Accordion

The accordion carries its history in its sound. Developed in early 19th-century Europe from the free-reed principle, it spread rapidly across folk traditions: Cajun Louisiana, Norwegian fjords, Buenos Aires tango halls, Irish sessions. Immigrants carried it wherever they moved, and traditions that picked it up made it their own. At its core: air forced through metal reeds by bellows, with pitch determined by which reeds are opened by buttons or keys. The chromatic button, diatonic button, and piano accordion each have their own players, their own fingering traditions, and their own repertoire. Choosing between them depends on the music.