Bandoneon
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| Keyboard instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 412.132 (Free-reed aerophone) |
| Developed | Germany mid-1800s |
| Related instruments | |
| Chemnitzer concertina, concertina, harmonica, melodeon, reed organ, yu | |
| Musicians | |
| Aníbal Troilo | |
The bandoneon (or bandonion, Spanish: bandoneón) is a type of concertina particularly popular in Argentina, Uruguay, and Lithuania. It is an essential instrument in most tango ensembles from the traditional orquesta típica of the 1910s onwards, and in folk music ensembles of Lithuania.
The bandoneon, so named by the German instrument dealer, Heinrich Band (1821–1860), was originally intended as an instrument for religious and popular music of the day, in contrast to its predecessor, more folk music inclined German concertina (or Konzertina). Around 1870, German and Italian emigrants and sailors brought the instrument to Argentina, where it was adopted into the nascent genre of tango music, a descendant of the earlier milonga.
By 1910 bandoneons were being produced expressly for the Argentine and Uruguayan markets, with 25,000 shipping to Argentina in 1930 alone. However, declining popularity and the disruption of German manufacturing in World War II led to an end of bandoneon mass-production.
Original instruments are displayed in German museums, such as the Bandoneon Museum der Familie Preuss in Lichtenberg and the collection of the family Steinhart in Kirchzarten, Freiburg.
Bandoneons were historically produced primarily in Germany, and were never produced in Argentina itself despite their popularity. As a result, by the 2000s, vintage bandoneons had become rare and expensive (US$4,000), limiting prospective bandeonists. Accordingly, in 2014 the National University of Lanus in Buenos Aires announced their development of an affordable Argentine-made bandoneon, which they hope to market for one-third to one-half of the cost of vintage instruments.
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Wikipedia