Editors Note

Accordions Worldwide Office Manager Tatiana Lanchtchikova is currently attending meetings overseas. Tatiana will return on November 3rd and will reply to all emails next week. If you have an urgent question please email: news@accordions.com

Our CD reviewer Tania Lukic-Marx has now returned to Australia and has reviewed a new CD this week.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Photos by Karin Ingram

The Bridlington International Accordion Festival (Autumn Accordion Festival) was held in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire from October 17th to 20th, organized by Loretta Rolston. Workshops featured courses for Intermediate, Scottish, Elementary, Vintage, Beginners Band, Jazz, Songs of Praise, Bellows Control and Accordion Repair. Traders offered interested accordion visitors the most famous brands available on the market - either new or used, accessories, music sheets, CD's, Midi etc.

The event also featured some "fantastic music" from international guests Emil Johansen, Renzo Ruggieri (Sem Accordions), Romeo Aichini, Vincenzo Abbracciante (Borsini Accordions/Rolston Accordions) and local stars such as the Harry Hussey Quartet, the trio Jennifer, Heather & Fiona, Julie Best and the Gary Blair Ceilidh Band, Ronmar Orchestra and the Tzani Group presented by excellent showman George Sadett. Not only good music, but lots of fun for all visitors in a very comfortable entertainment venue with dancing lessons in Scottish dances by professional dancing instructor Karin Ingram from the magazine "Box and Fiddle" and her collaborator Heather. Wonderful sunshine crowned the festival and many enthusiasts have already made reservations for next year's event held from October 16th to 19th, 2003.

Contributed by Li Cong

Over 3,000 accordion enthusiasts attended this year's Shanghai annual Accordion Examinations, which began on October 19th, organized by the Shanghai Accordion Association and Shanghai Music Society.

Shanghai has held such examination 12 times since 1991, with over 20,000 accordionists sitting exams. Shanghai examination organizers believe the reason for their success is the fact that their examinations are held once a year, and the exam music is changed regularly. These activities will promote accordion learning in a positive way.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

A magnificent monument to the accordion was unveiled on October 13th in Castelfidardo. The masterwork was financed and donated to the town by entrepreneur and enthusiast Alberto Bacchiocchi, and crafted by local artist Franco Campanari. The statue is intended as a homage to Castelfidardo and its proud tradition of accordion craftsmanship. This is the first landmark encountered by those who visit this historical centre. It is made in cast bronze and took five years to complete, with painstaking care for details which refer to the 140 years history of the instrument.

The upper portion of the monument shows the mythical god Hermes in the act of presenting the accordion to the Sun as a gift. The musical styles associated to the instrument are presented in the front of the monument along with their chief exponents, namely Astor Piazzolla, Gervasio Marcosignori, Peppino Principe, Gorni Kramer, Art Van Damme, Volmer Beltrami and Richard Galliano. The back of the monument is dedicated to the art of the local craftsmen and reproduces in minute detail the various stages involved in the production of the instrument.

Franco Campanari was born in Loreto in 1942 and moved his first steps as an artist in the workshop of local sculptor Tarcisio Catalini. During his long and illustrious career he has won many awards (in Milan, Spoleto, Rome, Macerata and Sassoferrato) which testify to the profound poetic content of his artworks

The Czardas Duo (which includes accordionist Ian Watson and cellist Matthew Forbes) will perform the world premier of "Nerve Endings" by Thomas Gold at Bush Hall in Shepherds Bush, London on November 3rd. Their program will also include works by Piazzolla, Bartok, Gorton, Vivaldi, Albinoni and Gershwin.

The Czardas Duo have given over 50 concerts since they graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 2000. They have commissioned many new works and perform these alongside their own ingenious arrangements of repertoire from all periods. For concert details email: ianwatson99@lineone.net

23rd Leverkusen Jazz Festival - Germany

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kamp

The 23rd Leverkusen Jazz Festival began in Leverkusen on October 31st and will run until November 9th. Performances will be given (on November 4th) by Andreas Vollenweider & Friends, which includes Andreas Vollenweider (harp, gu-cheng, vocals and flute), Daniel Kueffer (accordion, saxophone, clarinet and keyboard), Walter Keiser (drums) and Andi Pupato (percussion) plus the "Accordion Tribe", which includes Guy Klucevsek (USA), Maria Kalaniemi (Finland), Lars Hollmer (Sweden), Bratko Bibic (Slovenia) and Otto Lechner (Austria). For further details email: Leverkusener.Jazztage@t-online.de

The second annual "Accordion Rally" will be held at the Trenton Grange Hall in Trenton Maine (near Acadia National Park) on November 2nd. Accordionists of all skill levels are invited to attend and they even have some extra accordions for those that need them.

The event is organized by Nancy Hoffman (accordionist for the group Casco Bay Tummlers).
All proceeds will benefit the Grange furnace fund. For further information email: josephn@acadia.net

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Anne Landa took part in the Contemporary Dance Festival of Madrid on October 12th and 13th, which included a concert at the recently opened "La Casa Encendida" in Madrid. The event included dancers from Argentina, Brazil and Spain. Anne accompanied them in a trio of accordion, flute and cello. Their repertoire included transcriptions of Bach, Handel and Rimsky-Korsakov plus Latin Jazz pieces, always in relation to the diverse choreography presented.

Photos courtesy of Jennifer Frizzell

Over 18,000 people attended the first Music China trade fair in Shanghai from October 16th to 19th. Accordions were evident throughout the successful fair, which was held at the Intex
Shanghai Exhibition building. Ten Chinese accordion manufacturers displayed accordions of every size and type. The quality of general Chinese instrument products is certainly improving as China emerges as a major musical instrument manufacturing nation. The accordion, a huge phenomenon in China, is supported by an official government "Department of Accordion Music"!

The ribbon-cutting ceremony on the morning of October 16th was presided over by government officials and the organizers with music by the official Chinese Marching Band. Over 500 people attended the invitation only Opening Reception in the gleaming new Shanghai Grand Theatre including exhibitors, press and special guests. After the welcoming speeches there was a cultural exchange performance featuring a duet of 15 year old Chinese accordion champion Barbara Fang Lin and Jon Hammond (USA). Their program began with "Tico Tico", followed by "America The Beautiful" in tribute to victims of the September 11th tragedy. Fang Lin also performed the solo "Prelude and Scherzo".

Music China will take place again next year beginning on October 15th, 2003 and is expected to be even bigger.

Vincenzo Abbracciante tours Italy and Europe

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The busy concert schedule of accordionist Vincenzo Abrracciante included (in the last three months) a tour of Italy and concerts in other European countries. Vincenzo performed as a guest in the final concerts of the Benevento and Capistrello competitions alongside fellow accordionist Mario Pietrodarchi, in Polignano with the "Project Tango" quartet, at the important Danish Festival "Harmonica Traef" of Jyderup, and in Bari together with Davide Penta (bass) and Antonio Di Lorenzo (drums), with whom he presented a programme of jazz standards and tango pieces.

During the month of September the artist dedicated himself to his students, and travelled to Ried (Austria), to perform for the Borsini stand and present his new CD, "My Dream". During this trip he also gave a mini-concert for a local radio station. He then gave two concerts at the "Taylor" jazz club in Bitritto (province of Bari) with the Project Tango quartet, and in a duo featuring Vincenzo De Luci on trumpet.

Finally, from October 17th to 20th, he was guest of honour at the Bridlington International Accordion Festival one of the most important accordion events in England.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Emanuele Rastelli recently completed a successful tour of Canada. Emanuele played in front of enthusiastic audiences at the 14th "Carrefour Mondial de l'accordèon" in Montmagny (Quèbec), in the beautiful Scottish Rite Cathedral of Hamilton (near Toronto) and in the brand new Leonardo Da Vinci Theatre in Montreal. The artist was also a guest of the Ontario Broadcasting Corporation.

Special Concert in Honour of Composer Jan Vogel - Netherlands

Contributed by Hillebrand van der Veen

On November 10th, the Amsterdam Accordion Club Forzando will take part in a special concert in honour of well known Amsterdam composer Jan Vogel who was born 100 years ago. Performers include the Forzando A-orchestra (conducted by Piet Verzijde), the A-orchestra of Accordando, and a mouth organ ensemble, who will play of variety of compositions by this composer. The concert will take place at Buurtcentrum De Rietwijker in Amsterdam. For further details email: H.J.Veen@net.HCC.nl

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

During the prestigious accordion competition held recently in Castelfidardo, a local theatre screened the premiere of the show film "Accordion movie", directed by Beniamino Bugiolacchi with historical research by Viviana Dallapè and editing by Marco Cerioni Nisi. This innovative work demonstrates how the accordion can be featured in every aspect of everyday life and was very well received by the audience.

A movie critic wrote: "...another aspect that I enjoyed was the portrait of the instrument which emerges from the strings of images. We soon discover, in fact, that the film is much more than a collection of pictures held together by their involvement with the accordion. The instruments becomes the real protagonist: it makes people fall in love (in "High Society" and "The Deer Hunter"), it is the sign of a child's love for his father ("Il coraggio"), it provides a real and vivid counterpart to the grotesque aspects of life ("Amarcord", "Dom za vesanje"), it even tames wild beasts ("Taz"), and finally it becomes the symbol of the revolution ("The Last Emperor"). The director has managed to capture the soul inside the magical box, the heart that beats beneath the bellows".

"Dancas Ocultas", which includes accordionists Artur Fernandes, Filipe Ricardo, Filipe Cal and Francisco Miguel will perform at the "Atlantic Waves 2002" festival in London on November 4th. The group will play pieces their CD's "Danças Ocultas" and "Ar" as well as pieces from their next CD. For further information email: afernandes@viseu.ipiaget.pt

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Between November 2002 and May 2003 the Convitto Nazionale "Regina Margherita" in Anagni (province of Frosinone) will host a series of accordion workshops on the last weekend of every month organised by the A.P.M. Music Center. The workshops, held by Gianluca Pica are aimed at the preparation of exams and important international competitions such as the Coupe Mondiale, the World Trophy, Klingenthal, Castelfidardo, Arrasate and others. Each workshop will cost 80 €, plus 20 € a day for accommodation.

Accordionist Renato Tocco will accompany vocalist Eva Kovic in an evening of "Love Songs" on November 9th and 23rd at La Vieille Grille, Monge. For further details email:
contact@musica-urbis.com

Jon Hammond performed at Bruno's in San Francisco, California on October 29th with special guests Michael Rinta (trombone), Ronnie Smith (drums) and Joe Rodriguez (trumpet). Their program included Jon's compositions "Canonball '99", "Cosmo Lane", "Thing in C Minor" and "Six Year Itch" which were all recorded live.

Two days prior to this event, Jon entertained patients at the Laguna Honda Hospital for 4 hours. Jon entertains at the hospital on a regular basis and is always well received.

The "Tiroler Ensemble für Neue Musik" performed chamber music works by Austrian composers Guenther Zechberger and Bernhard Gander, plus English composers David Revill and Colin Broom at the "Dialogues" festival held in Edinburgh on October 26th.

In addition they gave the premier of a work entitled "Mechanischer Atem" (David Revill) in which the accordion plays a special role. This work is dedicated to Harald Proeckl, a teacher at the Tiroler National Conservatory in Innsbruck, Austria.

Gary Dahl has now released his "First Lessons Accordion Method Book", designed for the person who may know nothing about music and has had no previous accordion training. Included with the book to facilitate the learning process is an instructional recording by the author! This effective teaching tool will motivate and guide the beginner student from basic accordion familiarization and music theory to quickly achieving results by playing songs such as "Scarborough Fair" and "Ode to Joy". The minimum size instrument is an 80 bass piano accordion. The book includes:

• Lesson pages that teach the basic necessary fundamentals of music for efficient, thorough progress
• Reinforcement pieces that apply new concepts
• Theory pages that instill understanding and appreciation of music
• Technique pages that develop good hand position, coordination and finger independence
• Interesting solo pieces that will inspire students to strive for higher levels of achievement
• Instructional CD included to maximize motivation and comprehension.

This book is also very effective for the person getting back into the accordion after a long layoff. For details email: garydahl@webtv.net

The Gordanairs have released his new CD entitled "Gordanairs European Musik" on CD and cassette. The group includes Gordon Groening (accordion), Danny Groening (drums), Rob Goddard (trumpet), Kenny Oglivie (bass) and Mike Hambrook (saxophone & clarinet). Tracks include "Gordanairs Waltz", "Freiwilligen Feuerwehr Polka" and "Patronia Bavaria". For further CD information email: ggroening@direct.ca

The November edition of the United States National Accordion News is now on-line featuring news, articles and upcoming events. If you would like to contribute an item for this news email Kevin Friedrich at: kevinfriedrich@hotmail.com

www.theaccordionshop.co.uk New site for The Accordion Shop (Electronic Accordions Ltd), accordion specialists in the UK

www.accordions.com/mika Updated information on Finnish accordionist Mika Väyrynen including new contact details

www.accordions.com/pica Updated information on classical accordionist Gianluca Pica including new information on his students

www.accordions.com/pitocco Updated information on concert performer and teacher Massimiliano Pitocco including new contact details

Antique Accordion Information

A reader would like information on the antique Venezia accordion (pictured) which dates back to the 1920s. Email: LBal790252@aol.com