Bringing order to chaos #1

Dominant - tonic in bandoneon left keyboard

The keyboards of the bandoneón are a real chaos. However, some logic can still be found.

In this article, we'll put some order out of the chaos. Today we try to simplify the keyboard according to the dominant-tonic cadence.

A "new" layout for 144 bandoneon (?)

As the readers of this blog know, I play bandoneon 144 and actually I play the same scores playable by the 142 system, and furthermore I'm studying at Buenos Aires, the "temple" of the 142 bandoneon. All this demonstrates that 144 system IS playable at least as well as 142, and is just habit that make people prefer the 142.

142 and 144 keyboards comparison

Some people asked me for a comparison between keyboards in 142 and144 system. So, here you have:

Right side, opening

Right side, closing

Left side, opening

Left side, closing

You can download all the 4 diagrams in PDF format.

Studying bandoneon in Buenos Aires, Argentina

We made it.

It's a lot of time I don't write on this blog, and I want to update about my bandoneon studies in Argentina.

Hystoric background of 144 Einheits Bandonion

A large family with several internal divisions

Bandoneons are basically divided in 2 categories: the unisonoric models (inappropriately called chromatic) and the bisonoric (inappropriately called diatonic), with several different versions within each category also. For example, in unisonoric versions you find at least 3 different layouts: Peguri (originally spread in France and Belgium and now in all Europe), Kusserow (very rare, with small diffusion in Europe) and Standardbandonion (invented by bandonion virtuoso Heinz Schlegel, and largely unknown), but the list goes on.

The Bandoneon Range of notes

Bandoneon is a nice instrument because in a small "box" you have an unexpected extension: in the 33/38 Rheinische Tonlage the left side (bass side) starts from C2 and reaches up B4 (3 octaves), while the right side ("singing" side) starts from A3 to B6 (3 octaves again).

The 2 sides extensions partially overlap, for a total extension of almost 5 octaves. Not bad for a little squeeze box!

Let's see a comparison with some musical instruments in the next infographics:

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And what about 144 tones Bandoneons?

The 144 bass side of 144 models also starts from C2, and arrives up to A#4, while on right side it starts from G3 and reaches up to A6.

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The range of 144 is slightly less than 142 model, but the total extension is sacrificed in favor of a more coherent keyboard, in fact chromatically complete for both opening and closing.