Irish Accordion Views
Irish accordion in the United States starts with the familiar melodeon - the ten-key diatonic accordion pitched in the key of D.(Smithsonian Notes) There are probably no records of anyone playing Irish music on the accordion before John Kimmel(1866–1942).[1][2] Kimmel was a German-American musician, born in Brooklyn, who played saxophone, piano and the melodian. Not only was Kimmel an accomplished player of Irish music, he was also accomplished playing the standard American music of the period. He recorded extensively on cylinder and disk cutting his first cylinder in 1904(?). Although he played a single row accordion his performances have stood the test of time.
In the 1920s a Galway born accordionist made a great impression on Irish music. This was Peter Conlon (c 1885-c 1954). He recorded extensively beginning about 1917 (according to Harry Bradshaw)[citation needed]. During this period of time there seems to be no record of any accordion players in Ireland. It is unlikely that there were none, but there are no records indicating otherwise. Again, Conlon played a ten-key accordion pitched in D.
In the mid-fifties Paddy O'Brien & [[Joe Cooley99 appeared in the New York Irish music scene. Their style was unique. No one in the States played that way. O'Brien & Cooley imitated the violin and/or flute style of playing. It was a slow unaccented smooth performance. It was the introduction of legato playing to the accordion.
The Irish accordion, also sometimes called the button accordion, is a full-sized instrument with buttons instead of piano keys. The Irish accordion is a wonderful way to create music that you and your friends can enjoy. These instruments come in two varieties: the diatonic Irish accordion, which only plays in a single key, and the chromatic Irish accordion, which can play in any key.
Irish Accordion Images
