Question about bass rest notation

[Morne]

See bars 6 and 11 here:
<ATTACHMENT filename=tatyana.jpg index=0>

The whole piece does quarter bass notes. But in those two bars theres a 1/8th chord and 1/8th rest. As I understand it, the notation of quarter bass notes typically implies a staccato playing, or 1/8th note/chord and 1/8th rest. The English book I have explains it like that and I also saw this mentioned online. This is mentioned specifically in the case of a faster piece.

I have been translating the text as I go along but I havent come across an explanation for why they did that, nor why there is a comma (or 1/8th rest?) symbol printed above the treble note. I have since moved on and I havent yet found another piece with that 1/8th notation and the symbol above.

This is the only performance (from the movie) that I could find:


The comment about quarter bass notes being played as 1/8ths was made in reference to faster pieces. As this is quite slow, I thought maybe playing the bass notes for longer is what would be meant here except for when that 1/8th rest comes in. But it doesnt sound that nice when I have the bass side played long here, even when using the tenor register. And I must do this with the tenor register because the master switch (5 voice) turns into mud and drowns the treble, especially in bar 4. I have no other bass registers, so I dont know if there is an even lighter setting. (Maybe my instrument is just unbalanced for this kind of sound.)

I cannot tell from the video if it means something else.

Does anyone know what the purpose of this notation is?

 

[JIM D.]

The purpose of the notation is to PLAY IT AS WRITTEN. Practice the piece as written slowly observing the rest's and when you speed it it up it will become obvious.

 

[Morne]

This is what my English book (Mel Bay First Lessons Accordion) says:
<ATTACHMENT filename=bass rests.jpg index=0>

That is also what Shelia Lee mentions.

I suppose those are rules of thumb, since music notation means specific things, but given that and the sheet music above, I am not sure how to interpret it.
The piece aboves tempo is written as slowly, quietly and sincerely.

Is the correct interpretation for this piece to play the quarter bass notes as full quarter length except where it is written as an 1/8th?
Or, given the rule of thumb, would the 1/8th note be played even shorter, maybe barely depressing the button fully?
Or is it some courtesy notation having something to do with the way the slurs connect there? Maybe something like make sure youre no longer pressing the button when you start the next slur? (Even though this would be implied if quarters are played as 1/8ths.)

I am trying to figure out if this is a confusion on my part regarding notation, or if my accordion just sounds harsh/unbalanced if I do full quarter bass notes as accompaniment.