by Margherita Levante
Among the international brands of excellence for the production and design of accordions, Beltuna Accordions was founded in 1982, when two talented craftsmen from Castelfidardo, Arnaldo Mengascini and Elio Baldoni, decided to cultivate their passion without compromise. More than forty years after their birth, Beltuna accordions live on thanks to the love of two generations: Francesco Mengascini is one of Arnaldo’s four sons who carry on the company. We interviewed him in view of his participation in Cremona Musica International Exhibitions and Festival, where his creations will be on display in the Accordion Show area.
The Beltuna brand was born and grew as a family business. What is your story based on?
It all started with the idea of my father Arnaldo and Elio Baldoni, his partner and music teacher. Since he was 12/13 years old, my father was active in the various accordion companies that were located in Castelfidardo at the time; after the company where he worked closed, like many others, in the 1980s, necessity and passion pushed him to create, together with Elio, the first instruments. Since their brand was new, it was necessary to stand out among competitors with much more solid roots: so it immediately stood out for the innovations it introduced, for example by introducing varnishing in a historical period in which all other accordions were covered in celluloid. And it was only the first of many changes, which over the years also involved the strictly mechanical dimension of the instrument
Sound quality, beauty and uniqueness: what is the secret that distinguishes Beltuna production?
It’s all about using excellent materials and working with awareness and honesty, dedicating the right amount of time to each individual operation and each component of the accordion – which has no less than 8-10 thousand of them! Carrying out so many small procedures properly allows you to obtain an instrument that has something more in terms of timbre, mechanical quality and lightness: we stand out in particular for a fast sound response, capable of guaranteeing prompt and reactive performances. We receive so many positive comments and feedback from our customers. One in particular made me happy: a buyer told us that among the many modern accordion brands, ours stands out for the very particular timbre of the instruments, warm, full and full-bodied.
What’s new at Cremona Musica 2024?
We will preview new paint colors and illustrate the evolution of one of our most important innovations: the Matrix model, in which electromechanics have been applied to the mechanical parts of the instrument. With this innovation, the accordion is projected into the future: it increases its sound and timbre possibilities, makes it easier for the musician to play, adds an additional keyboard, interfaces with an app and opens up new scenarios for composers. On Friday 27 September at the Museo del Violino, Andrea Coluzzi and Cristiano Lui will perform playing this model, and will preview their CD recorded with two Matrix accordions.
What strikes you about the atmosphere of the festival?
For high-quality instruments, online purchase is unthinkable; we need places where the musician can touch them, try them and embrace them. Cremona Musica is a rare example of this, and I hope it grows and internationalizes more and more. We are innovators, it is true, but from the point of view of the human relationship and the live meeting between musician and builder, we remain traditionalists.
In cooperation with TGmusic.it
