pedal accordion

Local name: pedałówka
Classification: 4 Aerophones / 41 Free aerophones / 412 Interruptive free aerophones / 412.1 Idiophonic interruptive aerophones or reeds / 412.13 Free reeds / 412.132 Sets of free reeds / 412.132-62-8 Sets of free reeds with flexible air reservoir, with keyboard
Maker: Leonard Adolf
Date: 1904-1918
Village / Town: Warsaw
Region: Mazovia
Country: Poland
Owner: Museum of Folk Musical Instruments in Szydłowiec
Inventory number: MS/S/89
Description: a pedal accordion; called "black"; chromatic; three-row keyboard (17-18-17 keys) and 24 basses (buttons); bellows connected to the instrument with a two-piece pipe; two buttons at the back: one allowing to switch from the minor to major mode on the bass side, the other making it possible to produce seventh chords
Decoration: body embellished with engraved and colored geometrical and floral patterns; open work with stylized floral motives
Measurements: 384 x 209 mm
Materials: wood, metal, plastic
Inscriptions: A. Leonard Warszawa
Sound compass, tuning: different scales depending on the type and specimen; usually the melody keyboard is arranged in minor-third rows composing the chromatic scale B♭ – b♭''', while the bass side is arranged in the chromatic scale C – b, which made it possible to get all major triads
Performance practice: after World War I the accordion became a popular component of folk bands (together with the violin and the drum); the pedal type being especially popular in Mazovia on the right side of the Vistula river (the Kurpie and the Garwolin area), to some degree also in Podlasie (Podlachia)
Catalog card by: Maria Żurowska / Zbigniew J. Przerembski


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