This week the premiere edition of the German language "Deutsche Akkordeon News" (German language accordion news) went on line. We believe this will assist communication among accordionists in German speaking Europe and help promote the accordion in that important area of the world. If you would like to contribute news, please email Raphael at: raphael@accordions.com For further information see this week's news item.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

• "Echo" Award 1999 - Germany
• "Burach" Tours Turkey
• Independence Day Celebrations - Panama
• "The Mp3 All Stars" Concert series - USA
• East Accordion Circle Concert - Japan
• Charity Concertina Concert - UK
• Finnish Accordionist Performs in France
• Retirement Home Concerts - Netherlands
• Van Damme at Hilton Head Island - USA
• New Duo Proves Popular in Austria, Germany and Hungary
• French Accordionist Tours Scandinavia
• 8th Recoaro Meeting - Italy
• Jewish Music Ensemble Concert - USA
• First Accordion VCD Released - China
• Joint Concertina Gathering - UK
• Celebrity Interviews
• Benefit Concert - USA
• German language "Deutsche Akkordeon News" site - Europe
• Dutch Premiere by Acco Land Duo - Holland
• Melodeons at Witney - UK
• City chooses Accordion for Vibrant Image - New Zealand
• Russian Folk Concert - USA
• The Carlyle Family in Renfrew - Scotland
• Michigan Accordion Society Tribute Event - USA
• M_C_Cajun CD Release
  
• Can you Identify this type/tuning of Accordion?
• Italian Accordionist has passed away

German record awards "Echo Klassik 1999" was held recently in the National Theatre in Weimar (1999 European Cultural Capital) organized by the German Phono-Academy. German accordionist Stefan Hussong was awarded first place in the instrumental/accordion category for his CD "Revolucionario - Tangos by and for Astor Piazzolla". During the gala concert Hussong played "Fantango". Other awards presented included best female and male singers. Conductors Lorin Maazel and Sir Peter Ustinov received a special prize to honor their "services and humor in Music".

Scottish group "Burach" (which includes accordionist Sandy Brechin) will tour Turkey from November 15th to 28th, performing concerts in Antalya, Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, Kayseri, Konya and Bursa. Their program will include many new songs, which they plan to record on their new album in December such as "Stranger These Days" and "Sweet Thing".

For further information email: sandy@squeeze.demon.co.uk

Contributed by Carlos Burac

On November 3rd at 12.01am celebrations began for "Panamá Independence Day" at "Centro Deportivo las Americas". Many accordionists performed at this event including groups "Ritmo Montañero" (Samy and Sandra Sandoval), "Plumas negras" (Nenito Vargas), "Los Distinguidos" (Ulpiano Vergara), "Nuevas glorias Interioranas" (Manuel de Jesus Abrego), "Sentiminto" (Edwin Ceballos), "El Alma de Panama" (Inocente Sanjur) and "Ritmo y Sentimiento" (Cristian Nieto). The event was also televised nationwide.

Accordionist Phoebe Legere is curating a tour called "The Mp3 All Stars" which will include performances by many popular bands. The first concert in the series will be held on November 5th at Starbucks Astor, New York featuring Phoebe Legere, Elvis Sinatra and Robin Hackett who will play "New York Music" - a unique blend of jazz, folk and soul.

For further information email: superbytch@randomrecords.com

Contributed by Toru Katou

The Toyko East Accordion Circle will hold a concert at "Pal-City Koto" in Tokyo on November 20th beginning at 2.30pm. The following day Ohmaki Chimaki (accordion and vocals) will perform at Minatogawa Park, Kobe, Hyougo Prefecture. For further information on either of these concerts see Future Events

Contributed by Jane Edwards

On November 13th concertina players Chris & Jane Sherburn and Denny Bartley will perform with Bram Taylor and Band, The Barnsley Lads, Bernie Parry & Tony Taffender at a "Charity Concert" in Victoria Hall, Saltaire, Bradford. Proceeds will go towards "Riding for the Disabled". For further information phone Liz Ackroyd: + 44 1535-272817

Finnish accordionist Mika Väyrynen will perform in Englise St-Blaise de Bettlach, France on November 7th. His program will include solo works by Grieg, Stravinsky, Rachmaninov, Moskowski, Kaipainen, Nuorvala, Bruggemann, Constant and Segerstam.

Following this, Mika will return to Finland to perform a recital in the great hall of the Sibelius-Academy, Helsinki, on November 9th. Mika has just completed concerts with his quartet "Tango for Four" for the "Tango Passion-show" in Tampere and Turku, Finland.

Contributed by Hillebrand van der Veen

The Amsterdam Accordion Club Forzando concerts in Amsterdam retirement homes began on November 3rd with a performance at Tehuis De Wittenbergh. Two orchestras will play at seven retirement homes including "Tehuis Schinkelhaven" in Schinkelkade, "Huize Theresia" in Ouderkerk, with a final concert on November 28th at "E.D.D. Huis" in Amsterdam.

Their program will include dance music and popular Dutch sings. See Future Events

Contributed by Larry Pope

Accordionist Art Van Damme opened a four day gig at The Jazz Corner on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina on October 27th with Fred Rundquist (guitar), Steve Hobbs (vibes), Steve Primatic (drums) and Lee Burrows (bass). The group put on a fantastic show of Art's familiar "Quintet" tunes, which were well received by the enthusiastic audience.

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif

The duo of Sascha Markovic (accordion) and Tobias Stosiek (violoncello) have performed successful concerts recently in Austria, Germany and Hungary, playing music by such composers as Tchaikowsky, Z. Bargielski, G. Fauré, Piazzolla and others.

Tobias Stosiek studied in Dresden and Vienna and has taken part in international master courses under Tobias Kühne, David Geringas and Mstislav Rostropovitch. Sascha Markovic studied accordion, organ and conducting at the P.I. Tchaikowsky Academy in Kiev. He has performed as a soloist in many countries including Ukraine, Russia, Austria, Hungary and Germany and conducted famous international orchestras.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

French accordionist Jean-Louis Noton will tour Scandinavia from November 12th to 16th. His first concert will be held at Taastrup Medborgerhus, Køgevej 71 (Copenhagen) with other performances in Malmoe and Oskarstroem. Swedish radio and television will be present at Noton's final concert at S.A.M.I. (National Swedish organization for artists and musicians) in Stockholm.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

A meeting of accordion enthusiasts organized by the Italian Music Teaching Centre directed by Elio Bertolini was held on October 25th and 26th in the town of Recoaro, at the foot of the Small Dolomites. This friendly event included concerts and shows with virtuoso guests who have become a traditional annual attraction at the festival.

Recoaro is collecting moulds of the right hand of famous international accordion personalities, to be exhibited at Gran Caffè. The meeting ended with a gala in the City Theatre featuring internationally known accordionists.

The Sy Kushner Jewish Music Ensemble and The Klezminors performed at the "Tonic" in New York on October 31st. The Sy Kushner Ensemble specializes in early traditional klezmer music and consists of Sy Kushner (accordion), Marty Confurius (bass) and Alexander Fedoriouk (tsimbl - hammered dulcimer).

In addition, Sy and Aaron (father and son) performed a "Serba" together on electric guitar and accordion. This week's "Jewish Week" paper included a feature article on Sy and Aaron.

Contributed by Li Cong

The first VCD in Chinese accordion history was released recently by accordionist Ou Yang Fang. The VCD includes 10 solo arrangements such as Yao National Dance, Lantern Festival and Returning Home (all arranged by Prof. Li Wei Ming), Sonata No. 56 and 2nd Sonata.

Ou Yang Fang's performances have been commended by national and overseas accordion specialists. She has won many national and international accordion competitions including the 1990 China Cup Accordion competition (10 & under), 1993 South 9 Provinces Accordion Competition (14 & under), 1997 Australian International Accordion Competition Championship and 1997 South Pacific International Accordion Festival. She also performed in Germany, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Contributed by Jane Edwards

On November 21st a "Joint Concertina Gathering" will be held at the Marsh Liberal Club, Huddersfield with the Peak District Players (based in Hope), North East Concertina Players (based in Sedgefield, Co. Durham) and North Western Concertina Players (based in Liverpool).

For further information email: R.Kefford@hud.ac.uk

The "Celebrity Interview" with Li Cong, Chinese teacher, President of The Shanghai Accordion Association and Webmaster of the Accordions Worldwide Chinese Internet site is now on line in English and Chinese.

Accordionist Flaco Jimenez will perform on November 9th in Fredericksburg, Texas along with a host of other musicians including Johnny Gimble and Augie Meyers. The event will also feature performances by jazz bands and the FHS Show Choir. All proceeds from this event will benefit Fredericksburg Band Boosters.

For further information phone: + 1 830-997-5886

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl, Accordions Worldwide Europe Manager

The premiere edition of the German language "Deutsche Akkordeon News" site is now on line. This is a free service for associations, orchestras, concert organizers, teachers and performers in German speaking Europe, to have their interesting news items published easily and without cost on the internet.

Please email news to Raphael Frey, (raphael@accordions.com) and when enough news has arrived, Raphael will put a new edition of the "Deutsche Akkordeon News" on line.

Each news edition will be advertised in the German language International "Weekly News" and will cover accordion activities in the German speaking region in much greater detail than space limitation allows here.

Grateful thanks must go to young Raphael Frey for offering to donate his time and computer internet skills to put these news items online for accordionists. We encourage full use of this excellent opportunity to become your own publisher and believe this site will become a very valuable source of information and news for German speaking regions of the world.

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

On October 28th Acco Land Duo (Claudio Jacomucci and Anne Landa) presented the latest composition by Dutch composer Johann Sebastian Riphagen at the Circle of Fine Arts of Den Haugue in Holland. The piece entitled "Ricercare" is a work for two accordions rich with deep sonorities that evokes Russian conventional singing.

Composer Riphagen lived in Russia for many years, studying with orthodox priests and directing a well known choir. Currently he is conducting and composing mostly choir music.

Contributed by Jenny Cox

The fourth "Melodeons at Witney" will be held on November 13th and 14th at the Henry Box School, Witney, Oxfordshire. Over 100 people are expected to attend this year's event, which is a two day music course for players of G/D melodeon, featuring styles from Ireland, Sweden, Flanders, Quebec and England. This will provide an ideal opportunity for players to develop their style, technique, repertoire and understanding of the instrument and its music.

Course leaders Damien Barber, Simon Care, Wim Claeys, Katie Howson and Tim Van Eyken will also present a special "Melodeon Concert" on Saturday evening which will be open to the public.

Other events include workshops and a trade fair. For further information email Director Dave Townsend: homweekend@aol.com

Accordion entertainer Lionel Reekie has just started a 20 week season working for Auckland City, strolling the streets over the summer, entertaining locals and visitors alike.

The city council wants to portray Auckland as a vibrant cosmopolitan city, and Lionels' accordion and vocal entertainment was chosen to be a regular highlight, especially during the Americas Cup yachting competition. Performing around the waterfront and Central QE2 square, Lionel is often attracting big crowds, especially workers on their lunch break. Lionel will perform weekly until the end of March, 2000.

A Russian folk music concert will be held at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin on December 4th. Conductor and Professor Victor Gorodinsky has organized an orchestra made up of students and guest musicians especially for this event. Guest bayanist Jim Vandelly will play with the orchestra and present solo pieces including "Cossack Rides The Danube" (Variations on a Ukranian Theme).

Jim will also perform Russian folk tunes at the "Accordion Day" festivities at the Acme Accordion School in Westmont, New Jersey on November 7th. For further information see Future Events.

The Carlyle Family performed an opening of the new season concert at the Renfrew Accordion & Fiddle Club recently. Group members Matt (accordion), Kenny (drums), Kirsten (keyboard), Wilma (mandolin) played two sets of tunes from Scotland, Shetland, Orkney, North America and Denmark, which were very well received.

The group recently released their CD "All In A Day's Work" which includes "The Dark Island" (accordion solo), "Svingkontra" (Danish Reel) and "Mangaster Voe" (March).

Their next performance will be as guest artists at the Belford Accordion & Fiddle Club, Northumberland, England on November 25th. For further information email: Matt@mcarlyle.freeserve.co.uk

Contributed by Paul Nosko

The Michigan Accordion Society Third Annual Tribute Dinner and Show will be held at Park Place in Dearborn, Michigan on November 7th. This year's event will honor well known accordion educator, promoter and performer Ollie Petrini and accordion teacher Joseph Massimino Snr. Both Ollie and Joseph provided and dedicated themselves to musical education for local youngsters and were a driving force in promoting the accordion.

Over 250 people are expected to attend this tribute which will include performances by MAS members and former students. For further information email: pnosko@sprint.ca

Contributed by Paul Asher

UK group M_C_Cajun have just released a new CD to celebrate their 100th gig titled "Hundred Up". The CD includes "J'Ete au Bal", "Desperate Danny", "Midnight on the Water", "Flammes D'Enfer", "Grand Bois", "Feel so Bad", "Zydec'O'", "Cookhouse Blues", "Joli Catin", "Ambrosia" and "Uncle Joe". For further information and a free demo copy of the CD email: m_c_cajun@hotmail.com

Mike Lamb would like some information on a particular type or tuning of the accordion used by Henry Mancini in several pieces, particularly those portraying Paris, or the Left Bank of the Seine. If you know what type of instrument produces this kind of sound please email: lambret@eoni.com

Famous Italian accordionist Wolmer Beltrami died at his home last week. Next week we will include an obituary in the Weekly News and Memorials section.