The concertina was developed independently in both England and Germany. The English version was invented in 1829 by Sir Charles Wheatstone, while Carl Friedrich Uhlig introduced the German version five years later, in 1834.

When did the concertina originate?

Concertina, free-reed musical instrument patented by Sir Charles Wheatstone in London in 1829.

Is the concertina an Irish traditional instrument?

Irish Traditional Instruments. The Main Irish instruments are Flute, Fiddle, Tin Whistle, Low Whistle, Uilleann Pipes, Accordion, Concertina, Bodhrán and Harp. Nowadays the Guitar, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Banjo, Harmonica and Piano are also commonly heard in Irish music.

What country did the accordion originate?

The accordion is one of several European inventions of the early 19th century that use free reeds driven by a bellows. An instrument called accordion was first patented in 1829 by Cyrill Demian, of Armenian origin, in Vienna.

Is the accordion French or Italian?

Its invention in the mid-19th century is credited either to the manufacturer Busson or to M. Bouton, both of France.

History of the ACCORDION

Do Germans play accordion?

In essence, Germany played a vital role in the success of the accordion business. Many musical instrument makers seemed to draw inspiration from German accordions. It is for these reasons that most musical historians would answer Germany when asked where did accordions come from.

Why is the accordion in Mexican music?

Exactly who first brought the accordion to Mexico still remains a point of contention. But it is generally agreed that German settlers in the Rio Grande Valley introduced the instrument to the region in the mid-19th century, on both sides of the river in Southern Texas and Northern Mexico.

Where are accordions made in Italy?

Fisitalia - Accordions made in Castelfidardo.

What came before the accordion?

As previously noted, the present piano accordion has its roots in what we would now call a type of concertina, with first button, then piano keyboards, applied to it. The stradella bass system was invented with two vertical rows of single notes and four vertical rows. Each button activates a preformed chord.

Do people still play accordions?

Today, the accordion is recognized as a key player in the music world, with groups such as the National Accordion Association and the American Accordionists' Association building memberships and sponsoring events across the country.

Is the Fiddle Irish?

The fiddle has ancient roots in Ireland, the first report of bowed instruments similar to the violin being in the Book of Leinster (ca. 1160). The modern violin was ubiquitous in Ireland by the early 1700s.

Who invented the Anglo concertina?

The concertina was developed independently in both England and Germany. The English version was invented in 1829 by Sir Charles Wheatstone, while Carl Friedrich Uhlig introduced the German version five years later, in 1834.

How did the accordion get to Ireland?

Dublin-born James Keane transported the instrument across the Atlantic, where he used it during his important performing and recording career.

Are all concertinas diatonic?

The Anglo is a diatonic concertina with most concertinas used for playing traditional Irish music typically tuned to C/G. This means the concertina contains all the notes required to play in the key of C or the key of G. If you have a three row or 30 button model however, your Anglo concertina is also fully chromatic.

What is the difference between an accordion and a concertina?

Concertina buttons are pushed into the instruments, traveling in the same direction as the bellows. Accordion buttons, called “bass,” are pushed perpendicular to the bellows. Another difference is that most accordions have bass capable of playing an entire chord, whereas concertina buttons play one note at a time.

How many buttons does an accordion have?

Most full-size accordion basses have either 120, or, less commonly, 96 buttons. All notes in an octave are covered by both systems, so you can play in any key. When playing with the bass buttons, you use all fingers but your thumb, which should stay on the board on the side of the accordion.

How heavy is an accordion?

An accordion usually weighs about 12 to 30 pounds (5.4 to 13.6 kg). Entry-level accordions are often lighter, weighing about 10 to 12 pounds. The weight of the accordion depends on its height, the number of keys (usually 20 to 41 on the right and 12 to 120 on the left), and the number of reeds (2 to 9).

Who is the best accordion player in the world?

• Lawrence Welk.
• Pietro Frosini.
• Guido Deiro.
• Nick Ariondo.
• Myron Floren.

Do Italians play the accordion?

The instrument's repertoire similarly expanded to include a broad range of folk, urban popular and classical music styles. Castelfidardo is still known as the home of the accordion in Italy, producing about 16,000 of them a year. There are 60 companies operating throughout Italy, 30 of which are in Castelfidardo.

What is an old accordion worth?

120 bass piano accordions in good condition start at about USD 300, but you might find old, 2-voice instruments for about USD 100; on the other hand, full size, 3/4, 3/5 or 4/5 reeds, 120 bass instruments of a good brand are a bit more expensive.

Is accordion an Italian song?

The propaganda of the time spoke of the accordion as a musical instrument invented in Italy, and as being "the pride of our industriousness and delight of the Italian people." (Review Varietas - Rassegna Nazionale dell'Autarchia 1941).

Is polka a Mexican?

It has its roots in Mexico and in Eastern European waltzes and polkas, like this.

Is the polka German or Polish?

The polka is originally a Czech dance and genre of dance music familiar throughout all of Europe and the Americas. It originated in the middle of the nineteenth century in Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic.