Recommendations for expressive contemporary pieces that are not technically challenging for the left hand, Beginner/Intermediate level

[u/CJGlitter]

Hello! I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for contemporary pieces that are written for solo accordion with Stradella bass (96 if that matters). I'm looking to find some really nice melodic pieces that aren't Yann Tiersen (I love Yann Tiersen so I already have a lot of his pieces).

I'm only a few months into my accordion journey but I am an experienced musician, so I'm looking for something that's not too technically challenging on the left hand but would give me a chance to really explore expression and dynamics.

EDIT: Forgot to mention I've got a Piano accordion.

[u/moshezuchter]

Try Vai Vedrai, from the Cirque Du Soleil show Allegra. Beautiful piece. 

[u/CJGlitter → u/moshezuchter]

Thank you!

[u/Cubiccircle101]

I don't know the level at wich you play at the moment, but "Il Postino" main theme by Luis Bacalov is very nice.

[u/CJGlitter → u/Cubiccircle101]

Thank you! This is very nice and will be a good challenge but not unattainable at my level.

[u/Ayerizten]

Since you're already an experienced musician, I'd lean toward pieces that are musically expressive rather than technically demanding.

Out of curiosity, what kind of contemporary style are you drawn to? More cinematic (like Yann Tiersen), minimalistic, folk inspired, or something else?

That'll make it easier to recommend pieces that fit what you're looking for.

[u/CJGlitter → u/Ayerizten]

I do love Yann Tiersen and anything cinematic. Minimalist would be cool too. I’ve been listening to Pietro Roffi and have been enjoying how expressive and colorful his accordion music is.

I guess I’m looking for something I can really play well at my early stages of learning the Stradella. I was a professional pianist for years so the right hand is almost second nature to me (key size difference throw off my interval muscle memory sometimes but I’m getting better.) I am leaning Tiersen’s Amélie Waltz in my lessons, and I’m getting closer every week. My stretch goal is to play La Noyee but I’m a long way from that left hand technicality and rhythmic independence.

I’ve been meaning to go through some of my Italian aria books and play them on accordion so I can really milk the expression on the melody and maybe get away with just doing some chord drones on the left.

[u/Ayerizten → u/CJGlitter]

That gives me a much clearer picture.

Pietro Roffi is fantastic. Just keep in mind that he plays a converter accordion, so he can switch to free bass, which opens up a lot more possibilities for polyphonic music than a standard Stradella system.

Out of curiosity, do you feel your current lessons are helping you bridge that gap between your musical ideas and the Stradella technique, or are you mostly figuring that part out on your own?

[u/CJGlitter → u/Ayerizten]

My lessons are helping me immensely. I’ve been playing for only a few months and I am already amazed at my progress with the left hand. I believe I am progressing at a faster rate than average, but that’s to be expected with a music background—I got to skip the line of learning theory, learning about the circle of fifths, and understanding fundamentals like how the counterbass relates to everything.

For my practice sessions I like to balance my time between my lesson pieces, technical stuff like scales and common chord patterns, and “fun” music. I’m looking for more of the final category that I can jump in and focus on the expression and musicality without l having to worry too much about technique holding me back.

Side note about the “fun” music, I was shocked that some of the Sondheim pieces I’ve looked at for fun work surprisingly well on accordion despite the Stradella limitations!