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News from 20th December 1996



This weeks titles:


4TH INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR ACCORDION SOLOISTS IN SPAIN

Contributed by Viatcheslav Semionov & Tatiana Lanchtchikova

From 3rd to 8th December an International Competition for Accordion Soloists, was held in Arrasato, Spain. This competition is organised by the "Confederacion Guipuzcoana de Accordeon" and attracted 14 entries from Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Yugoslavia, Spain and others. They were competing for total prize money of around $US6,500.

Each competitors performed a test piece "Tears" (Lorantson) and an own choice program. The standard of playing was very high, with many of the competitors having won previous International Accordion Competitions in Germany, Italy and Russia.

The jury included very famous accordionists Jose Antonio Hontoria (Spain), Mie Miki Schenck (Holland), Matti Rantanen (Finland), Viatcheslav Semionov (Russia) and Jacques Mornet (France). Results were worked out by deleting the top and bottom mark (out of 25) for each section, then averaging the remaining marks and dividing by two to get the total to get a final mark out of 150. Here are the final marks for the top seven competitors:

Name Country
Final Mark
Janne Rattya Finland
142.75
Mika Vayrynen Finland
138.50
Aizpiolea Vitoria Spain
135.75
Maxim Salnikov Russia
133.25
Halvor Lillesund Denmark
128.25
Roman Zhbanov Russia
126.00
Alexei Artemiin Russia
125.50


FIVE VALLEY ACCORDION ASSOCIATION CHRISTMAS CONCERT - MONTANA, USA

Contributed by Mike Belitz and Tom Collins

The Five Valley Accordion Association of Western Montana (membership 300) held its second annual Christmas Concert on December 8, 1996 at the VFW Hall in Missoula, Montana. Featured at this two hour concert were over ten participating members including Tom Collins, Mike Hansen, Mike Belitz, Dick Skultin, Maggie Shuland, Jean Roberts, Don Park, Jack Rice, Irene Paddock (President of the Association), and Jim Robbins.

A great time was had by all! It was especially interesting to hear 15 Blind Mice played by Tom Collins (a special arrangement). Mike Belitz performed original arrangements of Polka Dots and Moon Beams and Nola (at over 25 notes per second). The Five Valley Accordion Association performs bi-monthly at selected sites in Western Montana (USA).


INTERNATIONAL ACCORDION FESTIVAL "BAYAN AND BAYANISTS"

Contributed by Viatcheslav Semionov & Tatiana Lanchtchikova

The 7th Festival of "Bayan and Bayanists" was held from 11th to 15th December in the Concert Hall of the Russian Gnessins Academy of Music in Moscow, Russia. Accordionists and bayanists from France, Russia, Ukraine and other countries were invited to perform in the evening concerts. Each of these highlighted a particular music style. In the "Evening concert of Contemporary Music" Frederich Lips premiered a new work "From Dusk Through to Light", composed by Eduard Denisov.

Max and Christine Bonnay from France performed in the "Evening concert of Chamber Music", with Christine accompanying Leonardo De Lizi, a vocalist from Italy. Her brother Max played bandoneon music by Piazzola.

Another of the highlights of the festival was a concert by Viatcheslav Semionov, who celebrated his 50th birthday and was honoured for 30 years of performing and composing. His concert programme highlighted his music, written from 1976 to 1996, including "Kalina Krasnaya", "Don Rhapsody", "Lithuanian Rhapsody" and "Bulgarian Suite". He also played a new composition of his titled "Bramsiana".


ACCORDION SHOP OPENS - SICHUAN, CHINA

Contributed by Wu Jie

On Friday 20th December, "TANO" the first accordion shop of the Sichuan province in China will be opened. It will be founded by the Sichuan Accordion Association. All sizes of "Parrot" and "Baille" accordions ranging from 8 bass to 120 bass will be the main products for sale. Other instruments will be available also, along with many accordion scores, cassette tapes and videos.

All shareholders are directors of Sichuan Accordion Association who teach accordion in many cities of Sichuan province. The manager of this shop will be Mr. Luo Wanyong, an accordion performer from the Chengdu Song and Dance Ensemble.


CHRISTMAS CAROL BIRTHDAY PARTY - AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Contributed by Harley Jones

Well known accordion teacher Heather Masefield had a birthday party with a difference on the 17th of December. All the guests sang Christmas Carols outside under the stars to the accompaniment of accordionists Harley and Maurice Jones (Heather's brothers), several young pupils of Heathers, and on keyboard the famous composer and arranger Gary Daverne.

I wonder what the neighbours thought of this large 60 plus person impromptu choir, serenading their street, sipping champagne and enthusiastically singing Silent Night! A good time was certainly had by all the guests if not the neighbours.


ACCORDION PARTY - NANZHOU, CHINA

Contributed by Wu Jie

On 14th December at 7.30pm, an end of year party and concert was held at the Teachers' Vocational Studies School of Nanzhou (a city of the Gansu Province). All the performers were students of Mr Wu Xueyu, who teaches them at this school. The audience heard solo, duet, and ensemble performances and programmes included well known pieces such as:

  • Spain Waltz
  • Waltz of Skating
  • Dance of Sabre
  • The Speeding Train


HAPPINESS IS AN ACCORDION

Contributed by Tom Collins and CAPA Times (Newsletter of Closet Accordion Players of America)

Words of accordion wisdom from renowned novelist, Carl Sandberg:
"I asked professors who teach the meaning of life to tell me what is happiness. And I went to famous executives who boss the work of thousands of men and women. They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though I was trying to fool with them. And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along the Des Plaines River. And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with their women and children and a keg of beer and an accordion."


ACCORDION GAME & "CONCERT" - NANZHOU, CHINA

Contributed by Wu Jie

In the evening of 17th November, there was an entirely new sort of accordion concert at the Nanzhou Petroleum School, Xi Gu District, Nanzhou. The concert was held in the form of a game: about 90 accordionists took part in various games, with the loser having to perform on the spot. The pieces that were played included:

  • Inventions (Bach)
  • Sinfonie (Bach)
  • Scarlatti Sonata (Scarlatti)
  • A Hundred Birds Singing to The Phoenix (Chinese folk music)





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