 |
|
  After
the successful world premiere, Sofia Gubaidulina's Concerto for Bayan
and Symphony Orchestra (under the sign of scorpio - variations on
six hexachords) in Stockholm, Sweden recently, Friedrich
Lips played the second performance with the Rotterdam Philharmonic
Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Jurowski. The concert took place in
Rotterdam's world-famous concert hall "De Doelen" on November
6th. On November 10th there was a chamber music concert in the Eduard
Flipse Hall and Friedrich
Lips played the accordion part in "Tatarian Dance" and
"Galgenlieder", two chamber music works by Sofia Gubaidulina.
|
| |
|
|
|
Pigini Important Shareholder of Cemex srl/Excelsior
- Italy
Pigini
srl has always been interested in quality improvement and has
constantly researched modern and better economies of accordion production.
Pigini srl have now
decided to become an important shareholder of the historic accordion
manufacturing company Cemex,
manufacturer of the famous brand Excelsior.
Cemex will maintain
its own production and commercial organization. There will be a close
collaboration to coordinate the lowering of production costs and implement
quality improvement for both companies to better penetrate the various
accordion markets as loyal competitors.
|
| |
|
|
|
Accordion Training Course in Givet - France
Contributed by: A.O.A.G, Colette Cottel.
 On
11 November Colette Cottel, Professor of A.P.H of Givet invited Frederic
Deschamps to give a Master Class in Givet which was attended by
the very young accordionists of the Ardennes area.
Also present were two other professors of
the A.O.A.G (Association of the organists and Givet accordionists)
Brigitte Billy and Christel Gibout, and of course the indispensable
local Jean-Yves Hallais, the area representative "Far North"
from Hohner.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Accordion Fun Festival in Glasgow - Scotland
Contributed by Kevin
Friedrich
 Accordionists
from around the world gathered in Glasgow for the annual Accordion
Fun Festival from November 15 to 17, 2003. Featuring concerts, workshops
and competitions, people from Italy, France, Germany, USA and around
the United Kingdom gathered for the three day festival.
Concerts featured soloist Mirco Patarini (picture below - executive
of Scandalli, SEM,
Paolo Soprani), the Orchestre
d'Accordeons du Canton de Rouffach under the direction of Pascale
Remtschek, the Akkordeonclub Laaber from Germany under the direction
of Anna Marie Neumeyer as well as the local Brian Laurie Senior
Accordion Showband directed by Brain Laurie.
The top solo category was won by David Ritchie
with other categories being held in many age levels and musical
styles, such as classical, duet, traditional, scottish and polka.
 The
Brian Laurie Schools Project was the recipient of the money raised
at the festival. This Trust Project provides accordions and tuition
to children through the local school system, providing them with
a musical education using accordions. These children might not otherwise
have had the opportunity to participate in the activities of the
music school which include lessons and performing in the Brian Laurie
Renfrewshire Accordion Orchestra.
Patron of the Trust, Iain Mac Phail who
is the resident accordionist at Queen Elizabeth II's summer residence
the Balmoral Castle, gave an outstanding workshop highlighting many
of the different techiniques and styles associated with Scottish
music. Two workshops were given, one for the younger players and
an advanced workshop for the experienced group.
|
| |
|
|
|
Irish Musical Riverdance Needs its Music to be
"Alive" - Singapore
 While
the Riverdance dancers sizzle on stage visually with spectacularly
swift footwork, it is the show's musicians who capture the audiences
imagination. The backbone of the show is its music. What makes it
so special is the haunting melody and the unique compositions by Bill
Wheelan — each song carries an emotional undercurrent which can
move the audience to tears.
An important ingredient to the hugely popular
musical sound is Nigel Davey on accordion who travels the world with
the show, including an Asian tour in 2003, that saw the show performing
in Australia, Beijing, Shanghai and six Japanese cities.
|
| |
|
|
|
The Rose City Accordion Camp – USA
Contributed by the Rose City Accordion
Club
The Rose City Accordion Camp will be
held again at Silver Falls Conference Center in Sublimity Oregon from
June 6th to 10th 2004. This is the seventh annual camp and again will
be under the musical direction of Joe Morelli from Vancouver BC, assisted
by Ilmar Kuljus from Spokane, WA.
Additional workshops will be given by Joe
Baccellieri from Portland and Frank Marocco from California. More
further details email Glevear@aol.com
|
| |
|
|
|
Accordion Group Perfoms Jazz Tango and Swing –
USA
Contributed by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
Accordionist Victor Prieto, David Patel
(piano) and Rabecca Dorsey (voice) “one of the greatest voices
in the world” (New York Times) will be performing in dicember
a repertoire of jazz tango and swing:
Tuesday 2nd at the Paradou, 8 little west. 12th ST. Manhattam NY.
7:30 to 10pm
Thursday 4th at Caffe Taci. 110th St, at B'WAY. 8:00 to 11:30pm
Friday 5th at Les Deux Gamins, 132 w. houston st. 7pm-11pm
Saturday 6th at Paradou 426A 7th ave. B'klyn. 7:30 to 9:30pm
For further details email: victorprieto2001@yahoo.com
|
| |
|
|
|
Film featuring Montreal corner store includes accordion
and harmonica – Canada
The movie “Roger Toupin, épicier
variété” was premiered at the Montreal Documentary
Festival to a long ovation. The movie produced by Benoit Pilon follows
the end of a corner store in his rapidly changing Montreal neighborhood.
Pilon said he was inspired to make the film after watching the owner
Roger Toupin minding his humble variety grocers corner store, talking
to friends, playing the accordion and harmonica and making an occasional
sale. The film follows the final months before the store was sold
to become an architect's office.
The film opens on 19 December in Montreal
Cinéma Parallèle Ex-Centris in French with English sub-titles
|
| |
|
|
|
 Stefan
Hiss CD Presentation - Germany
Hiss presented their new CD "Polka
For the World" on the 2nd November to the world at the Theatre
House in Stuttgart. The musical mixture of Stefan Hiss and a kind
of Polk'n'Roll, consisting of many musical styles from all corners
of the world is expected to be a great success. The five performers
are Stefan Hiss (accordion, singing), Michael Roth (harmonica, singing),
Thomas Grollmus (guitars, mandoline, singing), Volker Shoe (bass)
and Patch Pacher (schlagzeug, singing).
|
| |
|
|
|
Tune challenge for Accordion Thief - UK
Contributed from the BBC News site
 A
man was ordered to play a tune on an accordion by police to prove
he had not stolen it, a court has heard. Richard Browning was stopped
in his car with the instrument hidden behind his driver's seat, Lewes
Crown Court was told. The £150 price tag was still attached
to the accordion although Browning claimed he had been using the instrument
to busk on the streets of Seaford, East Sussex. The police officer
challenged him to play a tune to prove it was not stolen.
When Browning failed to raise a note on
the instrument, the officer arrested him for shoplifting. It was eventually
discovered the accordion had been stolen from Music Memorabilia in
Alfriston. Browning, who admitted the theft of the accordion and 14
other crimes which included burglary and driving offences, was sentenced
to two years in jail.
Moral of the story - You had better learn to play the accordion!
|
| |
|
|
|
Accordion Information Required
Isabella Jaquier would like information
about a diatonic accordion Luigi Savoia (San Giovanni in Campo) which
she thinks is from 1932, in wood and metal with decoration in motherpearl.
If you have information pls mail isajaquierb@freesurf.ch |
| |
|
Lebanese
oud player, flautist and composer Rabih Abou-Khalil released his
latest CD which features accordionists Luciano Biondini in a unique
ensemble. The sound mixes American swing and Middle Eastern styles,
contemporary jazz, cafe-accordion and much more, to be a most unique
CD of music. Available from Amazon.com