Google marks accordion’s patent anniversary with doodle

Google on Thursday commemorated the patent anniversary of German musical instrument, the accordion, with a doodle. 

The instrument, named after the German word ‘Akkord’ for ‘chord,’ was patented on 23 May 1829.

The accordion is a key instrument in folk music but has made an impact on other music genres, including pop, jazz, and classical.

Developed in the early 1800s, it’s part of a family that includes the concertina, bandoneon, and harmonium.

How does an accordion look?

In an accordion, sound is produced by expanding and contracting bellows, vibrating internal reeds. The keyboards on either side of the bellows effectively resemble individual reed organs. The right-hand keyboard plays the treble line or lines. Most keys on the left-hand (bass) keyboard sound three-note chords; “free-bass” accordions allow playing single-note lines.

Origin and popularity

The origin of the accordion is debated. Friedrich L. Buschmann patented his “Handäoline” in Germany in 1822. Meanwhile, Cyril Demian in Vienna patented a version named “Accordion” in 1829, giving the instrument its name.

Its popularity surged among European folk musicians in the late 1800s, leading German manufacturers to ramp up production. As Europeans migrated globally, the accordion gained worldwide popularity and became integral to various musical genres, including folk, cajun, Latino polka, and tango.

Modern use and cultural significance

Modern musicians play accordions with button or piano-style keyboards, sometimes incorporating electronic components for amplified or artificial sounds. Nearly two centuries later, the accordion remains vital to German culture and is universally celebrated in music.

Oktoberfest, a festival brimming with music, carnival activities, and traditional attire like Dirndl dresses and lederhosen, consistently features the accordion.