Symbolism
Opus 99 - Diatonic Accordion

 
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      Symbolism of
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      Symbolic
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      The Publication
      The Author
     
      Preface
      Introduction
      Making Musical Instruments
      History
      Aesthetics
      Symbolism
      Conclusion
      Bibliography
     
      Index
      Instrument Makers
      Instruments
      Video Excerpts
      Audio Excerpts
     
      Other Web Sites
      Credits
     
     
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    The accordion originated in the nineteenth century, when it was developed by Cyrillus Demian, an Armenian instrument maker living in Vienna in 1829. Classified as an aerophone, it consists of a box containing free reeds, a keyboard made up of a row of buttons on the right, and a few keys on the left for producing chords.

      Diatonic Accordion - CMC 91-20.1-2/S93-2645/CD95-730 Diatonic Accordion
    By Clément Breton
    Saint-Étienne-de-Lauzon, Quebec
    1990-1991
    Makassar ebony, maple, kingwood, cardboard, chrome-plated iron, canvas, steel reeds, leather
    Height: 28.5 cm;
    width (casings and closed
    bellows): 17 cm;
    depth: 16 cm

    The central bellows cause air to make the free reeds resonate when the fingers release the flow of air by pressing a button.

    The diatonic accordion is equipped with a mechanism that makes it possible to produce a note when the bellows are compressed and another when they are expanded. This type of accordion has been made in the province of Quebec since the turn of the century, particularly by the Québec firm Gagné et Frères. Next to the violin, it is the most popular instrument for playing traditional dance music, especially in Quebec, but in other parts of Canada and the United States as well.

    The meticulously crafted accordion shown here has four sets of reeds. It was made entirely by hand by Clément Breton, who lavished particular care on the marquetry.

         

    Clément Breton

    Clément Breton Clément Breton, building an
    accordion in his workshop, 1992.


    A native of Jonquière, Clément Breton has been making accordions for ten years. His passion for this instrument began when at the age of six he was enchanted by the concerts of his accordionist neighbour. Not until Breton was fifteen did he manage to obtain his own accordion and enjoy playing the instrument. As he became increasingly interested in the different tones and chords produced by handmade accordions, he decided to explore accordion making. Although Clément Breton builds accordions in his spare time only, he has already produced twenty instruments, which are entirely handcrafted except for the Italian-made reeds.

         

    Opus 100 - Diatonic Accordion

      Diatonic Accordion - CMC 84-144/S87-1433/CD95-175
    Diatonic Accordion
    By the firm of Gagné et Frères
    Circa 1910
    Wood, metal, cardboard
    Height: 26 cm;
    width (closed): 25 cm;
    depth: 13 cm

         

    Gagné et Frères

    Odilon Gagné (1852-1916) originally worked in wood and tinplate. Also an accordionist, he began repairing accordions and eventually turned to making them. In 1890 in Québec, he opened Gagné et Frères, a firm of artisans that made all parts of diatonic accordions on the premises. In addition, Odilon Gagné constructed approximately twenty pianos and several violins. His three sons, Wilfrid, Philias and Albert, also worked in the family business. Today, Gagné et Frères is a music store, but its owner, Paul-André Gagné, the founder's grandson, carries on the family's accordion-making tradition.

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