(V/A)- Global Accordion: Early Recordings 1927-1948 (Wergo, 2002)

The accordion is the ultimate global instrument. As a catalyst of popular music it spread around the world in the 19th century like wildfire. 26 rare 78rpm recordings from Africa, Latin America, the US, the Caribbean and Europe display the enormous variety of early accordion styles. You will glimpse a wild folk music that hardly exists today. The invention of the "accordion", as it was named in the patent granted to Viennese organ and piano builder Cyrill Demian in 1829 was a musical explosion, which triggered a chain reaction of global dimension. The accordion was louder than any string instrument, and it was portable. It also had fixed tuning. But its biggest advantage was its format as a one-man-band. Even when pressing the wrong notes within a melody it still sounded pleasant. Therefore the accordion was seen as a "miracle box" which immediately allowed everybody without any formal musical training to participate actively in music making. It may truly be claimed that the accordion gave birth to popular music. (Wergo)

This is great stuff. That said, I hereby protest the price of Wergo's $22 CD imports. Furthermore, this album is otherwise unavailable for download in the US, due to Jurassic licensing issues. "No sir, I don't like it." And so, here you go...



Download Link: (V/A)- Global Accordion: Early Recordings 1927-1948 (Wergo, 2002) *320 kbps upgrade from the Owl, ex post facto. Gracias, amigo.

Puerto Rico . Los Borinquenos: Caridad (Bolero plena)
Ireland . The Flanagan Brothers: The Rights of Man
France . Martin Cayla & Adrian Bras: Lo Glaoudo (Bourrée)
Turkey . Papatzis-Tsakiris: Syrtos Politikos
West Africa . George Williams Aingo: Tarkwa Na Abosu
Finland . Aili ja Lyyli Vainikainen: Kasakka-Pollka
Switzerland . Bauernkapelle Lott: Im Alpstübli
Brazil . Luiz Gonzaga: Seu Januario
Louisiana, USA . Les Breaux Frères: Fais Do-Do Negre
Italy . Caesare Pezzolo: Viva la giga
Vienna, Austria . Wiener Original Schrammeln: Slibowitz Tanz
Madagascar . Hira Malaza Taloha: Rambalamanana
Dominica . Grupo Dominicano: Buen Humor (Merengue)
Salzburg, Austria . Instrumental Bauern-Quartett: Dradiwalzer
Russia . Gregori Matusewitch: Yidisher Melodien
Texas/Mexico . Narciso Martinez: El Tecolote (Huapango)
Bavaria, Germany . Georg Weinschütz: S‘Loisachtal
South Africa . Jonas Mate & Kleinbooi Motaung: Mamolikoane
USA . Huddie Ledbetter: Corn Bread Rough
Austria . Steirisches Instrumental-Trio: Übelbacher Walzer
Poland . Stanislaw Bagdzinski: Wesole Wujaszek (Oberek)
Québec, Canada . Monmarquette & St. Jean: Clog de William Durette
Sweden . Lager-Olson Quartet: Koster Valsen
George Tremain: Huntsman‘s Chorus
Styria, Austria . Original Steirische Bauernkapelle: Altsteirische Harmonika Ländler 2
France . Ernest Jaillet: Bouree Lozerienne