What type of accordion is this in this video?

[Gec]

Hey guys,

Im new here and have virtually zero knowledge about music and accordions.

However, lately Im more and more drawn to the accordion, and I think Id love to (learn to) play this instrument. So I watched a few youtube videos explaining some basic concepts, and gathered that depending on the sound system, there are two major types of accordions: the acoustic and the digital.

While watching videos of people performing, sometimes I can tell what type of accordion theyre using as I can see the brand. But many times, I cannot, and Id really like to know. So perhaps you can help me identify what accordion is this here: ?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jack Campin]

It's a bayan - a Russian-made B-system chromatic button accordion. The player is Alexandr Hrustevich, who has his own website.

Bayans range from affordable to phenomenally sophisticated and expensive.

 

[Gec]

Thank you. So, that's an acoustic instrument, correct? As in, not digital / electronic.

 

[donn]

Seems to me it could have some kind of `free bass for the left hand, too, as opposed to the Stradella bass system more normally used with accordions.

I understand bayan to be a subset of B-system chromatic button accordion, though often used interchangeably. For an example of what I believe would be a more classic bayan, may I present bayaninamusic. Note the hoarse tone of the bass, which in this case I believe would be a variation on the Stradella system. On the low end of the scale, one of our number picked up a `Kreminne for a very reasonable price, and from youtube video demos that characteristic tone is even more to be expected there. I believe the method of construction is quite different. No wax, among other things.

 

[Glenn]

Thank you. So, thats an acoustic instrument, correct? As in, not digital / electronic.

Gec, it is a very acoustic instrument recorded on a digital camera.
To get the real effect of any accordion, you have to listen to or play one from close up.

 

[dunlustin]

Digital - you can usually see the cable(s) coming from the bottom of the instrument.
Digital instruments can have "whistles and bells" - organ/banjo/sax /drums.....
The space above the keyboard on a digital will have other "stuff" apart from the register controls.
The majority of instruments you will come across will be acoustic.

 

[Jim the box]

In the interest of putting another take on your post dunlustin.

Digital - you can usually see the cable(s) coming from the bottom of the instrument.

Built in microphones use a cable?

Digital instruments can have whistles and bells - organ/banjo/sax /drums......

These instruments are not always played?

The space above the keyboard on a digital will have other stuff apart from the register controls.

You cant always make them out in bad clips.

The majority of instruments you will come across will be acoustic.

I agree :tup:

Sorry dunlustin

 

[Sarah]

Nice video about bayans:
+ Bayan / Russian Chromatic Button Accordion (video)

 

[Tom]

All interesting about the bayan. I noticed the Harmony Musical Workshop on eBay:



Musical workshop Harmony

Maintained by:natallia1981 ( 1402)
Welcome! Our musical workshop “Harmony” sells accordions and bayans only of the best quality, which are 100% in tune and absolutely ready for usage. In our store you will also find various high-quality musical instruments, Russian military uniforms, handmade backgammons. Yours sincerely, Natallia.


They seems to be managed by Natalia Green from USA and appear to locate vintage accordions from the Ukraine and perhaps other areas and indicate that they are "100% in tune and ready for usage." They sort of give the impression that the instruments have been restored or at least are not broken down repair projects. They seem to start out around $200 and go up from there. This is an interesting model and they have decent ratings. I, as your faithful servant in accordionland, have done the usual intense, in depth research (seeking reviews or user experience using google). I have not encountered negative reports. Assuming this is a legit site, ( I have been underwhelmed before on eBay, like some of you) it could be of great use to people who just want to try out a chromatic while saving up money for that Serenellini or ByMarco.

So, in my never ending quest to provide value to this forum while filling my house with accordions, I have purchased a beautiful Ukranian Pollisja Bayan which should arrive after Thanksgiving. As your faithful servant, and mirroring our Mr. Long Les, I will dutifully report on the experience..........

 

[TomBR]

Its a bayan - a Russian-made B-system chromatic button accordion. The player is Alexandr Hrustevich, who has his own website.

Anorak Corner! - Am I right in saying you can see its a B griff - B system right hand keyboard because the stripes of black and white buttons go downwards from the outside of the keyboard towards the bellows. If it was a C griff C system, the stripes would go up!

 

[dunlustin]

One or two responses:
I don't think the OP is yet at the point of distinguishing between Bayan/C Chromatic Button Accordion and its B cousin, let alone whether it's Freebass/Stradella/Converter/etc
Perhaps we could give him answers to simple questions before anticipating more complex ones.
"Built in microphones use a cable?" see above
"These instruments are not always played?" eh? .. but they "can" be
"You can't always make them out in bad clips." ..but you can sometimes.

Quote worth remembering
"I'm new here and have virtually zero knowledge about music and accordions."
Question
Do we want to nitpick posts or help the OP?

For Gec
The above stuff happens on forums ("fora" if you must) but not often here.
Some people would not accept the Digital as an accordion at all - not my opinion.
I'd say there are perhaps more fundamental differences than whether an instrument is acoustic or digital.
Keep asking the questions as they occur to you - you will get useful answers here.
Remember the only stupid question is the one that doesn't get asked.

 

[donn]

Anorak Corner! - Am I right in saying you can see its a B griff - B system right hand keyboard because the stripes of black and white buttons go downwards from the outside of the keyboard towards the bellows. If it was a C griff C system, the stripes would go up!

Correct. Or if it didnt have black keys, probably also C.

On the instrument in the video interview, in free bass converter mode, looks like also B? and in Stradella mode, it looked to me like vanilla western Stradella, not the offset 7th variation that reportedly is sometimes found on bayans.

As for whether its acoustic vs. digital, I dare say you can hear that, even in a youtube video.

 

[TomBR]

Do we want to nitpick posts or help the OP?

The OPer had plenty of info on the first page to be able to go away and find out more, the key questions had been answered. If discussions dont run like conversations, this forum and most others would rapidly die.

 

[Gec]

Awesome place, I love this forum already.

Yes I'm an absolute beginner, and can't understand everything (most of? ) you guys have said, but I got my answers, and followed a few trails (i.e. googled a few things) and learned some new things as well. I appreciate all answers, whether they require advanced knowledge (and therefore are difficult for me to understand and I need to "sweat" a bit for it) or are tailored for beginners - so thanks all who replied.

What I can say for now is that if I'm ever going to get an acoustic instrument, it's going to be a bayan . I'm not sure what makes it sound so good, if it's the construction and complexity of the instrument, or the skill of the player - probably both though

I think I'm going to be opening a few more threads here in the coming days, and I'm sure I'm going to love interacting with you folks. I'm new to music, but not to forums in general, and I can feel there's a great community here.

Hope you'll remember that I'm an absolute beginner, including to music in general (I honestly don't know what note C is (I know do re mi fa sol la ti do), what's a major, minor, third etc) ), so bear with me here

Cheers!

 

[Jack Campin]

If you get into the bayan, ultimately THE authority is the Russian Friedrich Lips, who it seems is at the Royal Academy of Music in London at present.



Here are a few bayans used as an orchestral section in one of the most remarkable pieces of scoring Ive ever heard. You have to watch the video to see how improbable the instruments used are, but its all done with tremendous polish and guts, and really works. The State Orchestra of Folk Instruments of the Tatarstan Republic:



Several Soviet contemporary composers tried using bayans in an orchestra - wonderful pieces by Gubaidulina.

 

[Tom]

Yo Gec,

C = do
D = re
E = mi

Etc.

See my previous post about the vintage, used starter bayans from Harmony Ukraine on ebay. I'll let you know how it goes, if it's worth it or just hold out for more cash for a new ( er) one, don't know your financial state.

Tom