Ergon Concept
360 view small image (472 kb) 360 view large image (856k)
The accordion has undergone an amazing evolution in the last 20 years. Inspired by the design of the Russian bayan, several manufacturers have created beautiful-sounding instruments that are expertly crafted, with extremely reliable and quiet mechanisms, surpassing most accordions previously made. The Russian influence has also contributed to standardization of the instrument. There is a large body of original Russian accordion literature, ranging from virtuoso arrangements of folk songs to avant-garde pieces, many of which are now staples of the literature. Since so many accordionists want to play these great pieces, interest in the instrument for which they were conceived has grown.
The design of the left hand
manual uses the converting Stradella system.
The chord rows convert to a 58-note, 4-row chromatic system (free bass or melody bass) and
the standard bass rows remain for use as pedal tones or to facilitate large
jumps. The right hand manual has a
64-note range with 15 possible registers.
There are two prevalent systems, C System and B
System. Further, the keyboard has moved toward the front
of the instrument to provide a more natural arm position. Chin registers are now ubiquitous.
Views of current Italian bayan. The instrument pictured is Pigini Super
Bayan Sirius no. 219, made about 1989.
Modified bayans
A few bayans have been made which provide a more ergonomic fit
for the player. In one design, the right
hand keyboard is more
steeply angled to allow the player’s arm to remain straighter. In the left hand, the first two rows of buttons are terraced to allow full facility for the thumb, thus facilitating arpeggios and
many other technical concerns in left hand technique.
Views of modified
Italian bayan. The instument pictured is a custom-made Pigini
Super Bayan Sirius.
The shoulder straps have been
removed.
Top right view
(best for seeing right hand modification)
The Ergon Concept
The Ergon Concept simply continues this avenue of design. The right-hand keyboard is further moved out
from the player and more steeply angled to allow the arm to remain
straight. This way, the player doesn’t
have to hold the elbow up continually while playing. The left hand buttons are also angled more
steeply so that the left hand doesn’t have to reach around the instrument to
play, and so the hand can remain straighter.
Both of these modifications are achieved while basically retaining the
existing, perfected mechanism design and reed block layout.
Views of Ergon Concept accordion. The shoulder straps are not shown in any of
the images. The instrument is held and
played just like an ordinary accordion, with the left arm pulling the
bellows. The right hand technique is
unchanged and the thumb is used as before.
The left hand technique is the same except that we now have the ability
to use the thumb in the first three rows of buttons. Anyone who currently plays a bayan should be able to play it more or less immediately.
How does the Ergon Concept work?
The manufacturers
have solved countless mechanical problems and have perfected a mechanism that
is unbelievably precise, quiet and reliable.
The Ergon Concept retains this tremendous
asset by simply turning the keyboards out and otherwise preserving the internal
construction. One way to achieve this is
illustrated below. There are certainly other possible solutions.
This illustration
depicts the Ergon Concept from the top in cutaway
view.
This page shows the logical progression from
the current bayan to existing modified bayans and then to the Ergon
Concept accordion. Front, left, right
and top views are presented in succession for each design.
Why change the bayan?
Today's bayan
is a mature, fully-developed instrument on which all the literature can be
played. Thus, there is no compelling
reason to modify it at all. The Ergon Concept is not intended to be a replacement for the
current bayan/accordion. The Ergon Concept
is simply an alternative construction that may appeal to some players. My interest lies in pursuing the idea and
making it available to those who can benefit from it.
For further discussion about modified accordions, please visit this page.
Contact Information
I welcome your thoughts on the above
design. Please write to me at:
Copyright Ó 2001 by Donald Severs. All rights reserved.
Some photos of Don and other accordionists
and their instruments.
Building a better accordion case
A report on my efforts to
obtain a case worthy of my bayan. You can check
your accordion through at the airport with this case and feel good about it.