The bandoneon is a wind instrument.
The bandoneon is a wind musical instrument that is usually used in tango . The term comes from the German Bandoneon .
This word is an acronym that is formed with the surname of the musician and luthier who created this instrument ( Heinrich Band ) and the terms Harmonika (that is, "harmonica" ) and Akkordeon (translatable as "accordion" ). In fact, the bandoneón is considered a variant of the accordion .
Characteristics of the bandoneon
The bandoneon is mentioned as a member of the concertina family, an octagonal or hexagonal accordion that has buttons on both sides and stands out for the extension of its bellows.
The bandoneon, in fact, is colloquially known as bellows in Argentina and Uruguay since this is its best-known element. The bellows is the device that collects, contains and expels the air necessary to generate sound.
The bandoneon, on the other hand, does not have keys, but rather buttons . It has a quadruple button panel because it has buttons on both sides and, in turn, these buttons produce one tone with the bellows closed and another with the bellows open.
Since its reeds (the blades that, when vibrating with the air, make sound) do not impact each other or against a mouthpiece , the bandoneon is a free-reed instrument .
It is important to keep in mind that there are numerous models and types of bandoneon. In the River Plate area, the most common bandoneon (and the one used in tango) is the one that has 71 buttons , generating 142 tones .
Tango orchestras usually have a bandoneon.
Historical tour
We said above that the bandoneon was invented by Heinrich Band . This man, born in 1821 and died in 1860, introduced modifications to the concertina and harmonica until he created this instrument .
One version indicates that, originally, the bandoneon was used to perform sacred music . Other sources, however, point out that it emerged to support harmony in folk songs typical of the southeastern region of Germany .
The bandoneon arrived in South America at the beginning of the 20th century from German immigrants and ended up being adopted by tango orchestras . In any case, it also reached other genres such as chamamé and chacarera .
Great exponents of the bandoneon
The musician who plays the bandoneon is known as a bandoneonista . Throughout history , many bandoneon players managed to stand out for their talent.
One of the great bandoneon players was the Argentine Ástor Piazzolla ( 1921 – 1992 ). Not only did he stand out for his ability to play the instrument: he also shone with compositions such as "Adiós Nonino" and "Libertango" .
Another famous bandoneon player was the Argentine Aníbal Troilo ( 1914 – 1975 ), known as “Pichuco” . Orchestra director, figures such as Edmundo Rivero , Roberto Goyeneche and Piazzolla himself played and sang alongside him.
A day in your honor
It is interesting to note that, in Argentina , Bandoneón Day is celebrated every July 11 . The chosen date remembers the birth of Troilus .
This celebration was declared by the National Congress in 2005 . Among the promoters of the project was the president of the National Academy of Tango and lyricist of the famous tango "Balada para un loco" , the poet Horacio Ferrer .