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Like its close relation the concertina, the accordion is a glorified mouth organ, in which the ‘reeds’ (now generally made of tempered steel) are set in vibration by a rectangular bellows. The bellows are operated by the left hand, which also – as in all keyboard instruments – manipulates the so-called bass keyboard, in this case a ...

Source: The Illustrated Complete Musical Instruments Handbook, general editor Lucien Jenkins

organ, the harmonium, was developed in the early-nineteenth century, being used in small churches and for domestic music-making. The harmonica, or mouth organ, and the accordion also date from this time, and were initially popular in folk music and among amateurs. 1850–1900 The Romantic period continued, and music became longer and more large-scale, ...

Source: The Illustrated Complete Musical Instruments Handbook, general editor Lucien Jenkins

a rule, drums tend to play a more subdued role in country music’s overall mix than in rock’n’roll. Other Instruments Though less central to the overall sound, the accordion, dulcimer, autoharp, zither and harmonica are among the other instruments often featured in country music for artists in search of a more exotic or old-timey musical feel. ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

warmth of Dvořák’s delectable Bagatelles (Op. 47) for two violins, cello and harmonium. Free Reeds The harmonium belongs to the family of ‘free-reed’ instruments that includes not only the accordion and concertina but such ancient instruments as the near-universal jew’s harp and the sheng of China, whose importation to St Petersburg in the eighteenth century is said to have ...

Source: The Illustrated Complete Musical Instruments Handbook, general editor Lucien Jenkins

like Charles-Marie Widor and Cesar Franck), up to the massive auditorium organ in Atlantic City, New Jersey, reckoned to be as loud as two dozen brass bands. Piano Accordion The piano accordion, effectively an outsize mouth organ with bellows and a keyboard, emerged in the early nineteenth century as a Viennese invention; its roots go back 5 ...

Source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music, general editor Paul Du Noyer

Bass Drum The dominant feature of every military band is its big bass drum. Throughout the history of percussion instruments, this drum has been the mainstay of time-keeping, whether it is used for a marching army or in a late-twentieth century heavy metal band. Early versions of the bass drum (it was certainly known in Asia around 3500 BC) ...

Source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music, general editor Paul Du Noyer

Acoustic Guitar Throughout its history, the guitar has – perhaps more than any other instrument – managed to bridge the gap between the often disconnected worlds of classical, folk and popular music. Its roots go back to Babylonian times; by the 1500s it was prevalent in Spain, and is still sometimes called the Spanish guitar. Medieval versions – ...

Source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music, general editor Paul Du Noyer

vocals rather than flamboyant shouting – as well as his vivid lyric imagery and piano-like, contrapuntal picking artistry on both six- and 12-string guitars (he also played harmonica, accordion and fiddle) – have made him one of the most revered of the south-eastern acoustic blues artists. Styles & Forms | Twenties | Jazz & Blues Personalities | Memphis Jug ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz & Blues, founding editor Howard Mandel

(Accordion, vocals, 1925–87) This Opelousas, Louisiana native cut his teeth on French dance tunes flavoured by Creole blues, as played by his musical forebear Amédée Ardoin. Chenier invented the zydeco style by adding elements of R&B, country and rock’n’roll, combined with a swinging beat. He enjoyed a string of hit singles, including his career-making ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz & Blues, founding editor Howard Mandel

(Vocal duo, 1930s–60s) For years, husband and wife vocal team Andrew John Smik (b. 1914) and Jesse Wanda Crupe (b. 1919) sang on WWVA Jamboree, in Wheeling, West Virginia, and earned regional popularity within that radio show’s wide broadcast area. The Williamses were champions of old-time country music and their band The Border Riders created a ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

(Accordion, bandleader, 1914–2000) Pee Wee King And His Golden West Cowboys were the chief exponents of western music and western swing east of the Mississippi, best known for high-profile years on the Grand Ole Opry. An accordionist from Wisconsin of German-Polish heritage (born Kuczynski), King eased towards country music during the 1930s and towards stardom under the auspices ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1977–present) Formed in 1977 by journalist and music historian Douglas Green (b. 1946), this trio (a quartet since 1988 when Joey Miskulin first played accordion with them) have kept alive the spirit and folklore of western cowboy songs – not least in their stage shows, which include expert yodelling – performing material associated with The Sons Of ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

(Piano, accordion, vibraphone, composer, arranger, b. 1926) Stan Tracey is one of the UK’s most original and talented jazz musicians, yet he has always remained underrated by critics; Sonny Rollins is quoted as asking ‘Does anyone here realize how good he really is ?’. Londoner Tracey was playing professionally from the age of 16, ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz & Blues, founding editor Howard Mandel

– a pair of regionally popular bands of the day. In 1941, Daffan formed his own band, The Texans, and developed a distinctive sound built around an accordion and Buddy Buller’s electrified lead guitar. A few of Daffan’s mid-1940s hits, such as ‘No Letter Today’ (1944), ‘Born To Lose’ (1944) and ‘Headin’ Down The Wrong Highway’ (1945) ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, consultant editor Bob Allen

band acknowledged that its efforts were not entirely successful, but it did produce at least one landmark collaboration, with Hijas Del Sol from Equatorial Guinea. The brilliant Irish accordion star Sharon Shannon has also never been shy about diving into other musical genres, perhaps most memorably when she recorded her Out The Gap album with the Jamaican reggae ...

Source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music, general editor Paul Du Noyer
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