Welcome to our series featuring Unique Holidays: June 2022: National Accordion Awareness Month. I don’t know about you but the only think I know about the Accordion is from Family Matters. Which means Charlie and I need to research Accordions in his Homeschool Music Class. Would you like to join us as we listen to music featuring the Accordion?
National Accordion Awareness Month
Celebrate National Accordion Awareness Day in June to give Accordion its appreciation. This celebration has a specific purpose to educate people about the Accordion and acknowledge its contribution to music.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL ACCORDION AWARENESS MONTH
The Accordion also called the ‘Concertina’ is primarily used to accompany traditional Polka music but the Accordion has been featured in many classical and modern musical works, including Jazz and Zydeco to Folk, Gospel, and Blues.
The oldest name for the Accordion is derived from the Greek word ‘Harmonikos’, which means ‘harmonic’ or ‘musical’. As you can see the Accordion goes by many names across the world. Including ‘Akkerdeon’ in Germany, ‘Fiarmonica’ in Italy, ‘Bayan’ in Russia, ‘Sun-Fin-Chin’ in China, ‘Harmonium’ in Pakistan, and ‘Trekspill’ in Norway. But the Accordion is commonly just called ‘Accordion’ in many Countries.
The invention of the Accordion is a subject of much debate among researchers. Some credit Austria as the Accordion birthplace, others think the Accordion was invented in Berlin. What researchers do know is that the Accordion spread around the globe because of European immigration into other Countries.
The Accordion made it into popular music in the 19th Century, with five players Pietro Frosini, brothers Count Guido Deiro and Pietro Deiro, Slovenian brothers Vilko Ovsenik and Slavko Avsenik, and Charles Magnante. Who becoming major influences during this period. While Vaudeville Theatres closed during the Great Depression, Accordionists performed for and taught via the radio. The rise of Rock and Roll finally caused the decline of Accordions in popular music, but the Accordion has since been revived, with multiple musicians like Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp using the Accordion in their songs.
NATIONAL ACCORDION AWARENESS MONTH ACTIVITIES
- What better way to honor the Accordion than to permanently bring one into your life? Research the best affordable Accordions and grab one for yourself. If you are worried about the space the Accordion might take? Or if you have no time to learn the Accordion then do a good deed and give the Accordion to someone who appreciates music, or donate the Accordion to your local music class.
- The Accordion is not only beautiful to hear but to play, too. Multiple instructors offer quick lessons online including on YouTube. Master the basics with enough practice and maybe you will soon put out your own concerts featuring famous songs played on an Accordion.
- Playing the Accordion requires skilled dexterity and talent that takes a lot of hard work to master. Honor those who have put in the work, and check out local players, or watch them play online. Share your discovery with the world and help spread awareness about the Accordion.
5 FUN FACTS ABOUT THE ACCORDION
- The Accordion is an official musical instrument. Detroit, St. Paul, and Skokie recognize the Accordion as their official instrument. San Francisco has designated the Piano Accordion as its official musical instrument since 1990.
- Lucy Liu of “Charlie’s Angels” fame and Christina Hendricks from “Mad Men” can both play the Accordion.
- America registered 75,000 people as certified Accordion players in 1990.
- Many leading Accordion manufacturing companies like Excelsior, Pigini, Victoria, Castagnari, are located in Italy.
- There was a show about Accordions called “Play Your Accordion,” which was a Russian television game show/talent contest.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL ACCORDION AWARENESS MONTH
- Accordions can be used in a variety of music styles over the years. If we didn’t have a Holiday to raise awareness about Accordions, we probably would not have known how versatile and incredible the Accordion is.
- Everyone loves good music, don’t they? Celebrations that honor music and musical instruments, like National Accordion Awareness Month, are designed to raise awareness about everything music-related.
- Where the Accordion came from, when the Accordion originated, how initial versions looked is what this Holiday teaches about the Accordion.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
