Accordion

The accordion, also known as the hand accordion, concertina or skipper piano, is a hand-pulled instrument and a keyboard instrument. keyboard instrument that produces sounds by pulling or pressing on a bellows. It can produce not only individual notes but also predetermined chords. The name goes back to the Viennese instrument maker Cyrill Demian, who improved the instrument by adding basses to the chords and had it patented as an accordion. The accordion is one of the self-sounding interrupter aerophones and includes various types with the keyboard on the right-hand side. In contrast, concertina types such as the bandoneon have no angled keyboard and no preset chords.

History

In his patent dated May 6, 1829, Cyrill Demian from Vienna coined the term “accordion” for the first time for his revolutionary instrument with three to five tuned chords per key. This innovative development was characterized by its extremely compact design. The simplest version could only be played with the left hand and served purely as an accompaniment instrument.

This instrument had alternating tones, i.e. different tones were produced by pulling and pushing, and it was diatonic, i.e. only tones of certain scales could be played per row. This alternating key was new at the time, as the large contemporary instruments were equal temperament. Due to its small size and affordable price, the accordion spread quickly. Because of its compactness, pilgrims could even take it with them when traveling, which was not possible with the large harmonicas.

In addition to Cyrill Demian, other instrument makers in Vienna also built similar but larger instruments. Playing instructions for melody instruments are documented as early as 1833. By 1856, around 120 harmonica makers were active in Vienna, some of the best known of whom are mentioned in the article on the Schrammel harmonica.

Structure

Bellows

The bellows are the characteristic element of the accordion. It is located between the two manuals and consists of folded layers of fabric, cardboard, leather and metal. Its main function is to generate pressure or negative pressure, which directs the air over the reeds, whose vibrations produce the sound. The volume of a tone depends on the strength of the pressure or vacuum, as the keys do not have a touch dynamic as on a piano. piano as on the piano.

However, the function of the bellows is not limited to volume control. Thanks to the possibility of changing the bellows, it offers a means of articulation that is comparable to changing the direction of the violin bow. A note can be repeated both by pressing the key again and by holding the key and changing the direction in which the bellows is pulled (bellows shakes). The targeted use of this bellows technique characterizes the specific playing style of the accordion.

Tuning pins

The soundpost, a combination of soundposts, is the central element of the instrument’s construction. While the comb is often glued directly into the body of the instrument, the soundposts are usually screwed together and removable. Wood is the predominant material, but some instruments also use soundposts made of injection-molded polymer. The manufacturing process differs either by gluing the individual soundpost walls together or by shaping a prepared block of wood using a CNC milling machine. The choice of wood varies with a harder top plate and a base plate, often with sound holes. Tuning pins with integrated register slides are also widely used. Modern polymer soundposts offer dimensional accuracy and climate stability.

The arrangement of the reedplates on the soundposts varies depending on the instrument, often becoming smaller towards the treble. They are attached with a wax mixture or with screws, hooks and/or nails. For special timbres, such as French musette tuning, special attachment and construction methods are used. Bass soundposts require special attention, especially on older instruments, where hard wax can lead to loose reedplates and thus to tone cracks.

Reed plates and valves

The sound quality of an accordion is significantly influenced by the reed plates and valves. These components play a decisive role in the sound characteristics in terms of volume, timbre, dynamics and tone stability. As a rule, machine-made reedplates are used for most instruments. However, “handmade reedplates” are also often used for the highest demands. Continuous reedplates are particularly common on concert instruments and “bajans”. All reeds are riveted or screwed onto a single plate. This construction method has the advantage of increased stability and tone stability due to the larger, less vibrating mass of the continuous reedplates. Overall, reed plates and valves have a decisive influence on the acoustic properties of the accordion.

Register

Both on the left-hand side (bass part, accompaniment side) and on the right-hand side (treble side, melody side), it is possible to vary the timbre considerably by adding up to six choirs (six reeds with reed plates and reeds) using so-called registers. Registers are rarely used on diatonic instruments (exception: Cajun accordion). Whether registers are offered depends heavily on the manufacturer and the brand. Very simple instruments have no stops. Register slides are used to close the tone holes for individual sets of tuning plates.

Body

The two elements of the treble on the right-hand side, consisting of the keyboard (keys) or keyboard (buttons), and the bass on the left-hand side with the bass mechanism primarily serve as a mechanical basis for the built-in components. Their main task is to effectively seal off the enclosed air space from the surroundings as long as the valves (flaps) are not open. The sound characteristics of the instrument are only influenced to a limited extent by the type of construction.

The internal volume and the material used partly contribute to the sound quality in terms of volume and timbre. Above all, however, the stability and lightness of the body are important. Traditionally made of spruce wood, plywood has become established and has led to acoustically convincing results. In accordion making, it is important that the body parts have minimal vibrations, just like loudspeaker cabinets. These custom-made Plexiglas parts are acoustically pleasing to the player, even though they are twice as heavy as plywood. Aluminum and magnesium are successfully used in body parts for the back and mechanics.

Surfaces

Originally, the surfaces were treated in the same way as other wooden objects, but celluloid coatings appeared with the first plastics in the 1920s. Many manufacturers have already replaced this process with a special environmentally friendly multi-layer coating. However, the latest trend in concert instruments is back to instruments with a solid wood look and clear lacquer finish. Mainline products from China and Europe are now mostly manufactured with rounded bodies. However, multilayer wood is poorly suited for rounded bodies with a natural look.

Sound or sound generation

The sound of an accordion is the result of a sophisticated interplay of different components and mechanisms. In the treble, up to five choirs enable a wide range of tones, while the top with louvers or sections shapes the sound in a targeted manner. The integration of the cassotto varies the expression. In addition, the quality of the seals and keys has an influence on the tightness and quietness, with Teflon and ball joints being widely used. The needs of players in the treble range are different. Therefore, the key pressure and the key stroke are individually different. It is advisable to compare different instruments, although sensitivity to differences often only develops with experience.

The bass construction of the accordion shows similar variations to the treble and has a significant influence on the sound produced. Various installation options come into play here, with helicon or baritone reedplates providing versatility. The use of an extended air channel in the soundpost not only improves the response, but also the overall sound quality. Some manufacturers are setting innovative standards by integrating two-tier reedplates into the bass, which leads to outstanding results. However, this tonal sophistication is a challenge and reflects the constant search for the perfect accordion sound.

Playing technique

As varied as the playing techniques on the accordion are, so too are the tonal possibilities of this fascinating instrument. In the treble, the keys are played using the keyboard or buttons, whereby the player skillfully combines melodies and chords. The bellows playing with its back and forth movements gives the playing a unique dynamic. By skillfully changing registers, the musician selects different timbres that expand the acoustic spectrum. In the bass range, the buttons or keys of the bass register allow chords and bass lines to be played.

Advanced accordionists use special techniques such as bendings and glissandi to refine their musical interpretation. This variety of playing techniques not only offers creative possibilities, but also enables musicians to find their individual expression in a wide range of genres from traditional folk music to contemporary styles.

Manufacturer

HARMONA AKKORDEON GMBH” with the brand name “Weltmeister” has established itself as an important German accordion manufacturer. As the oldest accordion factory in the world, since around 1852, it has its roots in the VEB Klingenthaler Harmonikawerke and was revitalized after reunification. With an impressive vertical range of manufacture of up to 95%, accordions are developed and manufactured here in Germany, which underlines the outstanding quality of the instruments (see also: History of accordion making in Klingenthal).

The “Supita”, an internationally recognized master instrument, is in demand worldwide in its current version as the “Supita II”. Its wide range of variants makes it just as attractive for orchestral use as it is for solo performances and studio recordings. In addition to “HARMONA AKKORDEON GMBH”, craft businesses in Germany such as Öllerer, Schneeberg and Hartenhauer make a significant contribution to the production of a considerable number of high-quality accordions.