I realised there was some sort of musical magnetic force even before we’d tied the knot! Obviously, I knew Ken played the accordion and was impressed having witnessed him in full flow on several occasions including at a ceilidh in Edinburgh Zoo’s Penguin’s Pantry, enjoyed by all – feathered or not! However, there were a few things I hadn’t anticipated.
After we married, I noticed that whenever we were on long-distance drives north or south of the Border, we’d bypass stopping for a break at the normal motorway services and instead, veer off towards towns like Jedburgh, or more obscurely, Galashiels and Moffat. Once parked, the ulterior motive soon became obvious as an accordion shop came into full view.
Impressive though accordions are an as instrument, these shops often had a rather tired 1960s vibe with peeling paint, a tinkling shopkeeper’s bell on the door and faded tartan carpet, but accordion enthusiasts are evidently oblivious to these niceties.
Rows upon rows of accordions line the walls in such establishments – big, small, tatty to pristine. Italian and German names seemed to dominate – Paolo Soprani, Scandalli to Excelsior and Hohner. Inevitably Ken selects a monster to try. I say monster as most accordions weigh approx. 12 – 30lbs, so you’ve got be fairly robust to manage one. The stickers on sale in the shop, “Play it? I can hardly carry it!” reiterate this weighty problem. Whatever your musical leanings, you must be in awe of the complexity of these instruments with their numerous buttons and keys not to mention the ambidextrous skills of the player. How the anyone can play a keyboard with one hand, press numerous buttons with the other and squeeze the bulky bellows in and out all at the same time is beyond me!
By the time Ken is strapping on accordion number three, the light has dawned that this will not be a quick visit, so I find a stool to perch on. I’m not complaining, I’m quite content enjoying the delights of ‘These are my mountains’ to ‘California Dreaming’. The owner seems quite happy to let customers advertise his musical wares, whilst what is evidently known as ‘loosening up’ his instruments. I expect he knows that with the average acoustic 120 bass accordion costing between three to four thousand pounds, an instant sale is unlikely on the first visit.
Our spare room has shrunk over the years. Initially it was just the Victoria Musette model, a few sheets of music and a music stand. But like a car, we had to upgrade at some point (but not part exchange) and soon we had a new rather flash addition – an electronic Roland which arrived with a built-in amplifier, cables and soft gig bag. The breadth of possibilities with this model are incredible. Suddenly there is an array of special effects – rhythms, drumbeats, cymbals and jingle bells to name but a few. Headphones also come with this model so private practice is possible. It is only the firm foot-tapping vibrations coming through the kitchen ceiling that give the game away!
Over the years Ken’s played for a local Morris Team, birthday parties, BBQs, Burn’s nights, street gatherings, theatrical performances, Christmas Carols and even Geordie melodies at my aunt’s funeral. It is a very sociable instrument and most listeners have enjoyed musical melodies from Ken’s ever-increasing repertoire on this versatile instrument. I guess this entitles him to occasionally sport a T-shirt with the message: “Warning, I have an accordion and I know how to use it!”
The plaque in our porch says it all “Beware the accordionist”. I realise that if our house caught fire the accordions would probably be a rescue priority. One might wrestle with this, but I suppose if we found ourselves homeless a bit of busking could be particularly useful, so long live the accordion… and the accordionist! (See below)
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