Recordings from the Estonian Folklore Archives 3

August Teppo

Instrument maker and player August Teppo and Venda Mandel in 1966. ERA, Foto 8064.

August Teppo (1875–1959) from the village of Loosu in Põlva Parish was the most famous Estonian accordion maker of all time. He had even built close to 200 instruments. Their construction was based on Hohner’s accordions. The sound as well as the body of Teppo’s accordions is particularly strong and beautiful. These were instruments for visiting the lasses at night – they won’t fall apart or get soaked. Others accordion makers used Teppo’s as a prototype and the term ‘Teppo accordion’ is used to indicate that type of instrument. August and the menfolk of the following generations were all excellent accordionists.