The end of "the golden age" of accordion

[BobM]

Not forgetting the multi talented Magda Giannikou,

 

[Soulsaver]

Forgive me for straying on topic... here's a few points of theory re the end of 'the golden age':

a) The advent of youth culture popularising non melodic rhythm based music (sung accompaniment) - R&B, from whence Rock & Roll & so forth - which still may have had some opportunities for accordion, however many of those opportunities were exploited by the advent of the electric organ or mic'd harmonica.

b) The advent/popularity of the amplified electric guitar - driving small 'group' based performers (earners) to icon/role model - influencing take up of those group based instruments - drums, rhythm & lead guitar.

c) Out of date accordion teaching content, if not method..

 

[george garside]

just another reflection/thought or whatever on the end of the golden age of the accordion - probably applies to piano, fiddle etc etc as well. An essential ingredient of such plyaing was that people were much more sociable, going to each others houses , often without the need for a specific invitation, and doing things together which of course included playing instruments, singing etc etc. with those who didn't/couldn't forming a makeshift audience.

N0w most of us play in splendid isolation, in fear that neigbours may actualy hear us and get annoyed. This of course does not apply to those fortunate enough to belong to a local accordion club, folk club, box & fiddle club or something similer .

Virtual friends on t'internet don't count particularly as so many ( hear and elsewhere) are so secretive about their whereabouts that the chance of meeting in person for a natter and a tune or two is impossible. In some areas there may be 3, 4 or more box players who could gather regularly and maybe let in the odd fiddler, banjo player, or whatever.

If people were less secretive and not in apparent fear of contamination by real rather than 'virtual. contact we could maybe in a small way restart the golden age of the accordion --- from little acorns etc!


I live in Anglesey , north Wales and would be happy to meet up for a tune and a natter with anybody relatively local.

george

 

[Anyanka]

George, that's a lovely idea - perhaps it merits a new thread?

 

[smdc66]

........ we could maybe in a small way restart the golden age of the accordion --- from little acorns etc!

i have met up with a local forum member and it was enjoyable and learnt about different types of instruments too including hearing a bagpipe tune

i know there was a thread about confidence playing in public and there was a bit of debate and a few useful tips handed out, but this would also help to restart the golden age......

yer some people are so secretive,

I live

•--• • - • •-• -••• --- •-• --- ••- --• ••••

 

[jimgansett]

I remember taking accordion lessons in the 5th grade. Took 'em for a whole year. Dropped the accordion. While my friends with guitars were playing popular contemporary music, at least as much as they could, I was stuck playing little tunes none of my friends knew, the usual Carnival of Venice stuff, etc.

The popularity of the accordion in the U.S. was already on the decline from the previous decade as it was gaining a reputation, deservedly or not, as a cultural instrument, think Polkas and other ethnic music as opposed to a popular contemporary instrument. Lawrence Welk certainly didn't help and Lady of Spain didn't either. On the local talent shows on tv, every kid who played the accordion did lady of Spain to show off bellows shaking. I can't remember any of them doing music more contemporary in style. It's like no other music was ever written for the accordion as teachers wanted to show off the skill of their students.

So, I see the decline as a number of factors: Accordion teachers who would not change how they taught in terms of musical content. When you did see accordionists in public, it was by far mostly ethnic and not popular music. The relative expense of an accordion vs. the cheapness of purchasing a guitar. The inability of an accordion to give the proper sounds for the increasingly popular rock and roll in the U.S.

Having said all that, I believe that there is a turn around in the U.S., which is slowly gaining momentum. You see, the kids of today don't have the stigma of the accordion like their parents. Many have never even heard of the accordion. To them, it is a new instrument. They actually like it. But even if they like what they hear, finding accordion teachers today in the U.S. is a very daunting task indeed. We are seeing here in the U.S. many contemporary popular performers including the accordion in their music, like The Beatles, Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Los Lobos, and others. Accordion music is showing up in tv commercials too.

I believe the future of the accordion here in the U.S. is dependent on reaching out to the young here. I have advocated in our accordion association that we should go to various elementary and middle schools, the ages where kids are so impressionable and show them the many styles and ways the accordion can be played. Let them see accordions are not just ethnic instruments but can be used for all kinds of music. We have a young lady in our association who took up the accordion because one of the local players put up a notice for accordion lessons, she saw it, took up the accordion, plays incredible well and importantly..... enjoys no stigma about the instrument she plays, well received by her classmates, which goes along with what I said about the accordion being a new instrument to the young.

The availability of MIDI accordions and Rolands will help, I believe, to keep the momentum going as they allow for kinds of orchestral sounds which are popular with people here as well as retaining more traditional accordion sounds.

The expense of accordions versus guitars and the like will continue to be a problem.

Ok, I talk too much

Take care all

 

[george garside]

I agree that the price of boxes is very much a limiting factor and maybe also the number of relatively cheap ( often knackered) 120 bass boxes which areboth bewildering and heavy to many would be players. Bewildering because of thee 120 little black buttons and heavy because they are! 120 bass boxes seem to predominate because the 'classical' teachers see anything less as slightly improper and they are often the ones who can afford such boxes new so as they pass down the 'food chain' in large numbers. Also many of the larger specialist accordion dealers are from a classical background and perpetuate the myth that 120 bass is a 'full size' instrument with the obvious inference that anything less is not the done thing to have!

Smaller boxes , particulary 48 bass are well liked in the folk/trad scene and are adequate for most purposes and ideal for many! This may be why there are not a lot of used ones progressing down the 'food chin' as their wise owners hang on to them for many years, having no great desire to ''??upgrade'' to something much heavier with loads of buttons they don't need and strange things like casotto chambers 13 couplers and free bass!

A 12 bass is just as much a proper accordion as a 120 bass its just smaller with less 'bells and whistles)

In The ''golden age of the accordion'' there was a much higher proportion of smaller boxes than there are today and and folk, trad, music hall, popular, assorted dance etc etc tunes were very widely played , with probably a greater number of people playing '' jolly tunes'' by ear . For what its worth Sir Jimmy Shand made his first (1934) recordings using a 36 bass Hohner L'organola played entirely by ear!

George ( ducking swiftly before the 'heavy brigade' try to lynch him) :evil:

 

[Puxto]

I thought it ended in the 50's? :lol: But I do think there are many people keeping it alive and cool, Gogol Bordello and Flogging molly spring to mind, as a couple of influences, but I keep finding other new and interesting bands. I actually find the fact that it is seen as an old and rare instrument these days seems to work in my favour, as people are always excited to hear something different, that perhaps takes them to another place and time, for me this has always been one of the main things I love about it. I've always been drawn to the unusual

Oh and hi everyone! I haven't been around for ages, but still checking in occasionally :b {}

 

[donn]

So no one but soulsaver has noticed a correlation with changes in musical taste over the last century?

Gogol Bordello is the exception that proves the rule - popular music that draws from the music of Eastern Europe that really does use accordions. That musical tradition itself is fairly popular lately. A handful of amateur bands in my area play in this style, and superstars on tour from Romania, Macedonia draw big crowds - one of them with an accordion in the band. In this way of looking at it, sure, the accordion has a viable role in popular music ... to the extent that certain styles of music are popular.

But it seems rather tone deaf to think the accordion might have carried on in the midst of what's been going on in the cultural mainstream, if only instruction had been better or something.

 

[george garside]

perhaps we need enthusiastic younger players in the UK like ''Die Twinnies Bayermadels.'' For those who havn't seen them them just google Die Twinies for a veriety of vids

george

 

[smdc66]

perhaps we need enthusiastic younger players in the UK like ''Die Twinnies Bayermadels.'' For those who havn't seen them them just google Die Twinies for a veriety of vids

george

yer ... you never know they may appear on britain's got talent one day , the most popular tv talent show in the uk at the moment...

people do appear on there infrequently with unusual instruments :shock:

 

[george garside]

if only - it would do the world of box playing a power of good"

george

 

[Guernseyman]

Go for it. George. Look forward to seeing you on TV!

 

[george garside]

am no good on rollerblades!

george