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From this week we now have the Weekly News in Russian, joining English, German, French, Italian and Japanese languages. There are many highly skilled and talented Russian accordionists and their accordion composers and educators have had an impact worldwide on the concert literature and tuition methods of our favourite instrument. We hope to welcome many more Russian language readers from this important part of the accordion world to our Weekly News.
Wayne Knights
Contributed by Etienne Ozorak
They were recently invited to perform at the Klein Karoo art festival in
South Africa (which is a celebration of Afrikaans culture) and they
performed rock music to over 6,000 people. Five performances were
scheduled with reviews in local newspapers.
The accordion is prevalent in South Africa, primarily in "Bourou" (their
equivalent of Cajun) music. South Africa's "Magnante" is Nico Carstens,
who has recently released a very popular CD.
Contributed by Kevin Friedrich
Betty Jo Simon received her Bachelor of Music in Accordion Performance
from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and has since accumulated
a long list of achievements. She has performed worldwide as a soloist,
a member of the UMKC Accordion Orchestra, with Symphony orchestras, on
the Fred Waring Show, and with her own German Polka Band the "Alpen
Spielers".
Recently, she has concentrated on utilising MIDI technology, to enhance her performances, and has just released her first CD entitled "Mamma Mia", which will be available at the concert. For further information email: 72753.2567@compuserve.com
Contributed by Carlos Burac
On April 18th at the Chorrera International Fair, accordionists Victorio
Vergara, Ulpiano Vergara and Osvaldo Ayala performed to over 10,000
people. Victorio Vergara played his Number 1 hit single on the Panama
charts "Bebe". The accordionists' performance was a "mano a mano" which
is like a competition between the performers.
In Panamá live accordion music can be heard almost every day because the
accordion is one of the principal instruments in "musica tipica" which is one of
the most popular music styles in the country.
Contributed by Wu Jie
"Hohner" Accordion Manufacturing plan to open a factory in Zhejiang
Province, China this year which will be the first foreign accordion
company to operate in China.
Contributed by Tania Lukic-Marx
The 5th Australian International Accordion Festival and Championship
held by the AATA (Australian Accordion Teachers Association) is
dedicated to the popular Australian accordionist Lou Campara. This is
believed to be the first Accordion Testimonial Dinner in Australia. Lou will attend
a concert in his honour on Friday May 22nd and his Testimonial Dinner on Sunday night
May 24th. For further information email: tlukic@jigsaw.net.au
Contributed by Frédéric Deschamps
The Givet Accordion Ensemble (directed by Mrs Cottel), will host the
Sundgau Orchestra (Alsace), directed by Philippe Rey, at a concert at
the Givet Riding School on Saturday May 30th at 8.30pm with guest conductor
Brigitte Billy.
ADAG (The Givet Accordionists Association) was formed in 1980 and has
enthusiastically encouraged high musical standards, under the energetic direction of Mrs Cottel.
Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif
A festival of contemporary music called "Hörgänge" was held recently in Vienna Austria. Georg Schulz, (accordion teacher at the Hochschule für Musik in Graz, Austria), presented the first
accordion solo recital, designed to demonstrate the development of the accordion as a concert instrument. He performed "Dinosauros" (Nordheim - accordion and tape), "Painted clouds" (Bargielski) and "Grand Jeu" (Kaufmann - accordion and tape) as well as pieces by young Austrian composers like Sande, Kretz, Präsent and Kern.
In a second concert Philippe Thuriot, (accordion teacher at the conservatory in Gent, Belgium), performed "Akkordeonkonzert" (Dirk d'Ase) with the "Ensemble of the 20th century" conducted by Peter Burwik.
Contributed by Gary Blair
On April 17th, accordionists James Crabb and Geir Draugsvoll held a recital at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. The next day James Crabb held a 2-hour Masterclass. The Observer newspaper recently wrote ''James Crabb is a major discovery, a performer of perfect poise, taste and passion'' and The Independent newspaper wrote ''an accordionist of dazzling virtuosity''.
Submitted by The Classical Free-Reed, Inc.
Peter Schickele (pianist and host of the weekly PRI radio show "Schickele Mix") hosted a classical accordion concert program on Radio WQED-FM recently, that included solo works and accordion with a chamber ensemble. Solo works included Guy Klucevsek (Phantom Polka), Helmut Jacobs (Romance for harmonium), Geir Draugsvoll (Confetti), Pauline Oliveros (Crone Music) and Stefan Hussong (Stravinsky's Tango).
Chamber Works included Relache (Parterre), Robert Davine (Suite for accordion, cello & piano), Geir Draugsvoll (Children's poems from Germany for soprano, violin and accordion) and Douglas Rogers (Leisure Moments for concertina & piano).
The successful show also included an encore piece by Joanne Castle (from the Lawrence Welk Show) who played Flight of the Bumblebee Boogie.
Contributed by Milan Tomic and Tania Lukic-Marx
The First Accordion of Serbia International Accordion Competition will be held at Beograd Philharmony Orchestra house, Beograd, Yugoslavia on June 27th and 28th.
Competition categories range from 10 years and under to 19 years and over. Competitors are required to perform a minimum of two pieces by memory. The Jury will comprise of Yugoslavian accordion teachers and winners will receive cups and prize-money.
Competition closing date is June 1st. For further information fax: + 381 34 335-291 or email: tomic@yugo.ia.kg.ac.yu
Contributed by Christine Adams
In February Harley Jones was created a Fellow of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers of New Zealand. On April 18th Harley was presented with his Citation by the Auckland Branch of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers. Over 80 Institute members, accordion teachers, colleagues, friends and family attended the presentation. Entertainment was provided by accordionist Campbell Bettridge who performed The Harmonious Blacksmith (Handel) and the Final movement of Sonata in B minor (Chaikin) and Maurice Jones who played a French medley, La Cumparsita (tango) and 12th Street Rag.
Contributed by Cliff Furnald
From April 15th to May 30th, the First Annual RootsWorld Free Reed "Virtual" Festival will be held on the radio and on the internet.
Many accordionists have contributed articles to this festival including Henry Doktorski ("The Classical Free Reed"), Dirty Linen, Musical Traditions and Folk Roots magazines and radio stations will feature
broadcasts.
Each day a different performer is featured. So far artists include UK melodeon maestro Brian Peters, and a duo from Norway of Gabriel Fliflet (accordion) and Ole Hamre (drums) called "Fliflet / Hamre Energiforsyning". The duo have recently released a CD called "Ivar Aasen Goes Bulgaria" which features mainly accordion and drums with occasional bass and guitar. Their music is a mixture of Scandinavian and ethnic styles in unusual time signatures
Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
Young accordionist Sylvia Pagni held a very successful concert at the Gallery of Frankfurt, Germany, during the opening of the "World Fair". She amazed the large audience with jazz arrangements of classical pieces and music by Astor Piazzolla.
Sylvia will participate as a Cemex demonstrator at the "Music Fair" in Rimini, Italy from May 8th to 11th. On May 14th she will hold a concert at the Pavia Theatre where she will play classical pieces by the famous Italian composer Peppino Principe.
Contributed by Wu Jie
Mr Lin Yulin, an accordion teacher at the Chengdu Accordion School, plans to open an accordion music bookstore called "Wei-Wei" near Sichuan Conservatory of Music in Chengdu, China. The store will be the first exclusive agency for accordion music in China with accordion books, recording tapes, CDs and music.
Contributed by Hugh Barwell
On Monday April 20th, aviation chiefs and the Deputy Prime Minister attended the opening of the new terminal building at Manchester Airport, where accordionist Hugh Barwell performed French accordion music on MIDI. Hugh's music created a pleasant atmosphere, as he alternated with a
Dixieland band and other musical acts.
Submitted by Reuters News Service
Former Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, prior to his recent dismissal was awarded a medal "The Order for Services to the Fatherland" and was praised by President Yeltsin. Chernomyrdin was quoted in a Reuters News Service article as saying "that part of his success stems from his image as a typical and down-to-earth Russian man, who enjoys playing the accordion in his rare spare moments."
Contributed by Frédéric Deschamps
Jean Louis Noton has been performing at the Cavagnolo stand at the Salon de la Musique (Music Fair) in Valencia, Spain from April 22nd to 25th. Following this he will be performing at the Rimini Fair in Italy from May 8th to 11th.
Contributed by Jim Wangemann
Accordionist Jim Wangemann will be regularly performing at the Confectionery Café Salzburg, Altoona, Iowa on Friday and Saturday nights. This Austrian restaurant features confectioneries that are "out of this world!" says Jim.
Jim will also be playing at the "Mai (May) Fest" in Altoona on May 2nd and is also planning to attend the American Accordionists Association Accordion Festival in New Orleans from July 8th to 12th.
Submitted by The Classical Free-Reed, Inc.
Allan Atlas, American classical concertinist and author, has had an article, "The Respectable Concertina" accepted by the British Musicological journal "Music & Letters". The article will appear in the May 1999 issue (one year from now) and covers subjects like new music for the English concertina, notable recordings and performances, new research, entry into Dutch music education curricula, the new home for Wayne's collection at the Horniman Museum and the up-coming Wheatstone Bicentennial in 2002.
Contributed by Gordon Blackley
The Augusta Heritage Center in West Virginia which is dedicated to making traditional music, crafts, dancing and folklore available to visitors and residents are featuring a variety of accordion workshops throughout July as follows:
For further information email: augusta@augustaheritage.com
Subject: My accordion sold!
Dear Mr. Knights,
My accordion sold! Please remove my "for sale" ad (Giulietti/Julio Giulietti F93). I'll submit another ad soon. Also, thanks for putting me in touch with Bob Tedrow. We traded his 1830's Busson Accordeon for my 1873 Lachenal concertina
Thanks for all your help and have a great day.
Richard Marzec
Well done! I'll have the advert removed when we next update the site in the next week. Thanks for using our service.
Wayne Knights |
The "Laughing Gypsies" with lead singer Clarabella Von Niekerk
(bass guitar and vocals) from South Africa and Etienne Ozorak (accordion)
features 1950's American music, Russian folk songs and French
ballads sung in Afrikaans, English and French.
On Monday, April 27th, at 7.30pm, the Milwaukee Accordion Club will
present Betty Jo Simon at the Root river Center, Franklin, Wisconsin.
