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Highlights |
Next Weekly News, Friday 16th October. View Coupe Mondiale Concerts and Competitions - Finlandby Harley Jones |
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The Weekly News will be published as normal next Friday, 16th October. In the meantime, please view the huge Daily Reports and results of the 2015 Coupe Mondiale at: http://coupemondiale.org/2015/fi_coupe_main.htm and the wonderful array of music videos by many competitors and concert artists at: Coupe Mondiale Video Homepage & Video Timetable at: 2015CM-Video and Video: Mika Väyrynen concert at: http://www.coupemondiale.org/2015/video09concert.htm Video: Guardia Nueva at: http://www.coupemondiale.org/2015/video08concert.htm |
2015 Coupe Mondiale Daily Reports Starts Tuesday 6th October, Turku - Finlandby Harley Jones |
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![]() CIA President Raymond Bodell and Finnish President Kimmo Mattila (left) warmly invite you to atttend the 2015 Coupe Mondiale in Turku at the world class Logomo Center. The event promises wonderful music and the very highest level of competitions with 87 entries for eight competition categories and 26 countries participating including 55 delegates from the CIA member organizations. For those not able to attend, the website Coupe Mondiale has Daily Reports of pictures, information and videos of the contestants plus all the results when they are announced on Saturday early evening. Each evening promises a concert of wonderful music with the final concert on Saturday evening, featuring performances by all the Coupe Mondiale category winners. The Finnish commercial TV-Channel Alfa TV will make several hours of live broadcasting daily from Tuesday till Saturday. For people outside Finland, Alfa TV will also have online video available. Full linking details will be published on the Coupe Mondiale video homepage as they become available. Daily Reports at: http://coupemondiale.org/2015/fi_coupe_main.htm Video Homepage & Video Timetable at: 2015CM-Video Other information at: Coupe Mondiale |
2015 CIA Video Archive and Education Project - Finlandby Harley Jones |
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![]() Videos and Video Timetable at: 2015CM-Video This is a project initiated in 2010 by the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) with assistance from sponsors and Accordions Worldwide. The project includes: (i) A video of all the Coupe Mondiale categories and their contestants to be kept in the CIA archives in Finland, which over the coming years will become a wealth of historical recordings, including the premiere of many original accordion works and the emergence of upcoming artists at the Coupe Mondiale. (ii) Each year, video and pictures from many international accordion events are added to the CIA archives in Finland. (iii) Free downloads of the performances by competitors in each Coupe Mondiale category. These will be placed online as free downloads for the educational benefit of accordion teachers and students. The purpose is to enable the free spread of knowledge and information and thereby raise the levels of accordion performance and musicianship internationally. We thank the Scandalli Accordion Factory for their sponsorship to enable this ambitious free project to assist accordion students and tutors throughout the world. Videos and Video Timetable at: 2015CM-Video |
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Vivant! Performed at Roosterville Airshow and Flying Competition, Kansas City – USAby Rob Howard |
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![]() Their program featured swing, blues and pop music on a beautiful September day. Picture left is Karen Fremar, the founder of Vivant! Vivant! members include Julie Silfverberg (accordion), Melody Stroth (piano), Dee Sligar (bass), Judy Johnson (flute), Karen Fremar (accordion), Janne Silfverberg (trombone/Latin percussion), and Brian Steever (drums). Many hundreds enjoyed hanging out and dancing to some rockin' accordion music by the runway while eating great BBQ and viewing numerous flying exhibitions! For more information about Vivant and their CD recordings, please visit Karen Fremar. |
John Leslie (1935-2015), London - UKby Rob Howard |
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![]() John Leslie, born in Wales on September 1st 1935, studied the accordion with Eddie Harris in London until the age of 18, and became a full time professional accordionist at the age of 20, recording and broadcasting for the BBC and many record companies. John first performed on TV when he was 12 years old, appearing in the ‘Picture Page’ program, and with Peter Brough on ‘Educating Archie’. As well as his accordion business interests with Accordions of London, John Leslie was a very accomplished player, heard on several radio and TV advertisements, and such BBC radio programs as ‘Breakfast Special’, the Charlie Chester Show and ‘Round Midnight’. He played on backing tracks for films such as ‘Indiana Jones’ and on several Disney movies, recorded with fellow accordionists Jack Emblow, Mickey Binelli and Eddie Harris, and worked with Max Bygraves, Donald Sinden, Una Stubbs, and Tommy Cooper. For 14 years John was the accordionist/arranger with Jules Rubin and the Latinairs, and made many recordings with them. Pictures left: John Leslie 1968 LP cover, with Alessio Gerundini at Zero Sette in Italy, performing with daughter Lisa-Lee. John Leslie was a most accomplished teacher with many pupils winning accordion championship titles including a noteable 2nd place by Edward Hession at the 1981 Coupe Mondiale in Kansas City. John was also the father of eight children, some of whom have become excellent accordionists and represented the UK. He was the first appointed teacher of accordion at Kingston University, Surrey, where he guided Amanda Tyson and Julie North through the performance requirements for the B.A. Hons. Degree; he was also an accordion teacher at Nene College, Head of Musical Studies for a specialist course at Portsmouth University and the only accordion teacher to work at the famous Purcell School of Music. He has composed music, including pieces for the Guildhall accordion examinations, and has conducted many workshops and master classes at festivals such as Caister and at St Audries Bay, where he was always willing to share his considerable knowledge of music and the accordion. Internationally, John Leslie regularly represented the UK, adjudicating at the CIA Coupe Mondiale international competitions, his first time being in Vichy, France, in 1973, and subsequently in many countries throughout the world. John Leslie was also a long serving member of the CIA Music Committee until 2006. In 1983/84 he was Chairman of the National Accordion Organisation of the UK. John Leslie’s contribution to the accordion, both in the UK and internationally was very considerable and of great length. |
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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Video: World Premiere of 'Rondo Fantasy' Composed by Stas Venglevski - USAby Harley Jones |
![]() This new one movement work of 8:20 minutes was very well received by the audience and also by the orchestra members, who enjoyed performing it tremendously. Rondo Fantasy was composed by Stas Venglevski in honor of the ATG's 75th Anniversary. Stas is a member of the ATG's Board of Directors and previously served as its President. The ATG 75th Anniversary Festival Orchestra also performed the music of John Williams and the magnificent arrangement by ATG Founder Anthony Galla-Rini of Smetana's The Moldau. Videos were published in the 28th August 2015 Weekly News. Many thanks to Mike Roche (California) for the professional quality videos, Dan Grauman for the editing and to Bruce Lawrie (Texas), sound engineer and photographer. |
Video: Renzo Ruggieri Guest Appearance at Castelfidardo Festival - Italyby Renzo Ruggieri |
Special Guest accordionist and composer Renzo Ruggieri received huge applause from the audience when he made a short guest appearance at the recent Castelfidardo Festival. Enjoy. |
Updated Site: Renzo Ruggieri "Up To Christmas" €10 CD Special - Italyby Harley Jones |
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Video: Yuri Shishkin Concert at Castelfidardo Festival - Italyby Harley Jones |
A full concert hall was waiting for the concert by Yuri Shishkin at the recent Castelfidardo Festival. Huge applause, several encores were all part of a most exciting concert by the amazing Yuri Shishkin. The videos above are two encores at the end of the concert. CD's and eTrack mp3 albums available at: Yuri Shishkin |
"Jac & Co" @ ‘Le Boeuf sur le toit’, Paris – Franceby Rob Howard |
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On September 23rd the duo "Jac & Co" (Corinne Pellarin – vocals, Jacques Pellarin – accordion/compositions) performed at the legendary Parisian brasserie ‘Le Boeuf sur le toit’ at the Champs-Elysées, Paris. This was a special performance for a visiting American group as part of a cruise, organized by the famous Chef Jacques Haeringer, who the duo met during their two previous tours of the USA. The evening included a ‘jam’ from Jacques with some excellent jazz musicians of this historic venue, which has in past times featured Charles Trenet, Jean Wiener, Jean Cocteau, Chanel, Piaf, Yves Montand, and more. |
Video: Swing France Jazz Musette - Franceby Harley Jones |
Published on Feb 6, 2015. "Contre-attaque du Jazz Musette" with Swing Of France. La Sorcière (Jo Privat/Maurice Vittenet) with: Erwan Mellec (Accordion), Thomas Le Bris (Guitar), Benjamin Lebert (Tuba). |
‘Dermot Byrne & Floriane Blancke’ CD, Donegal – Republic of Irelandby Rob Howard |
![]() As well as playing accordion, Dermot gives us a great set of toe-tapping Donegal tunes on melodeon. Floriane also shows another side when she plays piano and sings on an ethereal French song about a lost love remembered. They have also invited some friends along to join in the fun with the likes of guitar player Tim Edey, cellist Eimear O’Grady, percussionist Tommy Hayes, Mary Shannon on mandolin, and Frank Kilkelly also contributes some swing-style guitar. The CD is available online. Tracks: Monaghan Jig/Templehouse Reel, La Valse Des Jouets, Amhràn Na Leabhar, La Bourrasque, Mister O'Connor, Farewell, The Mathematician/Johnny Wilmot's Fiddles, Sore Point, Vas-Y Mimiles, Killyburn Brae/Trim the Velvet, La Clairière, Kishor's Tune Diatonic accordionist Dermot Byrne is one of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, and was awarded the Irish Television station, TG4’s Traditional Musician of the Year 2013. He has also played the button accordion since a very young age. His seemingly effortless playing, combined with great subtlety, and a faultless ear, makes him one of the great accordion players of his generation. As well as his mastery of the Donegal style and repertoire, Dermot can perform in other styles such as French musette or Latin American music. He guested on two Altan recordings ‘The Red Crow’ and ‘Island Angel’ and was a member of the band from 1994 until 2013. Dermot has guested on recordings by Seamus and Manus McGuire, Sharon Shannon, Frankie Gavin, Pierre Schryer, Tim O’Brien, The Stunning, Salsa Celtica, and the late jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli. His eponymous solo recording, which he has reissued recently, received great critical acclaim. Born in Paris, France, Floriane Blancke is a talented harpist, fiddler, pianist and vocalist who has performed Irish traditional music in recent years. Floriane studied classical music for 10 years in the conservatoire of Bordeaux before spending a few years studying Jazz and World music in the C.I.A.M Jazz School. After moving to Ireland from France in 2006, Foriane is widely recognised as a skilled harpist and has performed with many musicians including accordionist Sharon Shannon. For further information email: deirdrenic@gmail.com |
‘14 Years Ago’: Tony Lovello Workshop/Concert October 2001by Rob Howard |
![]() Alabama Workshop and Concert – USA Contributed by Jim Wadowick The Alabama Accordion Association will present Tony Lovello in a Workshop & Concert on October 27th at the South Alabama Power Conference Center in Clanton, Alabama. The workshop will include information on performance and showmanship techniques. Up to 100 people are expected to attend this event. |
Future events |
Those Darn Accordions Oktoberfest Shows, Minnesota, Oregon – USAby Rob Howard |
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Those Darn Accordions (TDA) have some Oktoberfest shows coming along. First up is a 3 day Oktoberfest in the mid-west at The Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, MN (Minneapolis area). TDA will be rocking the slots and blackjack tables on Friday October 2nd and Saturday 3rd, with each night beginning at 6.45pm. The next weekend TDA are back in Battleground, WA (Portland,OR area) at the Northwood Public House Oktoberfest on October 10th and 11th. There's music all afternoon and into the night. Great food and beer! So dig out your lederhosen and dirndls and join us for a game of Hammerschlangen and some brats and beer! For further information email: tda@thosedarnaccordions.com |
Accordionists’ Dance Gigs – Irelandby Rob Howard |
![]() ![]() October 2nd – Finbarr Dennehy (picture left), Charity Dance, West Cork Hotel, Skibbereen, County Cork October 2nd – Declan Augier, Tramore, County Waterford October 2nd – Patrick O’Sullivan, Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway October 2nd – Michael English, Park Hotel, Mullingar October 3rd – Michael English, Simon Ryan Theatre, Tipperary October 3rd - Declan Augier, Middleton GAA Centre, County Cork October 3rd, 12-2pm – Larry McEvoy, Spa Wells, Lisdoonvarna October 4th - Finbarr Dennehy, Afternoon Tea Dance, Gaggin, Bandon October 4th - Finbarr Dennehy, evening, Rathcormac Inn, Rathcormac October 4th, 3-6pm - Declan Augier, Monagea Community Centre, County Limerick October 4th, 9.30pm-12midnight - Declan Augier, Rathkeale House Hotel, County Limerick October 4th - Michael English, Woodlands Hotel Adare, Limerick |
Sharena Sol Orchestra Concert, Muizenberg – South Africaby Rob Howard |
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![]() For further information email: bookings@masquetheatre.co.za |
German Reunification Feis Berlin, Potsdam – Germanyby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: info@buergerhaus-schlaatz.de |
Vivant! & Fremar/Silfverberg Accordion Duo Concert, Kansas City - USAby Rob Howard |
![]() Vivant! members include Julie Silfverberg (accordion), Melody Stroth (piano), Dee Sligar (bass), Judy Johnson (flute), Karen Fremar (accordion), Janne Silfverberg (trombone/Latin percussion), and Brian Steever (drums). The group will perform a variety program of Fremar arrangements including popular standards: ‘Come Fly with Me’, ‘Don't Get Around Much Anymore’, Latin works: Jobim's ‘One Note Samba’, Piazzolla's ‘Libertango’; Stevie Wonder's ‘You Are the Sunshine of My Life’ & ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You’, and more...including ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’, ‘More Today Than Yesterday’, ‘You Keep Me Hangin' On’, and Karen Fremar's haunting original to honor Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans: ‘Grasping for the Wind’. The Fremar and Silfverberg Accordion Duo will be featured performing Fremar's ‘Monroe’. Come early and enjoy a glass of wine. We look forward to seeing you for a fun concert on a lazy Sunday afternoon. All are welcome! |
Arbroath Accordion & Fiddle Club Open Day, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The Open Day includes a session from 2pm until 5pm, admission £3. All musicians welcome. In the evening, 7.30 until midnight, there will be a dance to the music of the Marian Anderson Scottish Dance Band. For further information email: denton_dene@tiscali.co.uk |
Terem Quartet Concert, St Petersburg – Russiaby Rob Howard |
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Video above: Mariss Jansons, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Terem Quartet in Munich at the "Klassik am Odeonsplatz" festival, July 6th 2014. La Serenata by Evgenij Petrov. The Terem Quartet perform in concert on Friday October 23rd, 7pm, at the State Academic Capella, St Petersburg. The programme will include ‘Dark Eyes’, Summertime (Gershwin), ‘Oblivion’ and ‘Libertango’ (Piazzolla), ‘Seasons’ (Tchaikovsky), and more. |
Ken and Mary Turbo @ Oktoberfest, San Salvador – El Salvadorby Rob Howard |
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The Ken and Mary Turbo Accordions Express perform for the Miller Brewing Co. Pilsener ‘Oktoberfest’, October 21st – 26th, at the `Cifco Convention Complex`, Av La Revolucion 222, San Salvador, El Salvador. Ken plays the diatonic button accordion and also the tenor banjo, guitar, mandolin, and mandola. Mary plays both the piano accordion and the organ. Together they perform regularly for Oktoberfests and other German bierkeller-type functions in and around Ohio, and this time, further afield. |
RAM Accordion Open Day/Concert, London – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The free concert will be at 1.05 – 2.00pm in the David Josefowitz Recital Hall and will feature accordion chamber music with Academy woodwind players. Following the concert, at 2.30 pm, there will be a talk by Professor Owen Murray on the work of the Accordion Department and the development of accordion repertoire and performing opportunities. The afternoon will finish at 5pm. The RAM Accordion Department was founded in 1986 by Owen Murray, and has provided higher education for accordionists from around the world. For further information email: o.murray@ram.ac.uk |
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Site: Complete Friedrich Lips Collection of 28 CD's - Austriaby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
![]() You can order online in Euro or US$ the Complete Friedrich Lips Collection of 28 CD's via the high security eCommerce site run by WorldPay.com, one of the world's largest payment processing system at. Order at: CDPack |
Updated Site: Zoltan Orosz Contrasts CD Added to Site - Hungaryby Harley Jones |
![]() There are 4 Zoltan Orosz CD's available including sound samples at: oz701 Accordion In Black And White CD oz702 Thousandfaced Accordion CD oz703 Under The Paris Sky CD oz704 Contrasts CD |
Renzo Ruggieri "Up To Christmas" €10 eSheet Music Special - Italyby Harley Jones |
![]() ![]() The music includes compositions and arrangements by Renzo Ruggieri. Click the links below to view sample page and/or video and to order: rrenzo501 - Song For S.B (Solo) rrenzo502 - Volo Degli Angeli (Solo) rrenzo503 - Tango Italiano (Solo) rrenzo504 - Carnevale (Solo) rrenzo505 - Roma Tango Solo rrenzo506 - Cinema (for 4 parts and drums, electronic accordion) The online shopping basket links to the high security eCommerce site run by WorldPay.com, one of the world's largest payment processing system. |
CD Reviews |
CD Review: Pauls Turn - Jazz Accordionby Paolo Picchio |
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Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |