The
grand Russian tour of the Russian bayanist and violinist Yuri
Medianik, arranged by the Russian Art of Performance International
Foundation, took place at the beginning of March. These were Yuri
Medianik's first 'live' performances in West Siberia and Far East
Russia.
Yuri performed in solo concerts as violinist (first part of concerts)
and bayanist (second part). The program encompassed compositions by
Locatelli - 'At the Tomb sonata', Ravel and Shnitke - 'Sonata 1 for
violin and piano', as well as Yuri's own transcriptions of pieces
by Couperin, Daquin, Ibert for bayan and compositions by Viacheslav
Semionov.
The tour took Medianik to the cities of Ulan Ude, Buryatia, Irkutsk,
Maryinsk, Novosibirsk, Novokuznetsk,Tomsk, and Bijsk,Branaul, and
was crowned with a concert in Studio 5 of the Russian Radio Broadcasting
Company 'Cultura' on March 20th.
This performance was broadcast across Russia and was also made available
to the audience through the Radio Cultura website. Yuri
Medianik is the first accordionist to broadcast live on this radio
station. The listeners to Cultura number several million, from Vladivostok
to St. Petersburg.
Yuri
Medianik performs the following concerts later this month:-
April 26th - concert with the Sverdlovsk Chamber Orchestra, Ekaterinburg
28th - concert with the Sverdlovsk Philharmonic Orchestra, Ekaterinburg
30th - solo concert (violin, bayan), Revda
'Days
of Macedonian Music 2006', Skopje - Macedonia Contributed by Anica Karakutovska
The annual festival 'Days of Macedonian Music 2006', organised by
the Composers' Association of Macedonia - SOCOM, and under the patronage
of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr Branko Crvenkovski,
was held from March 29th to April 5th in Skopje.
In
the concert of young composers held on April 1st in the 'Museum
of Skopje', Macedonian composer Elizabeta Ilievska presented 2 of
her new works: 'Twelve' for solo accordion, performed by Zoran Kirjakovski,
accordion student of Prof.
Zorica Karakutovska (left), and the
composition 'Clowns' (2006) for chamber ensemble (flute, clarinet
in B flat, violin, cello, accordion, xylophone, vibraphone and cymbals),
dedicated "to all those who I love and respect so much".
The
chamber ensemble was prepared by Professor Zorica Karakutovska and
consists of: Vanco Arevski - flute, Sasko Temelkov - clarinet, Kliment
Todorovski - violin, Ljupco Milevski - cello, Zoran Kirjakovski
- accordion, Atanas Aleksov - xylophone, and Blagoja Antovski -
vibraphone.
The
composition is based on the characters of five circus clowns - sad,
joyful, cynical, jocular and drunk, reflected in five different
thematic materials.
The composition 'Clowns' was extremely well received by the large
audience and received high praise from the music critics as an excellent
new work. This was another successful cooperation between Zorica
Karakutovska and this young composer, her ex-accordion student.
Guido
Deiro 1928 Sound Film Available on DVD, Philadelphia - USA
Contributed
by Rob
Howard
Guido
Deiro (1886-1950) was the first accordionist to be featured in a
sound film. 'Guido Deiro: The World's Foremost Piano-Accordionist'
was filmed in Burbank, California, at the Warner Brothers studio
in 1928 and shown in movie houses throughout the United States to
critical acclaim. If
you click on the picture of Guido
Deiro's accordion (left) you will go to a very interesting article
about this accordion, including excellent pictures.
In this film Guido Deiro performs two pieces (1) the Overture from
'I Capuleti ei Montechhi' by the Italian opera composer Vincenzo
Bellini, and (2) the Serenade from 'Les Millions D'Arlequin' by
the Italian composer and conductor Riccardo Drigo.
This black and white film, which lasts six minutes, has been restored
and made available on DVD by accordionist and musicologist Henry
Doktorski. The film displays the great virtuosity, musicianship
and stage presence of the first great star of the piano accordion
at the height of his fame.
For
the sixth time the city of Imst (located in Tyrol, near Innsbruck)
will organize workshops for musicians and artists of different styles
from July 10th to 14th 2006. Participants will have the opportunity
to combine some relaxing days with artistic activity.
Accordionists Friedrich
Lips (from the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow) and Roman
Pechmann (Conservatory of Klagenfurt, Austria) will give solo lessons
and teach chamber music.
'The
Guv'nor' meets 'The Governess', Leicester - UK
Contributed by Mike
O'Regan
Jack
Emblow and Tony Compton performed a variety of great jazz improvisations,
including many requests, in their concert on April 8th at the Soar
Valley accordion Club, Leicester. Jack Emblow used his familiar American
made Excelsior
whilst Tony Compton played a MIDIfied Sonola
attached to an Orla
expander - a change from his more usual Syntaccordion.
In the audience was former CMA World Champion Pearl Adriano. Although
these top players have been on the accordion scene for 40+ years,
Jack Emblow (known in England as 'The Guv'nor') and Tony Compton had
never met Pearl before. Pearl is resuming her concert career after
some years' absence. She will be in concert at Soar Valley later this
year, on October 7th. The concert was organised by David Price.
Melbourne
audiences were treated to the rare opportunity to hear the accordion
with symphony orchestra, in a concert with the Frankston Symphony
Orchestra. Visually impaired accordionist Bernadette
Conlon performed the Australian premiere of Andrew Walter's newly
resurrected 'Reflections' for accordion and symphony orchestra.
This work showcased both the lyrical properties of the accordion,
its majestic, organ like tone, as well as flights of cascading technical
runs, ably handled by the soloist.
Bernadette was also asked to accompany two of Australia's top young
ballroom dancers, for two tangos, in specially crafted arrangements
of 'La Cumpasita' and 'Blue Tango', before Bernadette was rejoined
by the strings, for a soulful rendition of Piazzolla's 'Oblivion'.
Accordionist
Steals the Show at Glasgow Music Festival, Scotland - UK Contributed
by Gary
Blair
Gary
Blair Junior,aged 14 and a student at the Douglas Academy of Music
in Milngavie, was picked with 5 others out of 7,000 musicians to compete
at the last night concert of the Glasgow Music Festival, competing
for the 'Ailie Cullen Memorial Prize.'
The other musicians included piano, vocalist, clarinet, guitar and
cello. Gary stole the show with his brilliant performance and surprised
many of the mainly classical audience. He performed 'Children's Suite'
(Zolotariev - published Karthause-Schmuelling)
and Monti's 'Czardas.' The winner was Scott Lygate playing the clarinet.
Zero
Sette Akordeoi Orkestra Tour, Extremadura - Spain Contributed
by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl The
Zero Sette Akordeoi Orkestra, from the Basque region, is to tour
the western region of Extremadura later this month. The tour is
sponsored by Caja Duero, and lasts from the18th to 23rd of April,
and includes three performances.
The first concert, on April 19th, at 8.30pm, is at the Las Vegas
Theatre in Villanueva de la Serena, Badajoz.
The second, on April 20th, 9.30pm, is at the Carolina Coronado Theatre
of Almendralejo, Badajoz.
The third concert, on April 22nd, at 9.30pm, is at the Avenida Theatre
of Jaraiz de la Vera, Cáceres.
At the end of this month, the Zero Sette Akordeoi Orkestra is to
participate in the First Villa de Cedeira Accordion Festival in
A Coruña, in Galicia, on April 29th and 30th.
Martin
Lubenov Perfoms in Porgy & Bess, Vienna - Austria Contributed
by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
The
Bulgarian accordionist Martin Lubenov, winner of the Austrian World
Music Prize, was born in Sofia but is now based in Vienna.
Today his name stands for 'Balkan Tradition' - the popular sound of
Macedonian-Bulgarian traditional music mixed with ethno-jazz, tango
nuevo, Paris-musette, Serbian, Rumanian, Greek and Turkish styles.
Martin has studied classical music and jazz in Sofia and Vienna.
His career begun in Vienna with the group 'Tschuschnkapelle', and
on April 22nd he will be together with the accordionists Peter Ralchev
and Stian Carstensen to perform at the well-known jazz club Porgy
& Bess as 'The Rat Pack of Balkan Accordion'.
A
concert performed by conservatory students from the classes of Grzegorz
Stopa (left), Kathrin Thorack and Axana Wutscher will take place at
Margareten, Bräuhausgasse 50,1050 Vienna on April 28th, at 6.30pm.
French
accordionist Pascal
Contet performs on the following dates:-
April 14th, at 8.30pm - Les Instants Chavires
27th, 6pm until 9pm - National School of Music, Mobelliard
29th, 3pm until 6pm - Maison de la Radio, Paris
17th
Harmonica and Accordion Meeting, Zuidlaren - Netherlands Contributed
by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
The
17th harmonica and accordion meeting in Zuidlaren is taking place
on May 27th in the Café-Restaurant De Gouden Leeuw (Golden
Lion). For musicians arriving already the day before (Friday), there
is a relaxing evening with music from 8pm. There will be free camping
and caravan space available behind 'De Gouden Leeuw'
This world level prestigious competition is open for soloists, duos
and ensembles up to 5 musicians. The musical repertoire includes both
classical and entertainment categories. Full details of this festival
are now available. Contact Stellvertretender Vorsitzender: Manfred
Gäbler (picture left).
15th
International Accordion Prize 'S. Bizzari', Morro D'Oro - Italy Contributed
by Harley
Jones
The
15th Stefano Bizzari accordion competition takes place in Morro D'Oro
from July 27th to 29th, and the closing date for entries is June 30th.
The competition has classical, variety and jazz sections, with cash
prizes that includes a 10,000 Euros top prize. The organiser is Danilo
D'Eugenio.
James O' Brien
- composer, arranger and performer, releases another 7 new works for
accordion available for purchase online. 'Butcher's
Hornpipe' (traditional), 'J'ai
Du Bon Tabac' (traditional), 'Morning
Has Broken' (traditional), 'Still,
Still, Still' (traditional), 'The
Minstrel Boy' (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.
A new site selling a CD titled
'Adventure' with sound samples. Music performed by Mika Vayrynen.
Purchase online.
A new site selling
a book titled 'L'Accordéon
& SA Diversité Sonore'. Book in French language about
the accordion reeds and the sound and how to tune and repair the reeds
of the accordions. Author is Thierry Benetoux of France.
A new site selling the CD titled 'Faces'
with sound samples. Music performed by Mika Vayrynen. Purchase online.
James O' Brien
- composer, arranger and performer, releases another 7 new works for
accordion available for purchase online. 'I
Maccheroni' (traditional), 'Kalinka'
(traditional), 'La
Bamba' (traditional), 'La
Tumba' (traditional), 'Las
Mañanitas' (traditional), 'Laughing
Polka' (traditional), 'O
Du Lieber Augustine' (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.
A new site selling a CD titled 'Dialoghi'
with sound samples. Music performed by Daniele Donadelli and his master
Paolo Gandolfi. Purchase online.
The
grand Russian tour of the Russian bayanist and violinist 
Yuri
Medianik performs the following concerts later this month:-
In
the concert of young composers held on April 1st in the 'Museum
of Skopje', Macedonian composer Elizabeta Ilievska presented 2 of
her new works: 'Twelve' for solo accordion, performed by Zoran Kirjakovski,
accordion student of Prof.
Zorica Karakutovska (left), and the
composition 'Clowns' (2006) for chamber ensemble (flute, clarinet
in B flat, violin, cello, accordion, xylophone, vibraphone and cymbals),
dedicated "to all those who I love and respect so much".
The
chamber ensemble was prepared by Professor Zorica Karakutovska and
consists of: Vanco Arevski - flute, Sasko Temelkov - clarinet, Kliment
Todorovski - violin, Ljupco Milevski - cello, Zoran Kirjakovski
- accordion, Atanas Aleksov - xylophone, and Blagoja Antovski -
vibraphone.
For
the sixth time the city of Imst (located in Tyrol, near Innsbruck)
will organize workshops for musicians and artists of different styles
from July 10th to 14th 2006. Participants will have the opportunity
to combine some relaxing days with artistic activity. 
Jack
Emblow and Tony Compton performed a variety of great jazz improvisations,
including many requests, in their concert on April 8th at the Soar
Valley accordion Club, Leicester. Jack Emblow used his familiar American
made 
Melbourne
audiences were treated to the rare opportunity to hear the accordion
with symphony orchestra, in a concert with the Frankston Symphony
Orchestra. Visually impaired accordionist 
Gary
Blair Junior,aged 14 and a student at the Douglas Academy of Music
in Milngavie, was picked with 5 others out of 7,000 musicians to compete
at the last night concert of the Glasgow Music Festival, competing
for the 'Ailie Cullen Memorial Prize.' 
The
Zero Sette Akordeoi Orkestra, from the Basque region, is to tour
the western region of Extremadura later this month. The tour is
sponsored by Caja Duero, and lasts from the18th to 23rd of April,
and includes three performances.
The
Bulgarian accordionist Martin Lubenov, winner of the Austrian World
Music Prize, was born in Sofia but is now based in Vienna. 
A
concert performed by conservatory students from the classes of Grzegorz
Stopa (left), Kathrin Thorack and Axana Wutscher will take place at
Margareten, Bräuhausgasse 50,1050 Vienna on April 28th, at 6.30pm.
French
accordionist 
This world level prestigious competition is open for soloists, duos
and ensembles up to 5 musicians. The musical repertoire includes both
classical and entertainment categories. Full details of this festival
are now available. Contact Stellvertretender Vorsitzender: Manfred
Gäbler (picture left).
15th
International Accordion Prize 'S. Bizzari', Morro D'Oro - Italy
