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Six of the best pieces for the accordion

The accordion is one of the most versatile instruments to write for, appearing most prevalently in South American music, but also cropping up in jazz and more traditional forms of classical music. We have rounded up a varied selection of pieces in which the accordion is at its very best. Galliano’sOpale Concerto The virtuoso accordionist Richard Galliano was born in Cannes, France in 1950 and began playing the instrument at the age of four. He went on to study the accordion, [...]

Italy’s Italian Accordion Industry: Tiny And Still Thriving

More than 70 percent of Italy’s gross domestic product comes from small businesses – and they’re not growing. Economists are worried this will make it impossible for Italy to climb out of its massive debt. Even in a global economy, something as small as Italy’s italian accordion industry can have an impact. The work of its craftsmen has reached millions of ears. For instance, the accordion you hear inThe Decemberists'”Mariner’s Revenge Song” was handmade in the central Italian town of [...]

Different Types of Accordion

The term “accordion” is derived from the German word “akkord,” which meansmusical chordorconcord of sounds. The accordion is a family of the squeezebox, free-reed, aerophone-type instruments. These instruments involve a reed set into a frame over an opening. When air passes through the opening, it causes the reed to vibrate, which produces musical sounds. History of the Accordion The accordion originated from free-reed instruments, the first of which is believed to be created in China sometime in the 2ndmillennium BC. The [...]