Baker's Student Encyclopedia of Music | Accordion

A musical instrument patented by Cyrillus Demian of Vienna in 1829. The most common accordion today has a piano-style keyboard on one end (on which the player plays the melody) and buttons that provide chordal accompaniment on the other. A set of bellows is opened and closed to provide the air power that sets the reeds inside the instrument into vibration, thus producing the musical sound. The accordion is associated with many different styles of music, including Polish polka bands and the Cajun and zydeco bands of Louisiana.

See also CONCERTINA.