Meet trad music’s MAIN SQUEEZE

All jokes aside, the accordion is seriously popular

IWAS trying to decide the other day which musical instrument has given me the most pleasure in my travels over the years.

The flamboyant staccato chords of the flamenco, perhaps? Or the soft lilt of the fiddle in the Shetlands maybe? Perhaps even the bombarde of Brittany (not as frightening as it sounds).

But surprisingly enough it’s the accordion. From the cadences of eightsome reels on the Isle of Skye, to the plaintive melodies of Cajun music in deepest Louisiana, I’ve enjoyed the unmistakable sound of the squeeze box.

I mean, I know all the jokes: the best way to play the accordion is with a pen-knife — a quote often credited to Sean Ó Riada, but was probably from Seamus Ennis, the uilleann piper. There’s also a rather good cartoon by Gary Larson which depicts sinners queuing at the gates of hell. The devil is greeting each one with the words, ‘Welcome, welcome! Here’s your accordion...’

The accordion also makes an appearance in that great parlour game Things They Never Said. You know the kind of thing: Neville Chamberlain’s, ‘I have to tell you that no such undertaking has been received and consequently we are at war with Switzerland.’

Samuel Becket’s non-quote would of course be, ‘Stage directions: enter Godot.’

My own favourite is Julius Caesar’s, ‘Huh, I might have known you’d be in the thick of things, Brutus.’

In a variation of this famous game, a version called Things They Never Say at a trad session includes: ‘You can hardly hear accordion — do you think you could play a bit louder?’ Or: ‘I’m sorry, you can’t sit there. We’re saving it for the accordion player.’

This negative, and uncalled for attitude is widespread — and to be fair you just couldn’t imagine George Harrison singing, ‘While my accordion gently weeps.’

Nonetheless, the instrument is used across the world in every type of music from the tango to Tex Mex, and from street music in Paris, to busking in Galway.

So where did the accordion come from, and why is it so dominant in Irish music? Instrumentally speaking, it’s a bit of a hybrid, with many cousins — among them the harmonium and mouth organ.

But the original parent of all accordions, concertinas and melodeons is the sheng, an ancient Chinese contraption.

The development of the modern accordion largely took place in Germany, Italy, Austria and France during the 19th century. The concertina was jointly invented in England and Germany.

There are two main types of concertinas, based on their different fingering systems — rather confusingly, one is called the Anglo, the other the English. The Anglo, usually referred to as the German, is the preferred instrument in Ireland.

The bigger accordion can be brash as well as soulful, so it’s as suitable for a raucous singalong as it is for a poignant lament. Never mind that some call it a bagpipe with pleats, its influence in Irish music has been crucial.

Not just because it was an easily obtainable and relatively cheap instrument to buy, thus spreading the reach of the tradition, but it actually helped develop the music. The accordion even changed the music in subtle fashion.

A fiddle player can play a grace note — a decoration — with a flick of the finger or a stutter on the bow. An accordion player can’t do that — all notes on the accordion have the same value. So, regularly, grace notes played by accordion players became part of the tune.

The various types of accordion became popular in Ireland largely because of the railways in the late 19th century. Trains quickly made the postal services a viable proposition, and mail order firms began offering all sorts of goods — including cheap accordions, melodeons and concertinas from, mainly, Germany and Italy.

I’m mentioning this partly because it’s good for you to know as many accordion facts as possible; it will stand you in good stead. But I also want to tell you about the Columbanus Community Folk Festival taking place in Bangor, Co Down, from June 12-19.

Ireland’s greatest accordion player, in my humble opinion, will be taking the stage. Máirtín O’Connor will be appearing with Séamie O’Dowd and Cathal Hayden and will also be holding workshops. Head along to the gig, but don’t bother telling any accordion jokes — they’ll have heard them all.