LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Accordion: Instruments
built 290 days ago
The Scarlatti range is ideal for beginners, and they are priced very attractively to enable you to take a chance and see if the Accordion is for you. Scarlatti Accordions come in a range of sizes, and although they are a beginner's instrument, they are of a much higher quality than the Chinese Accordions of the past, and will keep you going for some time!
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Accordion 911 is a new 90-minute VHS video w/text for all accordionists who want to protect their valuable instruments. Presented in three levels of expertise, this video thoroughly explains care, maintenance, and repair procedures that will extend the life of your instrument, and help you avoid costly repair bills.
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While the Accordion is no longer a mainstream instrument, its popularity is growing again. It is very important in traditional music particularly in Scotland. And there are still many accordion bands, marching bands, and accordion competitions.
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Nobody can be said to have 'invented' the accordion, as it consists of a series of innovations introduced by many different instrument builders. However, the first patent for an accordion was granted to Zyrill Demian 1829 in Vienna, Austria, who combined most of the essential accordion features in one instrument. In 1830 Demian's accordion was copied in Paris. In 1903 Mathias Hohner started the industrial production in Germany. By 1906 he was producing over 100.000 accordions a year. The first use of an accordion in the United States is documented in Louisiana in 1871.
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The accordion is called a free reed instrument because it uses free-standing reeds to produce sound, similar to the harmonica. The reeds are made up of metal strips that are riveted to either side of a rectangular metal plate. Below the reed is a slot which allows air to flow through the bellows. When air passes through this slot in the appropriate direction (first on the reed, then through the slot) the reed vibrates, producing the characteristic accordion sound. Air flowing in the opposite direction does not create sound because the reed only bends instead of vibrating. To conserve air, a plastic or leather flap is placed on the opposite side of the slot away from the reed, preventing air flow in this direction.
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The accordion was developed in Europe during the 1800's. It was originally designed as a sort of portable organ. Also referred to as a 'squeeze box', the accordion is played by pushing and pulling bellows in and out while simultaneously pressing keys. One type of accordion is known as the Cajun accordion, and is a vital part of Cajun music. An extremely versatile instrument, the accordion can play music ranging from Irish Polkas to Italian folk songs to Beatles tunes to classical music. Accordionists have performed with major classical orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Pops.
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