Bellows of Melody: Egidio Roncaglia and the Castelfidardo Accordion Heritage of Excelsior, 1924

In the rolling hills of the Marche between Ancona and Loreto, the town of Castelfidardo had established itself since the late nineteenth century as the undisputed global capital of accordion manufacturing. In 1924, craftsman Egidio Roncaglia partnered with skilled instrument tuners and mechanics to establish Excelsior, setting out to elevate the accordion from a rustic folk instrument into a concert-grade orchestral centerpiece.

Excelsior revolutionized the internal acoustics of the instrument, employing hand-filed Swedish steel reeds, precision celluloid casing, and airtight calfskin bellows. The resulting tonal brilliance and rapid mechanical action made Excelsior the preferred instrument for virtuoso jazz improvisers and symphonic soloists.

During the 1930s and 1940s, Excelsior established an influential showroom on 6th Avenue in New York City, becoming an essential fixture of Big Band orchestras and studio recordings for stars like Charles Magnante and Art Van Damme. Despite fierce international competition, the beating heart of production remained firmly anchored in the workshops of Castelfidardo.

Integrated into the esteemed Pigini accordion family in the modern era, Excelsior continues to handcraft concert accordions in Castelfidardo, celebrating over a century of acoustic excellence where wood, mother-of-pearl, and steel unite into melodic art.