ARTS: El Cafetal: Cafetal_FLedit2-74

Villanueva. Cuna de Acordeones festival. Rehersals in the street before the contest for Acordionists. The accordion carries the melody in vallenato. Here the three row button model is used, known in different regions and at various times as “el moruno,” “guacamayo” and “espejito” (“machine screw”). The accordion first came to Colombia in the latter 1800s where it was used in European dance music. From the very beginning it was considered a lowbrow instrument, a position it proudly maintains to this day. Most accordions continue to be imported from Honer in Germany where they are tweaked to produce the warm and reedy sound Colombians prefer. One brand, Bapos, is manufactured in Colombia. Since performers change accordions to change keys, there is usually an assortment of diatonic instruments at the artist’s feet, or off to the side of the stage.

Villanueva. Cuna de Acordeones festival. Rehersals in the street before the contest for Acordionists. The accordion carries the melody in vallenato. Here the three row button model is used, known in different regions and at various times as “el moruno,” “guacamayo” and “espejito” (“machine screw”). The accordion first came to Colombia in the latter 1800s where it was used in European dance music. From the very beginning it was considered a lowbrow instrument, a position it proudly maintains to this day. Most accordions continue to be imported from Honer in Germany where they are tweaked to produce the warm and reedy sound Colombians prefer. One brand, Bapos, is manufactured in Colombia. Since performers change accordions to change keys, there is usually an assortment of diatonic instruments at the artist’s feet, or off to the side of the stage.