What is the difference between an accordion and a
bandoneon?
The main
difference between the bandoneon and accordion is one of
sound. Accordion makers aim for a degree of homogeneity in
the sound of individual registers and variety is provided by
changing registers (varying the number and tuning of reeds
selected by means of switches). Bandoneons do not have
register switches but the timbre of the instrument is
constantly changing, depending on the air pressure,
direction of the bellows and choice of keyboard for the
melody and accompaniment. In addition, the playing position
allows for much stronger accentuation than is possible on
the accordion, and sound control techniques such as vibrato.
The accentuation characteristic of tango is created by the
way the reeds �overblow�, producing an edge to the note that
cannot be reproduced on other free reed instruments.
Virtual Bandoneon
VST VST3 Audio Unit 32/64 bit
Virtual Accordion, Concertina, Bandoneon, Harmonica and Melodica
Akkordica
is a virtual accordion, concertina,
bandoneon, harmonica and melodica instrument that
covers a wide range of sounds and combines a
traditional hand-held bellows-driven performance and
modern digital functionality. This squeeze box and
free reed wind instrument is suitable for different
musical styles, be it traditional, popular or
classical. Available as plugin in VST 32 bit and 64
bit and VST3 64 bit versions for Windows as well as
in Audio Unit, VST and VST3 for macOS.
The
Bandoneon is a free reed instrument that is renowned
for the beauty of its sound, and for its remarkable
expressive range and flexibility. It was developed
in Germany during the 19th century but found its
home in Argentina where it became the distinctive
voice and soul of the tango: in the words of the
poet Homero Manzi �My whole life, brother
bandoneon, is concealed within your keyboard�.
Features
�
Mode Selector
to change between the following instruments:
#
List of Preset Sounds /
Demo ↓
1
Anglo Concertina
2
Chemnitzer Concertina
3
Hohner Accordion
4
Strasser Accordion
5
Musette Accordion
6
Bandoneon (Tango Accordion)
7
Bayan (Chromatic Button
Accordion)
8
Melodeon (Diatonic Button
Accordion)
9
Steirische Harmonika
(Styrian Accordion)
10
Piano Keyboard Accordion
11
Accordina (Harmonicon)
12
Harmonica (Natural)
13
Harmonica (Vibrato)
14
Melodica (Pianica)
Bandoneons (or bandonions) are
bellows driven free reed instruments � squeezeboxes � that
were developed in Germany from the middle of the nineteenth
century. Like concertinas, bandoneons have buttons rather
than piano keys, and the bass buttons play single notes
rather than chords as on some accordions. The name bandonion
is believed to derive from a Heinrich Band who marketed the
original instruments. The spelling �bandoneon� with an �e�
comes from the Spanish and French versions of the word.
The
tango bandoneon is a 71 button
(142 voice) bisonoric instrument with two reeds per note
tuned in octaves. The keyboards are a development of the 65
button layout known as �Rheinische Lage� that was in use in
germany in the late nineteenth century; the extra six
buttons were added to meet the requirements of tango
musicians. The core of the layout is similar to the Anglo or
German concertina. The tango bandoneon has a chromatic range
of just under five octaves from the C two octaves below
middle C. These instruments were exported in large numbers
from Germany to Argentina and Uruguay from 1911 onwards and
became the essential voice of the tango.
