Intangible Heritage
Photograph, 1992
Collection of the Carrefour mondial de l’accordéon, PH97
Photograph taken in 1992 during a concert at École Primaire Beaubien, showing a large number of children carefully listening as the accordionists perform.
Intangible heritage is defined as practices, representations, expressions, knowledge or know-how passed down from generation to generation. To be recognized as expressions of intangible heritage, these elements must remain active and continue to be passed on to the new individuals.
Diatonic accordion playing meets this definition, since it continues to be practiced and to be passed down from generation to generation. Accordion making techniques and the (unwritten) repertoire of traditional music represent related elements of this intangible heritage.