Accordion aesthetics - discuss. Don't argue!

[Anyanka]

Let us be honest guys. The accordion is not a beautiful instrument in any of its forms.
It is function over form and that is how it should be.

I quite like the Bauhaus ideology of form follows function, and I find some accordions very very beautiful. Others not so. Im not keen on fake mother-of-pearl keys, and cant stand rhinestones. I like the classy simple black Pigini below, for example (but not the ones with the ornate grill). On the other hand, I also love the appearance of some really old accordions. The diatonic box below (from Wikipedia) has a real Steampunk aesthetic to it!

Please show us what you like - and dislike - but do play nicely

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...3ed-f13528600d14_zpsf5601728.jpg?t=1381835254>

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/...a-6bd2-4be8-ad9e-b98a539bb15a_zps6b41bd84.jpg>

 

[george garside]

I too am a follower of bauhaus ideology of form follows function. The Citroen 2cv was a classic example of this ! ---but back to boxes I am more than happy with plain black or red pearloid but am not keen on bogtile green or some other colours. I think Sir Jimmy Shand also took the same line as hohner made him a gold 'stage version' of the Shand Morino which he never played - he was also less than keen on the all bells and whistles top of the range gola that hohner made in BCC# format for him around 1960, he described it as heavy and not easy to handle compared with the Shand Morino!

george

 

[Tom]

Quote: The accordion is not a beautiful instrument in any of its forms.

I totally disagree with this assesment. I think the accordion is an inherently beautiful machine. Sure, some are over the top in flash and there are some that even I think are ugly for one reason or another but in general I think they are designed with beauty in mind and all I get is compliments on my Della Noce and Im quite fond of the understated grace of my little Lyra. And the Crucianelli aint half bad looking either if you ask me! Ok, I know this is not where we are just bragging about how beautiful our accordions are so Ill add to the discussion by pointing out the coolness of the bellow tape designs.

 

[Pippa]

When I was buying my new PA, the seller was keen to show me a shiny red and white accordion with sparkly keys. It didn't matter how good the thing sounded, there was just no way!!! I must admit I am rather taken by the black/white/gold of my Hohner, I think it's a really beautiful instrument.

 

[donn]

I personally like color and ornament, but of course its a little more complicated than that. I mean, I cant imagine youd run into many people whose esthetic sensibilities are like I like yellow flowers, but dont care for red ones. There are infinite shades of color, and patterns and forms and so forth, and I think esthetic appreciation resists categorization. Mine is mostly black, but rescued from total dullness by a colorful grille design, a few rhinestones, and red bellows material with sky blue tape over the pleats.

One feature that I tire of, though, is the large chromed grille with a sort of filigree pattern. There might be a better word for it. Common in classic French style CBAs like Piermaria. Would rather see a plain symmetric pattern, or a design made up of different elements as commonly seen on older piano accordions.

 

[Anyanka]

That's a handsome box there, that Della Noce! Diatonic accordions/melodeons have it slightly easier in the looks department as they don't have all that bulk. I particularly like the Cajun melodeons - we watched Andy Cutting play his recently, and the red felted pallets made a lovely dance to the music.

 

[BobM]

I’m not a fan of the all black box, It seems a bit “grim” to me, IMO for competitions and serious concert music, black tie stuff.

My Brandoni has the “space invader/sweet wrappers” decor on the front grill, with red bellows without any decoration, and pearloid keys. I took it a local pub session and (this is true) people came over and commented on how attractive it was. No such reaction previously with my all black Weltmeister though.

I’m in no way an “eyes and teeth” player, but it does look nice under lighting, and, should the day ever come when I need to grim down, (dont hold your breath) I’ll buy that black grill..

The great majority of the public listen with their eyes...

BobM

 

[Glenn]

Maybe I am being quoted out of context here.
Technically, the accordion is a beautiful instrument.
I am amazed, always amazed, at how cleverly it is put together.
For the visual aesthetics, I look a little further than the accordion sitting on the kitchen table.
For me you have to consider it strapped to your body.
This for me is where the accordion falls down.
Nobody really looks good wearing one.

 

[Anyanka]

For me you have to consider it strapped to your body.
This for me is where the accordion falls down.

You obviously need to tighten your straps better.

 

[Anyanka]

Nobody really looks good wearing one.

Weve had a vaguely similar discussion before, on the old forum possibly... although I think the focus was on looking sexy rather than good. Most musical instruments dont enhance ones look much: the worst have to be all the wind & brass instruments, especially the ones that cause frog-style throat expansion!

But anyway... I do think she looks gorgeous with her cordie:

 

[cat]

Maybe I am being quoted out of context here.
Technically, the accordion is a beautiful instrument.
I am amazed, always amazed, at how cleverly it is put together.
For the visual aesthetics, I look a little further than the accordion sitting on the kitchen table.
For me you have to consider it strapped to your body.
This for me is where the accordion falls down.
Nobody really looks good wearing one.

Thats right...even with slimming pipettes or racing stripes, the stomach Steinway does not exactly enhance our figure :?

The machine is a beautiful thing, but there are many aesthetic aspects and qualities of beauty. FWIW, I love an English concertina for its functionality...but an octagon with accordion bellows is going to lose out in the visual aesthetics category compared with volutes, harmonic curves, and classic elegance of violins, harps, ouds, stringed instruments of many designs (okay, maybe not the theorbo ). Even if made from the most precious woods, the box is a pretty simple visual form

 

[Glenn]

Many a guitarist has found their mate by strapping one across their body.
Not sure many accordionist have been so fortunate.

 

[cat]

Nobody really looks good wearing one.

the worst have to be all the wind & brass instruments[/quote]



Well I guess I dont know how to insert pics

Glenn, apparently the traditional posture of wrapping ones body around the guitar with one foot elevated, contrapposto-like, cradling it in ones lap -- isnt as arousing

 

[Anyanka]

I agree, guitars, violin and especially cello are handsome beasts. It takes a courageous person to play double bass though - makes anyone look small... In my opinion, the sexiest of them all is the bass guitar.

 

[Buttons]

I'll go with the bass guitar. The modern electric stick violins are nothing.

 

[simonking]

I dont think the black box has to be at all grim - without all the mother of pearl and assorted bling it comes down to the details of the design. e.g. I think Guielittis (and they are almost all very similar) have such a classy look (for an accordion!); I can imagine James Bond playing one!

I quite like some colour in the bellows (perhpars not bogtile green ) though the pearl celluloid isnt for me.

 

[cat]

It takes a courageous person to play double bass though - makes anyone look small...

I played contrabass for a couple of decades. I always said it was "slimming"... next to it, I was slender

I actually (really) awoke one night sitting on the edge of my bed--looking at my bass which was lying on its side next to my bed...thinking that it was my girlfriend

 

[Glenn]

Ha ha ha, James Bond, hahaha. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Tom]

Quote: " Nobody really looks good wearing one. "

He obviously hasn't googled "accordion calendar" lately! Plus this is not my thing but I expect some of the Italian men I see in on fisarmonicando would do it for some of the women out there....just a hunch.....

 

[BobM]

Nobody really looks good wearing one.

Oh really?