People's favorite - Russian harmonica

The fact that the accordion is Russian, there is no doubt. After all, this is the tool we imagine when it comes to folk festivals. She can make you dance or cry. In the old days it was an integral attribute of the wedding. But even nowadays there are connoisseurs of its extraordinary sound and professionals who perform any musical works on it, because the notes for the harmonica are still being published.

Where did it come from?

But it is interesting that the origin of this tool is not entirely Russian. On this account, there are several opinions. It is said that the first master who produced him lived in Germany. But it is for certain that the original Russian accordion in our country was made by the Tula master. However, for the sample, he took a foreign model, bought at the fair. By our craftsmen, the Russian accordion was recreated according to the pattern. And nowhere is it loved as much as in our country, so the production of these tools gradually grew in the 19th century.

What are they like?

Tula harmonica was originally a simple single-row. That is, on the right and left half of it there was only one row of buttons. Gradually, the instrument became more complicated and became two-row. We learned how to do it in other cities. And in everyone tried to harmonize the Russian acquired its individuality. To do this, decorate it in every possible way. By what kind of decor was on the instrument, it was possible to say with accuracy to which area it was made.

Structure of the instrument

Any accordion, although it sounds differently, consists of two half-cases on which the buttons are located. Playing on the right keyboard, the accordion plays a melody, and on the left accompanies itself, extracting basses or chords depending on the piece. In the middle of the accordion, the Russian has furs. It sounds due to the fact that with their help air is pumped into it, which acts on the tongues of the instrument. There are different harmonies and the sound that the button makes when moving the bellows.

True love

It is interesting that people's fans of this instrument played it regardless of whether they have notes for the accordion or not. The melody was picked up by ear or it passed from one musician to another. So self-taught was Vasily Terkin from the work of A. Twardowski. All the war he went along with this tool. It is known that the harmonies were specially sent to the front in order to raise the fighting spirit of the fighters. Only in early 1941 about 12,000 instruments were sent. Then their number on the front only increased. Even on the monument in Smolensk, in which Turkin is immortalized with the writer, he holds the accordion in his hands.

Save Memory

There are other monuments in honor of this tool, or people related to it. Not for nothing in Saratov is a monument to the accordionist. After all, the tools that began to produce in this city in 1870 became unique. He opened the workshop with Korelin NG, several productions gradually appeared.

At first the harmonies were released simple, without ornaments, focusing on the sound, but gradually began to paint the cases in different colors, cover them with varnish. The demand for tools was great, so in time, handicraft production turned into an industrial one. Harmony began to produce mass. Unfortunately, in our time Saratov harmonies are no longer at the factory. This gradually led to the disintegration of the Soviet Union. But there is a new workshop, on which talented young masters work. They produce the Saratov harmonies, which again become popular because of the revival of interest in the history of our country.

Continuation of traditions

The fact that the interest in this instrument does not fade in our time, proves the existence of the telecast "Play, Harmony Beloved!". It vividly demonstrates how popular the accordion is in the vastness of our country, how many people are still playing this instrument, and even more listen, sad and merry with it. The initial issues of the program were held in 1986. Unfortunately, the first presenter of the program G. Zavolokin died in a car crash. On the site of his death (95 km of the route Novosibirsk - Ordynskoye) there is a monument. It is a bench on which Gennady sits, holding the accordion on his knees. Next to him sat a cat. Zavolokin's case is continued by his children Anastasia and Zakhar.

In our time, you can find a wide variety of harmonies. They are produced both in our country and in other countries. Is the accordion expensive? The price depends on what materials and decor are used when creating it. You can find tools worth 17,000 and 300,000 rubles. Dear ones will suit professional musicians. Those who are just going to learn music, enough models and simpler.

It is noteworthy that children who want to learn this complicated instrument come to music schools. Consequently, in a few generations interest in the Russian harmonica will not fade away and it will be possible to listen with pleasure to its unforgettable tunes.