Piano accordion
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| Classification | Free-reed aerophone |
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| Playing range | |
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Right-hand manual: F3 to A6 (scientific pitch notation) is the written range for the right-hand manual of a standard 120-bass/41-key piano accordion, three octaves plus a major third. Actual range sounds one octave lower and one octave higher (F2-A7) depending on stops chosen. Left-hand manual | |
| Musicians | |
| List of accordionists | |
| More articles or information | |
| Accordion, Chromatic button accordion, Bayan, Diatonic button accordion, Piano accordion, Stradella bass system, Free-bass system, Accordion reed ranks & switches | |
A piano accordion is an accordion equipped with a right-hand keyboard similar to a piano or organ. Its acoustic mechanism is more similar to that of an organ than a piano, as they are both wind instruments, but the term "piano accordion"—coined by Guido Deiro in 1910[1]—has remained the popular nomenclature. It may be equipped with any of the available systems for the left-hand manual.
In comparison to a piano keyboard, the keys are more rounded, smaller, and lighter to the touch. These go vertically down the side, pointing inward, toward the bellows, making them accessible to only one hand while handling the accordion.[notes 1]
History
The first accordion to feature a piano keyboard was probably the instrument introduced in 1852 by Bouton of Paris.[2] Another source claimed the first piano accordion was introduced in 1854 at the Allegemeine Deutsche Industrieausstellung in München. It was showcased by the instrument builder Mattäus Bauer and quickly became a serious competitor to button accordions[3].
In the United States, the piano accordion dramatically increased in popularity between 1900-1930 based on its familiarity to students and teachers, and its uniformity, whereby accordion dealers and instructors did not have to support different styles of accordions for many European immigrant groups. The piano keyboard layout was also promoted by the fame of Vaudeville performers Guido Deiro and his brother Pietro who premiered the instrument on stage, recordings and radio. After the Deiro's success, popular chromatic button accordionist Pietro Frosini chose to disguise his accordion's buttons to look like a piano keyboard so as not to appear "old-fashioned." [4] (See Accordion music genres)
As of 1972 it could be largely said that the piano system dominated the English-Speaking North American continent, Scotland, and certain East European countries, while differing button systems are generally to be found in Scandinavia, France, Belgium and former Soviet countries[5]. The piano accordion is also predominant in Italy, New Zealand, and Australia.
Comparison to chromatic button layout
Compared to a chromatic button layout[6], the advantages of using a piano layout on an accordion would be the layout's logical simplicity[notes 2], the relative size of the buttons for fast legato flows, and its layout compared to standard notation[notes 3]. However, it has a smaller range, is too big to reach notes far apart, such as two octaves, and requires more finger movement to operate.
See also
Notes
- ^ Felt or rubber is placed under the piano keys to control touch and key noise: it is also used on the pallets to silence notes not sounded by preventing air flow. This material eventually wears with use, resulting in a clacking noise, so has to be replaced to quieten the mechanism.
- ^ One key corresponds to one note, and there are no alternate fingering options.
- ^ With a piano accordion, there is no need to transpose the melody in a piano, organ or harpsichord piece.
References
- ^ Henry Doktorski, The Brothers Deiro and Their Accordions (The Classical Free-Reed, Inc.: 2005)
- ^ Joseph Macerollo, Accordion Resource Manual, Avondale Press (1980), 17.
- ^ Bjarne Glenstrup, Harmonikaens Historie (1972), The University of Copenhagen (Faculty of Music), p. 41
- ^ "Looks Like a Cash Register and Sounds Worse" The Deiro Brothers and the Rise of the Piano Accordion in American Culture 1908-1930 By Peter C. Muirhttp://www.guidodeiro.com/cashregister.html
- ^ Bjarne Glenstrup, Harmonikaens Historie (1972), The University of Copenhagen (Faculty of Music), p. 42
- ^ Dan Lindgren, Piano Accordion vs. Chromatic Button Accordion Online PDF
External links
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