Chronic of development of Concertina and the Bandoneons

around 1800

Triggered by discoveries in the field of physics (mechanics, acoustics), instrument makers throughout Europe begin to experiment independently with free reeds.
The Wittenberg physicist Ernst Florens Friedrich Chladni publishes his writings on acoustics.

from 1810

Development of new instruments, which are introduced and evaluated in contemporary music journals such as the Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung.

1810

Johann Caspar Schlimbach/Bernhard Eschenbach/Königshofen: Development of a so-called aeoline, an antecedent of the reed organ

1821

Ernst Friedrich Florens Chladni, physicist from Wittenberg, describes the Chinese Sheng- a musical instrument of traditional Chinese music, which belongs to the family of mouth organs – the oldest antecedent of harmonica instruments – in the musical journal Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung. Buschmann: mouth aeoline. Häkl/Vienna: physharmonica

1822

Bushman/Berlin: hand aeoline

1824

Reinlein/Vienna: patent for aeolian harmonicas

1827

Messner/Trossingen: improvements to the mouth organ/ harmonica

1828

First sheet music for harmonicas.

1829

Demian/Vienna: patent for the accordion.
Wheatstone/London: symphonium. Start of harmonica production in Klingenthal by the Glier brothers.

1834

Chemnitz: Carl Friedrich Uhlig (1790-1874) presents his “Accordion of a new kind” in the Chemnitzer Anzeiger, which is later called the German Concertina.

1844

Wheatstone/London: English Concertina.

1847

C.F. Uhlig regularly presents his instruments at the Leipzig Trade Fair, his innovations radiate as far as Klingenthal, Carlsfeld and Waldheim

1850

Foundation of the C. F. Reichel harmonica factory in Chemnitz

from 1850

Development of harmonica production in Carlsfeld and the Vogtland music region (C.F. Zimmermann, Meinel, Dörfel, Leiterd), specific trade at the Leipzig Trade Fair, new transport and sales opportunities through rail and shipping.
The instruments arrive in America in the luggage of the emigrants.

1856

The Krefeld music trader Heinrich Band changes the tone arrangement and key disposition of the concertina; the term “bandonion” appears for the first time in an advert in the Krefeld address book. H. Band purchases the instruments from Saxon manufacturers.

1860 -1870

Saxony becomes the centre of bandoneon and concertina production, the instruments are sold both at home and abroad.

1864

Foundation of the Ernst Louis Arnold company in Carlsfeld.

from 1874

Development of an independent musical culture, the first harmonica society in Germany is founded in Chemnitz.

1884

After the death of C. F. Uhlig in 1884, his son-in-law, Friedrich Anton Lange, continues to run the company.
The Lange Company, formerly C. F. Uhlig, conquers Chicago at the World Exhibition with the Chemnitz Concertina.

around 1900

Tango emerges in the harbour districts of Buenos Aires, the bandoneon becomes the typical instrument of this music.

from 1900

Many clubs are formed, especially in the industrial regions of Germany. Saxony and the Ruhr area become strongholds of concertina and bandoneon music. The special numerical notation makes it possible to play music even without knowledge of musical notation. The harmonica industry develops into an extraordinarily successful branch of production within the German musical instrument industry and provides the most important export article.

1911

Foundation of the Alfred Arnold Company in Carlsfeld, which later becomes world-famous for its outstanding bandoneons.

1920 – 1930

The golden years of bandoneon and concertina culture in Germany.

from 1930

The problems of the global economic crisis and the political changes of the Third Reich also have a negative impact on the harmonica industry, the number of companies declines significantly and comes to an almost complete standstill with the Second World War.

1945

Expropriation of the small harmonica companies, end of production, establishment of the “more modern” accordion.

from 1960

Due to a lack of new players – most clubs disband – the instruments are gradually almost completely forgotten.

since 1980

Renaissance of the Argentine tango and the bandoneon in Europe, attempts to revitalise the traditions