education

The Accordion and Its’ Cultural Significance Around the World.

Summation: The accordion has a rich and varied history in Europe and around the world. I present my music along with a wealth of knowledge about accordion cultures, in order to build educational and foster understanding of various ethnicities and their native folk music.

Background: The accordion is often used in folk music in Europe, North America and South America, and in some countries, such as Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, it is also commonly used in mainstream pop music. In Europe and North America, it is often associated with busking. Some popular music acts also make use of the instrument. Additionally, the accordion is sometimes used in both solo and orchestra performances of classical music.

Traditional music styles incorporating the accordion

RegionStyle nameMain accordion type (if applicable)
ArgentinaTangoChamaméCuartetoPolkaBandoneonDiatonic button accordion
AustriaSchrammelmusikSchrammelharmonika (Chromatic button accordion)
The BahamasRake-and-scrapeDiatonic button accordion
Basque CountryBasque musicTrikitixa (Diatonic button accordion)
BohemiaPolka
BoliviaHuaynoCueca
BrazilForró (in northeastern Brazil); Rio Grande do Sul’s traditional music, which include the following genres: MilongaChamaméPolcaTangoValsaXoteRasguido DobleVaneraBugioChamarra and RancheiraSertanejoDiatonic button accordionPiano accordionBandoneon
BrittanyBreton ‘Fest Noz’ musicDiatonic button accordionChromatic Button Accordion C System
BulgariaHoro “Хоро”
CanadaFrench-Canadian musicMusic of Newfoundland and Labrador
CanadaInuit musicDiatonic button accordion
Cape VerdeFunaná
CataloniaCatalan folk musicDiatonic button accordion (Marimon style)
ColombiaCumbiaVallenatoPasilloDiatonic button accordion
CaucasusLezginka
ChileCuecaPiano accordion
Dominican RepublicMerengueDiatonic button accordion
Eastern EuropeKlezmer
EnglandSea shanty
Eastern EuropeMusic of Southeastern EuropeChromatic Button Accordion B System
EgyptBaladi
EnglandMorris DancingSea shantyDiatonic button accordion (melodeon)
FranceBal-musette , Chanson réalisteDiatonic button accordion
GreeceRebetiko
HondurasCorridoCumbia
Ireland (Éire)Irish traditional music (ceol, “trad”)B/C,C#/D (23 key, 8 bass button accordion)
ItalySaltarelloOrganetto (2, 4, and 8 Bass Diatonic)
ItalyTarantellaOrganetto (2, 4, and 8 Bass Diatonic)
JapanRyūkōka
KoreaTrot music
MadagascarSalegyBatrelaky
MexicoNorteñoCorridoRancheraCumbia
NetherlandsLevenslied
PanamaTamboritoCumbia
ParaguayChamamé
PeruHuaynoVals
PortugalPimba
RomaniaCzardas, Generic traditional music not specified by name.
RussiaGeneric traditional music not specified by name.
ScotlandCountry DanceBothy BandPiano accordionDiatonic Button Accordion C,C#,D
SpainPasodobleJota
Sonoran DesertChicken scratch
South AfricaBoeremusiekConcertinaPiano accordion
SwitzerlandYodel, Generic traditional music not specified by name.
ThailandMor lam
ThailandLuk thung
Turks and CaicosRipsaw music
United States of AmericaCajun musicDiatonic button accordion
United States of AmericaTejano
United States of AmericaWestern musicPiano accordion Diatonic button accordion
United States of AmericaZydeco
UruguayChamarritaMilongaPolcaRancheraTango, Vanera, XoteBandoneonDiatonic button accordion (verdulera), Piano accordion (acordeona)
VenezuelaJoropo
Various countriesGeneric traditional music not specified by name, such as Swiss folk music, etc., that can be any one of the entries in the list of cultural and regional genres of music.