for example these two tracks by unidentified Greek orchestras in Germany, recorded before WWI, not sure if they're both the same musicians or not. very prominent #accordion with a sound you'd never hear today
https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000747381
https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000747380

#78rpm #GreekMusic

@CharlieMcHenry
Want #accordion mystery #MusicHistory origin stories?

Watch for Christian Gottlieb Kratzenstein (presented his “speech machine” in St Petersburg in 1780)

And the unfortunately multiple-spelling’ed Franz Kirsnick / Kirshnick, Kirschnick, Kirschnigk

Another German in Copenhagen, #organ builder who maybe assisted Kratzenstein, sold organs with the “western” free reeds that come down to us)

https://www.hetorgel.nl/en/2011/01/e2003-04e/
(Pics of old organ free reeds!)

@CharlieMcHenry
And (not to jack your thread, but to add further #MusicTrivia)

It was #organ builders who added crucial differences to 3,000 year old free reed designs imported from Asia

These “westernized” free reed organs then developed into everything from the #harmonica, #harmonium and #accordion

Nobody’s quite sure, but it might have been one of a few German guys working in Copenhagen who showed them off in Saint Petersburg (#WorldMusic 1780)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/20551940.2020.1794648 🪗

@imigueldiaz @accordionnoir @anja
Those Belgians have been a reliable source of very accessible virtuosic folkish style #accordion for years

You’ve hit one of the mother loads

If you like that try Finland