Editors Note
News co-ordinator Christine
Adams had a faulty hard drive problem on her computer this week
and the hard drive has now been replaced. If you have sent Christine
an email of late and not heard from her, please email again as it
is possible that some emails may have been lost. Similarly, if you
have submitted information for the Yellow
Pages, please check to see if this information is online on
Saturday evening. If not please resubmit.
We apologize if this computer problem has caused you any inconvenience.
The World Harmonica Festival 2001 will be held
in Trossingen from October 24th to 28th, organised by the FIH (Federation
Internationale de L'Harmonica) and sponsored by Matth.
Hohner AG, Musik Meyer GmbH, Trossingen Kultur GmbH and the
German Accordion Association (DHV).
The event will include competitions (for soloists,
trios, groups, school orchestras and harmonica-orchestras), concerts,
workshops and a special exhibition at the Harmonica Museum Trossingen.
An "Opening Ceremony" will be held at the Dr. Ernst-Hohner-Konzerthaus
with entertainment by the Hohnerklang Orchestra (conducted by Hans-Günther
Kölz).
Other performers include the Harmonica quartett
"Fata Morgana" (Netherlands), Franz Chmel (Austria), Hendrik Meurkens
& Band (Germany and USA), Sigmund Groven (Netherlands), Gary Primich
(USA), Joe Filisko (USA), The Mudsliders Feat (UK & USA), Greg Szlapczynski
(Poland), Michael Arlt (Germany), Picca Trio (Germany), Brendan
Power, Mick Kinsella & Rick Epping (New Zealand, Ireland & USA),
Harmonica quartett Austria and Eyachtaler Harmonica Ensemble (Germany).
Eleven workshops will also be held on a variety
of subjects with tutors Joe Filisko, Gary Primich, Greg Szlapczynski,
Walter Buchinger, Andreas Hecke, Jens Bunge, Fata Morgana, Rick
Epping, Sigmund Groven, Mick Kinsella and Brendan Power.
Top TV Program on Accordion - France
and Switzerland
Each week in France and in Genova, Switzerland,
the TV channel TV8 Mont-Blanc will run a 30 minute program on a
wide variety of musical styles, with strong emphasis on "Bal Musette"
and variety for accordions. Presenter and accordionist Jean-Robert
Chappelet will introduce the show with Carole and Sebastien on Saturdays,
Sundays and Wednesdays. Many accordionists have already appeared
on the show including Jean
Louis Noton, Peter Soave, Verchuren and Lorenzoni.
Emanuele Rastelli Performs to Over
4,000 People - Italy
Three concerts featuring Emanuele
Rastelli were held on August 9th in the main square of Lido
Adriano (in the province of Ravenna). Rastelli played a programme
that included some of his own compositions as well as his arrangements
of famous swing and jazz pieces, to over 4,000 people, including
top public officials.
This was followed by a duo concert with well
known jazz musician Gaspare Tirincanti (clarinet) at the Scala in
Milan on August 11th. Their program included solo pieces followed
by an exciting jam session. Two days later Rastelli gave a solo
concert at the "Festival dell'Unità" of Secchiano (province of Pesaro),
where he performed original compositions.
On August 30th Rastelli will chair the jury
of the 3rd National Competition held in Alimena (near Palermo).
As the guest of honour of this event, he will also give a solo concert
in the evening.
"Texas Accordion Legacy" Exhibition
- USA
The New Braunfels Museum of Art and Music is
hosting a one month exhibit entitled "The Texas Accordion Legacy"
which will feature a host of musical events. The "Grand Opening"
was held on August 17th with performances by Bradley Williams and
Los Pinkys, The Gulf Coast Playboys and the Omas and Oompahs who
entertained with a variety of zydeco, conjunto and German pieces.
The event will include exhibits of historical
significance to the accordion in Texas and numerous musical and
cultural evenings. For more information phone: +1 830-625-5636
Alden Biesen Castle Concert - Belgium
Accordionist
Sandy
Brechin and his group "Burach" will perform at Alden Biesen
Castle in Rijkhoven, Bilzen in Belgium on September 8th and 9th.
For further details email: sandy@squeeze.demon.co.uk
Argentinean Music at Tokyo Station
- Japan
Contributed
by Toru Katou and Yoshiya Watanabe
On August 26th, the "Makita Yuki Chamame Trio",
which features accordionist Yuki Makita, will perform Chamame tunes
(Argentinean music) at the newly opened JR-Break Station Media Court,
Tokyo Station. This free concert is one of many organised by "JR
East", the largest railway company in Japan. The "Makita Yuki Chamame
Trio" is one of 41 bands selected from over 1360 applicants from
all over Japan. Future concerts will be held weekly. For further
details email: k-takahashi@head.jreast.co.jp
Grand Charity Concert - England
Contributed by Mike O'Regan
A Grand Charity Concert will be held at St Mary's
Church in Sheffield on September 15th presented by Ray Burgon and the
Sheffield Junior accordionists. Performers include Harry Hussey, George
Syrett, Larysa & Stefan Bodell, The Wong Family, Ryan Bright, Philip Brown
and Charlie Watkins. Proceeds will go to "Accordion Aid", a charity to
help the homeless. For further details phone Ray Burgon at: +44 114 2311495
Hamburg Festival - Germany
Two compositions
by Dr William Schimmel will be performed at the prestigious Hamburg
Festival which will take place during September. The compositions
entitled "Archipelago" and "Stairway to Honey/A Taste of Heaven"
are scored for accordion, bassoon and chamber ensemble and will
be performed by the "Absolute Ensemble" (conducted by Kristyan Jarvi),
an international array of musicians based in New York.
This ensemble performed these works last June
at the World Trade Center in an outdoor summer stage concert, with
Dr. Schimmel on accordion and Estonian bassoonist, Martin Kuuskmann.
The works first appeared on the critically acclaimed
CD "Archipelago" on the German CCNC label, which features Dr Schimmel,
Martin Kuuskmann and Russian percussionist David Rosenblatt. The
CD has received much airplay both in Europe and America. For further
information email: GWILLIAMANDMICKI@aol.com
World Concertina Congress 2001
- USA
The World Concertina Congress 2001 will be held
in Wausau, Wisconsin from September 21st to 23rd. The event will
include a banquet held at the Wausau Labor Temple and a concert
honoring Dan Gruetzmacher with guests "Cletus Goblirsch Band". For
more information phone: +1 715 675-2455
Eigse Mrs Crotty Concertina Festival
- Ireland
Contributed by Daire Bracken
The Eigse Mrs Crotty Concertina Festival was
held in Kilrush, Co. Clare from August 16th to 19th. The event is
a weekend festival dedicated to concertinas and a celebration of
the life and music of Eigse Mrs. Crotty, one of the outstanding
figures of traditional Irish music. Festival goers were treated
to a variety of workshops, open air music sessions, open air "Céilí's"
and concerts. Performers included the group "Slide" which features
Aogán Lynch (concertina & whistles), Éamonn de Barra (flute, vocals
& keyboard), Daire Bracken (violin, vocals & guitar) and Mick Broderick
(bouzoukis).
Accordion Gala Concert - Argentina
Contributed by Florencia Herrera
Professor Gasparin (Julio Erman) has organized
a piano accordion concert entitled "Galas de Acordeon" (Accordion
Galas) presents "Gasparin y sus Amigos" (Gasparin and his friends)
to be held in Buenos Aires on September 7th.
The concert will feature a "Tribute to the Accordion"
which is a presentation by Gasparin that will cover the history
of the accordion, its development and accordionists. The second
half of this event will feature "Actuacion de los Amigos" (the Role
of Friends) will performances by Antonieta Zeballos and Gasparin,
Marcelo Domenichini and Chicho Santise. For further information
email: fiobergi@infovia.com.ar
Festival
Concert - France
The
duo "Paris-Moscou"
performed at the 7th "Festival de Poche" in Hédé, Brittany last
week. This festival is organised by the "Compagnie de l'écho" under
the direction of Brigitte Fontaine and is an accordion festival
and an arts festival for a variety of different arts such as theatre,
singing , poetry, musical discussions, etc. The duo played in the
church of Hédé in front of a diverse audience keen to learn more
about the accordion.
Finnish Accordionists Perform in
Tokyo - Japan
Contributed by Yoshiya Watanabe
On August 11th and 12th, Finnish accordionists
Maria Kalaniemi and Kimmo Pohjonen performed at the fashionable
TLG (Tribute to the Love Generation) live house in Odaiba, Tokyo.
The Japanese public seldom have the opportunity to experience Finnish
accordion music and the audience enjoyed the varied program, which
ranged from traditional to avant-garde style. Maria played elegant
melodies on both stradella and free-bass accordions, plus Kimmo
gave a unique performance utilizing real-time techniques.
Two "not-to-be missed" concerts will give music lovers
a chance to listen to excerpts from famous film soundtracks. The concerts,
which are sponsored by newspapers "Il mattino di Padova", "La Nuova Venezia"
and "La Tribuna di Treviso", the Padua Provincial Council, Monselice City
Council, "Santa Maria delle Grazie" Cultural Centre, Salv.a.t.i. Association,
Stravinskij Musical Association, Velui Luna and ArteMedia, will feature
the Stravinskij Chamber Orchestra (directed by Marco Tezza) and Massimiliano
Pitocco (accordion and bandoneon).
Their
program will include well-known pieces such as "Oblivion" (from "Henry
IV"), "Moonriver" (from "Breakfast at Tiffany's") and others from "Beauty
and the Beast, "Once Upon a Time in America" (soundtrack by Ennio Morricone),
"Schindler's List", "Forrest Gump" and "The Lion King". The first of these
concerts will be held at the Pollini Auditorium in Padua on August 30th,
and the second at Duomo, Monselice on September 2nd. Entry is free of
charge. For further details email: martezza@libero.it
Fehring Festival - Austria
The Klaus Paier Trio will perform jazz & tango
nuevo pieces at the Fehring Festival in Austria on September 16th.
The trio includes Klaus Paier (accordion), Stefan Gfrerrer (bass)
and Roman Werni (drums). For further details email: klaus.paier@aon.at
New Work Premiered at Missenden
Festival - England
The Czardas Duo (Matthew Forbes - cello & Ian
Watson - accordion) will perform a private premiere of a new work
by John Webb at the British Music Information Centre (BMIC) in London
on September 4th. The public premiere will be held at the Missenden
Festival in London on October 13th.
German group "Hiss" will release their new CD
"Tränen, Tabak und Tequila" (Tears, Tobacco and Tequila) next month.
The CD includes tracks such as "Polkakönigin", "Tanz mit der Dor",
"Für Dich" and the title track "Tränen, Tabak und Tequila". For
details email: jenny.findeis@t-online.de
Klucevsek at Tonic - USA
Accordionist Guy Klucevsek will perform at "Tonic"
in Manhattan on August 26th in a double bill with the Kevin Norton
Ensemble. His program will include works by Shostakovich, Cage,
Dave Douglas and Phillip Johnston as well as his own compositions.
For further details email: Guysqueeze@aol.com
Viktor Romanko Tours Switzerland
Contributed by Jutta Menn
Accordionist Viktor Romanko will tour Switzerland
during September, beginning with a concert at the Galerie "Juri",
Winterthur on September 17th. This will be followed by concerts
at the Kloten Church in Kloten, Dübendorf, Dietlikon, at the "Zentrum
am Obertor" in Winterthur and in the Sonnenhof Restaurant in Brütten.
For further details email: romanko@jb-music.de
Euterphon Accordion Trio Concert -
Italy
The Euterphon Accordion Trio will perform three concerts
at the Museo degli Uffizi in Firenze from September 19th to 21st. Their
program will include works by Bach, Battiston,
Bacalov, Galliano, Mascagni, Mainerio, Piovani and Piazzolla. For further
details email: maimoneg@libero.it
Orchestra Entertains at Church
Concert - New Zealand
The North Shore Accordion Orchestra (conducted
by Lionel
Reekie) entertained over 200 people at a concert at St George's
Church in Takapuna on August 19th. This concert was part of the
"Outreach" concert series organized by the church. The group played
a program of solos and orchestral pieces such as "Czardas" and "Perfidia".
Harmonia at Ashkenaz - USA
Contributed by Joyce Clyde
Popular band "Harmonia" will perform traditional
folk music from Hungary, Ukraine, Romania and Croatia at Ashkenaz
in Berkeley on August 26th. The group includes Walt Mahovlich (accordion
& clarinet), Beata Begeniova (vocals), Marko Dreher (violin), Alexander
Fedoriouk (cimbalom & nai - panflute) and Adam Good (bass). For
details email: joycexopo@hotmail.com
Contributed
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Contributed
by Toru Katou and Yoshiya Watanabe
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Their
program will include well-known pieces such as "Oblivion" (from "Henry
IV"), "Moonriver" (from "Breakfast at Tiffany's") and others from "Beauty
and the Beast, "Once Upon a Time in America" (soundtrack by Ennio Morricone),
"Schindler's List", "Forrest Gump" and "The Lion King". The first of these
concerts will be held at the Pollini Auditorium in Padua on August 30th,
and the second at Duomo, Monselice on September 2nd. Entry is free of
charge. For further details email: