Top 10 Amazing Accordion Fun Facts: Discover the Secrets of Paris' Beloved Instrument!

1. Harmonica's Cousin: Accordion Origins

Who said the creator of the accordion didn't have enough on his plate? Turns out, he was singing and playing the harmonica at the same time, too: Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann, the inventor of the accordion, is also credited with inventing the harmonica, while the name "accordion" was derived from the French word "accordéon" and officially chosen by Ernst Zacharias in 1854, long after Buschmann's final curtain call.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Singing Sidekick: Accordion's Purpose

Don't fret: the accordion has been stealing the limelight since the 19th century! Known for its unique sound and "squeezebox" exterior, this staple of polka parties worldwide has its roots in 19th-century Vienna: Seriously speaking, the accordion was patented in 1829 by Cyrill Demian, an Armenian in Vienna, Austria, and was originally designed as a left-hand sided instrument to accompany singers, with modern versions featuring both keyboard and chord buttons for simultaneous melody and accompaniment.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that the mysterious "Neanderthal flutes" might actually be the result of hyenas munching on cave bear bones? Discover the fascinating story behind these ancient "instruments"!

=> Fun Facts about The-Flute

3. Accordion Central: Castelfidardo, Italy

When the bellows hit the fan, it's time to rock out with accordions in Castelfidardo: This quaint Italian town is the undisputed global epicenter of the accordion world, hosting an International Accordion Prize (PIF) annually, which unites the finest squeezebox maestros for competitions, workshops, concerts, andevents dedicated to the pursuit of everything buttoned and keyed.
Source => pifcastelfidardo.it

4. Squeezebox Fiesta: Accordion Kings & Queens

Don't fold under the pressure, accordion fans: The Accordion Kings & Queens event in Houston's Miller Outdoor Theatre entertains thousands each year with a diverse lineup featuring conjunto, zydeco, and polka music, and is lovingly sponsored by the City of Houston, the Texas Commission on the Arts, The Raven Grill, and Texas Folklife Members & Board of Directors, showcasing the squeezebox skills of the Big Squeeze Champions, young Texans keeping accordion traditions alive.
Source => texasfolklife.org

5. Bandoneón's Tango Twist

Hold on to your lederhosen, folks: the bandoneón, which now tangoes its way through Argentinian and Lithuanian hearts, was originally intended for low-key religious and popular tunes in Germany around the 1850s. It was only in the 1870s that this squeeze-box sensation traded its somber hymns for sultry Latin dances and found its way to the lands of empanadas and cepelinai.
Source => earlymusicamerica.org

6. Classical Composers Embrace Accordion

Hold on to your lederhosen and make room for Beethoven: the accordion, often associated with polkas and folk music, has actually been embraced by legendary composers like Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Dmitri Shostakovich, Roy Harris, and Alban Berg, who have all written classical music masterpieces featuring this versatile instrument.
Source => dictionary.onmusic.org

7. Blushing Accordionist: Circle of Fifths

Why did the accordionist blush? They saw the Stradella's circle of fifths! Here's the deal: the accordion's Stradella Bass System has columns of buttons arranged in a circle of fifths, allowing the player easy access to major chords in any key, while both hands work together to create harmony and melody, giving you a total body workout with a side of dexterous virtuosity.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Avant-Garde Accordion: Sofia Gubaidulina

If Mozart and Weird Al Yankovic had a musical love child, they might just have accidentally invented Sofia Gubaidulina: an avant-garde composer who knows how to mix devilishly clever accordion with a dash of divine transcendence. No need to squeeze the truth out of this one: Gubaidulina combines unusual instrumental arrangements, micro-chromaticism, and harmonic experimentation in her orchestral works, all while infusing her music with spirituality and a thirst for human transcendence.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Organ Rock: Ray Manzarek's Multitasking

An organ-ized multitasker with a bass-ically groovy twist: Ray Manzarek, The Doors' keyboardist, simultaneously played a Fender Rhodes bass keyboard and a Vox Continental organ, creating signature basslines and defining the psychedelic organ rock sound that the band is famous for.
Source => joeydevilla.com

10. Accordion's Elite Musical Adventure

You may have heard the accordion's captivating sound serenading you with the sweet strumming of "Lady of Spain" or propelling a polka in a lively beer hall. However, did you know this versatile squeezebox has also rubbed shoulders with the musical elite? Here's a high note: the accordion has been played by classical composers such as Tchaikovsky, Umberto Giordano, and Charles Ives since the 19th century. Today, modern composers like Paul Hindemith and Jean Françaix craft compositions specifically for this fascinating instrument heard in popular music around the globe - from European polkas to American Tejano, and Brazilian Sertanejo and Forró genres. So, in the court of music, our humble accordion reigns supreme!
Source => en.wikipedia.org