Helena Simonett Originally from Switzerland, she holds a PhD in ethnomusicology from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). She is Senior Research Associate at the Competence Center for Music Research and Pedagogy, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. She has published several books, Band: Mexican Musical Life across Borders (2001), In Sinaloa I was born: History of Banda Music (2004, coord.), The Accordion in the Americas (2012) and A Latin American Music Reader: Views from the South (2016, coord.) and numerous articles in scientific journals and specialized books on countries such as the United States, Colombia, France, England and Germany.

Temáticas

The Conquests of the Accordion. From the Old Worlds to New Horizons

  • Helena Simonett

The accordion and its many variants - from the concertina and button accordion to the hurdy-gurdy and bandoneon - have flourished and taken root in diverse cultures. Commonly known as "the common man's piano," this instrument became a medium for the growth of folk and popular music in different regions of the world, especially between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. xix and early xx. For that reason, being a "one man band" facilitated its use among the people of the popular sectors, for its ability to produce melodies, harmonies and basses at the same time. It was also strong and durable, ideal for outdoor gatherings. This chapter follows the history of the accordion from its beginnings in Europe to the New World, on the other side of the Atlantic.