Hans Hassler, born 1945 in Graubünden, East Switzerland, is the true Swiss king of accordion. Hassler inspires the listener with his playful virtuosity, a good sense of humour and a musical imagination without borders.

For Hans Hassler, performing on a variety of stages, to return to the studio as a soloist means adding something significant to anything which has already been played. It doesn’t necessarily have to be new or different; it has to be substantial. Hans Hassler has retained something of the originality of his playing. He combines this elemental, physical and spontaneously deployed music-making power with a finely tuned sense for artistic form. Appropriately enough for this two-handed instrument, this often involves a dialogue across the spectrum between heavenly descant and droning lowlands. There are ethereal lone notes and powerful clusters of tones, and altogether a great deal of dynamics, scurrility, humour, drama and thoughtfulness. That, if we wish to name it, is Hassler music.

Cover art and design: Jonas Schoder
Liner notes: Bert Noglik
Photo: Francesca Pfeffer

All compositions by Hans Hassler. Recorded 2016 by Willy Strehler at Studio Klangdach, Guntershausen, Switzerland. Mixed 2017 by Hans Hassler and Willy Strehler. Mastered by Willy Strehler. Produced and published by Intakt Records.