Google Doodle Celebrates 'Accordion': German Instrument and Folk Musician's 'Main Squeeze'!

The Google Doodle commemorates the "accordion," a German musical instrument often referred to as the "main squeeze" of folk musicians.

The accordion, along with other free-reed instruments such as the concertina, bandoneon, and harmonium, emerged in the early 1800s.

Google Doodle honored the "accordion" on Thursday, marking the German musical instrument patented on this day in 1829, affectionately calling it a folk musician's "main squeeze." This free-reed instrument, operated with bellows, has left a significant imprint on various music genres, spanning pop, jazz, folk, and classical.

As showcased by Google Doodle, the term "accordion" originates from the German word "akkord" (chord). Developed in the early 1800s, the accordion is among the free-reed instruments featuring bellows, alongside counterparts such as the concertina, bandoneon, and harmonium.

The Doodle's music-themed illustration showcased the "Google" logo integrated within the bellows of an accordion. The scene depicted artists dressed in traditional German attire dancing to the melodies played on the accordion.

Google Doodles are temporary alterations made to the Google logo, designed to commemorate various local and global themes such as holidays, significant dates, and influential individuals who have made notable contributions to society.

• An accordion is a portable free-reed musical instrument that consists of a treble section with piano-style keys or buttons and a bass section typically equipped with buttons. These components are connected to opposite sides of a manually operated bellows.

• According to the explanation provided by Google Doodle, in the late 19th century, German manufacturers increased accordion production to meet the growing demand among European folk musicians.

• Initially, accordions had buttons on a single side, with each button producing a full chord. Depending on whether the bellows were pushed or pulled, these buttons could produce two different chords.

• The migration of European emigrants around the world led to the widespread adoption of the accordion in various music styles. Contemporary accordions can be equipped with either buttons or a piano keyboard, and some models feature both.