The accordion is closely related to another instrument, the concertina. Both of these instruments are essentially glorified mouth organs that utilize reeds that are generally made out of tempered steel. These tempered steel reeds are set in vibration using a rectangular shaped bellows.

The bellows are operated using the left hand. Just like with all keyboard instruments, the left hand is also responsible for manipulating the bass keyword. In this instance, the bass keyboard is a collection of different buttons rather than actual proper keys. These buttons are designed to produce not only single notes but also pre-ordained chords as well. The right hand is responsible for operating a treble keyboard which is meant to be based off of the conventional style piano keyboard, which is why many people refer to the accordion keyboard as a piano accordion.

This instrument is suspended through the use of shoulder straps, which allow the hands to be freed up for the purpose of playing the keys, pressing the buttons and maneuverability. An accordion without a shoulder strap is difficult to hold while playing, making the shoulder strap a necessary accessory when playing with this instrument.

History of Development of the Accordion

Although the accordion is purported to have been invented by a Berlin resident named Christoph Ludwig Buschmann in 1821, and then further developed in Vienna by Cyrillus Demian in 1829, it was not until it reached Belgium that it managed to achieve its first marketing on a widespread marketing, which was furthered even more when the accordion reached France. The accordion is still identified most frequently with the popular music from these two countries. This is particularly true when it comes to France, where it still ranks to this day just below berets and the louche moustache in terms of national stereotyping for the country.

Despite the fact that the accordion musical instrument is regularly associated with trendy and popular music, the accordion has often found its way into numerous concert hall compositions, as well, especially by a number of the more notable composers including Berg, Matyas Selber, Prokofiev, Paul Creston, Virgil Thomson, Roy Harris and numerous other musical composers as well. In Trossingen, Germany in 1931, a music school was established exclusively for teachers of the accordion, and it became a fully fledged academy in the state by 1948. This is not the only accordion school in existence, however, as there is a constantly renewing interest in this unique instrument.

The British College of Accordionists has been flourishing ever since its inception which was in 1936. The American Accordionists Association has been flourishing since its inception which was in 1938. For this reason, there is a lot of great interest in the accordion and many teachers throughout the globe that are willing to share its instruction. In one form or another, you can find accordions all throughout societies located all around the world.

Photo Credits: prawnpie

Originally posted 2009-08-10 03:54:54. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Categories:

Accordions, Acoustic Musical Instruments, Instrument History

Tags:

accordion keyboard, bellows, berets, concertina, conventional style, demian, first marketing, history of development, Instrument History, keyboard instruments, maneuverability, moustache, mouth organs, necessary accessory, piano accordion, piano keyboard, proper keys, shoulder straps, steel reeds, tempered steel