G'day Polly Squeezebox,

I gather that harmonica (harmonika ... ?) is a good German word for accordion ... and the thing you blow and suck on is a mouth (mundt ... ?) harmonika.

The middle button playing the same note either way is common on a lot of European accordions - especially ones like the Hohner "Club" models ... which are usually in 'flat' keys on their own turf. I get the occasional European immigrant along to my Music Workshops, in Sydney - with such instruments - and there isn't much common territory for us all to play in when this accordion is in Bb/Eb and mine is in D/G ... or G/C!

I understand there is a much stronger tradition, in those parts of Europe, of playing along with brass and woodwind instruments from the regular 'band' repertoire (and keys!). Playing with fairly strong brass instruments probably accounts for the preponderance of deep bass chords on Austrian, Swiss and Bohemian accordions.

However, all this depends on when Suzanne's contact wants to date as "traditional". Accordions were first patented by Buschmann in Germany in 1821 ... and more or less perfected by Damian in Austria in 1829.

Regards,

Bob Bolton