Walker
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Once upon a time, in a land far away someone had a good accordion related idea... I wonder what classical music would sound like played on an accordion? Maybe I should find out! But little did this curious person know that their idea would spread over time and it would become a 'thing'.
Soon, some people started playing classical music with all sorts of accordions. Some with treble keys shaped like those found on an organ or piano.
Others, however, played accordions with buttons on both sides.
Both instruments could make nice music, and there was often debate about which was better.
Then one day a clever piano accordion professor from Russia called Mr Kravtsov decided to conjure up a new keyboard. It would be loosely based on a piano keyboard but with the ergonomics of a button keyboard. It was the instrument that "wiped off the key and button distinction". It seems the idea was to create a new piano keyboard to allow a larger range of treble notes and a two octave (or more) 'stretch'. It would make original Russian bayan music possible for piano accordion without any special arrangements.
It was really cool looking:
Well, some decades on from the first Kravtsov design, relatively few people play it. The poor old piano accordionist hasn't gone away and has the habit of winning international accordion competitions now and then, alongside the button box. Yet, through the years not one accordionist has won the big Coupe Mondiale prize playing a Kravtsov.
Time will tell how enduring the Kravtsov will be, I hope it does well, though I sense it might have bitten off more than it can chew, as button and piano seem set to stay for a while. However, I would rather like Kravtsov to settle in and become a 3rd way. Maybe I can pick one up on ebay some time, and as with all good fairy tales, that would be a happy ever after for me.
Soon, some people started playing classical music with all sorts of accordions. Some with treble keys shaped like those found on an organ or piano.
Others, however, played accordions with buttons on both sides.
Both instruments could make nice music, and there was often debate about which was better.
Then one day a clever piano accordion professor from Russia called Mr Kravtsov decided to conjure up a new keyboard. It would be loosely based on a piano keyboard but with the ergonomics of a button keyboard. It was the instrument that "wiped off the key and button distinction". It seems the idea was to create a new piano keyboard to allow a larger range of treble notes and a two octave (or more) 'stretch'. It would make original Russian bayan music possible for piano accordion without any special arrangements.
It was really cool looking:
Well, some decades on from the first Kravtsov design, relatively few people play it. The poor old piano accordionist hasn't gone away and has the habit of winning international accordion competitions now and then, alongside the button box. Yet, through the years not one accordionist has won the big Coupe Mondiale prize playing a Kravtsov.
Time will tell how enduring the Kravtsov will be, I hope it does well, though I sense it might have bitten off more than it can chew, as button and piano seem set to stay for a while. However, I would rather like Kravtsov to settle in and become a 3rd way. Maybe I can pick one up on ebay some time, and as with all good fairy tales, that would be a happy ever after for me.
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This type of classical music is wonderful and Olivia Steimel plays it really well. It just works on the instrument so well. Here's another on the piano key Gola with MIII:
