OT (updated) Wooden, mouth-blown free-reeds: Accordinas

Whistle
1

It has evolved for 2004, and I think now it looks just :sunglasses:

Since most Irish (or Breton) accordionists don’t play the left hand, they might as well skip the left keyboard. :wink:

On our side, will we miss the bellows, when you can use diaphragm control and tonguing?

Chromatic, and with such a chromatic keyboard (Italian or Russian systems), chords are a natural.

Some of the sound clips links are interesting, if none is trad music…

See the full story http://www.boite-accordeon.com/index5.html

(corrected for a more direct link)

2

Amazing. I couldn’t find the sound clips but the historical development was just fascinating. Does it sound very different from melodica? I already have and play one of those. What would you call that: a piano accordina?

3

The clips sound wonderful, in fact.

4

Wow Zoob–that was your 3000th post!

5

Oh, that’s why, then! :slight_smile:

What’s that thing? Looks like a backgammon travel set to me.

g

6

Congrats, Zubinovic! Bonne anniversaire, mon cher Zubonski. Viel Glueck, Zubenheimer!

No one zoops like the Zoobster!

7

Found the clips ..in the one place I hadn’t looked of course. That sounds great.

Happy 3K Zub.

:party: :party: :party:

8

If you can get one with a C#/D keyboard layout, I’ll start saving up!

Although, now that I think about it…then you’d have to blow and suck to get all the notes…not sure how easy that would be to do?

I wonder if they take more air/pressure than a harmonica?

-Brett

9

:blush: :blush: :blush:
Awg you all got me blushing, now.
Those who know me physically will add “Nevermind, we know we can’t stop you talking… and you can use three extra kilos!” :wink:




Sorry, I really have too little experience with harmonicas. All I’ve tried (and disliked…) are your basic diatonic Hohners, and these had much less resistance than the Accordina. On the latter (all I tried is a vintage, metal one, see below links), I’d run out of air later than with a standard high whistle. I liked the back-pressure too–made it very reactive to tonguings, with a wide variation of attacks. I guess you could get the same “ragged” effects as with a push-pull squeezebox, just by tonguing.

The name is Accordina. They were originally invented by the Borel company, along with a piano keyboard twin, the Clavietta.

With this revival, the sound is different because the wood box has a “cassotto” effect. Also, the reeds are harder: steel, “fatto a mano”.

The idea was to give it more back-pressure, and save gas so you can take advantage of the “C” system keyboard, i.e. full extended chords.

For the same reason, the air duct/chamber is as small, rigid and short as possible; this eliminates the sluggishness of the bigger Melodicas, and allow not only triple-tonguings but even tongue-flutters or growls.

While expensive, these cost a fraction of a melodeon of similar quality.

Also the choice of keyboard (and single reeding, “dry”) makes it extremely compact: you can tote one about anywhere. Try and get a smaller wind with over three octaves (plus chords!). Some smarties will chime in there’s always a small clarinet. Well, before I can blow one of these throughout 3 1/2 octaves, fast, chromatically AND in tune, well…

This month, I should be finally able to try out a Vibrandoneon, same system but with double reeds (bandoneon tuning plus two single-voice registers).

For those interested in these “mouth-blown harmonium” family, see http://akkordeon-maurer.de/documents/d/Accordina_Blasakkordeon_Clavietta_Claviola_Melodica_Vibrandoneon%20.htm#Clavietta
Sorry, this time it’s in German. You’ll see it’s nothing new, and the Melodica isn’t the sole one with popularity. What are rare are those with the “accord” (chord) type keyboards.

Also the original Borel Accordina, cheaper than the wooden redevelopment opening this thread is manufactured again in France:

See the manufacturer http://www.accordinas.com/accordina_en/accordina_jazz.htm?en_accordina
also http://perso.club-internet.fr/manoury/index.html/accordina.html

This dealer here is in Germany, but talks/writes three languages and can supply the accordinas too. Fine guy, who lives from acoordeon, piano and harpsichords tuning…
http://akkordeon-maurer.de/accordion_workshop.htm

P.S.: Interestingly, the two persons linked above share a special interest for bandoneon music, especially Piazzola’s.
Well, I guess I didn’t really chance upon them… :sunglasses:
Btw, the same people who do the “Vibrandoneon” recently introduced this, simply (?) labelled “Astor” http://www.accordions.it/bandoneon.html

10

I don’t read french so good and can’t find the link to the clips. Could someone post the link please?

11

My fault. Here’s something more direct:
http://www.boite-accordeon.com/index5.html

Click, in the right frame where it says

ÉCOUTEZ L’ACCORDINA

extrait 1 - extrait 2 - extrait 3 - extrait 4 - extrait 5 - extrait 6 - extrait 7

Each underlined word links to a track and reference.

While I’m at it, another history museum from the same Accordina maker: http://www.boite-accordeon.com/accord.html

12

Here’s another wooden chromatic instrument:

Great sound, too!

Dana

13

Looks like it has braces! :boggle:

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H’mmm, no wonder it’s so expensive. And I’d already paid for braces for one of the kids. Now I’m supposed to buy them for my flute?

Dana

15

Thanks for another interesting instrument thread Zoob! Those sound clips are great. By its appearance it doesn’t look like it can do so much but WOW. Lightening fast action.

P.S. Congratulations Zoob! :smiley: :party:

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A couple phone calls gave some extra information, notably price, delays on these.

NB: the prices are in Euros, with the 18.6 % VAT included. Thus, you may consider the Euro figure will be the dollar one for export to the US.

Never assume beforehand… since the Borel remake:

with standard steel reeds, stainless steel case, plastic keys and mechanism is 1,200 Euros, with a two months delay.

While the Jarry development:

is 1,100 Euros, six months delay, in a choice of “european” woods: walnut, cherrywood, maple, etc.
Reeds are steel, fatto a mano.

Tropical woods (cocobolo, rosewoods, etc.) will seriously hike the price, by up to 50%.

Talking to Laurent Jarry, he advised that walnut and cherrywood are acoustically among the best.

Fine guy with a passion for music and his instruments, apparently, so I’m talking him into attending the Mesquer ITM Festival first week-end of July. :smiley:

Btw, this

is not Mouth-Harpo Marx,
but Jacques Bolognesi, composer and player of accordina, jazz accordion, piano and… trombone. I hear he currently plays the trombone in Michel Legrand and Martial Solal jazz orchestras.