Wind instruments
Accordion
Accordion: A portable instrument with keys or buttons that sounds when air from a bellows sets free metal reeds vibrating. It was developed in Europe in the early 19th century and soon spread around the world. It became popular in folk, Romani and entertainment music in the Balkans, the Caucasus and Turkey; in the Arab world accordions tuned to play quarter tones were also made.
In brief
- Family: Bellows-driven free-reed (metal reed) aerophone; not blown, the bellows supply the air
- Origin: Based on Buschmann's work in Berlin in 1822; first patent under the name “accordion” in 1829, Vienna (C. Demian)
- Body and materials: Bellows between two boxes; the sound comes from vibrating brass or steel reeds
- Keys: Piano keys or buttons for the melody on the right, bass and chord buttons on the left (mostly Stradella)
- Tuning: Fixed reeds, usually equal temperament; commas can only be approximated
- Music: Folk and dance tunes, Romani, Balkan and Caucasian music, popular music
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History
It was developed in Europe in the early 19th century and soon spread around the world. It became popular in folk, Romani and entertainment music in the Balkans, the Caucasus and Turkey; in the Arab world accordions tuned to play quarter tones were also made.
Construction
There is a bellows between two bodies; on the right side are piano keys or buttons for the melody, on the left side buttons for bass notes and chords. Each key opens the air path to the metal reeds inside.
How it is played
It is strapped to the chest; while the left arm opens and closes the bellows, the fingers of both hands press the keys and buttons. The volume is controlled by the pressure of the bellows.
Its place in makam music
Because its reeds have a fixed tuning, it cannot play the commas; with equal-tempered tuning it can only approximate the makams. This is why it is little used in classical makam music and more in folk music, dance tunes and Romani music.
Getting started: types, sizes, tuning
Start with this instrument
Masters on recordings
Performers who play this instrument on recordings of works in the score archive (MusicBrainz).
Frequently asked questions about the Accordion
Can makams be played on the accordion?
The reeds of a standard accordion are tuned to equal semitones, so the comma-inflected pitches of the makams are rounded to the nearest note. In the Arab world, especially in Egypt and Lebanon, accordions have been made with some reeds tuned a quarter tone apart. In Turkey, the accordion is mostly played in equal temperament in folk, Romani and popular entertainment music.
What music is the accordion played in?
It is common in folk and Romani music in the Balkans and Rumelia, in wedding music in the Caucasus, and in Turkey in dance tunes, entertainment and light music. It also has an important place in Arabic music. Being easy to carry and able to provide both melody and accompaniment on its own has made it a favorite instrument of wedding and entertainment ensembles.
Is the accordion hard to learn?
Handling the melody in the right hand, the bass and chord buttons in the left and the bellows all at once requires concentration at first. On the piano accordion, piano skills come in handy; on button types, you need to memorize the button layout. You can reach simple melodies in a few months, while shaping nuances with the bellows and fast ornaments develop with long practice.
Can I play the accordion on this site?
Yes. The “Play in the browser” button opens the virtual accordion; the sounds are freely usable (CC0) notes recorded from a real accordion. Unlike a real accordion, the virtual accordion plays the pitches of the makam you choose at their comma values, so you can hear the makam with an accordion timbre but with the correct intervals.