Editing Concertina (section)

== History ==
{{no footnotes|section|date=May 2012}}
[[File:2rowearlygermanconcertina.png|thumb|German concertina, mid 19th century]]
[[File:Gearoid Kells concertina-cut.jpg|thumb|Irish historian [[Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin]]]]

=== 19th century ===
In the mid-1830s concertinas were manufactured and sold in Germany and England, in two types specific to the country. Both systems continued to evolve into the current forms as the popularity of the instrument increased. The difference in prices and the common uses of the English and German systems led to something of a class distinction between the two. German or Anglo-German concertinas were regarded as a lower-class instrument while the English concertina had an air of bourgeois respectability. English concertinas were most popular as parlor instruments for classical music, while German concertinas were more associated with the popular dance music at that time.

In the 1850s, the Anglo-German concertina's ability to play both melody and accompaniment led English manufacturers to start developing the various duet systems. The popular Maccann system was developed towards the end of the century; meanwhile, German manufacturers were producing concertinas with more than 20 keys for local sale. Three keyboard systems for German concertinas eventually became popular: Uhlig's Chemnitzer system, Carl Zimmerman's Carlsfeld system, and the Bandoneon's Reinische system. Various German manufacturers tried to develop a single unified keyboard system for all German concertinas, but this was only partially accomplished by the end of the 19th century, when the Chemnitzer and Carlsfelder systems merged into the unified concertina system, and a unified bandoneon system was created. Despite the new standards, the older systems remained popular into the 20th century.

The concertina was popular throughout the 19th century. The [[Salvation Army]] in England, America, Australia, and New Zealand commonly used concertinas in their bands, and other concertina bands and musicians performed in all parts of the English-speaking world. German emigrants brought their Chemnitzers and bandoneons with them to the United States and Argentina where they became regionally popular.

=== Early 20th century ===
In the early 20th century, the concertina's popularity rapidly declined as demand for the accordion increased, along with mass production of other instruments such as the piano which are more suited to chromatic forms of music like blues and jazz. By the middle of the century, few concertina makers remained, and most of those used accordion reeds and inexpensive, unreliable keyboard mechanisms. Yet, the various forms of concertina survived in some areas: Anglo concertinas in Irish traditional music, the English and the Anglo in English [[Morris dancing]], the Anglo in Africa, among [[Afrikaner]]s (see [[Boer music]]) and [[Zulu people|Zulus]] (who call it a "squashbox"),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.concertina.org/2009/12/05/the-black-concertina-tradition-of-south-africa/|title=The Black Concertina Tradition of South Africa|date=2009-12-05|website=International Concertina Association|publisher=Papers of the International Concertina Association|access-date=2016-11-27}}</ref> the Chemnitzer in the United States as a [[polka]] instrument, and the bandoneon in Argentina as a prominent part of the tango tradition. Between World War I and World War II, there were many concertina and bandoneon bands in Germany, but with the rise of the [[Nazi]] regime these musical clubs disappeared.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

=== Folk revival and present ===
The [[folk revival]] movements of the 1960s led to a modest resurgence in the popularity of the concertina, particularly the Anglo. More recently, concertina popularity again seems on the rise, particularly the Anglo in the traditional music of Ireland and England. Renewed interest in tango since the 1980s has also seen interest in the bandoneon increase. American [[Country music|country]]/folk musician [[Willi Carlisle]] has been introducing the concertina (along with the button accordion) into American country music, reflecting a general resurgence of accordions in American music as well.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Willi Carlisle: Wordsmiths, Weirdos and Whip-Ass Concertinas {{!}} Holler |url=https://holler.country/feature/willi-carlisle-wordsmiths-weirdos-and-whip-ass-concertinas |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=holler.country |language=en}}</ref>

Traditional music playing continues in many parts of the UK in the 21st century, often using English and Anglo-system concertinas. Concertinas are mass-produced in Italy and China, and are produced by individual workshops in Europe, South Africa, Australia, and North America. Modern-made instruments are in a spectrum of quality and traditionalism, with the most expensive instruments using traditional concertina-type reeds, while mid-level and inexpensive instruments take advantage of the lower price of mass-produced accordion reeds.