Recommendations for a new accordion for irish/german music?

[OuijaBoard]

Here is another charming set of two polkas that many session players love and learn, a big favorite in my locality---This is from the first solo record by the wonderful Irish accordion player Josephine Marsh. The whole CD is at Bandcamp, this link is her set titled "Paddy's Polkas":

 

[OuijaBoard]

It's not expressly a holiday theme, but I sent this link out one year with my New Year's greetings.

Here is polka joy and literal kicking up of the heels on the Kerry coast with sean nos step dancer Stephanie Keane and Cormac Begley, the concertina-playing son of sliabh luachra accordion player and character Brendan Begley (who can also be seen spreading polka havoc and delight in many clips on the 'tube).

 

[John M]

Thanks Ouiga!!!! Very cool stuff here. I’m so used to German and Czech polkas that I would not have recognized these tunes as polkas. I would have guessed “jigs and reels.” Just goes to show you “the world is so full of a number of things, we should all be as happy as kings” once again. Irish polkas, who would have thought it?

The same for me Tom. Of course, when you grow up in Euclid, Ohio, as an 8 Yr, old kid as I did, a couple miles from the home of Frankie Yankovic, the only polka you ever heard around here was the "Cleveland Style polka". Was there anything else that could be called a "polka"? -- Not for me back then. For me, that "Irish" style polka is a totally different sound/beat.

 

[saundersbp]

Here's some more Irish dancing to inspire you.....

 

[Monty [IIIII]]

If you like to look at the "dots" (sheet music) there is a great source for Irish music at thesession.org. It enables searches for tunes in various keys, rhythms, dance styles etc. The search for polkas turned up 1600 different tune names, though sometimes the same tune by different names.

Search for traditional Irish polkas on The Session

thesession.org

In addition to printable sheet music, there are references to recordings and simple MIDI renditions for those who want to hear what they see on the page. The sheet music and MIDI files are very rudimentary and no substitute to listening to how accomplished traditional players perform the tunes. But the "dots" are great for jogging the memory of tunes that one has learned but can't seem to remember in the throes of a lively session. One can keep the tunes as .pdf files on a smart phone, tablet, lap top or other device which is easy to read (discretely) in a dark and smoky pub.

Keep in mind that sheet music is generally scorned by traditionalists, and not usually seen in anything but beginners sessions in places other than Ireland. But not all of us grew up in an Irish village or had a grandfather to teach us tunes at his knee. Thankfully we can hear the tunes on Youtube and find the dots on the internet.

 

[Mike t.]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum and new to the accordion. Ive been a professional classical musician for most of my life (brass player) but I've fallen in love with folk music (notably irish and german), which got me interested in the accordion.

First question: piano or button accordion? I have experience with piano and that's where I've learned all of my music theory, so I'm leaning toward a piano accordion ,even if its less "authentic". What do you think?

Second question: Do you know which model of Paolo Soprani this guy is playing?

Third question: Are there other accordions that can make a similar sound as the one in the youtube video? I like to describe is as "round" or "mellow", like a flugelhorn as opposed to a piccolo trumpet. Or is that register on the Soprani a unique sound that I can only get with that brand (it's my favorite sound so far)?

Fourth question: My long term goal is to be able to accompany my local irish dance school. If I were to buy a "professional" level accordion as my first instrument, what is the minimum size that you recommend? I would love to get a balance between weight and versatility (in terms of being able to play different styles).

Fifth question: If a button accordion is a better choice, is there one that will allow me to play german folk as well as irish folk, or would I most likely need a different instrument for each?

Thanks so much for all of your help and greetings from Los Angeles (USA)!

First welcome to the group! I just bought a Saltarelle Cleggan piano accordion about 4 months ago. I play jams about four times a month, mostly old timey fiddle and folk/Irish. It is about 9 lbs lighter than my Petosa accordion, I still love my full size Petosa, (it was a refurbished, like new, retirement gift four years ago) Sad truth, I haven’t played it since getting this new accordion. I practice at least a couple hours a day. My own opinion, maybe rent one for a while and see if it really is your passion? I’m just a mediocre player, but did I mention 9 lbs lighter and sounds great! Here’s a picture from a couple nights ago.

 

[Tom]

First welcome to the group! I just bought a Saltarelle Cleggan piano accordion about 4 months ago. I play jams about four times a month, mostly old timey fiddle and folk/Irish. It is about 9 lbs lighter than my Petosa accordion, I still love my full size Petosa, (it was a refurbished, like new, retirement gift four years ago) Sad truth, I haven’t played it since getting this new accordion. I practice at least a couple hours a day. My own opinion, maybe rent one for a while and see if it really is your passion? I’m just a mediocre player, but did I mention 9 lbs lighter and sounds great! Here’s a picture from a couple nights ago.

Great picture Mike!!!

 

[Ben-jammin]

Thank you so much for your insights! Really appreciate that you took the time to write all of this. So helpful to know that I like the dry M reed sound, that wood accordions are heavier than plastic, and for the size recommendation of 34/72 LMM.

If I buy a used accordion without being able to play it first (like say a paolo soprani LMM), can I have the reeds tuned after the fact at my local repair shop? Or will I need to completely replace the reeds?

Also, do you know anything about a "fisarmonica" model: reverb fisarmonica for sale
Its a bit big (41/120), but the price is right...

I think there was a delay on this post becoming visible and the conversation moved on before it was answered. If somebody already answered disregard.

Tuning on an accordion is a time and labor intensive endeavor, it can be done but depending on how many adjustments need done it can result in a serious bill at the end. It also is a destructive process that can weaken the reeds if big adjustments are needed. Best to identify what tuning you want and endeavor to buy what you want first so only small adjustments are needed.

Fisarmonica is simply the Italian word for accordion. The listing is from an Italian vendor. I would avoid international shipping if I could help it. I don’t know the particular model but it looked like the feature set you are looking for. I think the feature set you identified is a good way to go. If it ends up not being perfect for you, it will be a good reference point for you to identify what you would prefer.

 

[SavoryApple]

First welcome to the group! I just bought a Saltarelle Cleggan piano accordion about 4 months ago. I play jams about four times a month, mostly old timey fiddle and folk/Irish. It is about 9 lbs lighter than my Petosa accordion, I still love my full size Petosa, (it was a refurbished, like new, retirement gift four years ago) Sad truth, I haven’t played it since getting this new accordion. I practice at least a couple hours a day. My own opinion, maybe rent one for a while and see if it really is your passion? I’m just a mediocre player, but did I mention 9 lbs lighter and sounds great! Here’s a picture from a couple nights ago.

Thanks for the recommendation. That pic warms my heart!

 

[SavoryApple]

I think there was a delay on this post becoming visible and the conversation moved on before it was answered. If somebody already answered disregard.

Tuning on an accordion is a time and labor intensive endeavor, it can be done but depending on how many adjustments need done it can result in a serious bill at the end. It also is a destructive process that can weaken the reeds if big adjustments are needed. Best to identify what tuning you want and endeavor to buy what you want first so only small adjustments are needed.

Fisarmonica is simply the Italian word for accordion. The listing is from an Italian vendor. I would avoid international shipping if I could help it. I don’t know the particular model but it looked like the feature set you are looking for. I think the feature set you identified is a good way to go. If it ends up not being perfect for you, it will be a good reference point for you to identify what you would prefer.

Thank you! I havent seen an answer to that yet. I didnt even think of simply translating that word lol. And I agree with the international shipping. Especially with taxes lately...

 

[baldlightning]

Howdy Savory, my neighbor,

There's an accordion meetup in Long Beach on Saturday.

Long Beach Accordion MeetUp, Sat, Apr 5, 2025, 10:30 AM | Meetup

This monthly event is located at the City of Long Beach Senior Center and is open to accordionists 50 years & better … ;-) All ability levels welcome! Feel free to play an

www.meetup.com

Come on by if you can. Most of the folks who play there squeeze piano boxes, though I play a two-row diatonic in the keys of C# and D. It'd be a good chance to get pointers to local resources for renting or buying a box, lessons, tuning, etc.