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Honoured Artist of
Russia Award for Timbre Accordion Quintet - Russia
Information
supplied by Martin Frey of
Pigini Schweiz
On
the 19th July 2004 all members of the Group were awarded the title of Honoured
Artist of Russia. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, conferred the honour in
Moscow. Valeri Somorov founded the Timbre Russian Accordion Group in Moscow 1982.
There were originally six musicians, Sergej Simbirjev (until 1996), Victor Anokhin,
Viacheslav Stoma, Paul Zaitsev, Michail Dmitrokopulo and Viacheslav Kuzminskiy
(art.director of the group). Sergej Simbirjev left in 1996, since when the group
has continued as a quintet.
This is the only professional group in Russia
that plays timbre accordions, the unique instruments made by the Russian designer
Nikolai Kosorukov. These instruments are quite unlike anything else in the world
in terms of sounds produced. Their sound quality resembles closely that of symphonic
orchestra wind instruments made of brass or wood. So they were called 'Flute',
'Oboe', 'Clarinet', 'French horn' and 'Tuba'. The traditional multi-coupler accordion
is also used in the Group. Included in the repertoire of the Group are works of
Russian and international classical compositions, folk songs from all over the
world, jazz and contemporary music.
At the present the Timbre Russian
Accordion Group is a leader amongst Russian accordion ensembles, and has made
many appearances on radio and television. Over the years, the Group has recorded
many CDs. They are also winners of all Russian (Moscow 1985, Tula 1986, Sverdlovsk
1990, Moscow 1997) and several foreign competitions: 'Grand Prix International'
(France 1991), 'Citta di Castelfidardo'
(Italy 1991). The musicians have given concerts in many countries of the world:
Germany, Switzerland, France, Greece, Finland, Holland, Italy, Portugal and many
more.
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Billy McComiskey
and Friends Concert, Philadelphia - USA
Contributed
by Rob
Howard
 Two-row
diatonic accordionist Billy McComiskey, originally from Brooklyn, New York, and
now resident in Baltimore, is in concert at Coatsville Cultural Society, 143 E.
Lincoln Highway, Coatsville, Philadelphia on December 11th, at 8pm. Playing alongside
Billy are Laura Byrne (flute), Peter Fitzgerald (banjo), Pat Egan (guitar) and
Myron Bretholz (bodhran). All five musicians will conduct specialist workshops
prior to the concert.
Billy
McComiskey, winner of the All-Ireland Championship for button accordion in 1986,
is an acknowledged master of the East Galway style that characterises the playing
of many of New York's best Irish accordionists. He has made many recordings, the
latest of which is a CD titled 'Makin' the Rounds'.
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Yuri Medianik Concert at Art Exhibition,
Moscow - Russia
Contributed by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
The inauguration of an Exhibition of Painting by Valery Babin took
place on the 18th of November in Moscow. The Exhibition's opening
was celebrated by a concert featuring Russian Yuri Medianik (accordion
and violin) and Belgium's Jehanne Strepenne (violin).
Their program included pieces by JS Bach, Corelli, Glier and Rachmaninov.
In attendance were many people from Moscow's artistic circle and
also several leading politicians, and the duo received a tremendous
ovation from their audience.
The
duo perform only
their own transcriptions and arrangements. In January 2005 they
will appear in Elektrostal (Russia), in Saint-Omer (France), in
Arques (France) and in Neufchateau (Belgium). Details of dates and
venues will soon be announced.
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Successful NAO
Area Accordion Festival, Scotland - UK
Contributed
by Anna and Ray
Bodell of Charnwood
Publishing
 The
second National Accordion Organisation West of Scotland Area Festival was held
on Saturday 13th November 2004 in Johnston. Attracting an increased entry of 278
entries it has already established itself as the largest NAO
regional festival. Although early in the festival season, the adjudicators Raymond
Bodell, CIA
Vice President, Ulrich
Schmuelling
and John Carmichael, were impressed at the overall standard of the candidates
in the various solo, duos, group and orchestral classes.
Of particular
note was the large number of young players participating aged from 3 years old
and upwards, which only bodes well for the future of the instrument in this region
of Scotland. Special mention must be made to St John's Accordion Band, Drumcree,
who had travelled from Northern Ireland as well as the organisers' orchestras
- The Brian Laurie Paisley Academy of Music and the Graham
Laurie School of Music - for their excellent performances. The evening was
concluded with an excellent Ceilidh, featuring the John Carmichael Scottish Dance
Band.
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Yehuda Oppenheimer,
Jerusalem - Israel
 Leading
Israeli accordionist Yehuda Oppenheimer has recently released a CD titled 'Magic
Accordion', containing a variety of music representing different styles - performed
entirely on Stradella (standard) bass accordion. Included are classical pieces
by JS Bach, Chopin, Cirelli, Cimarosa, Fiocco and other composers, and several
original works by Oppenheimer - the suite 'Images of Israel', 'Chaconne', and
various other pieces including a polka and some concert waltzes.
Yehuda
Oppenheimer - known in Israel as 'The Prophet of the Accordion' - was born in
Nazi Germany in 1925, but moved to Holland where a Dutch family hid his family
in order to escape persecution during the period of the Holocaust. After World
War Two ended, Oppenheimer relocated to Palestine where he graduated from a music
school with the violin as his first instrument.
Oppenheimer's great love
of the accordion prevailed over the violin, and in Israel he has succeeded in
raising the status and perception of the accordion from an instrument previously
associated only with folk and popular music into an instrument accepted on the
classical concert platform.
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Trio 'Ars Harmonica',
Katowice - Poland
Contributed
by Dr.
Herbert Scheibenreif of Friedrich
Lips Productions
 The
highly accomplished Polish accordion trio 'Ars Harmonica' (Jakub Mietla, Piotr
Chololowicz and Michal Opeldus) recently undertook a concert tour of Austria.
All members of the trio are graduates of the Karol Szymanowski Music Academy in
Katowice (the accordion class of Professor Joachim Pichura), where Piotr Chololowicz
has recently also been appointed an assistant teacher. For further information
email poitr_ch@hotmail.com or visit
their website www.arstrio.prv.pl
The
repertoire of the trio extends far beyond the standard classical conservatoire
program, ranging from J.S. Bach and Vivaldi to ethnic Slavonic folk music to Astor
Piazzolla. Their CD titled 'Live',
released in February 2004, featured virtuosic arrangements of Slavonic folk music,
Piazzolla's 'Libertango', and original compositions. The special attraction of
their concerts is due not only to its unusual arrangements, but also to the combination
of three contrasting types of repertoire. They also feature a combination of piano
and two chromatic button accordions.
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Nikolai Ryskov Concerts,
England - UK
 Nikolai
Ryskov, London-based Russian accordionist, is performing at the Purcell Room,
South Bank Centre, London on the 21st December. The concert, which starts at 7.30pm,
also includes singer-tenor Romeo Levani and a band known as 'Russian Dream. In
2005, Nikolai Ryskov has bookings at three English accordion clubs. These are
North Staffs AC on 15th February, the White Horse AC in Wiltshire on 12th June,
and Birmingham's Club Accord on 10th October.
For
further information email nikolai.ryskov@ntlworld.com
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Musical Project from
Senegal - Africa
Contributed
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
A
new musical project intended to unite the young of the world through music, and
to encourage discovery of different cultures, has been announced. Ansoumana Pape
Bodian from Senegal is the project organiser and he is appealing to accordionists
to join other young musicians and non musicians to form groups performing modern
music with varied styles as rap, rock, funk zouk / Afro techno and more. All instruments
are welcomed, and accordionists are invited to explore this opportunity and to
take advantage of this unique cultural exchange.
The project doesn't only
limit itself to music but also to educate the young with regard to the drug problem,
AIDS, criminality, young people being in difficulties in countries in conflict
or due to poverty. Accordionists interested to participate in this project are
kindly invited to contact Bodian Pape Ansoumana at: bestansouman@yahoo.fr
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Eastbourne
Accordion Festival, England - UK
  Carillon
Studios will be organising the second Eastbourne Accordion Festival, from the
18th to 21st February, at The Cumberland Hotel, in the south coast resort of Eastbourne.
The guest artistes will include Harry Hussey, John Leslie, Lisa Lee Leslie,
John Romero, Charlie Watkins and Italy's Gennaro Fiondella. Trade representatives
include Accordion World, Carillon Studios, Ketron, Orla UK, SR Technology, Trevani,
and WEM. Activities include workshops, trade demonstrations and concerts.
For
further information email accordionfestival@carillonstudios.co.uk
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New Diatonic Accordion
Dedicated to Mexico's Zorro - Italy
Contributed
by Maximiliano Ciucciomei, Ranco Accordions
The
Ranco Accordion Company has designed a
new two-row diatonic button accordion, called the Zorrito. Ranco has a reputation
for interesting and special accordion designs of fine quality. The design of this
new instrument is dedicated to the Mexican myth Zorro, made famous through films
and television. All details on the accordion reflect its image and its beauty.
For further information email info@rancoaccordions.it
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Quote of the Week
Did You Know?
by Willoughby
Walshe
''
International Summer Seminar and Festival has contributed greatly to Lithuanian
accordionists being successful in competitions abroad. For about 10 days, accordionists
of all ages and performance levels, students, and teachers take part in master
classes conducted by famous musicians. Accordionists in the seminar orchestra
study a complete program under three conductors and present it to the public.
Students from the country's conservatories as well as lecturers perform in intimate
concerts held every evening."
Find
out More…"Walshe
Essential Guide to Accordion and Harmonica Events
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The
Orquestra Nacional Cambra Andorra, the national accordion orchestra from the Principality
of Andorra - the tiny independent country that is situated between Spain and France
- is in concert at the Catalan Palace of Music in Barcelona on November 30th (9pm).
