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Editor's
Note
The
death of Myron
Floren robs the accordion world of one of its most enduring players
and personalities. Although Myron Floren's name is usually associated
with the late Lawrence Welk, it should not be overlooked that he was
in fact a very, very capable and versatile accordionist whose playing
career dates back to the 1930s. Myron was one of the world's most
experienced accordion entertainers, and he just loved to entertain
and bring joy to people - a fine epitaph for a great man. Accordions
Worldwide extends our sympathy to Myron's family.
Rob
Howard
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Myron
Floren Dies aged 85, California - USA
Contributed
by Rob
Howard
 The
accordion world mourns the passing of Myron
Floren, at the age of 85. Although he will always be remembered
for his long association with Lawrence Welk, and Welk's long-running
television show. Myron Floren was in fact an accordionist who performed
on public stages throughout his life. After
performing professionally for many years and presenting his own radio
show, and entertaining the troops during World War Two in the European
theater of the war, Myron Floren joined the Lawrence Welk troupe in
1950.
He remained with Lawrence Welk until Welk disbanded in 1982. For most
of these years, Myron Floren was seen every week on American television,
making him the most televised accordionist in history. Floren performed
solo and with bands after 1982, and was elected into the Polka Hall
of Fame in 1990 as well as receiving honors from national and international
accordion organizations..
Myron Floren never grew tired of entertaining with the accordion,
and once commented: "I'm going to keep squeezing this thing until
nobody calls any more". He did indeed perform throughout his
life.
See Memorials
for further information.
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CIA 70th Anniversary Gala Banquet, Castelo
Branco - Portugal
Contributed by CIA
President - Kevin
Friedrich
 The
Confédération
International des Accordéonistes (CIA) will celebrate
its 70th Anniversary with a Gala Banquet to be held in conjunction
with the 58th Coupe
Mondiale World Accordion Championships to be held in Castelo
Branco, Portugal from October 25th to 30th.
This magnificent formal attire celebration will be hosted by CIA
Member and 2005 Coupe Mondiale host the Conservatorio Regional de
Castelo Branco. The Gala Banquet will take place on Tuesday October
25th from 5pm to 7pm and will be a great opportunity to reflect
on the many wonderful activities and rich history of the CIA, as
well as look forward to many exciting future events.
The CIA Executive Officers are honored to invite all CIA Members,
all former CIA Champions, Officers, Merit Award Recipients, Honored
Friend of the Accordion Recipients, members of the International
Jury, all International Delegates, Guests, International Press as
well as their spouses and partners.
For further
information, an on-line RSVP form and additional information on
the 2005 Coupe
Mondiale, please visit www.coupemondiale.org
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New Attempt at Guinness World Record, Newfoundland
- Canada
Contributed by Rob
Howard
The
29th Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, held in Bannerman Park
in the town of St John from August 5th to 7th, will be the scene for
an attempt to set a new world record for the number of accordionists
playing together. On July 7th of this year, Kimberly BC set a new
world record of 644 players, breaking the one established by a festival
in the Netherlands in 2000. The latest attempt will take place on
Saturday August 6th, at 4.30pm, and the Guinness Book of Records will
verify the result.
Folk Arts Council President Jean Hewson hopes so. "When the idea
of trying for the record first came up," says Hewson, "I
contacted O'Brien's Music Store just to see how many accordions they
thought might be in the St. John's area. 'Hundreds?" I asked.
They said 'absolutely, maybe even thousands'. That gave us the encouragement
we needed to say 'let's try!'"
Dave Penny, a member of the St John Folk Art Council Board of Directors,
will be the lead accordion player, and has made an arrangement for
all the assembled accordions to play. A number of some of Newfoundland's
finest accordion players will help with the event and several are
already slotted for other performances at the festival.
For further information email accordions@gmail.com
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New Renzo
Ruggieri CD, Castelfidardo
- Italy
Contributed by Holda-Paoletti-Kampl
  The
new Renzo
Ruggieri Group CD 'Bends', the third in a series, has now been
released.
This recording is possibly the most technically satisfying of the
series, also featuring Massimo Manzi, Paolo di Sabatino and Massimo
Moriconi. Also now available is a solo CD by Renzo Ruggieri, 'Storie
di Fisharmonica Vissuta', a recording of experimental jazz.
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Mika
Väyrynen Performs at Famous Summer Festivals - Finland
Contributed by Kevin
Friedrich
 Finnish
accordionist Mika
Väyrynen was featured at several of the most famous summer
music festivals during the month of July. Mika
appeared at the 'Sonkajärvi Soi' festival in Finland, performing
'Four Tango Sensations' and 'Hommage a Liege - Concerto for Bandoneon,
Guitar and Strings', by Piazzolla. His fellow musicians included Mr
Ismo Eskelinen (Guitar), Meta4 - String Quartet and Mrs Tarja Nyberg
on Double Bass. At his second concert, he premiered his new transcription
of 'Chaconne', by J. S. Bach. Mika was later joined by cellist Jan-Erik
Gustafsson to play 'Le Grand Tango', by Piazzolla and 'Roumanian Dances',
by Bartok.
Mika also appeared at the 'Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival', which marked
the first time an accordionist has been invited to perform a solo
recital at this world famous festival. He presented 'Chaconne', 'Organ
Prelude and Fuga in D-Major', and 'Three Chorals', by J. S. Bach,
as well as the Finnish Premiere of 'Tree of Life', by Patrick Busseuil,
and 'Like a Water Buffalo', by Yuji Takahashi.
At his second concert at the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, Mika premiered
'Chamber Concerto for Accordion and String Quintet', by Mr Paavo Korpijaakko.
An extremely important event, this chamber concerto is only piece
that the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival commissioned this year! Mika
also performed on the final concert on bandoneon, playing 'Bagatelles',
by Dvorak with string trio.
He finished his summer festival performances at the 'Savonlinna Opera
Festival' with a concert that celebrated the 70th birthday of Professor
Aulis Sallinen. Mika performed Sallinen's 'Chamber Music 5 - Barabbas
Variations', with String Quintet.
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Jazz Accordion
Festival, Pineto - Italy
Contributed
by Holda-Paoletti-Kampl
The
2005 Pineto
Jazz Accordion Festival was a success beyond expectations. The
festival's events and concerts drew local and national television
presence, plus daily newspaper coverage. This festival was an excellent
showcase for the accordion in the field of jazz, with some outstanding
performances.
A concert by Renzo
Ruggieri, on July 15th, with the famous guitar player Patruno
Linen ended in a standing ovation. The performance of Art Van Damme,
July 16th, with his famous quintet, generated strong interest within
the Italian jazz world, with many well-known musicians being present
at this special event.
The final concert of the Big Band of Foggia, with Peppino Principe,
on July 17th, entertained a crowd of more than 1,000 persons. The
Marching Band, featuring an accordionist, paraded near the seaside
of the beautiful Italian city.
  The
special award 'Golden Sail 2005' was presented to the well-known accordion
teacher Vittorio Pomante. Thanks were given for the great support
of the council member Filippo D' Augustin and the Mayor Filippo Monticello.
Renzo Ruggieri (Artistic Director) and Peppino
Principe (Honorary President), who have strongly supported the
initiative, announced that plans for the next festival are already
in preparation.
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Dartmoor
Folk Festival, Devon - UK
Contributed by Rob
Howard
The
28th Dartmoor Folk Festival takes place from August 5th to 7th. The
guests include accordionists John Kirkpatrick and Chris Parkinson,
known as the 'Sultans of Squeeze'. Other acts include The Posh Band
(featuring Simon Ritchie on melodeon and harmonica), Mawkin (with
Alex Goldsmith on melodeon), The Dartmoor Pixie Band, whose members
include Mark Bazeley on diatonic accordion and Jason Rice on piano
accordion.
For further information email enquiries@dartmoorfolkfestival.co.uk
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Emblow
and Compton at Uxbridge Accordion Club, England - UK
Contributed
by Rob
Howard
 Jack
Emblow and Tony Compton are the guests at Uxbridge Accordion Club,
Middlesex, on August 8th, at 8pm. Also performing will be The Uxbridge
Accordion Band, MD Angie Lukins.
The venue is The Angler's Retreat, Swan Road, West Drayton, near Junction
4 on the M4. Members and visitors are asked to bring along their accordions
to join in with the club's traditional 'Accordion Play Along'.
For further information email koolaccords@hotmail.com
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5th International
Golden Accordion Competition, Benevento - Italy
Contributed
by Holda-Paoletti-Kampl
 Thanks
to the large number of entries last year from Italy, Russia, Greece,
France, Austria, Poland, Serbia and the USA, this year's festival
is expected to include several international categories.
These include: Under 13 years old (Student), as well as the Junior
(up to 16 years) and Senior (over 16 years), a section for Jazz
accordion, and the institution of a prize devoted the best interpretation
of compositions (or arrangements) of Peppino
Principe; all categories have prizes of notable value.
In addition to the Classical and Jazz sections, this year is added
a section for compositions in Variété (virtuoso entertainment)
style. The best prize is the 'Fisarmonca d'Oro' (an artistic trophy
with a substantial prize) assigned to the candidate (or group) that
have distinguished themselves amongst all the categories. There
is no entrance fee for any category, and there are no test pieces.
The festival this year widens to involve collaborations with other
competitions in Canada and Australia, with a strong cultural exchange
among the respective events. The Competition will take place in
Benevento (Italy) on July 16th and on 17th September.
For further information email info@fisarmonicadoro-benevento.com
or see the website www.fisarmonicadoro-benevento.com
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The Coupe Mondiale website
by the Confédération
International des Accordéonistes (CIA) offers updated information
about the 58th Coupe Mondiale to be held in Castelo Branco, Portugal
from October 25th to 30th. Site includes on-line entry and registration
forms, competition venue and hotel accommodation information, schedule
and details on the 70th CIA Anniversary Banquet.
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James
O' Brien - composer,
arranger and performer, releases another 4
new works for accordion available for purchase online. 'The Dying
Stockman' (traditional), 'Twa Sisters o Binnorie' (traditional), 'Vo
Polye Berioza Stoyala' (traditional), 'With Sounds of Pipes' (traditional).
Samples of this music are available on the site. The music is in eSheet
format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit
card.
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A new site selling
a book titled Book
3 Seasoning Solos. Original Compositions for Accordion by Stas
Venglevski.
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A new site selling
a book titled Book
4 Seasoning Duets. Original Compositions for Accordion by Stas
Venglevski.
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Accordionist
Gary Morin
now provides sound files featuring samples from the three CD recordings
he has for sale on his website.
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Accordionist
Jimmy Bubaloni
has just released a new CD. His website has been updated to provide
information and sound file samples of several of the tracks.
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Accordionist
and Composer Stas
Venglevski has released a new CD entitled 'Russian Fantasy'. His
website offers information about this new CD as well as a printable
order form.
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Comprising former
CIA World Champion Iona
Reed (Accordion), Ron Kelly(Guitar) and Bill Tuttle (Drums/Percussion).
The Iona Reed Trio performs a blend of dance music that reaches out
to music lovers of all ages. The Iona Reed Trio is one of the very
few dance bands on the music scene today that performs Continental,
Latin American and Broadway Standards.
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Yehuda
Oppenheimer releases a grade 3 arrangement of 'Shalom
Bambino' and a grade 3 arrrangement of 'Mini
Twist'. This is music composed by Yehuda Oppenheimer. Samples
of the music are available online. The music is in eSheet format,
able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card.
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Bayan
accordionists Yuri Shishkin and 
Contributed
by 
A
new