News from 8th November 1996 |
This weeks titles: | |
The General Manager of the 1996 Coupe Mondiale in Slovakia,
Prof. Tibor Racz, supported by the Conservatory of Bratislava
and the City of Dunajska Streda worked hard and attracted a
record number of entries to this well organised event.
From welcome drinks and reception on board the ship Zilnia cruising from Bratislava, the scene was set for three days of continuous accordion activity. There were three classes, with the new Junior class receiving great spectator interest. Also attracting crowds was the popular Virtuoso Entertainment class which was run in one enjoyable afternoon session. The Coupe Mondiale itself was run in three sections. The results of all these classes are listed below. Also enjoyed was a number of concert items by soloists, orchestras and a concerto with symphony orchestra. Those attending had the opportunity to see the accordion performing almost every type of music imaginable. |
Senior Division
Other Finalists
Second Round Candidates
Other Candidates
Junior Division
Other Finalists
Other Candidates
Virtuoso Entertainment
Other Candidates
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These lines are being written with feeling's of good hope for the future. I am talking about both the accordion in general and the Coupe Mondiale and its development. Regarding the Coupe Mondiale the situation has been changing fast. Some years ago, there was one year when we did not have any Coupe Mondiale at all. In 1995 we had reasons to be happy over a well arranged Coupe Mondiale where the competitors were many. This year the competitors are more than they have ever been (as far as I know). This is a very positive development and the reasons are two mainly. One reason is that we've got one more category; "Junior". That means another 15 to 20 competitors. They alone are more that the whole Coupe Mondiale has sometimes been! My sincere thanks to those who came up with this "Junior" idea, replacing the tape competition! The fact that there are so many competitors this year in Dunajska, Streda may have several reasons. One must, of course, be that the organisers in Slovakia have done very good work. Another reason may be that people in the eastern European countries did not have many possibilities to take part in an event like this. But there is also, according to my belief, one more reason. During some recent years in the 90's we have met the phenomenon of "World music". Different types of music from different cultures have been performed more or less everywhere. Today you meet Asian, Arabian, and Carribean music as a type of popular music. Sometimes these types of music have met each other and formed new types of music like when, for instance, Arabian music meets rock. The result is "Rai". The most well known star in that style is Khaled. He is not only a tremendous singer, he also plays the accordion! And - not to be forgotten - with "World music" we are nowadays, meeting musical instruments earlier seldom seen and heard. As something quite natural we meet accordion, alp horns, singing from Lappland, bag pipes and instruments we do not even know the names of. All of this is part of the popular music world and we don't hear silly jokes about "squeeze boxes" any longer. The way popular music trends meet "World music" has shaped more open minds. At the same time the Coupe Mondiale has grown more popular thanks to it's categories "Brilliant entertainment" and "Junior". Let's make the most out of this situation! There is a good possibility in this fact that the Coupe Mondiale grows more popular and not only an event for specialists in contemporary original music. As the audience for the accordion grows we also get a chance to show what the original music for the accordion has to offer. But we know too well that the original music alone does not bring the instrument any new audience. We have, apparently, found a new way to reach a wider audience. Let's go on with that!
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ACCORDION ORCHESTRAS
Place | Orchestra name | Conductor | Award |
1st | Orchestar der Akkordeonfreunde Florsheim | Wolfgang R. Wagner | Outstanding Cup |
2nd | I. Durener Akkordeonrochester | Herbert Nolte | Excellence Cup |
3rd = | Akkordia 73 e.V. Crumstadt | Herma Finsterer | Excellence Cup |
3rd = | Akkordeonorchester der MS Gaggenau | Hans Bogner | Excellence Cup |
5th | Harmonika-Spielring 1. Orch. Boblingen | Gunther Stoll | Excellent |
6th | Harmonika-Orchester Endersbach | Edmund Holzwarth | Excellent |
7th | Bremer Akkordeon-Ensemble | Helmut Rohl | Excellent |
8th | Akkordeonorchester LAD Minsk/Welssrussland | Wladimir Artimowitsch | Excellent |
9th | Akkordeonorchester der Moerser Musikschule | Guido Wagner | Very Good |
10th | Akkordeonorchester 79 der MS Dortmund | Manfred Weiss | Very Good |
11th | Hermonikaclub Reutlingen | Horst Amann | Very Good |
12th | Akkordeonorchester Grenzach | H.F. Westphal | Very Good |
13th | Akkordeonorchester des harmonikaclubs friedrichshafen | Walter Wagner | Very Good |
14th | Akkordeonorchester der MS Oberhausen-Bottrop | Rolf Donner | Very Good |
15th | Akkordeonensemble Kern Stafa | Silvie Kern | Very Good |
16th | Akkordeonorchester Hohnerhange Marl | Ralf Kruck | Good |
17th | Konzertorchester des Harmonika-Clubs Sulzburg | Slegfried Deckler | Good |
18th | Harmonikaverein Ulm Soflingen | Thomas Suechla | Good |
19th | Association Accordeonistes Rancennes | M Cottel | Good |
20th | AO der Musikschule Dorsten | Ralf Kruck | Good |
The winner also received a special prize for the best Wurthner
arrangement.
AMATEUR ENSEMBLES
Place | Ensemble Name | Award |
1st | Akkordeon-Ensemble der Kreismusikschule Erding | Outstanding Cup |
2nd | Maiglockchen-Ensemble | Outstanding Cup |
3rd | Durener Akkordeon Ensemble | Outstanding Cup |
4th | Akkordeon Spielring Rielasingen/Worbingen | Outstanding Cup |
5th | Markgraflor Akkordeon-Ensemble | Excellence Plate |
6th | Quisitho-Quartett | Excellence Plate |
7th | Akkordeon-Ensemble Schwabach | Very Good |
8th | Akkordeon-Ensemble Tritonus Dortmund | Very Good |
9th | Ensemble der Musikreunde Hochwang-Erkenbrechtsweiler | Very Good |
10th= | Akkordeon-Ensemble der Musikschule Berlin-Neukolln | Very Good |
10th= | Hohnenzollern-Ensemble Grosselfingen | Very Good |
12th | Diatonisches Harmonika-Ensemble Nuenburg, Deutschland | Very Good |
13th | Ensemble des Akkordeonorchesters Luzerne | Very Good |
14th | Espressivo Helbronn | Good |
15th | Ensemble des 1. Handharmonika Club 1958 | Good |
16th | Akkordeon-Ensemble der Harmonika-Freunde Kirchhausen | Good |
PROFESSIONAL ENSEMBLES
Award | ||
1st | Akkordeon Ensemble Schwabisch-Cmund | Outstanding Cup |
2nd | Virtuoso Weert /NL | Excellent |
3rd | Akkordeon-Ensemble der Hauer-Musikschule | Very Good |
Faro, the enchanting capital of the Algrave region, situated in the far south of Portugal was the site for this 1996 competition. The town welcomed with great enthusiasm the participants from fifteen nations taking part in the 46th edition of the Trophee Mondiale of Accordion, organised by the Confederation Mondiale de l'Accordeon. For this occasion, the local tourist operators arranged two fabulous music evenings in which several of the participants performed. The young accordionists were welcomed by enthusiastic audiences each day of the competition.
The Awards Ceremony was held on the last night, with the three highest placed
accordionists performing excerpts from their programme in the
Gala Concert that followed. The winner, Oivind Farmen performed two pieces,
which was an excellent way to finish. The date for the next Trophee Mondiale
was set for the 1st October 1997 in Escaldes-Engordany
in Andorra. |
Senior Division
Other Candidates
Junior Division
Other Candidates
Variety
Other Candidates
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The 21st Anniversary of the International Award for
accordions "Citta of Castelfidardo" was held in Italy,
with contestants coming from 19 nations and a jury from 13 nations.
A large list of awards and scholarships were awarded to many of
the participants. These were offered by accordion manufacturers
and by the organiser of the event, the city of Castelfidardo.
A special award was granted to Vitali Semionov (only 10 years
old) from Moscow, who was the youngest participant. His music
was greatly appreciated by all.
In addition to the classical accordion music was a new section
for enthusiasts of contempory music, called "The accordion
from folk to jazz and from rock to avant-garde". This was
a presentation of contemporary musicians in their wide artistic
variety. It showed the difference between various kinds of music
and culture, and that the accordion is becoming more readily incorporated
in rock, folk and jazz music performing in groups with other instruments.
During the course of the week, all passed their respects for the
two recently deceased accordionists, Orfeo Burattini, Director
of the Accordion Orchestra "Citta di Castelfidardo" and Gorni
Kramer, internationally renowned jazz performer.
GOLDEN MASTER AWARD
Also during the weekend, the "Golden Master" trophy
for services to the accordion was awarded to Gina Brannelli of
England. Past recipiants of this award have been Pino Di Modugno
and Gervasio Marcosignori.
Gina Brannelli has two degrees from the Musical Academy of Music,
was the UK Champion twice, and represented Great Britian at the
Coupe Mondiale International Competition. She has appreared numerous
time on television, and for 7 years entertained on the cruiseship
"Queen Elizabeth II". Today she has an accordion school
with over 160 students. She wished to particularly thank Gervasio
Marcosignori for his help throughout her career, and to Master for their
sponsorship of the award. |
"A festival of sound on the accordion" "The audience went "out of their hous" (out of their skin) "Accordion music for gourmet" "Standing ovation for musicians with a great radiance" "Firework for sense with music and dance" These are some of the compliments in the journals and newspapers from the press and public relations after their performances. The orchestra performed in Vevey, Boblingen, (Stuttgart area), Zurich, three concerts in Saalfelden, Ebikon, Rheinfelden, Lodrino, Waldshut, Kirchberg, Baden Baden, Albisrieden, Lauterbrunnen, Munchen, Hochenschwand, Pforzheim, Kuppenheim, Gladenbach. Everywhere the audience was at one: We have seen and heard one of the best accordion orchestra performances, what ever they play! On their tour through Switzerland, Austria and Germany there became a fanclub. They travelled from concert place to concert place and at each concert the fanclub grew bigger and bigger. The highest point was in Waldshut, in the full townhall, which turned out to be like a family meeting. Besides the musical contacts, the hosts and the tour members enjoyed very much the warm personal contacts, and a lot of addresses and phone numbers were exchanged. On this tour the orchestra was not camping as much as on past tours. Instead the members enjoyed being guests in private homes and other times the orchestra was in lodging. After each performance, the host organiser was presented with a video from New Zealand and a CD of the orchestra by Co Director Heather Masefield, who also did a wonderful job as the compere. The conductor Fay-ellen Schaw, besides all the congratulations received presents from each region and compliments for the fine concerts.
The leaders from the orchestra are: Together with Lionel Reekie and Rebecca Cameron (vocalists)they all enjoyed very successful performances. Also travelling with the orchestra was the famous accordion soloist Campbell Bettridge, a past winner of both the Australian and New Zealand Solo Championships. A highlight of his career was performing in Beijing, China for the Chinese Accordion Association. He played original works from J.S. Bach and G.F. Handel. The spectrum of the repertoire by the Air New Zealand Accordion Orchestra was outstanding. The music ranged from the original classical work 'Russian and Ludmilla' by Glinka and the famous piece 'Dance of the Furries' from the opera 'Orpheus in the Underworld' by Gluck, to folk music, to excellent arrangements of Pop and Rock 'n' Roll music. These arrangements are by Gary Daverne, who also conducted his own famous piece 'Caprice'. The audience really enjoyed this excellent composition. It was not easy to say which piece was the best. It's really just a theoretic and philosophic question, because the orchestra was so compact and the performances so excellent, each piece had it's own charm. A journalist told me "Who knows? It's all just excellent! For me one piece that was very impressive was the piece from the opera 'La Traviata', performed by Lionel Reekie and Rebecca Cameron. Both have excellent voices for such music and it went cold down my back, when I listened to this song". Somebody likes this piece and somebody likes that piece. This is how the orchestra touched the thoughts! Music for everybody, and variety of music got a lot of positive audience reaction. From the tour organisers, through the personal contact of Uli Ebner and Martin Frey and all of the very helpful accordion orchestras, culture associations, we have the same opinion: A very big thankyou! We'll do it all again in the year 2000 another European a concert tour for the famous Air New Zealand Accordion Orchestra.
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Joseph Kerschbaumer, a farmer from Linz in northern Austria, has
found a new way of getting a better milk yeild from his cows,
by playing traditional Austrian folk music on his accordion!!
He says by doing this he can get up to two more litres per cow,
because they are stimulated milk is released a lot easier.
He says the cows enjoy most music, but the they have a preference
for traditional Austrian polkas. He explains they get a glaze
in their eyes, and become curious, and have fun.
Joseph's children are following in their father's footsteps.
His six year old son Oliver practices his accordion to the pigs.
They seem to find it fun also. It will be interesting to hear
whether or not these pigs will produce better tasting pork!!
The announcer of this item even ended with the pun "The Sound
of Mooosic!!" |
John Molinari It is noted with much sadness that John Molinari passed away on October 23rd, aged 52. He was son of the accordion legend John Molinari senior, and was an excellent accordionist himself. In past years John senior and junior had made concert tours together and John junior performed on the accordion in a number of professional musicals in the USA. |