Editors Note

The Recordings part of the MusicForAccordion.com site is now ready to sell CD's/recordings for artists. Some artists, groups and orchestras are listed, with sound samples, a cover picture and internet pages of information. A sample is:

http://www.musicforaccordion.com/recordings

An important feature is the "search" where you can search by performer, composer, piece title to find the recording you want to hear. This has a particularly important educational value for students and teachers wanting to hear performances of works they teach and study. You can purchase by secure server using a credit card in US$ or in Euro currencies.

Artists wanting to sell their CD's should contact site Director Harley Jones at: harley@accordions.com

Wayne Knights Webmaster

Contributed by Vladimir Ushakov

The Baltic International Accordion Quintet, which consists of accordionists Eduardas Gabnis & Gennady Savkov (Lithuania), Svetlana Stavitskaja (Latvia) and Vladimir Ushakov & Sergei Likhachov (Russia) have just completed a 6 week concert tour around Europe.

The tour began with performances at the Vilnius International Accordion Festival (19th to 21st October), then continued with series of concerts around Lithuania. Following this, the group went to Italy to take part in International Competitions in Lanciano and Castelfidardo, winning 1st prize in the Lanciano Chamber Music Category, 2nd prize in the Castelfidardo Variety Music Category and 3rd prize in the Castelfidardo Astor Piazzolla Music Category. The quintet also took part in the concert program of the competitions, performing in the "Vladimir Zubitsky and friends" concert (6th October, Lanciano) and "In memoriam Astor Piazzolla" (10th October, Castelfidardo).

The quintet then travelled to Poland group giving a concert to a very enthusiastic crowd in the Zbaszyn Town Cultural Center (15th October). This was followed by a series of concerts in Lithuanian cities: Trakaj, Kaunas, Pabrada, Nemenchine, Shiauliaj, Panevezhys, Kupeshkis, Jonava and Kretinga. The Quintet also took part in the International Accordion Festival in Klaipeda (18th to 20th October) playing concerts as well as giving seminars, lectures and master classes.

They then moved on to Denmark where soloists Svetlana, Vladimir and Sergei performed at several private functions and visited John Godtfredsen's Accordion Center and Tom's Harmonika Center.

On the final day of their tour Svetlana and Vladimir took part in a Gala Concert (3rd November) at the 17th Autumn International Accordion Festival in St. Petersburg (organized by A. Dmitriev) playing "Meditango" (Piazzolla).

The Baltic International Accordion Quintet plans further tours in the future. For further details email:
v-ushakov@infopro.spb.su

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions

After the successful world premiere of Ephraim Podgaits' "Lips Concerto" for bayan and symphony orchestra in Klingenthal (Germany) earlier this year, Friedrich Lips performed the Russian premiere of this work during the opening concert of the "Moscow Autumn" Festival. Podgaits uses different rhythms based on the initials of Friedrich Lips (F & L), the theme of J.S. Bach's "Invention in F" (fa-la), his telephone number (315-28-24) and an "ellipse" which contains the name of the artist (Lips).

Following this concert, Lips also played this work ( which is dedicated to him) in Tcheljabinsk (Ural region) and solo concerts in Ufa, Tumen and Ishjewsk (Siberia).

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Gianluca Pica will tutor a workshop from November 29th to December 1st hosted by the Convitto Nazionale "Regina Margherita" in Anagni (province of Frosinone) and organised by the A.P.M. Music Center. The workshops are aimed at the preparation of exams and important international competitions such as the Coupe Mondiale, World Trophy, Klingenthal, Castelfidardo and Arrasate and will be held regularly on the last weekend of every month until May 2003.

Contributed by Hillebrand van der Veen

The Amsterdam Accordion Club Forzando will entertain at homes for the elderly during November. Their first concert was held on November 17th at Bovenkerk in De Luwte. Further concerts will be held in Koog (23rd) and Kadijkerkoog (30th). The group includes many well known sing-a-long tunes to their program to encourage audience participation.

"K" Trio at New Haven Country Club - USA

The "K" Trio will entertain at the New Haven Country Club's annual Women's Club Luncheon on December 6th. Their repertoire includes a variety of popular pieces such as "Accordion Boogie" (Magnante), "Carnival of Venice" and "Fiddler on the Roof". For further concert information email: mary.tokarski@snet.net

Contributed by Winfried Haushalter

The Erstes Koelner Akkordeon-Orchester 1935 (First Cologne Accordion Orchestra Concert) will hold a concert at the Aula der Musikhochschule Koeln in Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen on December 1st. Their program will include works by Borodin, Bui, Piazzolla, Würthner and Elgar. For further details email: info@erstes-koelner-akkordeon-orchester.de

The Paris-Moscou Duo performed in the French town of Saint-Appollinaire (near Dijon) recently. This concert was organised by the Town Hall and accordionist Jean-Claude Fournier. The duo were also joined by well known accordionists Aurélien Noël and Nicolas Massoutié (who are teachers in C.N.I.M.A.).

Their program included a variety of classical, Russian folk and French musette pieces as well as variety and jazz music by Aurélien and Nicolas.

Contributed by Angel Russo, A.I.D.A and Agustin Anibal Gomez

The annual "Day of the Accordion" was held on November 15th throughout Argentina. Over 40 accordionists took part in a "walk" through Florida street in Capital Federal, led by the popular 82 year old Nazareno Anconetani, maker of Anconetani Accordions.

In addition, the Varelli Institute of Teachers of Paraná organized a celebration together with its students and the collaboration of accordionist Robert Gastaldi from Leones, Córdoba.

Performances were also given in Palomar (held jointly with their Beer Festival) by
Ernesto Selza, President of the A.I.D.A Association, Eliseo Bonomo and several other accordionists.

The celebration in San Francisco, Córdoba, attracted 15,000 people to see several renowned accordionists including Rubén Cena.

Fisalmuseo Continues with Romeo Aichino - Italy

Contributed by Carlo Fortunato

The next event of the FisAlMuseo concert series will take place in the multimedia room at the Ethnographic Museum of Alessandria on November 26th. Variety accordionist Romeo Aichino will present a program including variations on the Argentinean tango, swing, waltz and Latin pieces. The evening will feature guest of honour Mr. Gasparino, accordionist and former conductor (in the 1950s), of the famous "Angelini" orchestra of the state broadcasting corporation (RAI). For further details email: carlofortunato@virgilio.it

Contributed by John Dickson

The Perth Accordion Club presented a Gala Concert on November 17th, which featured two of Australia's finest accordionists, Ross Maio from Sydney and Peter Piccini (West Australia). After solo performances they combined to treat the audience to a great display of impromptu playing. Those in attendance were also able to view a selection of accordions available on the market, courtesy of Ron Pearce Music in Adelaide.

Royal College of Music Accordion Festival 2002 - Sweden

Over 700 people enjoyed eight concerts and a seminar at the Royal College of Music Accordion Festival 2002 in Stockholm on November 15th and 16th. Organised by Anita Agnas & the Royal College of Music, guest performers included Maria Kalaniemi (accordion) & Timo Alakotila (piano) and the Tommy Nilsson Trio plus local performers Anita Agnas (Stockholm) & Lars Holm (Malmö) with their students, who played a variety of folk, jazz and classical music (contemporary and transcriptions).

A Seminar was held by Bo Gäfvert entitled "Swedish Accordion History". Swedish accordionists were invited to attend the seminar and perform their music.

The festival aim was to show people what is happening at the Royal College of Music, with concerts of contemporary music as well as pedagogic concerts, accordion classes (the whole school class plays the accordion), plus the direction of the music school of today and artists of the future.

Concertinas Anonymous will hold a meeting at the Lewes Arms in Lewes, East Sussex on December 2nd. For further information email Bryan Creer at: Bryancreer@aol.com

Contributed by Karen Selman

Fourteen year old accordionist Alex Selman has been chosen as one of six finalists in the Auckland Philharmonia Friends Young Composers Competition 2002. Alex will hear his orchestral composition "Urban Jungle" performed by the Auckland Philharmonia in December.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Claudio Jacomucci and dancer/choreographer Kathleen Delaney will present their two projects entitled Road Runner and Madame Sosostris at the Foollyk in Rome on December 12th. For further information email: dariadeflorian@yahoo.it

Accordionist Paul Chamberlain was a guest performer at the Leyland Accordion Club in Lancashire on November 20th. He performed a varied program on both button and piano accordions including pieces by Frosini such as "Hot Fingers", French Musette music, Russian pieces such as "Rassypuka" (Gridin), and "Capriccio" (Repnikov), Scarlatti, plenty of Scottish music and some well known sing-along tunes.

Joseph Petric will perform at the official launch of his new CD "The Orbiting Garden" (produced under the banner of the Canadian Music Centre) at the Rivoli Club in Toronto on December 4th. The CD includes tracks "Orbiting Garden", "Arghanum V" and "Fondly, Through the Madness Breathing". For CD details email: jpetric@interlog.com

This month's accordion round-up will be held on November 26th at the Broken Spoke in Austin, Texas with special guest Joel Guzman, who has just released a new CD. The event will also include a jam session plus entertainment by Debra Peters and the Love Saints. For further details email: sgentry@texas.net

Frode Haltli (Norway) has just released his debut solo CD "Looking on Darkness" (ECM
New Series 1794). The CD contains Nordic works from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland written for the accordion by Bent Sørensen, Asbjørn Schaathun, Magnus Lindberg, PerMagnus Lindborg and Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje. Four of the five pieces are premiere recordings, with three written especially for Haltli.

Frode Haltli is joined by the Vertavo String Quartet (Øyvor Volle - violin, Berit Cardas - violin, Henninge Landaas - viola & Bjøg Værnes - violoncello) for "Gagaku Variations" (Ratkje). For further CD information email: haltli@hotmail.com

www.accordions.com/jacomucci Updated information on accordion performer Claudio Jacomucci

Pat Yates would like information on a Stradibox 120 bass piano accordion, made in Italy about 40 years ago. Email: pyates@ezwv.com