I'm a button box player, and a few days ago I realized that I don't know something that any musican should know well: a history of the instrument I play (not history of my particular box, but history of irish button accordions in general, I mean).
I tried googling, and, to my great surprise, have found nothing. I suppose I either googled wrong, or not good enough - that can't be true that there's no information regarding such a popular instrument.
So. Could you give me some links? I'm looking for articles on the history of diatonic accordions in general, and on the history of the ones used to play the irish music - and the early masters of them.
Hi, you should check out the article by Graeme Smith, "Modern-Style Irish Accordion Playing: History, Biography, and Class," Ethnomusicology 41/3 (Fall 1997): 433-63
Sorry, I don't have it anymore, but I used it as a part of my master's thesis some time ago.
I'm pretty sure Sean Garvey's website has a good article on the origins of the accordions. "allaboutaccordions.com"
It's mainly foused of the "soprani" family having invented it I think.
"Sorry Guest, you are banned from using this forum" Banned doesn't mean thrown out, banished, or otherwise sent to the naughty step. It means you aren't allowed in. This is because you are trying to enter a forum, and you aren't a member -- you are a guest. If you join, or register, I daresay (I don't use the site so I don't know) that you will be allowed to use the forum. I was looking at a box site not long ago which was quite illuminating. I'll try to find it.
Breqwas - This type of discussion came up on the board some time ago. This was my contribution then. You may find it useful ............................
I was always led to believe that the first two row player of a B/C accordion in these islands was Peter Wyper of Scotland. He is certainly credited with the first recordings of the instrument. At that time in Ireland it was mostly one row instruments that were been played. In New York a German immigrant and bar owner name of John Kimmel became an exponent of the one row box and recorded many of his own compositions mainly jigs in the twenties and thirties. In Scotland in the twenties and thirties Jimmy Shand and William Starr both played B/C two row instruments. it was only when Shand was demonstrating accordions for Forbes of Dundee in 1934 that he talked about the possibility of producing an instrument with more bass and treble keys. Hohner, working on his specifications, produced the first three row B/C/C# accordion with 80 bass. The accordion at the time was given the brand name 'L'Organola' Eventually Shand's name was added by Hohner and the famous Shand Marino was born.
In Ireland in the late thirties Michael Grogan from Mullingar recorded two reels 'Hand me down the tackle' and 'My Love is in America' on a Hohner B/C box which had begun to appear on the scene at that time. I'm inclined to think that Grogan would have to be credited with being the first exponent of the B/C box in Ireland. During WWII for obvious reasons new accordions were hard to get, and it was after the war that the Soprani Bros started making high class instruments in B/C - C#/D - C/C# and I'm assuming D/D#. In the fifties two row boxes, usually Paolo Sopranis were selling like hotcakes. In fact the Sopranis were so popular with the Irish that they were shown in catalogues as 'The Irish Accordion' B/C player Paddy O'Brien was the hero of two row players in the early fifties and his recordings were widely listen to and his style copied by many players. Another hero of mine in the fifties was Kieran Kelly who won the All Ireland Accordion on a B/C in the Cavan Fleadh of 1954. He was often featured on the Bell Accordions Sponsored programmes on Luxembourg 208. in the late fifties
Nice one FR. Paddy 'Bawn' O'Brien was generally credited by many to be 'the' major influence in the popularization of the B/C box in Ireland - a great character, lovely on the flute, and a neat step dancer too, and composer of "Poor But Happy"...
Hi, "C" - how you doin' ?. Are you sure you're not combining 2 Paddy O'Briens into 1 here ? Your flute-playing, step-dancing Paddy O'Brien, Paddy "Bawn", composer of "Poor But Happy", I'd always thought came from Dublin [ I could be corrected on that ]. But without doubt the Paddy O'Brien who was " a major influence in the popularization of the B/C box in Ireland", was from Tipparary. Both fine musicians, but not the same person.
Interesting. I've also heard that Joe Burke's use a of a listener friendly repertoire also had much to do with popularization of the box. Cooley I have also heard as being a major force in popularization, but he seems to be best remembered for his play in live venues.
I alway's thought Paddy O'Brien's popularity stemmed from attraction to the box players.
Even though I was told that the Burke arrangements are often the ones that are most often emulated.
History of Irish Button Accordion
History of Irish Button Accordion
I'm a button box player, and a few days ago I realized that I don't know something that any musican should know well: a history of the instrument I play (not history of my particular box, but history of irish button accordions in general, I mean).
I tried googling, and, to my great surprise, have found nothing. I suppose I either googled wrong, or not good enough - that can't be true that there's no information regarding such a popular instrument.
So. Could you give me some links? I'm looking for articles on the history of diatonic accordions in general, and on the history of the ones used to play the irish music - and the early masters of them.
Thank you in advance!
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by breqwas
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
P.S.
"An Error Has Occurred!
Sorry Guest, you are banned from using this forum!"
- says melodeon.net to me when I open it. WTF?! :( I have never posted there, and did not even have an account there :(
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by breqwas
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
Hi, you should check out the article by Graeme Smith, "Modern-Style Irish Accordion Playing: History, Biography, and Class," Ethnomusicology 41/3 (Fall 1997): 433-63
Sorry, I don't have it anymore, but I used it as a part of my master's thesis some time ago.
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by matti
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
http://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=2347
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by ∅
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
I'm pretty sure Sean Garvey's website has a good article on the origins of the accordions. "allaboutaccordions.com"
It's mainly foused of the "soprani" family having invented it I think.
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by Cian O Gallchobhair
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
I got a great book out of the Library the
The Companion to Irish Traditional Music
Fintan Vallely, editor
http://www.irishmusicreview.com/companion.htm
It has a huge sections on instruments the history and musicians.
It's brilliant to read.
Phil
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by philip kelly
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
Yeah, I can warmly recommend that Vallely book also!
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by matti
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
"Sorry Guest, you are banned from using this forum" Banned doesn't mean thrown out, banished, or otherwise sent to the naughty step. It means you aren't allowed in. This is because you are trying to enter a forum, and you aren't a member -- you are a guest. If you join, or register, I daresay (I don't use the site so I don't know) that you will be allowed to use the forum. I was looking at a box site not long ago which was quite illuminating. I'll try to find it.
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by gam
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
I cant tell you much about the History of 2 Row Button Accordions but heres some of Its Master's
Old and New - jim,,,
Joe Cooley 1924 - 1973
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGzJdoMeoQY
Finbar Dwyer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-aEnSY7z6o&feature=related
Johnny O'Leary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x67j_aWFqxk
Joe Burke
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcThzEOBv30
Paddy O'Brien
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS7yWpKDXDg
Tony Mac Mahon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VazIQ4-nG4I&feature=related
Jackie Daly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upEilWXAJn4
Martin O'Connor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNdxrffoLws
Sharon Shannon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPxV8LIBeJU&feature=related
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
This was it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQglJZFjUsc
You might also find these interseting -- how they're made.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qyzcSfvOwc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfO7wc15LpE&feature=related
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by gam
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
gam -
A Brilliant Link I enjoyed that - jim,,,
I Love those old Single row Accordions even better,
and some of its Masters -
Johnny Connolly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLAg7W5Jfo8&feature=related
Bobby Gardiner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrHOVnFLOV4
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by FIDDLE4
BEWARE the Internet bogies
"allaboutaccordions.com" ~ !!!
It seems this site comes with a warning that it is unhealthy to access, spyware and the like...
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by ceolachan
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
Breqwas - This type of discussion came up on the board some time ago. This was my contribution then. You may find it useful ............................
I was always led to believe that the first two row player of a B/C accordion in these islands was Peter Wyper of Scotland. He is certainly credited with the first recordings of the instrument. At that time in Ireland it was mostly one row instruments that were been played. In New York a German immigrant and bar owner name of John Kimmel became an exponent of the one row box and recorded many of his own compositions mainly jigs in the twenties and thirties. In Scotland in the twenties and thirties Jimmy Shand and William Starr both played B/C two row instruments. it was only when Shand was demonstrating accordions for Forbes of Dundee in 1934 that he talked about the possibility of producing an instrument with more bass and treble keys. Hohner, working on his specifications, produced the first three row B/C/C# accordion with 80 bass. The accordion at the time was given the brand name 'L'Organola' Eventually Shand's name was added by Hohner and the famous Shand Marino was born.
In Ireland in the late thirties Michael Grogan from Mullingar recorded two reels 'Hand me down the tackle' and 'My Love is in America' on a Hohner B/C box which had begun to appear on the scene at that time. I'm inclined to think that Grogan would have to be credited with being the first exponent of the B/C box in Ireland. During WWII for obvious reasons new accordions were hard to get, and it was after the war that the Soprani Bros started making high class instruments in B/C - C#/D - C/C# and I'm assuming D/D#. In the fifties two row boxes, usually Paolo Sopranis were selling like hotcakes. In fact the Sopranis were so popular with the Irish that they were shown in catalogues as 'The Irish Accordion' B/C player Paddy O'Brien was the hero of two row players in the early fifties and his recordings were widely listen to and his style copied by many players. Another hero of mine in the fifties was Kieran Kelly who won the All Ireland Accordion on a B/C in the Cavan Fleadh of 1954. He was often featured on the Bell Accordions Sponsored programmes on Luxembourg 208. in the late fifties
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by Free Reed
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
Nice one FR. Paddy 'Bawn' O'Brien was generally credited by many to be 'the' major influence in the popularization of the B/C box in Ireland - a great character, lovely on the flute, and a neat step dancer too, and composer of "Poor But Happy"...
# Posted on February 6th 2011 by ceolachan
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
Hi, "C" - how you doin' ?. Are you sure you're not combining 2 Paddy O'Briens into 1 here ? Your flute-playing, step-dancing Paddy O'Brien, Paddy "Bawn", composer of "Poor But Happy", I'd always thought came from Dublin [ I could be corrected on that ]. But without doubt the Paddy O'Brien who was " a major influence in the popularization of the B/C box in Ireland", was from Tipparary. Both fine musicians, but not the same person.
# Posted on February 7th 2011 by Kenny
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
Interesting. I've also heard that Joe Burke's use a of a listener friendly repertoire also had much to do with popularization of the box. Cooley I have also heard as being a major force in popularization, but he seems to be best remembered for his play in live venues.
I alway's thought Paddy O'Brien's popularity stemmed from attraction to the box players.
Even though I was told that the Burke arrangements are often the ones that are most often emulated.
# Posted on February 7th 2011 by zippydw
Re: History of Irish Button Accordion
Kenny, yes, I meant the Dubliner, and yes, many considered him the major influence in B/C playing, not the Tipperary O'Brien...
And yes Zip, Joe too... Being based in Dublin is a good start for influencing others...
# Posted on February 7th 2011 by ceolachan