Accordion exposition : investigating the playing and learning of advanced level concert accordion repertoire

Abstract

The accordion is a relatively young concert instrument that is moving into an exciting era of development. Technical advancements in production have led to the development of a new playing technique, a wider repertoire choice and the creation of many new works. Most published articles and research books focus on the history of the accordion but are lacking in detail on the repertoire that has been composed for the instrument. The absence of this information has resulted in a current generation of music students, both performers and composers, being unaware of the potential of the accordion. This project investigates the concert-level accordion performer in Australia, rather than the beginner or intermediate-level performer, through a study of three young concert-level accordion students and through my own performances of concert-level repertoire. The exegesis discusses the relationship, in terms of accordion development, between the performer, educator and manufacturer; and the relationship between the manufacturer, performer and composer that emerges throughout the history of the modern instrument. I also draw my performance process into this discussion.

Date of Award	2008
Original language	English