankovic, They Might Be Giants, The Decemberists, The Arcade Fire, Devotchka, Calexico, The Tiger Lillies, and Gogol Bordello incorporate the accordion in their distinctive sound.

In northeastern Brazil, the accordion, along with the triangle and the zabumba, is the main instrument used in forró, a traditional style usually played by trios. This genre features accordionists such as Sivuca, Dominguinhos and the “King of Baião”, Luiz Gonzaga.

It is also extremely widely used in Eastern Europe, especially in Klezmer music.

While the accordion is a versatile instrument and is widely played throughout the world, it is not universally respected, largely because of an incorrect assumption that it is only used for polka music. A representative jibe is one from Gary Larson, author of The Far Side, who drew a cartoon with the punchline “Welcome to heaven, here’s your harp. / Welcome to hell, here’s your accordion.”

The accordion (Hangeul:) is a very integral aspect of “Trot” music (Hangeul:) from North Korea and South Korea. Trot music was extremely popular in the first half of the twentieth century and it is still enjoyed by many older Koreans to this day. The accordion is often the only instument present in a song routine. Trot music and the accordion have gained a very widespread revival in recent years in the wake of the popular singer, Jang Yoon Jeong (Hangeul: )and her super-hit song “Oemana!” (Hangeul:!). [1]

Chas

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With so many styles, sizes, colors and models,
there really is an accordion for everyone.

Chas

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Much like the folks who love Synths and jingbang them,
there are some, who love Accordions and festschrift these also.

Rays Room:

Chas

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EXCELSIOR MIDI ACCORDION

This is a photo of a typical Excelsior MIDI accordion.  Excelsior is one of the premiere MIDI instruments in the world today.  Each accordion and its electronics are designed and built for each other.  This is not a kit.  It was designed for their accordion.  This outfit has programmable MIDI features, a powerful memory, and many channels.  It is only one of a variety of high quality accordions that Excelsior offers.

Chas

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Back in 1989, Tom Torriglia – formerly of the band Those Darn Accordions and now a member of Bella Ciao – established the month of June as Accordion Awareness Month, making this June the 20th anniversary. The purpose of Accordion Awareness Month is to let the world know that the accordion’s making a comeback and invite people to understand the true musical (and in my case, life-changing) potential of my favourite instrument. In honour of this very special month, I’ll be posting stories about accordion as well as other accordion-related news, as well as doing some performances all over town (the Roller Derby was just the beginning).

I’m not the only one doing something special for Accordion Awareness Month. The fine folks at the all-things-accordion blog Let’s Polka are challenging accordion players and enthusiasts to take the Accordion Awareness Month pledge. They’re asking you to do something to promote The Instrument of the Gods:

This year, we want you — our humble, accordion-loving readers — to help promote the virtues of our favorite instrument. Sit on your porch and play some tunes for your neighbors, attend a show on our accordion event calendar, fill up your coworker’s iPod with Flaco Jimenez songs when he isn’t looking, tell all your friends about Let’s Polka… the possibilities are limitless. Me, I’m going to sit on my balcony every night, directly above a pizzeria, and serenade patrons.

To encourage you, we’re giving away over $100 worth of accordion-related goodies to readers who pledge to promote the accordion this month. To make your pledge, write a comment on this post and tell us how you plan to celebrate Accordion Awareness Month — doesn’t matter if it’s something small (making a YouTube video) or big (writing an accordion concerto). One lucky, randomly-chosen pledger will receive a prize package packed with accordion CDs, books, and more. (Prize details coming soon!)

Happy Accordion Awareness Month! Let the squeezing begin

Chas

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Are YOU an accordion addict?
It’s time YOU faced the MUSIC ... 

Time YOU started working the

12 Steps to Accordion Awareness with
ACCORDIONS ANONYMOUS
The Accordionist’s Prayer
Grant me the musicality to accept the melodies I cannot change,
The courage to improvise when I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference!

What:
By creating a safe and caring atmosphere, this group helps its members overcome the debilitating effects of accordion addiction.  Members gain confidence and peace of mind through performing and parading in public, “working the steps” together, and sharing stories of how they got “hooked”.

Why:
As members of Accordions Anonymous, we have come to understand that we are powerless over our addiction and have made a decision to turn our phrasing and tempo over to the care of a Higher Musical Power.  We believe in progress, not perfection.  Thinking the tune through.  And taking one note at a time.

And ... if we don’t meet your needs you may want to check out:
Emerald Valley Accordion Club:  First Monday of very month, 6:30-9 pm, at the Vet’s Club, 1626 Willamette St., Eugene. Bring your axe - show off, listen, jam, learn. 

IN MUSICALITY, ....  Accordions Anonymous

Chas

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There are some interesting accordion pics, out there:

Chas

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More pics of the fun:

Chas

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Some cool Accordion players on Youtube. I like the accordion too !  :)

Hi Goodi,
It’s a wonderfully expressive and powerful accoustic instrument.
Did/do you play accordions yourself.
I had a choice, guitar or piano accordion lessons, my folks were from thee old school!!Czechoslovakian… So I went for it.
When ever an error was made though, correction was explained often with a wooden spoon to the offending hand…
So, I learned to play very fast, very quickly. Yeah.

Accordions, yeah, what fond childhood memories.,
Weren’t parents great back then, all 120 basses of them for me.
That was a large investment in those days. Very expensive.

Hey, Oct 3rd, It’s my birthday today,,,

I’ll have to select an accordion voice on my XF8 & serenade myself. 

Play along with me now, will you, thanks.

Chas

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I should, if I have not already, make mention of my incredibly talented accordion & music theory teacher, Giovanni.
http://www.giovannimusic.ca
Ofcourse they are a major Yamaha dealership here in Edmonton.

They recently opened a new very large, wonderfully stocked store at their new location.

Also carrying the Boesendorfer Grands and full line of Yamaha pianos, including Disklavier, Clavinova, Tyros 4 and other fine keyboards.

Chas

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Anyone who has ever played an accordion, already knows the awesome power these accoustic instruments can have.
& how very Expressive…

I enjoyed reading this thread:  “Why Accordions”

http://www.musicbanter.com/talk-instruments/28922-why-accordion.html

Chas

There are a few accordion players who are a step above the rest.
Allan Kelly is one of those players:

About Alan Kelly
Described by New York’s Irish Voice as “in league with the best piano accordionists in the world”, Alan Kelly is regarded as one of Ireland’s most accomplished musicians in any genre. He is a piano accordionist, composer and arranger, utterly at home in his own skin. Though Alan hails from the rich traditional musical landscape of Roscommon, in the west of Ireland, variety in repertoire is one of his hallmarks. To date, he has released four critically acclaimed albums: Out of The Blue (1997), Mosaic (2000), a duet album with his brother John, Fourmilehouse (2003) and his most recent, After the Morning (2009), named as one of the ‘top ten musical highs of 2009’ by the Irish Times who gave it a coveted 5 star review and described it as a ‘humdinger of a collection’.

Alan is one of the busiest performers on the traditional and folk music scene. He is currently busy promoting his Quartet, which includes an all-star line up of musicians and who have added to their growing list of top festival appearances, a recent performance at the 02 Dublin where they opened for the legendary Irish rock band, Horslips. Alan has also toured, recorded and performed with artists of the calibre of: Eddi Reader, Matt Molloy, Sean Keane, Cathy Ryan, Arty McGlynn & Nollaig Casey, Michael McGoldrick, Karen Casey, Cathal Hayden, De Dannan and Alison Brown and has contributed to a number of theatre productions from Boston to Edinburgh to Sydney working with prestigious award winning theatre companies such as Galway’s Druid Theatre Co., The Lyric in Belfast and Mabou Mines in New York.

His critically acclaimed 1997 debut album Out of the Blue exploded onto the traditional scene with such impact that he is generally credited with ‘making the piano accordion hip again’. During this time he also recorded and toured with Mancunian Michael McGoldrick on his groundbreaking albums Morning Rory (1996) and Fused(1999). Also in 1999 Alan toured with music Network’s ‘Best of Irish’ nationwide tour performing alongside such heavyweights as Cathal Hayden, Karen Casey and Michael McGoldrick.

July 2000 saw the release of Kelly’s second solo album Mosaic. Produced by Arty McGlynn, Mosaic’s South American rhythms and cinematic jazz feel brought Alan’s music to a whole new audience. It showed not just what a good writer he is, but the breadth of his musical imagination. Mosaic was voted one of the ‘top ten trad’ albums by both the Irish Times and Hot Press Magazine. Irish Music Magazine also nominated Mosaic for ‘Best Crossover album’ of the year alongside Solas, Afro-Celts, and Sharon Shannon. Alan Kelly and the Mosaic Band quickly established itself as one of the hottest live acts on the Irish scene with its exciting blend of traditional, salsa and jazz rhythms, and propelled Alan onto the World Music stage.

In 2003, Alan returned to his Roscommon roots and released the beautifully forthright and traditional Fourmilehouse, with his brother John, which received critical acclaim both at home and abroad and continued to pave the way for festival and concert appearances all over the world. June 2011 will see the release of the highly anticipated Alan Kelly Quartet debut album… more details to follow.

A genuine musician, Alan’s playful, experimental approach to music has been described as magical, joyous and uplifting… always performed with flair and taste. Alan doesn’t just play the accordion, he celebrates it in a way that draws you into the passion he puts into the music he plays.

Today, Alan is closely associated with:
http://www.pietromario.ie/news.html

Chas

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Accordion Hero

I’m typing with bloodshot eyes and blistered fingertips. I’ve crawled away from the Wii and managed to pull myself up to the chair in order to write this blog post. I’m exhausted from the 42 hour marathon of virtual music that I have completed. It was like playing every set at Woodstock. But it’s worth it. I have conquered the music world. I am the Accordion Hero.

It started innocently enough. Someone thought to give me a game for Christmas. They had heard of the popularity of Guitar Hero, but weren’t able to track down a copy. So, they bought me Accordion Hero. My life will never been the same.
The game is dominated by Polka music, which for me was as foreign as the plastic accordion controller that came with the game.  But soon, I began to master the Minnesota Polka by Gus Polinski. Then I was on to other classics like the Beer Barrel Polka and Tanta Anna.  By hour 17, I could perfectly nail every song recorded by Stan Wolowic and the Polka Chips.

But, there was more to be done. More levels to achieve. I was an Accordion pro, but not yet a Hero. So, I continued on without sleep or food. Stopping only to use the bathroom and double fist Red Bull, I kept playing -because the plastic accordion is an evil mistress and she must be satisfied.

As the hours wore on, I mastered the Bavarian Polka and the Hop Scotch Polka.  The Fanny Shake Polka was hard I tell you. If I played it once, I played it a thousand times trying to nail the chorus. But alas, I soldiered on and made it my groveling servant.

Then I climbed the mountain that is Polka Time by Bennie and the Polka Dots. And I planted my accordion flag atop that summit and proudly marched on. That was when I fell into the dark valley the game’s creators dug out to thwart even the most gifted fake accordion players: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow with the “Go Ye” Team Ministers of Christ. It’s not even a Polka!  Just some obscure gospel tune that sold exactly 17 copies.

But I have news for you Mr. Accordion Hero Game Writer: I read your book you magnificent bastard! And I conquered the “Go Ye” Team! Without pause or sustenance, I went to your top level and faced the Polka Dragon that was Polka Floyd. That’s right, there is a band that plays polka versions of Pink Floyd and you must conquer it to become Accordion Hero. And I did. And despite the 42 hours of my life that I will never get back, it was worth it.

So what’s next you say? Retirement? Accordion Hero 2? I’ll tell you what’s next: Cow Bell Hero. I’ve got a week off…

Carry on, Citizens

Chas

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