Bayan left hand registers?

[xocd]

After looking at bayan images out of a google search I am wondering if the typical Russian bayan left hand has no registers?

How would that affect the way one manages balance between left and right hands?

Thanks,

 

[debra]

Let me first summarize the most typical bayan bass side, starting with a picture:
http://wwwis.win.tue.nl/~debra/photos/divers2016/slides/PA059586.jpg>

1) There are three bass reed blocks:
a) The largest one holds at least the lowest octave, but more typically a bit more, like the lowest 13 notes (E to E). These are all L+M.
b) The two other reed blocks hold the other notes, and they are L+L. But it is possible that the lowest two notes (F and F#) are still L+M.
Variations are possible of course.
The largest bass block typically has two additional reed sets for the lowest 12 notes, one on each side. These notes form the Stradella base notes (and are used in convertor as well), making for 4-reed base notes. Note that the additional reed sets are only used for these base notes. The base notes thus never use any reeds from the other two reed blocks and the additional reed sets on the base block are not used in Stradella chords, nor are reeds used for chords ever used for base notes either. (An Italian accordion which is not a copy of a Russian bayan uses reeds for base notes that are also used in chords.)

Most modern bayans do not just have a convertor switch but have an additional on/off switch (can be done with two switches) to enable or disable the additional reed sets. When disabled the base notes are 2 reeds (L+M) instead of 4 reeds. My bayan has two switches on either side of the large convertor switch. These pairs serve the same purpose. Some bayans have just two switches, one on either side of the convertor switch. Still one is on and one is off for the 2 additional reed sets.

Many bayans have a sordino (switch is on the side where the bass strap is) which dampens the sound a bit, and this may help to balance the LH versus RH.

Note that for instance the first generation Pigini Sirius bayan has the same construction as a Russian bayan.

 

[Geronimo]

I heard from someone who had a Jupiter bayan from the time before the iron curtain fell and it indeed had no registers on the left hand. In Stradella mode, it was just 4-reed and cut through the treble without plastering over it over a wide range of right hand registrations. He finally sold it when the buttons flaked and the mechanics started falling apart and says that was probably a bad idea. He hasn't found something comparable, including from Jupiter. Modern instruments have more possibilities but the way he described it they amount to having a choice how to be worse off.

 

[xocd]

The largest bass block typically has two additional reed sets for the lowest 12 notes, one on each side. These notes form the Stradella base notes (and are used in convertor as well), making for 4-reed base notes.

Paul,

A question to help me understand your answer: do you use base and bass interchangeably, or is there a difference?

Thanks,

 

[debra]

The largest bass block typically has two additional reed sets for the lowest 12 notes, one on each side. These notes form the Stradella base notes (and are used in convertor as well), making for 4-reed base notes.

Paul,

A question to help me understand your answer: do you use base and bass interchangeably, or is there a difference?

Thanks,

With base notes I mean the notes that are single notes in Stradella. These notes do not share reeds with the notes that play in chords in Stradella. These base notes are also the lowest octave of the melody bass (when convertor is switched on). So these lowest 12 notes are 4 reed notes or 2 reed notes depending on the switch that newer bayans have, and are 4 reed bayans without the switch.

 

[xocd]

With base notes I mean the notes that are single notes in Stradella. These notes do not share reeds with the notes that play in chords in Stradella. These base notes are also the lowest octave of the melody bass (when convertor is switched on). So these lowest 12 notes are 4 reed notes or 2 reed notes depending on the switch that newer bayans have, and are 4 reed bayans without the switch.

I think I get it now.

Do you think of this setup as a feature or a bug?

Thanks,

 

[debra]

The setup of having the switch between 2 and 4 reeds is definitely a feature. Italian makers have added a similar feature: the octave coupler (often a switch on the side where the bass strap is).
The setup of having L+M for the lowest 15 notes or so, and L+L for all higher notes, is debatable... is it a bug or a feature? The bayan has a single large hole in the bass blocks for each note, serving both reeds, so it is not possible to add in a register switch to get only L or M for the low notes and a single L for the other noes. When Pigini copied the bayan design they used separate resonance chambers for each reed and could later add another switch to go from L+L to single L and single L for the low notes. I consider that a feature, which is missing on the Russian bayans.
On more recent SIrius Bayan models Pigini replaced the Russian bayan bass design by the more typical Italian design (of having many bass registers, fitting with an all L+M design.
Whether the bayan setup is "good" or not is a matter of debate. It is a simple design that works well for many styles but it is rather inflexible and when it doesn't suit what you want there is no way out...

 

[Morne]

My answer below is based on secondhand knowledge from online research which in my case includes a bit more of an interest in older bayans.

After looking at bayan images out of a google search I am wondering if the typical Russian bayan left hand has no registers?

Bayans can be classified roughly into two groups: standard and concert. The former is more for the ordinary folk (like the AK-47 of bayans) and the latter, as the name suggests, is more for formal/classical concerts. Its not necessarily a matter of quality, but rather of simplicity and sound range.

Your typical/standard bayan will have no register switches at all - neither bass nor treble. These are
predominantly dry-tuned MM on the treble side and 4 reed banks on the bass side. You will occasionally come across a standard bayan with some switches on the treble side, but those are the exception, not the rule. They were probably some kind of gateway instrument leading to the big concert instruments. Example:
Generally speaking, if you dont have a lot of choice in right hand registration, there isnt much point in allowing different left hand registration.

When you come across a bayan with a single switch on the bass, its very likely to be a converter. Having a converter, however, does not guarantee having a lot, or even any, treble switches.
Here are two examples:
Register-less converter Rubin:
register-less converter Yasnaya Polyana:

On the other hand, the high end concert bayan has many register switches on the treble side. Modern ones will also have chin switches. In this category youll find the Akko and Jupiter mentioned by Paul and Geronimo.

Not having register switches should not be seen as making it a toy or necessarily a beginners instrument (as might be the case in European instruments). Its just a simpler instrument with a more predefined/characteristic sound. Without getting into bayan ontology again (weve had topics before), you pretty much get only a classic bayan sound and thats it.

How would that affect the way one manages balance between left and right hands?

With the standard register-less 2/4 bayan it is balanced from the outset. Theyve been making them like that forever, so Im sure theyve achieved their preferred balance - which might not necessarily be to the tastes of those used to European instruments.

Also, there is that typical rougher bass sound which I imagine is preferred as a general characteristic of the bayan. Besides complicating the mechanics by introducing all possible combinations, you are also likely to water down that characteristic sound. It might be the case that by breaking up a bayans bass into its parts, it just might not sound as good.