The history of the 8-bass accordion and its influence on Forró Nordestino

The accordion, including models like the 8-bass accordion, is an aerophone musical instrument of German origin.

Composed of a bellows, free reeds and two wooden harmonic boxes, the 8-bass accordion is fundamental to the forró, which marks the childhood of Luiz Gonzaga and serves as the basis for the northeastern accordion style.

The evolution of the instrument

According to Paraíba musicologist Batista Siqueira, the 8-bass accordion replaced the wire viola and became the main solo instrument in rural dances in the northeast at the turn of the 20th century.

This small accordion, of Viennese origin, has twenty-one keys for the right hand and eight keys for the left, is known by various names, such as “harmonica de oito baixos“, “foledeoito baixos“, “pé de bode” and “concertina“.

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História da sanfona01:44

História do Forró e a sanfona de 8 baixos com Luis Gonzaga

The influence of Luiz Gonzaga

Luiz Gonzaga tells us that his father, Januário, “had two skills: he took the bacamarte and played the accordion to entertain the cabroeira on Saturdays and Sundays”. That’s why the 8-bass accordion was the king of baião‘s first instrument.

Gonzaga’s first accordion

In 1920, when he was just eight years old, Luiz Gonzaga bought his first accordion, a German Koch eight-bass accordion. Although the instrument spread throughout the northeast, it was at the Fazenda Caiçara, in the foothills of the Serra do Araripe, in Pernambuco, that the eight-bass bellows became firmly established in the history of northeastern music.

The influence of his father

Januário was not only a renowned accordionist, but also a sought-after tuner. During his childhood and adolescence, Luiz Gonzaga grew up surrounded by small eight-bass accordion and their intricate button systems.

In his memoirs, he describes how he “took advantage of the old harmonicas” that his father repaired, and gradually learned to play “any brand, any type, whether simple, B-flat or semitone”.

The popularisation of the accordion

At this time, modern accordions with piano keyboards for the right hand and 120 basses for the left hand had not yet become popular in the northeast. These instruments would become the mainstay of forró pé de serra, especially with the recognition of Luiz Gonzaga in the media at the end of the 1940s.

1. Origin of the Accordion

The Cheng: The first ancestor

Almost 5,000 years ago, the most primitive ancestor of the accordion as we know it today appeared: the Cheng, created in China. This instrument consisted of a air container, a blowing straw and bamboo pipes.

The invention attracted the attention of many, including the European instrument maker Friedrich Ludwig Buschman and the Austrian Cyrillus Demien.

In 1822 Ludwig developed a more complex wind instrument, still with reeds. Seven years later, Demien added a bellows and patented it as the accordion because of the chords produced by the four keys.

Development in Europe

The development of the instrument in Europe involved many personalities: in Russia, Kratzestein’s Harmonium appeared; in France, Granié’s Organ, Pinsonat’s Typophone and Eschenbach’s Bagpipe.

The work of large factories such as Paolo Soprani and Scandalli in Italy and Hohner in Germany was crucial in perfecting the accordion, capable of producing both popular and classical music.

2. History of the arrival of the accordion in Brazil

The accordion was brought to Brazil by European immigrants, mainly Germans and Italians, in the 19th century, but its configuration and use in Brazilian popular music evolved over time.

The 8-bass accordion in the Northeast

From the 1940s, with the popularisation of forró and baião, the 8-bass accordion gained prominence, especially through artists such as Luiz Gonzaga, who consolidated its place in the musical culture of the Northeast.

Other notable artists such as Dominguinhos, Sivuca and, more recently, Fagner, Nando Cordel and Alceu Valença have also contributed to the popularisation and renewal of the forró, keeping alive the tradition of the 8-bass accordion.

The cultural memory of the northeast

The 8-bass accordion, also known as pé-de-bode, fole de 8 baixos, foleônica, harmônica or simply 8 baixos, is part of the musical and emotional memory of the Northeast, a true cultural heritage of the Sertanejo.

This instrument was extremely popular in the rural areas of the northeast, present at all the festivities and moments of fun in the communities of the pés-de-serra, and responsible for the initiation of great icons of the northeastern accordion, such as Luiz Gonzaga, Dominguinhos, Sivuca, among others.

Challenges and traditions

Considered one of the most difficult instruments to play, the 8-string tradition is an art that only a few have mastered. In the North East, the instrument is given a unique tuning, used exclusively by the region’s accordionists, giving it resources that expand the possibilities of musical performance.

Technical aspects

How the instrument works

The 8-bass accordion consists of a system of free reeds that vibrate when air passes through them, created by the movement of the bellows. The bellows are fundamental to the production of sound, allowing air to enter and exit. The keys on the right hand control the notes, while those on the left hand provide harmonic accompaniment, allowing the musician to play melodies and chords simultaneously.

Social and cultural aspects

Role in festivals and celebrations

The 8-bass accordion plays an essential role in the festivities and social celebrations of the Northeast, such as the June Festivals, where it is often used in dances such as the xote, the forró and the quadrilha.

The presence of this instrument at festivals reflects the cultural identity of the region and the strong link between music and community life.

Symbol of cultural resistance

The accordion is also a symbol of cultural resistance, representing the struggle and creativity of the people of the Northeast throughout history.

Dances and musical rhythms of the northeast

History of the 8-bass sanfona and forró

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