BEHIND THE BELLOWS: a Documentary about the Accordion by Steve Mobia

An hour long American documentary about the beloved but often misunderstood squeezebox; its history and variety as well as its effect on popular culture. Contains insightful interviews with accordion legends such as Anthony Galla-Rini, Guy Klucevsek and Dick Contino among many others.
Written, Directed and Narrated by Steve Mobia (© 2009)
For HD version, go to Vimeo under the same title: vimeo.com/382265821
0:00 Beginning & Titles
3:29 Accordion Museum
4:39 Cotati Festival
6:21 Cheng
7:14 Early History
9:53 Italian Craftsman
11:27 Factory
13:55 Reeds
15:46 Concertina
18:37 Chemnitzer
19:50 Bandoneon
21:40 Piano Accordion
25:22 Chromatic Accordion
26:48 Russian Bayan
28:07 Treble Side
29:17 Bass Side
30:15 Free Bass
31:46 Diatonics
35:43 MIDI Accordions
39:16 Popular Culture
41:10 Lady of Spain
44:08 Jazz
45:23 The AAA & Classical
47:25 Rock n' Roll
49:25 Polka
52:00 Uncool is Cool
53:16 Morgani
54:29 Outsider Players
55:16 Avant-Garde
57:07 Death & Rebirth
59:04 Credits

[@johneli495]

The fact that accordion is not respected in the mainstream makes it all the more appealing to me

[@jasonsummit1885]

I play a Roland digital accordion at my church, it's got everything on it so makes it more versatile in every type of music.

[@uralbob1]

I consider myself very fortunate to come across this video! Thank you all sincerely for this wonderful story!

[@ptalley316]

I performed on the accordion with my family in 83 countries!! Some highlights were the giant accordion schools in New Zealand and performing at the Scandali factory in Italy! (1965-1971)

[@eerokuopio7350]

Cool - what was your bravure?

[@regulastolz5923]

I learnd play Accordion as a child in the Swissgerman side. I taked some times out and play it. It just brings me confort at times . Love it .

[@annekegermers821]

My first love. Hearing an accordion always makes me instantly happy. No other instrument gives me that special feeling.

[@smspirate]

Jim Boggio was my grandfather's cousin. Jimmy Borrell was my uncle (married to my grandmother's sister) and he invented the cordovox. I learned to play the accordion at his music shop in Kissimmee, FL in the 60's. The accordion is quite literally in my blood! LOL!

[@justinshannon6016]

Gordon Piatanesi was my great grandfather. He passed away peacefully on February 2nd, 2015. He was an amazing man, thank you for taking the time to talk to him.

[@Rafael-oi6dj]

The most amazing accordionist I ever heard was an Italian named Aldo Rizzardi, that eventually moved to Mexico in the sixties after having attained fame in all Europe He spent the rest of his life there, popularizing many of their musical rythms & there's a school of music there named after him

[@MyThreeEncountersWithAng-cv4do]

I own 5 accordions - addictive. I can't give them away to family and friends - nobody is interested in the music. Gave one to granddaughter - she never played or said thanks either. Gave one to a friend - he said thanks but doesn't play it. My dog and girlfriend were my biggest fans - they both died two months apart. I keep playing though - folk and Celt.

[@josephinestecak4945]

Keep playing, keep enjoying. I started playing at about 8 and taught myself by ear. Didn't have one for few years from early 2000s, recently bought a 48 bass, few imperfect notes but was on my price range. Hope to get better one at some point.

[@MyThreeEncountersWithAng-cv4do]

@@josephinestecak4945 I play guitar (celt, folk, classical) technically bettewr than accordion - but I connect with accordion much more. Playing guitar has never moved me to tears - accordion occasionally has.

[@user-om8mz3ey6k]

​@@MyThreeEncountersWithAng-cv4do I have 5 accordions too! I live in Ireland and play Irish music but love different genres. It's a wonderful instrument. I can play the concertina too. But I don't like the sound of it and it's quite limited. 😊

[@blumenthol]

@@user-om8mz3ey6k cool - I play guitar much better than I connect with accordian in ways I can't with guitar. People either love it or they hate it. No in between.

[@persiansilkpavilion]

,,,that was fun holiday viewing!!! Reanimates me back into this beautiful musical instrument 🎉😊😊 I'm so glad my mother enrolled me into accordion classes all those years ago, for whatever reason I do not know (maybe nostalgic), but I'm so grateful, as it is my Voice as I grow older and wiser😮❤❤

[@bulldogstrut1]

Nice tribute to the instrument, and the boy's grandfather. I play guitar. I also taught one of my grandsons to play guitar. I hope he does a similar tribute to me after my time is done. A very nice documentary.

[@agorgedslug]

What a great documentary! Criminally underwatched clearly. I will have to share the link around, thanks for posting!

I'm so happy to have found this accordion documentary. Nice job Steve! Many of the people you share were household names for me growing up in the 1950s & 60s. In the hands of a good player the accordion is a most beautiful instrument. My Dad, Al Fabre, was a professional accordion player for over 50 years in the Seattle area. Happy to see Dick Contino and his Petosa accordion. Dad played a Petosa exclusively since the late 1940s when he got back from WWII. He was a great jazz player and also played all the era standards, polkas, and European folksongs. Accordions were a major soundtrack to my life, Dad taught lessons in his home studio and played the clubs at night. Thanks for sharing this video! As a guy who was steeped in accordion culture since birth, you did an excellent job.

[@davidlee4853]

An amazing portable orchestra!

[@Fabio_Costa_Music]

Wow, this documentary such an unbelievable effort, really remarkable.

[@maryseed1037]

I enjoyed this documentary, didn't know that America was and is strong on accordions. I am French and started to play the button accordion when i was 6/7, stopped in my teens and came back to it because i heard Richard Galliano playing new music with the accordion. Then, i started to sing along and i always enjoy it : the bellow is right on your belly and its breathing brings emotions/feelings straight to your body, minor keys do it! It does bring joy too when played on markets/streets like many birds coming out of the instrument to touch people.

[@auclan]

There's a painting in the doc showing birds emerging from an accordion

[@pchabanowich]

Thank you for this homage.

[@RobertKarlBerta]

Steve....so glad you put this on KZbin. I still have your original video tape you gave me a few years ago. I have been an accordion player for 68 years. I also play pipe and electronic organs, classical guitar, and various digital keyboards. Of all those instruments I prefer the accordion. The bellows is the soul of the instrument....it allows for dynamics and expression similar to the way a violin bow works....or the nuances of breath control like a wind instrument. I was a Californian until I retired and moved to Michigan. I know many of the musicians on this video and played with some of them. Here in Michigan we have a strong history of accordion players just as there are in California and East coast.. It is interesting that the accordion has become a part of every genre of music and every ethnic group has adopted it.. That is one of the things that makes it so appealing to me. Being an organist I also love classic music but also every other variety. I was lucky to know Vince Cirelli before he passed and spent a lot of time with him documenting how an accordion is built and repaired. Those people are artisans. I also find it fascinating how the instrument has evolved and adopted many technical changes....even to the point of NOT having any reeds. The digital accordion is basically the same layout but instead of reeds has a synthesizer so in the latest examples can provide the sounds of many types of accordions but also provide dozens or other instruments. Some purists may shun the digital accordion but coming from organ I find they are wonderful, fun to play and my audiences love them. I play both digital and acoustic accordion in my performances. Others may say this video covers the accordion in the USA. To cover all the types of accordions and music it is used for would take several more hours. In many countries the accordion is also considered a very serious instrument....on a par with any other instrument. But that is the neat thing about the accordion..... it can be used to play the most difficult classical pieces, folk music, jazz, rock, even experimental music. If you want to spend some enjoyable hours on KZbin....search for accordion music. You will find a huge amount of fine performances (well some maybe not) but you will quickly discover why it is such a wonderful instrument.

[@auclan]

Good to hear from you! You were the president of the local accordion club when I first became interested in the instrument.

[@slaphead8835]

I have played the accordion since I was 12 years old. I never could play as beautifully as my father did. But I always enjoyed that instrument so much. I am now 66 years old and I still pick it up. When you play the accordion you can’t think about all your trials and tribulations. You have to concentrate. It really clears your mind.

[@billbush1270]

Thank you for a delightful history and music. I am educated and uplifted by this.

[@peterrossiter8307]

May I suggest a follow up: how accordions ( and all their cousins) have saved people’s lives. For example: Leo Rosner, who was Jewish, survived the Holocaust in Nazi concentration camps during World War II by playing his accordion for Nazi officials. This earned the attention of Oskar Schindler, who saved his life by having him placed on his famous list.

[@kazimierzt.761]

Nazi ...? German concentration camps

[@SeptemberApril-io1hi]

Wonderful experience. I love the accordion in all its variations.

[@brettzolstick989]

Accordions are so back

[@NaveDelAmor]

I really enjoyed this documentary! Thank you so much! Viva el acordeon!

[@fryavanbosh3563]

Heb ze altijd gehoord op de familie bruiloften en andere familie feesten , zo mooi en jazeker ze komen weer terug . Samen van deze muziek genieten en ook samen zingen ! Voor kinderen is zingen één van de hoogste behoeftes . Trouwens iedereen zou zelfs weer volop moeten gaan zingen en jawel...melodieën fluiten ! ❤️✌️👍

[@chrisfilippi]

Thank you Steve for this tremendously informative video. I was a student of the Carrozza Studio in New Rochelle. Anthony Carrozza, brother of Carmen was my teacher and I have many good memories of time spent with them. Best, Thank you.

[@Bogeyman666]

What a rare and wonderful superbly explained compilation about this nowadays maybe neglected great instrument. It really is a precious documentary. The technical presentation of the video is great too (easily accessible, well-marked chapters with the title of them on the video itself as well, and even a separate "contents page" with the times. Amazing.

[@accordionlucy]

How lovely! Thanks for making this.

[@peterrossiter8307]

Excellent,thank you for making this fascinating movie, free, and not interrupted by ads wonderful.

[@davidcpugh8743]

Had important work, but down the rabbit hole into everything accordion. No regrets. Thank you all in this documentary. PS I play harmonica, by ear.

[@elizabethhughesjovanovic]

This documentary is a little older, but it's now worth mentioning the accordion's place in Eastern punk and rock bands like Dubioza Kolektiv and Kultur Shock. Accordion is still a cornerstone of modern music in many countries outside the U.S. and it's wonderful!

[@stompinknowledge3968]

Thanks, will check out these bands!

[@tomsaccordion]

Very entertaining. I've been playing the accordion since I was seven and professionally since I was 15. Today, at 74, I still play my accordion as a strolling accordionist. Instead of playing in wedding bands and big bands, I now play by myself. Also, instead of playing at weddings, parties, and celebrations I am fortunate to play at retirement centers, senior living areas, assisted living, and memory care facilities.

[@jasonsummit1885]

Been playing accordion since I was 12 years old, never really wanted to play anything else. Started out on piano accordion then in 2018 I switched to the chromatic button accordion. Love playing it as the octave stretch is more suited to my hand size and it's more versatile.

[@loucosta9451]

Excellent Documentary!!! Having started playing the accordion in an Italian American family at Age 6 and working my way up to playing the Cordovox many years later in a Wedding Band..so great to see the history and legacy of how it all got started! Again this documentary is excellent!

[@mariarosolemos7468]

Very entertaining and magically informative. Thank you.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

The Chemnitzer Concertina is basically a bigger version of the Anglo Concertina that sounds essentially like an Accordion, & the Bandoneon is also a bigger version of the Anglo Concertina that's tuned in Octaves. The Bandoneon was originally meant for playing Polkas & actually alot of musicians are doing it today.

[@brucealanwilson4121]

I had read thatcthe bandanna was originally a church instrument, for churches & chapels too small for a pipe organs, or clergy who needed something portable, like missionaries or army/navy chaplains.

[@ChinaAl]

WOW! What a fantastic documentary. I've been playing the accordion since 1955 and still enjoy it. thanks very much for examining the history.

[@josephinestecak4945]

Wonderful to see this documentary about the Accordian ❤

[@TS-qd2uj]

One of the best instruments out there!❤

[@valerie_handani_pianist]

Amazing musical documentary!👍👍🎼🎶 Thanks for sharing this beautiful audio-visual upload.🙂💯🙏🙏

[@user-ii6lr4md4z]

Still have my 1960 Sears and Roebuck accordion.

[@joellespring8508]

This documentary is amazing, thank you for sharing, I learned SO much!! I have played piano since i was five years old, and was given an accordion several years ago, just now finding time to learn it more thoroughly. I just ordered a beautiful German, sea green accordion, I am ecstatic to play it when it arrives!! I also am attempting to learn the 20 button concertina, quite the learning curve for me!

[@mirekklemens662]

Beautiful job. ❤️ 👍👍

[@alanscheer2137]

Thank-you for posting this wonderful film. It’s really a great treat.

[@andrewmcdonough6710]

When I was a kid back in the early 80’s I found an accordion for $20 at a flee market(the good old days). Most of the leather pads were stuck to the air holes. My neighbor across the street was a Philadelphia Mummer. He helped me fix it and get it playing again. I wish I still had it.

[@martinsaltzman5003]

No Astor Piazzolla? He played and composed for bandoneon which is a button accordion. His music is classified "new tango" and caused consternation in Argentina. His music is beautiful, even wondrous and his playing is amazing. Others have followed him (Richard Galliano and Dino Saluzzi).

[@damaslpressath]

they where talking about Band the german inventor who created that mega-Concertina.....which is not so much a Button acordeon, but a Concertina, emerged from a diatonic Button acordeon. He showes argentinian player of Bandoneon here...and i just think also the more popular music in argentinian countryside like "Chamamé" could be named. But yes, think he has stuff to make every week a film from different instruments of that type...from alpine region, over sicilia to basque country till columbia or first nations like Guaraní from south of Brasil, Paraguay, Uruguay and north of argentina....playin my beloved Chamamé or the Milongas which also is a part of tango history :))

[@jtsfla]

Great fun to watch. Thank you

[@gotaplay]

Enjoyed this , I actually sold an acordion many years ago to the accordion museum

[@isorry123_]

the one in connecticut? been meaning to make a pilgrimage there

[@slaphead8835]

What an excellent and enjoyable documentary! It reminded me of my dad, who was a cross between Art Van Damme and Frank Marocco. Yep, he was that good. Van Dame and Jo Ann Castle Two of my favorites. But if you want to hear the most beautiful and innovative accordion playing today you must experience 45:04 Kesenja Siderova. She is taking the accordion to new and astounding levels.

[@mikerapp8163]

Very well done and researched documentary. Thank you for presenting this. Very enjoyable.

[@rockross8561]

Good job, Steve. I enjoyed it very much.

[@clevelandplonsey7480]

Congratulations on this lovely tribute

[@user-qq9yj9ij4k]

Excellent documentary, especially because it makes me think of an instrument that in a way unites people of all cultures

[@JerryNicolato]

This is so fascinating. So many details I didn’t know!!! Thank you!!!

[@susanrobe3474]

I thoroughly enjoyed this documentary. Thank you.

[@davidforeman2734]

Thanks for sharing

[@druniky]

My.. "NEXT BEST THING" to my favorite "Organ" (church organ), which never had the chance to play. I started playing (piano-type) accordion from 14-24 yo. Turned to classical piano 18-33 yo. continued playing a little bit of both for a while and then stopped. At almost 60s now, I feel a great warmth nostalgia for accordion... maybe it's its natural sound ; maybe it's that every part of it is handmade... making it such a heartfull authentic construction...; maybe it mimics/resembles the sound of my beloved sound of Organ ; I can't say... It's not an easy instrument to master ; it's a lot much difficult to piano ; For that reason only, I believe, that future generations will turn to computerized (midi type) instruments, But, the classical sound of ACCORDION will never be lost. A Big THANKS for the documentary ; it was a reveal and a big reminiscent. 👌👏

[@RobertKarlBerta]

Glad you posted this Steve. Best review of accordions through history. Of course lots had to be left out due to time limit.

[@chantbyheart]

very interesting, thank you

[@ravibennae]

Brilliant documentary, so well researched and presented... yes the very versatile accordion will go on and on .. no doubt... thanks so much for making this ...

[@TheOpusChristi]

Excellent documental, I really enjoyed it a lot. Accordion was my best harmony teacher since I never took music lessons and I'm an ear player.

[@connieb3657]

This was so interesting! I’ve been playing for about 5 years and it’s crazy fun.

[@joseluiselvirad]

Another excellent song as well as magnificent interpretations, I really liked the work, congratulations to both of you from Madrid and see you soon Steve

[@pepevaladez8096]

Thanks for sharing !

[@maryleonard6381]

Excellent documentary! I learned a lot! I have a davinci that I got through Milton Mann Studios lessons in the 70’s in California.

[@michaelmiller641]

That was brilliant! Thanks for that!

[@mikebro2557]

Fantastic video, I’m going to get mine out of its box, so much inspiration after watching this👌

[@beytibilgec3744]

Great documentary thanks

[@rmjunoify]

Totally awesome!! Very well done!

[@RyRyAndTheDirtyDog]

Excellent!

[@phineasbluster2872]

Fabulous documentary. Well conceived and constructed. I played bass in a small norteña group for several years. Learning how to support the lilt and rhythm of my partners button açcordian brought me much pleasure.

[@groseron]

If it wasn't mentioned before (forgive me, I didn't notice in the video or comments), for those that are interested in accordion music of Latin America: there's also Vallenato (and some other genres like Cumbia [the original folkloric cumbia doesn't actually use accordion, the accordion was something that was added later in certain regions of Colombia and then that spread to other Latin American countries], that are genres native to Colombia) and are typically played with the 3-row diatonic accordion (Hohner); there's Merengue Tipico from the Dominican Republic that's played with the 2-row diatonic (also Hohner); in Brazil too (forgive me, I'm not familiar with too much Brazilian music so I'm not familiar with the name[s] of the genre[s] in Brazil). I'm sure there are more, but those are the one's I'm familiar with. Personally I listen to the Colombian stuff often (I'm Colombian), and I also extremely love the Dominican stuff and listen to it frequently too. P.S. - I'm a fan of Zydeco. Due to my proximity to Louisiana, Zydeco is heard often in my city too (and there are several Zydeco bands that play throughout the city and in other events where there's live music)

[@nichtimmer9134]

What for latin America genre's with accordion you know? Please let me know all genre's you know, many thanks. Greetings

[@Z8Q8]

i look forward to visiting the museum : )

[@tunamaster5035]

Wow, this is fascinating! I started playing the accordion when I entered college about 2 years ago, but I had no idea how rich the history of the accordion and it’s related instruments was. I’ve actually had the incredible fortune of meeting and playing with Stas Venglevski, who makes an appearance in this documentary, albeit briefly at around 27:30. He’s a wonderful person and an even better Bayan player.

[@AdemiltonPrado]

excelente documentário, obrigado por compartilhar

[@newz-tube]

Nice documentary! Thank you. I missed the Polka-Rock Band from Denton Texas called Brave Combo. They are still going strong.

[@davidneill1158]

Very informative. Thank you 😢.

[@rodrigoaquinoofficial]

Here in Argentina, Accordion have a strong culture with music of "Litoral" on the other hand Tango is played with the bandonion. In both cases strong instruments that represent our culture and legacy.

[@jazzfeline5970]

Bandonion? How do you turn an onion into an instrument?

[@boboscurse4130]

Zydeco is what made me investigate accordion. And now here I am with a CBA and taking lessons and wanting to dedicate me life to this instrument

[@shweetiepetina1563]

Do it!!! 👏🏻 👏🏻

[@robertvavra414]

Good stuff.

[@xavierlongoria4562]

Aré you young?

[@boboscurse4130]

@@xavierlongoria4562 Nope

[@pierrelamain7168]

It rather hear an accordion any day than listen to the bag pipes.

[@christinestevenson9780]

THANK YOU!

[@marybarrow4057]

Muchas gracias. Me encanto este video aprendi cosas muy interesantes del acordeon. En Chile se usa en las cuecas, baile nacional. En musica centroamericana, en rancheras, en musica foklorica, todas musicas muy populares en mi pais.

[@404rimless9]

Many thanks for the valuable contribution! Excellent, and what is very important is the historical connection back to the Renaissance. (Portativ) This historical root always seemed to be missing in the case of hand-pulled instruments.

[@ErichOverhultz]

Very interesting documentary.

[@webstercat]

Love that sound

[@dion_69]

‘portable churches’ ❤

[@sunflr-music7697]

Wow! Thanks for that!

[@Ihateradiohead]

This was captivating

[@SpuriousMovies]

Sweet! What about BRAVE COMBO!!!! I feel inspired now!

[@tellmusic0204]

❤❤❤❤❤amei esse video. Gracias por compartilhar. Por essas e outras gostaria de ser imortal. Viva a Vida Viva a Musica!🇧🇷

[@curtkuhns]

The Scandalli wasn't featured, but I know it was in that mix somewhere. I gave mine to a Polish friend who had a Polka Band.

[@meowmeowface6113]

Very beautiful documentary I am glad that I am now apart of keeping this interesting instrument Agoing I bought my first accordion in March now that's what I'm known for in the military. Cheers and keep staying weird :)

[@Mike1614b]

I remember admiring the virtuosity of Myron Floren on the LW show

[@HHTV60]

I had a fancy TULA Zakaznaya ("Custom") garmon (Russian folk button Accordion) and the weakest spot was the bellows. The corners were done in a hurry, which resulted in a pretty poor compression. I now have a Dino Baffetti Russian Garmoschka III - and the bellows are awesome, with no leaks at all.

[@jeffreybarton1297]

My mother and father were big accordion players in the 50's to mid 70's. They were in various Polka bands, and ended up doing gigs with just the two of them. This was in the UK.

Alegria é o outro nome do acordeão!❤😊

[@oviajantepassageiro]

Legendas em português por favor! Isso é fantástico!

[@Mizgog-co7cb]

loved this video

[@martinspreiter8240]

The stradelle bass system kiled the accordion. I don´t use the chord buttons anymore. Only the bass buttons in stacato.. And it helps to make it sound more clearly defined. Howdy from bavaria 🙂

[@davidbnsmessex.5953]

Hallo from engelland , I don’t suppose you know of anyone who can translate NSDAP songs into “ griffschrift “ do you ? .

[@emmaeskandari3922]

Interesting thank you