The Accordion

The notes are produced by freely vibrating metal reeds. The bellows used to generate the air flow allow the instrument to breathe, giving the music a unique character. The accordion was developed around 1820 in both Germany and Austria. There are now numerous variations. What they all have in common is that individual notes are played using buttons or keys in the right hand. The buttons in the left hand produce whole chords.

Large-scale production began in the mid-19th century. Larger companies assembled the individual parts, which were often made at home by casual workers. Dealers purchased the finished instruments and shipped them all over the world. Because they are robust and easy to transport, they soon found their way into concert halls and dance halls, folk festivals, and numerous other occasions.