Bruno Maurice & The Appassionata Bayan

[Walker]

I just discovered a brilliant accordionist from France who plays a special vintage Appassionata bayan (he has two of them).

Musician: Bruno Maurice
Accordion: Appassionata bayan created by V. Kolchin (b-griff, 64 notes treble, 5 voice - LMMHH, 10 chin switches, 138 bass)

 

[Dingo40]

Thanks, Walker, for sharing these clips: very enjoyable!

 

[Walker]

@Dingo40, You are welcome buddy. There is always someone just around the corner who has something that can teach me how little I know about the accordion. And well, I just love listening and learning... I am going to try and purchase Bruno Maurice's cd (middle recording etc) because I think his button accordion sounds as good as anything ever made. I also really like his music style - it's that wistful, floaty, orchestral accordion music with a hint of French style woven through it.
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Here's the tune from the Hamlet cigar advert on television. I vaguely remember it when I was a boy...



It pains me to say it, but I don't think there was ever an Appassionata bayan with piano keyboard. That's a rare and classic button accordion that the Golden Age can't claim for the PA. Never mind, can't win 'em all...

​

 

[debra]

Very interesting instrument (and played brilliantly). It must be a real beast to play. A regular 4-voice bayan with 64 notes is already large and heavy. The largest and heaviest I have seen before this is the Hohner with 56 notes in 5-voices. That one is already really cramped. I have no idea where even more notes would go...

 

[godgi]

I think I came across this before the instruments might be made in Ukraine.
Godgi

 

[dunlustin]

Interesting articles here:

Appassionata - Bruno Maurice

L'appassionata est unnouveau modèle d'accordéon BAYAN fabriqué par V.A. KOLCHIN à Moscou sous la direction de Zinoviev. 20 modèles environ seront développés

www.brunomaurice.com

Around 20 of these bayans made between 1971 and 1987 of which Bruno Maurice has tracked down 16.
As to the weight, thanks to clever choice of materials: 'un poids raisonnable de 14kg'
re Ukraine - BM discovered their existence in Ukraine but they were designed and made in Moscow

 

[Walker]

Yes, it seems Maurice discovered the Appassionata when studying in Kyiv. According to Maurice (see his website for more information), Kolchin designed bayans at the Experimental Accordion Factory in Moscow. In 1971, the first Appassionata model was made for the artist Besfamilnov. Apart from the impressive statistics, already noted, the instrument had a 2nd piccolo voice - at the back of the treble keyboard. Also, the free bass had 69 notes and 3 voices.

Maurice clearly considered the Appassionata to be the ultimate accordion. He makes a direct comparison with another famous accordion builder, Yuri Volkovich, who also worked at the Experimental Accordion Factory and created a famous Jupiter bayan in the 1970s. Maurice notes that with the Volkovich type Jupiter there was “a problem which is difficult to solve, which hinders the tuning of the voices in the region of the first low octave.” He does not elaborate other than to suggest Vassili Kolchin's design has no such defect...

If we are looking at statistics alone, it is hard to argue against Maurice's great admiration for the Appassionata as being an all time great. It sounds ace too.​

 

[lordzedd]

Nikolay at BelloBasso has an Appassionata in his list of upcoming instruments for sale. I'd expect a big price tag.