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A
Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Myron
Floren - USA
Contributed by Faithe
Deffner
An
emotional memorial tribute "In loving remembrance of Myron
Floren" took place on August 6, at the Ascension Lutheran
Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, where the family has
worshipped since the mid-60s. Myron died at home on July 23, 2005
at age of 85.
A near life-size picture of Myron, youthful grin on his face and
accordion in his arms stood near the pulpit, looking out at family
and friends who had assembled for this final farewell. Remembering
the biblical enjoinder to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord,"
the Rev. Dr. Jan L. Womer told the congregants that this had been
Myron's lifetime work.
Myron himself provided the music for the memorial from among the
hundreds of titles he recorded over the years: Fughetta, Sentimental
Journey, How Great Thou Art, The Lost Chord, and Battle Hymn of
the Republic. Rev. Womer spoke of Myron's lifetime spent in delighting
audiences. "We shall not look upon his like again."
A full
report of this memorial service and the life of Myron
Floren.
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AFNA
50th Annual Music Festival - USA
The
Accordion Federation of North America will be hosting its 50th Annual
Music Festival 12th to 14th August in Los Angeles. Special events
include a Reunion Banquet on Friday for all former and present Queens
& Kings for both Accordion and Piano. Also, jazz great Frank
Marocco will offer a music seminar on Saturday at the Sheraton Gateway
Hotel, LAX in conjunction with the 50th Annual AFNA Music Festival.
The Seminar is scheduled to include a question and answer period
at the end. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to ask Mr. Marocco
about anything related to playing music in Hollywood movies, shows,
commercials, etc... Find out what it takes, how to get started,
and much more! The festival will end with a free concert on Sunday
afternoon featuring top winners and accordion bands.
For further information e-mail afna@musician.org
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New
Accordion Record in St. John's - Canada
On
Saturday 6th August, there was a new world record set, for the largest
crowd to all play the accordion. Organizers, who needed 645 people
to set the record, said 989 participants officially signed registration
forms. The results will now be submitted to the Guinness World Records
book. The previous record was set in July this year by 644 players
Kimberley at the International Oldtime Accordion Championships.
Dubbed the "Accordion Revolution," the St Johns event
drew participants from beyond Newfoundland and Labrador, including
other provinces and the USA. The campaign became something of a
summer phenomenon, with many people who had never even touched an
accordion signing up to get involved.
The
"Accordion Revolution" drew players of all ages and talent
levels, from seasoned professionals to absolute amateurs, armed
with accordions, concertinas and hand-me-down squeezeboxes. Starting
as a slow waltz, the players picked up tempo, as thousands of onlookers
clapped in time. Saturday's
event attracted scores of children, teenagers and young adults.
Organizer Dave Penny said the biggest problem wasn't getting the
musicians together. "We were all in different keys, and we
had to get everyone in the same key," he told reporters. Penny
admitted the whole thing started off as a bit of a joke to promote
the festival, which became a tremendously successful promotion of
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Stolen
Accordion - Denmark
This
Stolen Accordion
site is steadily increasing in size as people send in information
about their stolen accordion. It does not matter if the accordion
was stolen some years ago. If it is listed here, there is a greater
chance that one day your accordion will be found again.
All listings (including a photo) are free. New addition to the site
this week is from Finalfred Larsen of Denmark who had his La Melodiosa
accordion stolen in April this year. See Stolen Accordion site for
more information.
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Le
Carrefour Mondial de l'accordéon 2005
Each
year, renowned accordionists captivate, amaze and fill with wonder
an enthusiastic audience by delivering performances that rival each
other in virtuosity and originality. This year is the 17th event
and will take place from the 1st to the 5th of September.
Once again, the event promises great musical moments with performers
from England, USA, France, Italy, Uruguay, Scotland and of course
Canada who will rendezvous to make this event unique, original and
unforgettable.
World music, comtemporary music, classical music, swing musette,
jazz and light music, is part of the wide range of styles and genres.
The audience can also try a few dance steps in the Bal Musette or
join the quadrilles, waltzes and contredanses in the soirées
dansantes du Québec. Conferences and exhibitions completes
a program that explores the many-faceted aspects of this instrument.
For further information, email: accordeon@montmagny.com
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Mika
Väyrynen to appear University of Göteborg - Sweden
Contributed by Kevin
Friedrich
Finnish
accordionist Mika
Väyrynen will present a solo concert in Sweden on 25th
August at the Music University of Göteborg, Sweden. Mika's
concert program will include works by Bach and contemporary
composers, and will be structured as follows: Bach - Takahashi -
Bach - Segerstam - Bach - Gubaidulina - Bach - Busseuil - Bach/Busoni.
Mika's
repertoire is exceptionally broad, including contemporary accordion
music and transcriptions from various periods and this concert will
highlight both of these areas of expertise. To date, Mika Väyrynen
has recorded thirteen CD's which include around 100 compositions.
For further information, please visit www.accordions.com/mika
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Entirely updated site with new products and information of the italian
accordion/harmonica manufacturer Beltuna
of Castelfidardo.
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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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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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New site from
the Italian accordion bellows producer Marconi
from Castelfidardo.
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New site from
french accordion shop (school/repair) Accordez...Accordéons
in Paris lead by Gilles Brislance.
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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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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
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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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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Yehuda
Oppenheimer releases a grade 3 arrangement of 'Serenade'
and a grade 3 arrrangement of 'Contredance'.
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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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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New site of young
Austrian accordion star and first prize 100/100 winning artist Nikolas
Lazic.
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