L'Accordeonaire
Music of Auvergne, Centre France, Brittany, and other places
Category: Hohner
New Accordion Tattoo!
Got this done today. A bit of fatalistic faldarall thrust in the face of a cold, unfeeling universe. I like it. So there. This was done by Moonman Sam (Hill) in Hallowell, Maine. You may recall Sam’s previous work on me.
Welcome to a New Box
A beautiful box Ah, joy! Today I took delivery of my new box, a Hohner Erica A/D, sent from England by its previous owner, a denizen of the inestimable melodeon.net. I’ve had my eye out for an A/D box for a while. I found…
Correspondance with L’Accordéonaire, Part 2
Continuing my correspondence with David Maust (begun in the previous post).__________Hooked!Jan. 26, 2014 Spoiler! He goes for the Panther! Hi Gary, Thank you for the thoughtful reply! You have given me a lot to think about and I appreciate the invitation to continue the…
Correspondance with L’Accordéonaire, Part 1
Very often I am asked questions along the line of “How can I get started?” or “What sort instrument should a beginner buy?” These are questions that don’t have pat answers, but they can start great conversations. David Maust, a piano accordion player who…
First Tunes with the Baffetti
Videos down below! The Dino Baffetti Tex-Mex II/34 arrived on Thursday! Very exciting! I had intended to do an internal examination of the box, a la Owen Woods or Daddy Long Les, but I found I couldn’t bear to take a screw driver to it,…
Andy Cutting’s Boxes (Pics!)
Discussing his non-collection, Andy Cutting sent along pictures of some of his accordéons. Not pictured are any of the three Mory boxes, which are somewhat ubiquitous in Cutting’s photos. One of the Maxes, the Pokerwork, the Mignon, and … what is that with the…
Andy Cutting Interview Part 2: Gear Talk
Part One is Here.Andy Cutting does NOT have an accordéon collection. Listening to Andy Cutting, one is entranced, of course, by his playing, but one also marvels — perhaps with a modicum of jealousy — at the sound of his instruments. I asked Cutting…
A MADness of Hohners
Some months ago, Lester Bailey posted the below video as a submission for the June 2011 Melodeon.net tune-of-the-month, the tune “Lemmy Brazil’s No. 2.” I’ve come back to it again and again, ever since. Played on a plethora of Hohner accordions, Lester’s vid gives…
A Conversation with Sylvain Piron
Part One Sylvain Piron Sylvain Piron – diatonist, piper, nickelharpa-ist, dancer, and singer – has been a central figure in the traditional French music and dance scene of Alsace for years. He might deny that, but ask any of the dancers and musicians around…
Two Accordions For Sale — SOLD
UPDATE: The Giordy has been sold to a good home. The Corso has gone back to the Button Box for trade toward the Nik. Thanks, everyone. Breaking from the usual festivities, I’d like to point out that I’m currently selling two accordions in hopes…
My Trip to Alsace (Part One)
In 2003, my wife, Bethany, and I were given the gift of a trip to Alsace, France, to visit my accordion teacher, Sylvain Piron, his wife, storyteller Catherine Piron-Paira, and their family. I wrote the following shortly after the trip. It appeared some time…
The Mighty Corso
Me and my Hohner Corso. Love. Among the folks corrupted by my accordion influence are those who I’ve actually lent one of my older accordions to, either at my suggestion or their request, so that they might “give it a try.” The truth is,…
Le Bon Truc
