Accordion

Classification Free-reed instrument Playing range Relative to the instrument's configuration. A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. A free reed aerophone is a Musical instrument where Sound is produced as air flows past a Vibrating reed in a frame In Music, the range of a Musical instrument is the distance from the lowest to the highest pitch it can play See common configurations for the bass side range. The accordion is a portable box-shaped Musical instrument of the hand-held Bellows -driven free-reed aerophone family sometimes referred to as a Squeezebox Related instruments Bandoneón Bayan Concertina Flutina Garmon Harmonium Reed organ Trikitixa Musicians List of accordionists Famous accordionists

An accordion is a musical instrument of the hand-held bellows-driven free reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The bandoneón is a Free-reed instrument particularly popular in Argentina. See also Accordion The bayan (баян is a type of Chromatic button accordion developed in Russia in A concertina is a free-reed Musical instrument, like the various Accordions and the Harmonica. The flutina is an early precursor to the Diatonic button accordion, having one or two rows of Treble buttons which are configured to have the tonic of The garmon (гармонь is a kind of Russian button Accordion, a free-reed wind instrument. A harmonium is a free-standing musical keyboard instrument similar to a Reed Organ or Pipe Organ A reed organ, also called parlor organ pump organ cabinet organ cottage organ, is an organ that generates its sounds using free metal reeds. See also Accordion Trikitixa (pronounced IPA) or eskusoinu ("hand sound" is a two-row Basque Diatonic button accordion See also Accordion This The accordion is a portable box-shaped Musical instrument of the hand-held Bellows -driven free-reed aerophone family sometimes referred to as a Squeezebox A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. A bellows is a device for delivering pressurized Air in a controlled quantity to a controlled location A free reed aerophone is a Musical instrument where Sound is produced as air flows past a Vibrating reed in a frame The term Squeezebox (also Squeeze box, Squeeze-box) is a Colloquial expression referring to any Musical instrument of the general class of hand-held

The accordion is played by compressing and expanding the bellows, while pressing buttons or keys to allow air to flow across reeds, thereby producing tones and chords. A bellows is a device for delivering pressurized Air in a controlled quantity to a controlled location A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a Musical instrument, particularly the piano A reed is a thin strip of material which vibrates to produce a sound on a Musical instrument. This article describes musical chords in traditional Western styles Accordions are played worldwide, being especially popular in Russia, Colombia, North America^[1], Brazil and France. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The instrument's popularity in France also made its music a trademark of the country.

Physical description

An accordion player in Seville, Spain. Seville ( Spanish: Sevilla, see also different names) is the artistic cultural and financial capital of southern Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.

Jenny Romaine, accordion player with Jennifer Miller's Circus Amok, Coney Island. Jennifer Miller (born 1961 is an American Circus Entertainer, Writer, and Professor at the Pratt Institute in Coney Island is a Peninsula, formerly an island in southernmost Brooklyn, New York City, USA with a Beach on the Atlantic Ocean

Modern accordions consist of a body in two parts, each generally rectangular in shape, separated by a bellows. On each part of the body is a keyboard containing buttons, levers or piano-style keys. A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a Musical instrument, particularly the piano The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers When pressed, the buttons travel in a direction perpendicular to the motion of the bellows (towards the performer). Most, but not all modern accordions also have buttons capable of producing entire chords. This article describes musical chords in traditional Western styles

History

The accordion's basic form was invented in Berlin in 1822 by Friedrich Buschmann. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann ( 17 June 1805 &ndash 1 October 1864) was a German musical instrument maker often credited with 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. The accordion is a portable box-shaped Musical instrument of the hand-held Bellows -driven free-reed aerophone family sometimes referred to as a Squeezebox The German people (Deutsche are an Ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common German culture, descent and speaking the German language as Year 1810 ( MDCCCX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year 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. Anton Haeckl was a musical instrument builder in Vienna, who built the first Physharmonica in 1818 Year 1818 ( MDCCCXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common A patent is a set of Exclusive rights granted by a State to an inventor or his assignee for a fixed period of time in exchange for a disclosure of an
• The flutina, by Pichenot Jeune, ca. The flutina is an early precursor to the Diatonic button accordion, having one or two rows of Treble buttons which are configured to have the tonic of 1831. Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a
• 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. A concertina is a free-reed Musical instrument, like the various Accordions and the Harmonica. Year 1834 ( MDCCCXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Sir Charles Wheatstone FRS (6 February 1802 - 19 October 1875 was a British Scientist and Inventor of many scientific breakthroughs For the game see 1829 (board game. Year 1829 ( MDCCCXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display

An instrument called accordion was first patented in 1829 by Cyrill Demian in Vienna. Vienna ( in Wien; see also other names) is the Capital of Austria, and is also one of the nine States of Austria. 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 contemporary chromatic hand harmonicas were played, small and light enough to for travelers 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. Bass (ˈbɛɪs as in base) when used as an adjective is used to describe tones of low Frequency or range.

The musician Adolph Müller described a great variety of instruments in his 1833 "Schule für Accordion". Year 1833 ( MDCCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common 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. Vienna ( in Wien; see also other names) is the Capital of Austria, and is also one of the nine States of Austria. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.

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 an early precursor to the Diatonic button accordion, having one or two rows of Treble buttons which are configured to have the tonic of A concertina is a free-reed Musical instrument, like the various Accordions and the Harmonica. In Music, timbre (ˈtæm-bər' like timber, or, from Fr timbre tɛ̃bʁ is the quality of a Musical note or sound that distinguishes different 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. 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.

The inside of an early 20th century button accordion with a closeup of the reeds.

Manufacturing process

The manufacture of an accordion is not a completely automated process. In a sense, all accordions could be called handmade, since there is always some hand assembly of the small parts required. The general process involves making the individual parts, assembling the subsections, assembling the entire instrument, and final decorating and packaging. ^[2] However, the best accordions are always hand-made, especially in the aspect of reeds; completely hand-made reeds have a far better tonal quality than even the best automatically-manufactured reeds. Some accordions have been modified by individuals striving to bring a more pure sound out of low-end instruments, such as the ones improved by Yutaka Usui, a Japanese-born craftsman.

Musical genres

The accordion as main instrument for Vallenato

Diatonic button accordion (German make, early 20th century). Vallenato, along with Cumbia, is presently the most popular Folk music of Colombia.

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. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. The Antilles (the same in French; Antillas in Spanish; Antillen in Dutch) refers to the islands forming the greater part of the A troubadour ( IPA:, originally) was a composer and performer of Occitan Lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages (1100&ndash1350 The Caribbean Region or Caribbean Coast Region is a natural region of Colombia mainly composed of eight Departments located contiguous to This form of music developed into the musical genre called Vallenato, representative of Colombia. Vallenato, along with Cumbia, is presently the most popular Folk music of Colombia.

The accordion is an important instrument in the Dominican Republic because it is an instrument used in merengue, the national dance of this country. The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with The accordion is also used in perico ripiao, a typical merengue. Merengue típico (also known as merengue cibaeño or colloquially as Perico ripiao) is a musical genre of the Dominican Republic.

The instrument was popularized in the United States by Count Guido Deiro who was the first piano accordionist to perform in Vaudeville. Count Guido Pietro Deiro ( September 1, 1886 - July 26, 1950) was a famous Vaudeville star international recording artist composer Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s

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. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. A chanson ( French for " Song " from Latin cantio) is in general any lyric -driven French songs usually Polyphonic

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. Ramón Ayala (born) is an Mexican Accordionist and Songwriter. Chicken scratch (also known as waila music) is a kind of dance music developed by the Tohono O'odham people. Chicken scratch (also known as waila music) is a kind of Dance music developed by the Tohono O'odham people The Tohono O'odham, also known as the Papago, are a group of aboriginal Americans who reside primarily in the Sonoran Desert of the southwest The genre is derived from Mexican Norteño and evolved out of acoustic fiddle bands in southern Arizona, in the Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran Desert (sometimes called the Gila Desert after the Gila River or the Low Desert in opposition to the higher Mojave Desert) is

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. Maria Kalaniemi (born 1964 is a Finnish Accordionist She was originally classically trained but has become mostly as folk musician having played this music from Scandinavian-influenced British folk music has, in recent years, also featured accordionists such as Karen Tweed. Karen Tweed (born 1963 Willesden) is a Piano accordionist from London, England.

The accordion is commonly used as part of dance and ceilidh bands in English, Scottish and Irish traditions. A céilidh ( (in modern usage is a traditional Gaelic social Dance originating in Ireland and Scotland, but now common throughout the England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world

Accordion is also a central instrument in Zydeco, Cajun music, and Polka, heard in Europe and the Americas. Zydeco ( French "les haricots" English "snap beans" is a form of American roots or folk music, that evolved from The jure during See also [[Cajun]] Cajun music, an emblematic Music of Louisiana, is rooted in the Ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of The polka is a fast lively Central European Dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas

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, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, They Might Be Giants, The Decemberists, The Arcade Fire, Counting Crows, Devotchka, Calexico, Gogol Bordello, The World/Inferno Friendship Society, Jason Webley, Stolen Babies, The Tiger Lillies, and Beirut incorporate the accordion in their distinctive sound. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic (ˈjæŋkəvɪk born October 23 1959 is a Grammy Award winning American singer Musician, actor satirist Flogging Molly is a seven-piece Irish American Celtic punk band that formed in Los Angeles California and is currently signed to SideOneDummy Dropkick Murphys are a Celtic punk band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts, U They Might Be Giants (commonly abbreviated to TMBG) is an American Alternative rock band which began as a duo of John Flansburgh and John Arcade Fire (often referred to as The Arcade Fire) is an Indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec and fronted by the husband and wife duo Counting Crows is a Rock band originating from Berkeley California. DeVotchKa is a four piece multi-instrumental and vocal ensemble that fuses Romani, Greek, Slavic, Bolero, Mariachi (and many Calexico is a rock band based in Tucson Arizona, known for playing an eclectic variety of music Gogol Bordello is a Multi-ethnic Gypsy punk band from the Lower East Side of New York City that formed in 1999 and is known for its The World/Inferno Friendship Society (commonly referred to as " World Inferno " or " The Inferno " is a Cabaret punk band Jason Webley is a musician who began as a busker, playing accordion in the streets of Seattle, but has since moved in-doors and on stage playing venues and Stolen Babies are an American Avant-garde metal band with significant influences from Dark cabaret, signed to The End Records. The Tiger Lillies are a three-piece band formed in 1989 and based in London. Beirut is the band of -year-old Santa Fe native Zach Condon. The band's first official release was assisted by Jeremy Barnes ( Neutral Milk Hotel

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. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld The triangle is an Idiophone type of Musical instrument in the percussion family A zabumba is a type of Bass drum used in Brazilian music The player wears the drum while standing up and uses both hands while playing Forró is a kind of Northeastern Brazilian dance as well as a word used to denote the different genres of music which accompanies the dance This genre features accordionists such as Sivuca, Dominguinhos and the "King of Baião", Luiz Gonzaga.

It is also widely used by Gypsy and Jewish bands from Eastern Europe. The Romani people (singular Rom, plural Roma as a Noun; also known as Romanies or Roma people) are an ethnic group with origins PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Eastern Europe is a general term that refers to the Geopolitical region encompassing the easternmost part of the European continent. It is central to much of Southeastern/Eastern European and Russian music.

In Italy, the accordion plays an important role in folk music, being many times the leading sound of the tarantella. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The Tarantella is an Italian dance its name coming from the town of Taranto, where it originated

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. This article refers to the Cartoonist. For the Rugby league player please see Gary Larson (rugby league. The Far Side is a popular one-panel syndicated comic created by Gary Larson. / Welcome to hell, here's your accordion. "

The accordion (Hangeul: 아코디언) is an integral aspect of "Trot" music (Hangeul: 트로트) from North Korea and South Korea. Trot North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː 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 the instrument 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: 장윤정)and her super-hit song "Oemana!" (Hangeul: 어마나!). [1]

Button accordions

Chromatic button system (type C)

Chromatic button system (type B)

Garmon' player

On button accordions the melody-side keyboard consists of a series of buttons (rather than piano-style keys. See also Accordion A button accordion is a type of Accordion on which the Melody -side keyboard consists of a series of Buttons In Music, a melody (from Greek μελῳδία - melōidía, "singing chanting" also tune, voice, or A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a Musical instrument, particularly the piano In Clothing and Fashion design, a button is a small plastic or metal disc- or knob-shaped typically round object usually attached to an article of Clothing The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers ) There exists a wide variation in keyboard systems, tuning, action and construction of these instruments.

Diatonic button accordions have a melody-side keyboard that is limited to the notes of diatonic scales in a small number of keys (sometimes only one). In Music, a melody (from Greek μελῳδία - melōidía, "singing chanting" also tune, voice, or In Music, a scale is a group of musical notes collected in ascending and descending order that provides material for or is used to conveniently represent part or all In Music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways The bass side usually contains the principal chords of the instrument's key and the root notes of those chords. Bass (ˈbɛɪs as in base) when used as an adjective is used to describe tones of low Frequency or range. This article describes musical chords in traditional Western styles

Almost all diatonic button accordions (e. g. : melodeon) are bisonoric, meaning each button produces two notes: one when the bellows is compressed, another while it is expanded; a few instruments (e. A bellows is a device for delivering pressurized Air in a controlled quantity to a controlled location g. : garmon') are unisonoric, with each button producing the same note regardless of bellows direction; still others have a combination of the two types of action: see Hybrids below. The garmon (гармонь is a kind of Russian button Accordion, a free-reed wind instrument.

A chromatic button accordion is a type of button accordion where the melody-side keyboard consists of uniform rows of buttons arranged so that the pitch increases chromatically along diagonals. See also Accordion A chromatic button accordion is a type of Button accordion where the Melody -side keyboard consists of rows of buttons The chromatic scale is a Musical scale with twelve pitches each a Semitone or Half step apart The bass-side keyboard is usually the Stradella system, one of the various free-bass systems, or a converter system. Included among chromatic button accordions is the Russian bayan. See also Accordion The bayan (баян is a type of Chromatic button accordion developed in Russia in Sometimes an instrument of this class is simply called a chromatic accordion, although other types, including the piano accordion, are fully chromatic as well. There can be 3 to 5 rows of treble buttons. In a 5 row chromatic, two additional rows repeat the first 2 rows to facilitate options in fingering. Chromatic button accordions are preferred by many classical music performers, since the treble keyboard with diagonally arranged buttons allows a greater range, and often far greater speed, than a piano keyboard configuration. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music There exists an accordion with 6 rows in the treble side. It is commonly played in Serbia and throughout former Yugoslavia. The rows are based on the B system. The natives refer to it as "dugmetara".

The Janko keyboard is used for the treble side of some accordions. The Jankó keyboard is a Musical keyboard layout for a Piano designed by Paul von Jankó in 1882.

Various cultures have made their own versions of the accordion, adapted to suit their own music. Russia alone has several, including the bayan, Garmon, Livenka, and Saratovskaya Garmonika. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending The garmon (гармонь is a kind of Russian button Accordion, a free-reed wind instrument. The livenka (ливенка or Livenskaya garmoshka (Ливенская гармошка is a specific variety of Accordion used in Russian The Saratovskaya Garmonika, named after the Russian city of Saratov, is a colorful variant on the standard one row push-pull Diatonic button Accordion.

Hybrids

Various hybrids have been created between instruments of different keyboards and actions. Many remain curiosities, only a few have remained in use. Some notable examples are:

• The Schrammel accordion, used in Viennese chamber music and Klezmer, which has the treble keyboard of a chromatic button accordion and a bisonoric bass keyboard, similar to an expanded diatonic button accordion. See also Accordion A Schrammel accordion ( German: Schrammelharmonika) is an Accordion with a melody (right hand keyboard in Vienna ( in Wien; see also other names) is the Capital of Austria, and is also one of the nine States of Austria. Chamber music is a form of Classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber See also Secular Jewish music Klezmer (from Yiddish כּלי־זמיר kley - instrument and zemer - song etymologically from
• The schwyzerörgeli or Swiss organ, which has a (usually) 3-row diatonic treble and 18 unisonoric bass buttons in a bass/chord arrangement (actually a subset of the Stradella system), that travel parallel to the bellows motion. See also Accordion The Schwyzeroergeli is a type of Diatonic button accordion used in Swiss folk music Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation
• The trikitixa of the Basque people has a 2-row diatonic, bisonoric treble and a 12-button diatonic unisonoric bass. See also Accordion Trikitixa (pronounced IPA) or eskusoinu ("hand sound" is a two-row Basque Diatonic button accordion The Basques (Euskaldunak are a people who inhabit a region spanning over parts of north-central Spain and southwestern France.
• In Scotland, the favoured diatonic accordion is the instrument known as the British Chromatic Accordion. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. While the right hand is bisonoric, the left hand follows the Stradella system. The elite form of this instrument is generally considered to be the German manufactured "Shand Morino", produced by Hohner with the input of the late Sir Jimmy Shand. For the music band from Cologne see Höhner. Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co Sir James Shand MBE ( January 28, 1908 &mdash December 23, 2000) was a Scottish musician who played traditional Scottish ^[3]

Stradella bass system

The Stradella Bass System uses rows of buttons arranged in a circle of fifths; this places the principal major chords of a key in three adjacent rows. In Music theory, the circle of fifths (or '''circle of fourths''') shows the relationships among the twelve tones of the Chromatic scale, their corresponding Each row contains, in order: A major third (the "counter-bass" note), the root note, the major chord, the minor chord, the (dominant) seventh chord, and the diminished seventh chord. A major third ( is one of two commonly occurring Musical intervals that span three Diatonic scale degrees the other being the Minor third. In Music the root ( basse fouhuhuhe) of a chord is the note or pitch upon which that chord is perceived or labelled as being built In Music theory, a major chord ( is a chord having a root, a Major third, and a Perfect fifth. In Music theory, a minor chord ( is a chord having a root, a Minor third, and a Perfect fifth. A seventh chord is a chord consisting of a triad plus a note forming an interval of a Seventh above the chord's root. In Music theory, a diminished seventh ( is an interval encompassing nine Semitones or a particular chord containing this interval

All chord buttons sound 3 note chords. Early attempts to create 4 note seventh and diminished chords were hampered by mechanical difficulties. Consequently, modern Stradella systems drop the 5th from these two chords. This has the side benefit of making the preformed chords more versatile. For example, an augmented chord can be created by using the dominant seventh button and adding an augmented 5th from the piano keyboard or from one of the bass or counterbass buttons.

Depending on the price, size or origin of the instrument, some rows may be missing completely or in different positions. In most Russian layouts the diminished seventh chord row is moved by one button, so that the C diminished seventh chord is where the F diminished seventh chord would be in a standard Stradella layout; this is done in order to achieve a better reachability with the forefinger.

Common configurations

Stradella bass layout

Free bass systems

Free bass systems allow the player to construct their own chords as well as to play bass melodies in several octaves. There are various free bass systems in use; most consist of a rotated version or mirror image of one of the melody layouts used in chromatic button accordions. One notable exception is the Titano line of converter or "quint" bass, which repeats the first two bass rows of the Stradella system one and two octaves higher moving outward from the bellows. In the United States, Julio Giulietti was the chief manufacturer and promoter of the free bass accordion that he called a "bassetti" accordion which was mass produced from the late 1950s onward. Giulietti accordions with free bass capability often had a "transformer" switch to go from standard pre-set chords to individual free bass notes.

Skillful use of the free bass system enabled the performance of classical piano music, rather than music arranged specifically for the accordion's standard chorded capability. Beginning in the 1960s, competitive performance on the accordion of classical piano compositions, by the great masters of music, occurred. Although never mainstreamed in the larger musical scene, this convergence with traditional classical music propelled young accordionists to an ultimate involvement with classical music heretofore not experienced.

Girl playing accordian.

Within the United States, several noted instrumentalists demonstrated the unique orchestral capabilities of the free bass accordion while performing at the nation's premier concert venues and encouraged contemporary composers to write for the instrument. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Included among the leading orchestral artists was John Serry, Sr. A noted concert accordionist, soloist, composer, and arranger, Serry performed extensively in both symphonic orchestras and jazz ensembles as well as on live radio and television broadcasts. John Serry Sr ( January 29, 1915 &ndash September 14, 2003) was a distinguished Concert Accordionist, Arranger His refined poetic artistry gained respect for the free bass accordion as a serious concert instrument among prominent classical musicians and conductors of the early twentieth century.

Recently Guy Klucevsek has built a reputation on combining folk styles with classical forms and makes extensive use of the free bass. Guy Klucevsek (born February 26, 1947) is an American born Accordionist and Composer. New York's William Schimmel, who composes and performs in many genres, is a leading exponent of the "quint" style free bass system and uses it extensively in tandem with the standard stradella system. William Schimmel (1946 -) is one of the principal architects in the resurgence of the Accordion, the revival of the Tango in America and the philosophy of "Musical

In Europe, free bass accordion performance has reached a very high level and the instrument is considered worthy of serious study in music conservatories. The most historically influential player has been Mogens Ellegaard (Denmark). Today, some of the most important players are Friedrich Lips (Russia), Matti Rantanen (Finland), Geir Draugsvoll (Norway), Stefan Hussong (Germany), Hugo Noth, Elsbeth Moser (Germany), Teodoro Anzellotti (Germany), Owen Murray (Great Britain), Max Bonnay (France), Frederic Deschamps (France), Mini Dekkers (Holand), Ivan Koval (Czech Republic), Claudio Jacomucci (Italy), Iñaki Alberdi (Spain), and Angel Luis Castaño (Spain).

Many modern and avant-garde composers such as Sofia Gubaidulina, Edison Denisov, Vladislav Solotarev, Luciano Berio, Jean Française, Robert Gerhard, Per Norgard, Arne Nordheim, Jurgen Ganzer, Uros Rojko, Jindrich Feld, Franco Donatoni, Toshio Hosokawa, Mauricio Kagel, and Magnus Lindberg have written for the free bass accordion and the instrument is becoming more frequently integrated into new music chamber and improvisation groups. Avant-garde (avɑ̃gaʁd in French) means "advance guard" or "vanguard WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section --> Sofia Asgatovna Gubaidulina, (София Асгатовна Губайдулина София Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI ( October 24, 1925 &ndash May 27, 2003) was an Italian Composer. Mauricio Kagel ( December 24, 1931 – September 18, 2008) was a German - Argentine Composer who was notable Magnus Lindberg (born June 27, 1958) is a Finnish Composer. Lindberg was born in Helsinki.

Audio samples

Accordion chords

Chords being played on an accordion – 145 KB

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Related instruments

Squeezeboxes

• Bandoneón
• Melodeon
• Flutina

Digital accordions

• Roland Virtual Accordion

Other free-reeds

• Harmonica
• Harmonium
• Melodica
• Sheng
• Khene

Famous accordionists

Players of the accordion include:

• American Big Band leader Lawrence Welk is also well known for his accordion playing, especially on his long-running television show. The bandoneón is a Free-reed instrument particularly popular in Argentina. The flutina is an early precursor to the Diatonic button accordion, having one or two rows of Treble buttons which are configured to have the tonic of The Roland Virtual Accordion is the world's first electronic instrument to use Physical Behaviour Modelling (PBM to simulate a wide range of acoustic instruments including A harmonica is a free reed Wind instrument which is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes (reed chambers or A harmonium is a free-standing musical keyboard instrument similar to a Reed Organ or Pipe Organ The melodica is a Free-reed instrument similar to the Accordion and Harmonica. The Chinese shêng ( Chinese: 笙; Pinyin shēng) is a Mouth -blown Free reed instrument consisting essentially Lawrence Welk ( March 11, 1903 &ndash May 17, 1992) was a Musician, Accordionist Bandleader, and Television
• Dick Contino, who appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show a record 48 times. Dick Contino (born January 17, 1930, Fresno, California) is an American Accordionist and singer
• Steve Roxton International Acclaimed Accordionist now based in Jersey and England Steve Roxton Website
• Nirvana Bassist Krist Novoselic played the accordion on MTV Unplugged Live in New York in 1993
• [2] Gorka Hermosa, composer and concertist. Krist Anthony Novoselic II (born May 16, 1965) is an American rock musician best known as the Bassist for Nirvana.
• Abraham Lincoln
• Polka stars Barbie Girl, Angelo DiPippo, Myron Floren and Frankie Yankovic
• Song parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic
• Venezuelan accordionist Roberto Ruscitti
• French accordionist and composer Yann Tiersen
• Slovenian accordionist and composer, author of Europa's most played instrumental song, the Trompetenecho Slavko Avsenik
• Another Slovenian accordionist and composer Lojze Slak
• American Accordionist, Composer and Philosopher Dr. William Schimmel
• Austrian Keyboardist with Cannonball Adderley, Weather Report and The Zawinul Syndicate – Joe Zawinul
• Classical & Concert accordionists Friedrich Lips, Viatcheslav Semjonov, Yuri Shishkin, Mika Vayrynen,John Serry, Sr.,Carmen Carrozza, Henry Doktorski, Stanley Darrow, Joanna Arnold-Darrow, Sergej Osokin, Alexander Selivanov, Basha Slavinska, Josif Puritz, Rade Mijatovic, Dragan Vasiljevic , Igor Zavadsky
• Daniel Handler a. Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809 &ndash April 15 1865 the sixteenth President of the United States, successfully led his country through its greatest internal The polka is a fast lively Central European Dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas Myron Floren (born November 5 1919 – died July 23 2005) was an American Musician best known as the Accordionist Frankie Yankovic ( July 15, 1915 Davis West Virginia - October 14, 1998) was a Polka musician Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic (ˈjæŋkəvɪk born October 23 1959 is a Grammy Award winning American singer Musician, actor satirist Roberto Ruscitti ( Cansano, L'Aquila, December 12, 1941) is an Italian composer soloist and pianist Nationally and internationally recognized Guillaume Yann Tiersen (born 23 June 1970) is a French musician and composer known internationally for composing the score to the Jean-Pierre Slavko Avsenik (born 1929 is a Slovenian composer and musician William Schimmel (1946 -) is one of the principal architects in the resurgence of the Accordion, the revival of the Tango in America and the philosophy of "Musical Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley ( September 15 1928 – August 8 1975) was a Jazz alto saxophonist of Weather Report was an influential Jazz fusion band of the 1970s and early 1980s combining Jazz and Latin jazz with Art music, Josef Erich Zawinul ( July 7 1932 &ndash September 11 2007) was a Jazz keyboardist and Composer. Mika Väyrynen (born December 28, 1981 in Eskilstuna, Sweden) is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for SC Heerenveen John Serry Sr ( January 29, 1915 &ndash September 14, 2003) was a distinguished Concert Accordionist, Arranger Carmen Carrozza was one of America's premiere concert accordionists before he retired from performing Henry Doktorski III (born January 30, 1956) is one of America's premier concert Accordionists He has performed on accordion with cellist Mstislav Alexander Selivanov (born 23 March 1971 is a professional Ice hockey left winger who has played in the NHL and also in various European leagues Rade Mijatović (born 30 June 1981 in Sombor, Serbia, SFR Yougoslavia) is a Montenegrin Handball Goalkeeper Daniel Handler (born February 28 1970 is an American writer, Screenwriter and Accordionist He is best known for his work under the Pen name k. a. Lemony Snicket
• Free Bass Accordionists: John Serry, Sr.
• Rock musicians Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Garth Hudson of The Band, Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones, Jason Webley, Bruce Hornsby, Rob Hyman of The Hooters, Joseph Byrd, John Linnell of They Might Be Giants, Dennis DeYoung of Styx, Danny Elfman of Oingo Boingo, Neil Cicierega of Lemon Demon, Billy Joel, Pete Townshend of The Who, Franz Nicolay of The World/Inferno Friendship Society, David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, Gabby La La, Michel Martin host of new NPR show Rough Cuts, Zach Condon of Beirut, Patrick Wolf, Rick Wright of Pink Floyd who used one on live versions of "Outside the Wall" with Pink Floyd in 1980 and 1981, Gary Brooker of Procol Harum, Keith Emerson, John Evan of Jethro Tull (band), Sheryl Crow, Ryan Jarman of The Cribs, Sweet Jonny V (Arabella) of Analog Arts Ensemble, Jeremy Barnes of Neutral Milk Hotel fame plays accordion with many Eastern European melodies in his band, A Hawk and a Hacksaw; and Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir (aka Kría Brekkan), formerly of the Icelandic band múm, Jenny Connlee of The Decemberists, Wix Wickens, Stuart 'Pinkie' Bates of The Divine Comedy. Lemony Snicket is a Pseudonym used by author Daniel Handler in his book series A Series of Unfortunate Events, as well as a character in that John Serry Sr ( January 29, 1915 &ndash September 14, 2003) was a distinguished Concert Accordionist, Arranger Eddie Vedder (born December 23 1964 in Evanston, Illinois) is an American singer, Songwriter, Composer, and Guitarist Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990 Eric Garth Hudson (b August 2 1937 in Windsor Ontario) is a Canadian Musician. The Band was a rock group active from 1967 to 1976 and again from 1983 to 1999 Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones (28 February 1942 – 3 July 1969 was a founding member and Guitarist of the English Rock group The Rolling Stones. Jason Webley is a musician who began as a busker, playing accordion in the streets of Seattle, but has since moved in-doors and on stage playing venues and Bruce Randall Hornsby (born November 23 1954 in Williamsburg Virginia) is an American singer Pianist, Accordion player and songwriter Robert Andrew "Rob" Hyman (born April 24, 1950 in Meriden Connecticut, U The Hooters are an American Rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Joseph Byrd (almost no one except Columbia Records ever called him "Joe" (born December 19 1937 in Louisville Kentucky, raised Tucson Arizona John Sidney Linnell (born June 12, 1959, New York City, New York) musician is known primarily as one half of Brooklyn New York They Might Be Giants (commonly abbreviated to TMBG) is an American Alternative rock band which began as a duo of John Flansburgh and John Dennis DeYoung (born February 18, 1947) is an American singer Songwriter, Musician and producer best known for being a founding Styx ( pronounced: /stɪks/ is an American Rock band. Their hit songs have included " Come Sail Away " " Babe " " Daniel Robert Elfman (born May 29, 1953) is an American Musician, who is famous for composing scores and songs for Tim Burton Oingo Boingo was an American New Wave band They are better known for their influence soundtrack contributions and high energy Halloween concerts Neil Stephen Cicierega (born August 23, 1986) is an American Comedian, Filmmaker and Musician. Neil Stephen Cicierega (born August 23, 1986) is an American Comedian, Filmmaker and Musician. William Martin Joel (born May 9 1949 is an American Pianist and Singer-songwriter. Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (born 19 May 1945 in Chiswick, London) is an English rock Guitarist, Singer, The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964. The primary lineup consisted of guitarist Pete Townshend Franz Nicolay is an American multi-instrumentalist and composer currently living in Brooklyn, New York. The World/Inferno Friendship Society (commonly referred to as " World Inferno " or " The Inferno " is a Cabaret punk band David Hidalgo (born October 6 1954, Los Angeles, California) is a Singer-songwriter, best known for Los Lobos ("The Wolves" are an American Rock band. They are 3-time Grammy Award winners Gabby Lang, better known by her Stage name, Gabby La La, is a vocalist and Multi-instrumentalist (including Sitar, Ukelele, Accordion Michel McQueen Martin is an Emmy Award winning American Journalist and Correspondent for ABC News and National Public Radio Beirut is the band of -year-old Santa Fe native Zach Condon. The band's first official release was assisted by Jeremy Barnes ( Neutral Milk Hotel Beirut (بيروت Bayrūt) is the Capital and Largest city of Lebanon with a population of over 2 Patrick Wolf (born Patrick Denis Apps on June 30, 1983) is an English Singer-songwriter from South London. Richard William "Rick" Wright (28 July 1943 &ndash 15 September 2008 was a pianist and Keyboardist best known for his career with Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are Gary Brooker, MBE, (born 29 May 1943) is an English singer Songwriter, Pianist and founder of the Rock band Procol Harum are a British rock band formed in the 1960s which built an important foundation for what would become Progressive rock, or perhaps more Keith Noel Emerson (born 2 November 1944 in Todmorden, West Yorkshire) is a British Keyboard player and composer John Evan (born John Spencer Evans 28 March 1948, Blackpool, Lancashire) played keyboards for Jethro Tull from April 1970 Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967-1968 Their music is marked by the distinctive vocal style and lead Flute work of front man Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is an American Singer-songwriter and Musician. Ryan James Jarman (born 20 October 1980 in Wakefield, United Kingdom) is the guitarist and vocalist with English rock band The Cribs are an English 4-piece Indie rock band from Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Jeremy Barnes is best known as the drummer for Neutral Milk Hotel. Neutral Milk Hotel was an American indie Folk band. The band's chief Songwriter, Jeff Mangum, played with a number of other A Hawk and a Hacksaw (often abbreviated to AHAAH) is a folk band from Albuquerque New Mexico. Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir (aka Kría Brekkan is an Icelandic singer and multi-instrumentalist--best known as a former member of the band Múm, but also as a member múm (pronounced [muːm], "moom" are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is Paul "Wix" Wickens is a Keyboardist and Composer from Essex, UK Stuart 'Pinkie' Bates is a musician notable for playing the Hammond organ with Neil Hannon 's band The Divine Comedy. The Divine Comedy are a British pop band from Northern Ireland fronted by Neil Hannon. Roy Bittan, Nils Lofgren and the late Danny Federici of the E Street Band play accordions, all simultaneously at one concert. Roy Bittan (born July 2 1949 in Rockaway Beach Queens, New York City) is an American Keyboardist, best known as a member For the Swedish scientist who developed the anaesthetic Lidocaine, see Nils Löfgren. Daniel Paul Federici ( January 23 1950 &ndash April 17 2008) was an American Musician, most known as the longtime The E Street Band is a musical group that has periodically toured and recorded with Rock musician Bruce Springsteen since 1972 Federici's replacement Charles Giordano also plays the accordion. Charles Giordano (born 1954 in Brooklyn New York is an American Keyboardist and Accordionist.
• Brazilian forró and country music players as Sivuca, Dominguinhos, Renato Borghetti, Hermeto pascoal and Toninho Ferraguti have achieved a very unique and virtuoso form of playing jazz and Brazilian/Latin music. Forró is a kind of Northeastern Brazilian dance as well as a word used to denote the different genres of music which accompanies the dance Severino (Sivuca Dias de Oliveira (b 26 March 1930, Itabaiana, Brazil - d Renato Borghetti (born July 23, 1963) is a Brazilian Folk musician and Composer of Italian descent Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States
• Zydeco musicians Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural of Buckwheat Zydeco, Clifton Chenier, John R. Zydeco ( French "les haricots" English "snap beans" is a form of American roots or folk music, that evolved from The jure during Buckwheat Zydeco (born Stanley Dural Jr on November 14, 1947) is an American Accordionist and Zydeco performer Clifton Chenier ( June 25 1925 - December 12 1987) a Creole French speaking native of Opelousas, Louisiana, was an Capozello of jazz combo "The Blue Notes" and he played in US Air Force Band,^[4] Beau Jocques, Kevin Hearn, Jason Webley, Boozoo Chavis, Tom Tierney of Red Sails, Jesse Rifkin and Natalie Mirsky of The Wailing Wall, and also Yuri Lemeshev of the band Gogol Bordello. Beau Jocque (born Andrus J Espree November 1 1953 - September 10 1999) was an American Zydeco musician active in the 1990s Kevin Neil Hearn (born July 3, 1969 in Grimsby Ontario, Canada) plays keyboards and other instruments for Barenaked Jason Webley is a musician who began as a busker, playing accordion in the streets of Seattle, but has since moved in-doors and on stage playing venues and Wilson "Boozoo" Chavis (born 23 October 1930 in Lake Charles LA and died 5 May 2001 in Austin Texas) was Yuri Lemeshev is a Russian Accordion player most notable for being in the studio band on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Gogol Bordello is a Multi-ethnic Gypsy punk band from the Lower East Side of New York City that formed in 1999 and is known for its Jenny Conlee of The Decemberists. Jenny Conlee is the longtime Accordionist, Pianist, Organist, Keyboardist, and occasional Backup vocalist for the indie-pop
• Matt Hensley of Flogging Molly
• Argentine tango composer, Ástor Piazzolla, played the bandoneón, a cousin to the accordion. Flogging Molly is a seven-piece Irish American Celtic punk band that formed in Los Angeles California and is currently signed to SideOneDummy Ástor Pantaleón Piazzolla ( March 11, 1921 &ndash July 4, 1992) was an Argentine tango Composer and The bandoneón is a Free-reed instrument particularly popular in Argentina.
• Basque musician and composer Kepa Junkera plays the trikitixa, a two-row diatonic accordion. Kepa Junkera (born 1965 in Bilbao, Euskadi, Spain) is a Basque Musician and Composer. See also Accordion Trikitixa (pronounced IPA) or eskusoinu ("hand sound" is a two-row Basque Diatonic button accordion
• Ivan Lenyo plays piano accordion for the ska-punk-reggae-ethnic Ukrainian band, Haydamaky.
• Cajun musician Steve Riley of Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys
• Tejano musician Flaco Jimenez of the Texas Tornados. Tejano or Tex-Mex music is also a kind of music originating in Texas Flaco Jiménez (born March 11, 1939) is a Tejano music legend from San Antonio Texas.
• James Fearnley of the Pogues should not be overlooked as an agent in the resurgence of popularity of the accordion during the 1980s. James Fearnley (born 9 October 1954 Worsley) is an English musician The Pogues are a band of mixed Irish and English background playing Traditional Irish music with influences from Punk rock, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane
• Kimmo Pohjonen, experimental and groundbreaking Finnish accordionist. Kimmo Pohjonen (born August 16, 1964) is a Finnish accordionist, whose music can be said to stretch from Finnish Folk music to
• Lisko Mäkinen and Antti Laurila incorporate accordions in metal music in the Finnish band Turisas. Turisas are a Finnish Viking metal band from Hämeenlinna. They were founded in 1997 by Mathias Nygård and Jussi Wickström
• Kenny Margolis, accordionist (and piano player) in The Mink DeVille band. This article is about the rock band Mink DeVille For information about the band’s frontman and composer see Willy DeVille.
• Juho Kauppinen of the Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani
• Those Darn Accordions is an accordion-based rock and polka band. Folk metal is a sub-genre of Heavy metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s Korpiklaani is a Folk metal band from Finland who are formerly known as Shaman. Those Darn Accordions are an American Accordion band from San Francisco California, originally formed in 1989
• Matthew Thiessen, a member of Relient K, plays the accordion in their song Maybe Its Maybeline. Matthew Arnold Thiessen (born on August 12 1980 in St Catharines Ontario, Canada) is the lead Singer, Rhythm guitarist Relient K is an American rock band formed in Canton Ohio
• John Lennon played the accordion when he was young. John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born Accordion Beatles
• The Beach Boys hit songs "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "God Only Knows" from the album Pet Sounds has Frank Marocco and Carl Fontina playing the accordion. The Beach Boys is an American rock band Formed in 1961 the group gained popularity for its close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a California Youth culture " Wouldn't It Be Nice " is the Opening track on the 1966 album Pet Sounds and one of the most widely recognized songs by the American " God Only Knows " is the eighth track on the Pet Sounds album and one of the most widely recognized songs performed by American pop Pet Sounds is a 1966 album recorded by American pop group The Beach Boys.
• Jaleel White's (fictional) character Steve Urkel of Family Matters played the accordion. Jaleel Ahmad White (born November 27 1976 is an American Actor. Steven Quincy Urkel (born July 25, 1976) better known as Steve Urkel (portrayed by Jaleel White) is a fictional character on the sitcom Family Matters is an American sitcom about a Middle-class family living in Chicago.
• Drew Carey from The Drew Carey Show uses the accordion on the show. Drew Allison Carey (born May 23 1958 is an American Comedian, Actor and Game show host. The Drew Carey Show is an American Sitcom (set in Cleveland Ohio) that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004
• Members Régine Chassagne and Richard Reed Parry of the Montreal-based indie rock band Arcade Fire play the accordion in both live shows and on albums. Régine Chassagne (born 18 August 1977 is a Canadian Multi-instrumentalist musician and singer and a founding member of the Indie rock Richard Reed Parry (born October 4, 1977) is a musician and member of the Indie rock band Arcade Fire, where he plays Upright bass
• Suzie Gagnon plays the accordion with Cirque du Soleil in the touring show Corteo, and previously (for 10 years) with their touring show Alegria. Cirque du Soleil (French for "Circus of the Sun" in English sɜrk duː soʊˈleɪ is an entertainment company Corteo (pronounced) is a Cirque du Soleil touring production that premiered in North America in 2005.
• Martyn Jacques of The Tiger Lillies plays accordion in many of the London trio's pieces. Martyn Jacques is a British Countertenor and accordion player The Tiger Lillies are a three-piece band formed in 1989 and based in London.
• Joshua Camp plays accordion in the group, One Ring Zero. One Ring Zero is a modern music group that melds many genres and sounds to create a unique type of music and is based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn
• Corn Mo plays accordion and keyboards. Corn Mo is the Stage name of Jon Cunningham, a Brooklyn -based Musician. He plays with numerous bands including . 357 Lover
• Peggy Keith played accordion for Formula 4.
• Courtney Von Drehle plays accordion for the group, 3 Leg Torso.
• Mary Faber, occasional pirate/cross-dresser from the Bloody Jack (novel) by Louis A. Meyer, plays concertina, even though historically they hadn't been invented yet. Bloody Jack is a historical novel by LA Meyer. It is centered on an orphaned Louis A Meyer (born 1942 who writes under the name LA Meyer, is an American writer and author of the Bloody Jack novels An example of the "Pirate Accordion Anachronism" that has been perpetuated in popular culture and imagery since at least Rudyard Kipling's 1897 Captains Courageous, (set in 1751). Joseph Rudyard Kipling (30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936 was an English Author and poet Captains Courageous is an 1897 Novel, by Rudyard Kipling, that follows the adventures of fifteen-year-old Harvey Cheyne Jr Kipling squeezes in an accordion eighty years before it was invented. Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean's theme-park ride had a pirate playing a concertina, and the film repeated this, again putting post-industrial age accordions back into the hands of sixteenth century seafarers. Pirates of the Caribbean is a multi-billion dollar Walt Disney franchise encompassing a theme park ride a series of films Pirates of the Caribbean was the soundtrack for the for the 33rd anniversary of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland.

Some musicians have a love-hate relationship with the accordion. Famous anti-accordion comments include: "A gentleman is a man who can play the piano accordion . . . and doesn't", and "An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of the assassin" (From Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary). Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (June 24 1842 &ndash 1914? was an American Editorialist Journalist, short-story writer and Satirist. The Devil's Dictionary, by Ambrose Bierce, is a satirical book published in 1911

Accordion organizations

• Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes
• American Accordionists' Association (AAA)
• Accordion Teacher's Guild (ATG)
• American Accordion Musicological Society
• Closet Accordion Players of America (CAPA)

References

External links

• Steve Roxton UK Accordionist
• www.accordion-wiki.com The Wiki all about the accordion.
• AccordionFlashcards.com, sets of flashcards to learn the stradella bass system.
• XenoHarmonica, an button accordion emulator for PC.
• www.accordionradio.co.uk - Radio station where you can listen to examples of accordion music 24 hours a day
• Isidro Larrañaga Accordion Orchestra

• Accordions Worldwide website.
• Homepage of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes, a member of the IMC, sponsored by UNESCO
• Information about accordions with Stradella bass system, table for creation of additional chords with the Stradella bass system
• Squeezebox, an open repository for squeezebox knowledge on Wikia
• Accordions A collection of media and videos of musicians playing the accordion
• Chromatic keyboard
• Accordion from Balkans in France - Jasko Ramic with BalkArt band
• Accordion and Music Blog
• "Accordionists" Blog
• Accordions in Classical Music
• UK Accordionist
• Piano Accordion
• Diatonic Accordion Academy
• American Accordion Musicological Society

• www.accordion-wiki.com The Wiki all about the accordion. The International Music Council ( IMC) was created in 1949 as UNESCO 's advisory body on matters of Music. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16