 | |
Death of Tony Lopez,
"Father of Tejano" - USA
Tony
Lopez, saxophonist, vocalist and considered by many to be the "father of
Tejano" has died at the age of 75 from complications following a stroke and
a brain aneurysm.
In
1956 Lopez formed the Isidro Lopez Orchestra, and broke new ground musically by
combining big band sounds with Mexican traditional accordion-driven cojunto music
- creating what became known as Tejano. Tony Lopez, whose vocal style was likened
to both Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, featured accordionist Tony de la Rosa amongst
his musicians. He also worked with accordionists Flaco Jiminez and Ruben Ramos,
both of whom are present-day cojunto stars.
Rick
Garcia, Executive Vice President of Hacienda Records, said this of Lopez: "He
really was the innovator of combining orchestra with the accordion-laced cojunto"
Tony
Lopez was inducted into the Tejano Hall of Fame, in San Antonio, in 1982.
|
| | |
| |
Accordion University
Study in Linz - Austria
 In
spring 2004, the Linzer Bruckner Konservatorium was accredited to the Anton Bruckner
Privat Universität (private university). They now offer, as well as a study
in the pedagogic, the possibility in the arts area, academic degrees Bachelor
of Arts (BA) and Masters of Arts, (MA). One of the first Masters of Arts at the
young University is the accordionist Andrej Serkow, born in the Ukraine.
He
has studied at the conservatory in Odessa with Viktor Vlassov and in the last
four years in the concert-department class with tutor Alfred Melichar in Linz.
Andrej performed at his diploma examination concerts the works of Berio, Gubaidulina,
Hosokawa, Mundry, Piazzolla, Stravinski and has now successfully completed his
MA degree study.
The accordion education at the former Conservatory in
Linz already has tradition, being the first educational institution in Austria
to have offered a full study for accordion. With the revaluation to University
status, the high artistic level is formally recognised, and the qualifications
have EU wide validation as an academic degree. Another important step internationally
for accordion study possibilities for young people.At present, students who major
in accordion come from Austria, Germany, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Serbia.
For further information, email tutor Alfred Melichar a.melichar@eduhi.at
|
| | |
| |
Fylde Folk Festival
- UK
 The
annual Fylde Folk Festival takes place at the Marine Hall and other venues in
Fleetwood, Lancashire, from September 3rd to 5th, featuring a large number of
folk artistes and dance teams, representing many different British, Irish and
international styles.
The guest list includes teenage accordionist Harriet
Bartlett, melodeon and fiddle duo John Spiers and Jon Boden, and Hoover the Dog,
an accordion-led band. Accordionists, melodeon and concertina players will be
very much in evidence as accompanists for the various dance teams, and in the
music sessions.
There will also be a concertina workshop, led by Martin
Whittell. For more details, email Festival Director Alan Bell alanbell@fylde-folk-fest.demon.co.uk
|
| | |
| |
 Karen
Tweed performs in Sweden and USA - UK
Celtic/Scandinavian
folk band SWAP, featuring Karen Tweed on piano accordion, is performing in Sormland,
Sweden, from 3rd to 13th September.
After this, SWAP travel to the USA
where they will be appearing at the Nordic Roots Festival, Minneapolis, from the
16th to 19th September.
| | | |
| |
Friedrich
Lips Recital in Shanghai- China
Report
from the Shanghai Daily News
 Friedrich
Lips played his first note at a recital last week and the entire audience
was captivated. At 56, the Russian accordion player packed out the He Luting Concert
Hall at Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
Lips performed as part of the 10th
Beijing International Accordion Competition in Beijing. In addition to his role
on the jury, this ``poet on accordion'' also starred in a series of concerts organized
by the competition. After
playing ``Gothic Suite,'' Lips performed two contemporary Russian pieces: "Cinema''
by Sergey Berinsky and ``de Profundis'' by Sophia Gubaidulina.`
`We had
these pieces written by important contemporary composers to help develop professional
accordion players,'' says Lips, who is also a professor of the Gnesin Institute
of Music in Moscow. `I am not saying that classic works are not good for accordion.
But every instrument should have its own face, like Beethoven and Mozart for piano
and Paganini for violin,'' Lips says.
But
the audience of 600 were dying to hear the classic works in the second half of
the concert which features works by George Gershwin and Franz Schubert. The climax
came when Lips finally played his signature interpretation of Georgi Shenderev's
``Russian Dance.''
| | | |
| |
Busy Time Ahead For
French Accordionist - France
 Franck
Gergaud
is one of France's busiest young professional accordionists, with a full diary
stretching ahead for several months. Franck,
a student of Madame François Tamic and James Lesueur, began playing accordion
at the age of eight, and in the early 1990s was a frequent and often successful
competitor in competitions in France and in other countries. Concert performances,
playing for dancing, and appearances at corporate events has provided this popular
accordionist with lots of regular work.
Listed
below are Franck Gerguad's appearances during September:-
Date Venue Location
5th
A la portu du Golfe Muzillac
7th Dancing le Tilt Pierric
9th Salle La Renaissance
Le Pouliguen
12th Club 85 Le Poiré-sur-Vie
14th L'Atlantide Vigneaux-de-Bretagne
15th
Club 85 Le Poiré-sur-Vie
16th L'Atlantide Vigneaux-de-Bretagne
19th
Le Stéphanois St Etienne-de-Brillouet
20th Salle Hippolyte Derout Les
Sorinières
23rd Parc de la Bégraisière St-Herblain
(Gala also featuring Jean Claude Borelli and Michel Pruvot)
Is this Privot
or similar spelling? I have not heard of a Pruvot.
26th
Dancing le Boléro Brée
28th L'Atlantide Vigneaux-de-Bretagne
29th
Club 85 Le Poiré-sur-Vie
30th Casino Lucien Barrière La Baule
|
| | |
| |
Angel
Luis Castaño concert dates - Spain
Contributed by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
 Spanish
accordion virtuoso Angel Luis
Castaño has a number of prestigious engagements in his diary over the
next few months, involving appearances in Italy and England. Details, as follows:-
SEPTEMBER
21
Trio Corlen (Violin, Cello and Accordion ) in Irun (Spain)
28 Concert in SGAE
Madrid presentation new CD by C. Camarero
OCTOBER
13-17 Jury member at
the International Competition in Castelfidardo
21 Concert Trio Flute, Cello
and Accordion in Madrid
NOVEMBER
22 Concert Duo AN-tifon (new pieces by
Hickey, Panisello, etc...) in Reina Sofia Center, Madrid
26 Concert "7
Words" by Gubaidulina for Acc. Cello and String Orchestra in Valencia
DECEMBER
9 Concert Duo AN-tifon in Manchester (Great Britain)
26-30 Seminar
in Valencia (Spain)
| | | |
| |
Accordionist performs
with Frankston Symphony Orchestra - Australia
 Frankston
Symphony Orchestra gave the Australian Premiere performance of New Zealand composer
Gary Daverne's 'Rhapsody for Accordion
and Symphony Orchestra' with Australian accordionist Bernadette
Conlon to a very enthusiastic audience recently.
The Rhapsody, composed
by well known composer Gary Daverne
(pictured) of New Zealand has been performed in over 50 different countries, since
it was first penned, many by New Zealand accordionist Harley
Jones, the Director of this website, for and by whom the piece was commissioned.The
performance attracted wide interest in Australia, due to the novelty of the accordion
performing with a Symphony orchestra
The orchestra conducted by Mark
Shiell, also accompanied Bernadette in two pieces she performed on an original
Alfred Arnold bandoneon, Piazzolla's 'Oblivion' and Rossi's theme from the film
Il Postino, as well as a dazzling encore of a medley of pieces from Bach to well
known tunes from West Side Story, in keeping with the concert title of 'From Bach
to Broadway".
| | | |
| |
'New Kids on the
Block' Jamie and Nicola - UK
Contributed
by Liza Austin-Strange MBE
Jamie Schofield (accordion) and Nicola Lyons (fiddle), aged 14 and 16 years of
age respectively, are already seasoned international concert and festival performers,
with two CD recordings to their credit.
This year they have toured Sweden,
appeared in the National Festival of Youth Music at London's South Bank Centre,
and appeared at the Whitby and Sidmouth folk festivals. Later this year they are
off to China, and will also play at the Royal Albert Hall in London, as part of
the Fosbrooks team (musicians, singers and dancers from Banks Lane Junior School
in Stockport, MD Liza Austin-Strange MBE), for the Youth Proms.
Jamie Schofield
plays piano accordion, piano and mandolin. His major strengths on the accordion
are said to be his creative keyboard improvisations for any given melody, and
his powerful bass techniques. Nicola Lyons, apart from being a superb traditional
music fiddle player, has also had classical training, and additionally plays piano,
whistle and piano accordion.
Jamie and Nicola are in concert at St James'
Church, Spring Bank, New Mills, Derbyshire - as part of the annual New Mills Festival
- on September 17th, at 7.30pm.
For information about the New Mills Festival,
email pakendall@ntlworld.com
|
| | |
| |
The "Acoustic
Music Ensemble" On Tour, Italy
Contributed
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
 The
newly formed group "Acoustic Music Ensemble" with Savior Cauteruccio
(accordion), Enzo Campagna (guitar) and Pietro Perrone (violin) have just completed
a long and important tour in August in various historical places along the Tyrrhenian
Sea (Italy).
There are many concerts still due in September. The arrangements
of accordion, violin and guitar confer a particular and appreciated "sound"
to the repertoire, which include standard jazz, tango and famous melodies. Savior
Cauteruccio, accomplished accordionist, is a student of the 2 year accordion jazz
course at the Conservatory of Teramo, with tutor Renzo
Ruggieri.
For further concert tour information, email renrug@tiscalinet.it
| | | |
| |
 Iron
Accordion in Art Gallery, Texas - USA
A
display of artefacts made from iron, created by artist Alejandro Diaz Jr, is on
display at the Le Pena Gallery, 227 Congress Ave, Austin, Texas. One of the creations
is an accordion made entirely from iron. The exhibition lasts until September
9th.
|
| | |
| |
"I was spat
at and called a traitor", Khaled - Algeria
by
Robin Deneslow, The Guardian
Algerian singer/accordionist
Khaled has in recent years become one of the best known and most popular musical
celebrities of the Arab world, and is often referred to as the 'King of Rai'.
Khaled, whose big breakthrough came in 1992 with his hit record 'Didi', is credited
as the man who brought North-African Arab music to a new audience in Europe, especially
in France where he has made a major impact on the pop music scene. Khaled's European
travels have also seen him performing to rapturous applause in such venues as
London's Royal Festival Hall, and the Venice Casino in Italy.
Khaled's
music is essentially a mixture of western Rhythm & Blues and an Algerian dance
music known as Rai. His style, however, also incorporates the influence of jazz,
rock, reggae, hip-hop and funk. On his recent recordings, Khaled says that: "I
play percussion, mandolin and accordion. That was always my lucky instrument.
I grew up with accordion in Oran".
The
songs written and performed by Khaled have attracted notoriety and, in recent
years, open hostility in his home country due to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.
Lyrics involving sex and alcohol have not gone down well with those seeking to
turn Algeria into a strict Muslim state, operating on Islamic fundamentalist principles.
On a return to Oran, after being away in Europe for some years, Khaled tells,
"I was spat at, threatened, and accused of being French and a traitor".
Fortunately, times have changed again, and the hostility whipped-up by the extremists
in his country has subsided, and Khaled is popular in Algeria once again. His
new CD, 'Ya-Rayi', produced by Wrasse Records, was released on August 30th.
|
| | |
| |
Expanding Polyphony
In Family Picchio - Italy
Contributed
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
 In
the family Picchio
they increase the " voices " and accordingly the possibilities to perform
the polyphonic repertoires. While it is continuing the vocal growth of Matteo,
Silena (Paolo Picchio's
wife) has given birth to their second child Francesco Emanuele, weight 3.9Kg.
Newly born, he has begun immediately with his vocal training, with some
crying and screaming. Wishes and compliments to everybody. Of course, our news
inform you of any future melodious reviews of this polyphonic ensemble.
|
| | |
| |
Annual Master Class
and Concert Series Celebrates 10 years! New York City - USA
Contributed
by Kevin Friedrich
The
annual master class and concert series sponsored by the American
Accordionists Association and moderated by Dr. William Schimmel celebrated
its 10th anniversary last weekend in New York City.
"Dr. Schimmel's
belief in the supreme adaptability of the accordion is also the philosophical
core of this Master Class and Concert Series" states the New York Times in
a full-page article that preceded the event. The three-day series drew an audience
of approximately 300 attendees, many as a result of the New York Times article.
During
the weekend, Dr. Schimmel was presented with the Confédération
Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) Merit Award recognizing his
outstanding contributions to the International Accordion Movement. At the presentation
past AAA President
Mrs. Faithe Deffner
profiled many of Dr. Schimmel's outstanding achievements spanning decades of work
with the accordion that led to the nomination for this prestigious international
award.
Featuring
the diversity of the accordion, listeners were treated to a wide variety of styles
from the classics, contemporary, jazz to performance art, from solo accordion,
bass accordion, 12 bass, punk accordion to accordion with trumpet, melodica, guitar,
clarinet and piano and much more.
Dr.
Schimmel, who earned his Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees in composition
at the Juilliard School is already putting together the 2005 Master Class and
Concert series.
| | | |
| |
Zoltan
Orosz on Radio and Television - Hungary
 On
2nd September Zolton Orosz
appeared in a radio program about different kinds of music. On the 6th September
Zolton will appear in a Hungarian TV program and on the 12th September, he is
performing at the Castle of Buda, as part of the Wine Festival at which he is
going to play background music.
The TV program will present some of the
guests who are to take part in the Wine Festival Programme.
|
| | |
| |
Cavagnolo
Centenary Celebrations - France
Cavagnolo,
the French accordion manufacturers, are celebrating 100 years of making accordions
in grand style with a series of seven all-star concerts during October and November.
The intinery includes:
October
1st,Théâtre des Nouveautés,
Tarbres
10th, Casino d'Arras, Arras
24th, Centre Cultural Albert Camus,
Issadun
31st,Auditorium de Vauclose, Le Thor
November
4th, Ginguette
Le Petit Robinson, Joinville-le-Pont
14th, Théâtre Edwige Feuillère,
Vesoul
21st, Auditorium Stéphanie Bouttet, Dinard.
A
very extensive list of guest accordionists to appear at these concerts includes
Alain Musichini, Jean-Louis Noton,
Yvette Horner, Jean-Marc Torchy, Eric Bouvelle, Bruno Lorenzoni, Dmitriv Saussard,
Aurélian Noel, Nicolas Massoutie, Laurenza
Cavagnolo, Quartet, Maulus, Frédéric Langlais, Gérard
Luc, Gilles Cuzacq, Marcel Loeffler, Jean-Luc Maroni, Group Rossi, Jean-Luc Vicente,
Fallone Group, Aline Lacour ou Dinard, Matthew Chocat, Patrick Robin, Raphäel
Limousin, Christian Jeanmougin, Jean-Marc Sautereau, Ludovic Beier, Eric Comere
and Didier Alves.
For more information, email either eliz.productions@wanadoofr
or cavagnolo@wanadoo.fr
|
| | |
| |
Accordion Help/Information
Question:
I have an Enrico Roselli 120 bass piano accordion, 10 treble registers and 6 bass
registers. When were these instruments made; which year was mine made? Is there
a book that gives information on accordion makers? Can anyone advise me where
to start looking? Email Donna, tndchris@msn.com
Information
required about a Zephrtone piano accordion, 140 basses, 14 registers, 7 bass registers.
Email Gillian, gillianmckee@cox.ne
|
| | |
| |
Quote
of the Week
Did You Know? by Willoughby
Walshe
"For
years, Yugoslavia has been a leading country internationally when it comes to
demanding accordion music. Young champions pour out of the city as though from
a conveyor belt. The country's leading showcase is the International Festival
of Accordion Artists held at Kragujevac (100 kilometers south of Belgrade) each
year in July. This event encompasses an International Summer School with seminars,
classes, and master courses; international festival of accordion soloists; and
national competition at which players are selected to represent Yugoslavia at
the Coupe Mondiale and Trophy
Mondiale International Accordion Competitions"
Find out more…..
"Walshe
Essential Guide to Accordion and Harmonica Events"
|
| | |
