When was the accordion invented?¬Ý

It is always difficult to say ’ÄúWhen’Äù something was invented.¬Ý Most musical instruments evolved over time and eventually became known by a modern name, such as ’Äúviolin’Äù, ’Äúflute’Äù or ’Äúaccordion’Äù.¬Ý We usually think of the early 19th Century as the period in which the accordion first occurred, but its principle of sound production can be traced back to ancient China in an instrument called the ’Äúsheng’Äù.

The sheng is a mouth-organ, a type of harmonica, that was part of Chinese culture over 2000 years ago.¬Ý Small terra cotta figurines of musicians playing the sheng were discovered in the tomb of the Chinese ruler, Qin Shi Huang (reigned 211-206 BC) exhumed in 1974.

The sheng has a series of bamboo pipes as well as a wind reservoir at its base.¬Ý Inside, each pipe has a bamboo reed, which sounds a pitch when the performer opens the air hole covered by his or her finger at the back of the reservoir.¬Ý

The sheng sounds like this: