Das Akkordeon

[Joshua Horowitz <horowitz...>]

Ever wonder why the accordion never became the emblematic instrument of
klezmer music when there are more accordion and harmonium 78 recordings of
klezmer music than all the Brandwein and Beckerman recordings combined? Find
out the gory details now! For those who can read German, the first article
on the history of the Klezmer accordion has just reached the shelves,
written by...uh...me.

It appears in a new book published by Schott on the accordion in world music
by Christoph Wagner, called:

Das Akkordeon oder die Erfindung der populären Musik
Christoph Wagner
(mit Beiträgen von Keith Chandler, Olivier Durif, Joshua Horowitz und
Stephan Meier) Schott Musik International, Mainz 2001, ISBN 3-7957-2361-2

admittedly, it should have been called "The Read Menace" but why lament
mislain politics? The first became a standard work in the literature, and
the second volume is more extended, dealing with areas not covered in the
first book (like klezmer music).

An even more extended version of my article will appear later this year in
English, published in the UK (details later), but if you can't wait to get
the "real story" behind this vastly misunderstood instrument before your
neighbors do and are gutterally equipped to read German, edify yourself
about the accordion in the past 3 centuries (1899-2001), based upon ten
years of research into the instrument and its social history, with
never-before uncovered dirty underwear secrets.

You can order the book from www.amazon.com Price: 29 Euro

Journalists interested in obtaining review copies should write off-line to
c(dot)wagner (at) appleonline(dot)net

Should the accordion be excluded from klezmer history, as certain husband
and wife conspiracies contend?

Remember the story of the accordionist who searches the want ads for a job
and sees a notice reading, ³Accompanist for high class act wanted. All
instruments welcome.² He decides to give it a try, shows up at the audition
and is given some sheet music. As his turn comes up, he struggles to get his
accordion case open, which takes some time because the clasp on the right
side sticks. He eventually borrows a nail file from the singer and
accidentally breaks off the tip while prying open the case, but finally
manages to unpack his sparkling red Hohner accordion. The bellows are
tattered and air wheezes out of the corners. The middle C rattles when it
makes a sound, which is only part of the time. The accordionist is not able
to sightread fast enough to keep tempo, has trouble holding a steady rhythm,
plays all the wrong chords in the left hand and taps his foot so loudly that
no one else can be heard above all the noise he¹s making. When he returns
home, his wife asks ³Did you get the job, honey?² to which the man answers,
nodding his head in disgust, ³Not a chance. They have a thing against
accordions.²

Josh Horowitz


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