The Bandoneon - the original Band in a Box

Contemporary Bandoneon

  As an accordion player, people are always asking me about this mysterious Argentinean free-reed instrument, the bandoneon.  ( often pronounced with accent on final syllable).  Actually, it's a German instrument that was brought to Argentina by German immigrants in the early 1900's and took the country by storm to eventually become a national symbol,  the instrument that gives the unique timbre and intensity to the Argentinean Tango. A "free-reed" instrument is one in which the vibrating reeds are attached at one end and "free" to vibrate on the other as is the case with the concertina ( from German Konzertina ), the accordion, and the harmonica.
  The instrument was invented in the mid 1800's but  not by the man whose name graces the name of the instrument, Heinrich Band, but he had much to do with it's keyboard design and evolution and clever marketing strategies to popularize the instrument.

Heinrich Band

   The instrument's configuration is somewhat standardized since 1924 but there are still some pretty significant variations in instruments.  Typically, though,  each button sounds 2 reeds that are tuned a pure octave apart and each button triggers a different note depending on whether you're pushing the bellows together, or pulling them apart ("push-pull" bisonoric system, not to be confused with the term "diatonic")  With 37 so-called "descant buttons", or melodic buttons,  in the right hand, there are therefore 74 notes that can be played in that hand alone. In the left hand are the bass buttons, 35, giving 70 different notes in the left hand.  The logic behind the layout of the buttons is arcane to say the least because it was based on an older Concertina layout but expanded around the central core notes -  the instrument has a reputation for being formidable to learn!  There are usually  a total of 144 notes on a modern bandoneon.

   It is a beautiful sounding instrument with a cutting intense quality, and a dynamic expressiveness that really makes Tango come alive. Like the accordion and violin,  and unlike the piano, notes can be modulated in tone and volume after the note has begun to sound.  The push-pull nature of the melodic playing gives a punchy attack and edge to the melodic lines that articulate in the Tango style or, conversely, has defined the Tango style.
      The most famous of the Tango bandoneon players is Astor Piazzolla, by far, but there are other superb players around. Peter Soave, Raul Jaurena to name a couple.   Rhapsody lists nearly 100 albums recorded by Piazzolla, primarily his composition and his incredible bandoneon playing.