2022

170 years of harmonica making in Klingenthal

Special issue „Klingenthal Magazine“

170 years of accordions from Klingenthal

1852-2022

In 2022 Klingenthal celebrates a special anniversary, which should more correctly be called "170 years of making reed instruments". The hand-pulled instruments belonging to the reed instruments include concertinas, bandoneons and accordions as well as all other kinds of "accordions". 

In this themed issue, author Xenia Brunner takes a look at this industry in the music town of Klingenthal on the occasion of the anniversary year, and thus of course also at the Bandonion & Centcertinafabrik Klingenthal.

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English Translation

Generous steps lead up to an inconspicuous entrance door of a multi-storey building. The wide stone slabs breathe history, for reed instrument making has existed in this building for more than a century. Today, the bandonion and concertina factory Klingenthal GmbH manufactures master instruments under the brand name "Alfred Arnold", which are played and appreciated all over the world. The bandonion factory was newly founded in 2002 by Anja Rockstroh. She has made it her mission to preserve the bandoneon in the world of music and, above all, to bring it back into the conversation in Germany. Many years of research and development were necessary to bring the high quality and unique sound of the antique Alfred Arnold instruments into the new age. In the meantime, the manufactory offers a wide range of noble instruments that are made purely by hand. From cutting the goatskin for the bellows to making the reedplates and inlaying fine mother-of-pearl inlays, everything is adapted to individual customer wishes. Each instrument is therefore unique. Among them are the 142-tone instruments for the Argentine tango, which are now sold all over the world. The tonal variety of such a 142-tone instrument is also built in smaller dimensions for children in the bandonion factory. It is a decisive step for the future of the instrument. For decades, the bandoneon has had a problem with young musicians; there is a lack of teachers and curricula with which to pass on the knowledge of playing the bandoneon. Anja Rockstroh wants to change that. In the last few years, she has been able to build a large network all over the world from Klingenthal. The company now works with universities, conservatories, associations and soloists in many countries. Among other things, this has already resulted in two pedagogical textbooks in several languages. The support of the specially founded association Bandonion4Friends.de has also been able to initiate many new projects with children and schools in the last two years. These should help secure the future of the bandoneon.

2022

2nd International Bandoneon Competition “Heinrich Band”

The Associazione Culturale Anton Stadler and the Accademia Italiana del Bandoneón, with the contribution of the RAS Regione Autonoma della Sardegna - Assessorato Pubblica Istruzione, Beni Culturali, Informazione, Spettacolo e Sport, Comune di Iglesias-Assessorato Cultura, Sport e Spettacolo, Fondazione di Sardegna, MIC Ministero della Cultura and in collaboration with the AR'TANGO-Bandoneon Project Association of Avignon, announce the 2nd International Bandoneon Competition “Heinrich Band”.

The “Heinrich Band” International Competition takes advantage of the precious partnership with the Bandonion4Friends Association and the Bandonion & Concertinafabrik of Klingental, engaged in the production of the legendary AA (Alfred Arnold) instruments. As evidence of the precious partnership, the Association and the German factory will offer the prize for the competitor who wins the 1st place: an AA 142 bandoneón.

The competition and all the partners involved aim to promote and disseminate the culture and knowledge related to the bandoneon as a concert instrument capable of facing the great repertoire of the past and of promoting the creation and dissemination of a new repertoire.

For each edition, the competition can take place in different venues and focus on different themes: from composition to performance on the bandoneon, to composition for teaching etc.

The 2022 edition is dedicated to a bandoneon competition and is divided into a single category.

2022

The "AR'TANGO-Bandoneon Project" Association

The association "AR'TANGO-Bandoneon Project" is working hard to participate in the development of the bandoneon in Europe and especially in France. 

We are very honoured that the association "Bandonion4friends" has put its trust in us and provided us with a children's instrument. Thus, we can promote lessons with the smallest ones here under excellent conditions. A thousand thanks for this wonderful instrument.

AR'Tango Avignon