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Article: Concept of Reed Construction, A new paradigm of acoustic quality by Lorenzo Antonelli.by Harley Jones |
Author of this very informative article about reed construction, Lorenzo Antonelli, President and CEO of Voci Armoniche has been recently honored with the "24th Premio Nazionale Gentile da Fabriano" and is part of the family business that has been producing fine quality reeds for harmonicas and accordions since 1935. Antonelli writes about reed manufacture and the 7 key points explaining the elements of quality: - Quality in all the reeds of the range - Raw materials - 100% made in Italy and in-house production - Skill and method - Reliability and Durability - Functional quality - Acoustic quality The article finishes with: - How to enhance the acoustic potential of reeds. Read the article in English: https://www.vociarmoniche.it/en/concept-of-construction/ Italian: https://www.vociarmoniche.it/concetto-costruttivo/ |
Accordionists Perform at DAS Fest in Wisconsin - USAby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Copper Box playing Zydeco Boogaloo written by Buckwheat Zydeco. Danny Jerabek (accordion); Michelle Jerabek (tenor sax); Dan Cable (drums and audio); Drew Hicks (bass); Marlo Ambas (video recording and editing). The annual DAS Fest will be held at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Wisconsin, USA from August 13th to 15th, 2021, and is advertised as the No 1 German celebration of the summer. The FAS "Discover your Deutsch" event includes a variety of concerts, demonstrations, folk dancing, Dachshund racing and much more. Accordion performers include: • Alex Meixner Band (picture below) – daily performances from 7pm on Friday & Saturday and from 3pm on Sunday. • Alpensterne – daily performances from 3pm on Friday & Saturday and 11,30am on Sunday • Alpine Blast from 11.30am on Saturday • Bolzen Beer Band from 8pm on Saturday • Copper Box (picture above left) from 3.30pm on Saturday • The Chardon Polka Band (picture above right) from 7.30pm on Friday • The Happy Players from 3pm on Saturday and Sunday For details email: prost@dasfestusa.com |
Romano Viazzani Ensemble Album Launch Concert – UKby Christine Johnstone |
The Romano Viazzani Ensemble will officially launch their newest album “London Tango” at a Sunday Lunchtime concert at The Pheasantry, Kings Road, London on 26th September, 2021. The previous launch concert in 2020 had to be postponed due to the pandemic. In addition, the Ensemble are overjoyed to be offered the opportunity to do a pre-launch concert for their “London Tango” album in Birmingham a week before the official launch concert in London. Their program will include a selection of Astor Piazzolla’s music to celebrate his centenary year as well as some of the hits from their London Tango album. Ensemble members are Romano Viazzani (accordion), Barbara Dziewiecka-Data (violin), Nick Pini (double bass), Jonathan Preiss (guitar), John Bailey (piano) and vocalists Joanna Strand & Jacqui Tate. For details phone: +44 20 7439 4962 |
2021 Francisco el Hombre Festival - Columbiaby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Senior competition finalists Cristian Perez & Junior Larios The 2021 Francisco el Hombre Festival will be held in Columbia during August, 2021. The festival will include an online competition and awards from August 7th to 9th for the best accordionist, singer and group in youth and senior categories. This event is a tribute to Lady Guajira: Ruth Berardinelli, a highly regarded leader who died unexpectedly. The competition results will be streamed live on the regional channel Telecaribe. Senior accordion finalists are: Jamir Ospino & Jhosep Cervantes Yair Ortiz & Rafael Alvarado Cristian Perez & Junior Larios Daniel Linan & Danny Orozco Aris Vargas & Jose Molina Youth finalists are: La Tropa de Luifer (Colombia) Eidan Medina & Jesus Negrete (Venezuela) Nuestra Tierra (Colombia) Anthony Portillo & Camilo Hernandez (Colombia) The objective of the festival is to promote and foster the artistic quality of contemporary Vallenato music, to reward the efforts of those who stand out during the year as the best interpreters of contemporary Vallenato music, to promote the emergence and publicize national and international new talents in the fields of composition, singing and interpretation of contemporary Vallenato music and to promote the cultural and tourist development of the Department of La Guajira. |
2021 Belles Bretelles Festival - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
Club Leo Lagrange Hergnies, organisers of the 2021 Hainaut Belles Bretelles Festival have announced the 2021 event will now take place from August 27th to 29th. The festival is three free days of music, partying and entertainment around all styles of accordion. The event will include a variety of music from musette to rock'n'roll, klezmer, Cajun, classical, folk etc. All attendees must have a health pass as required by the Government. This is proof of a complete vaccination for at least a week, or of a negative test of less than 48 hours. Admission to the event is free of charge. For details email: contact@bellesbretelles.com |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
2021 Coupe Mondiale, Travel to Munich - Germanyby Georg Hettmann |
2021 Coupe Mondiale host, Deutscher Harmonika-Verband e.V. (DHV) 1st Vice-President Georg Hettmann writes: Entry closing date is 25 August 2021, all entry and travel/hotel information is online at: Coupe Mondiale Online entries at: 2021CM-Rules Download printable event poster at: 2021CM-poster.pdf There are new regulations concerning traveling to Germany from August 1st. From August 1, 2021, risk areas will be classified in two categories: high risk areas and virus variant areas. The category of “simple” risk areas does not apply anymore. From August 1, 2021, all travelers - regardless of whether they have been in a high-risk area or virus variant area or not – are obliged to provide proof of the absence of an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (vaccination, test -, proof of recovery). Note: The strict test obligation for people entering a virus variant area continues to exist. Children under the age of 12 are exempt from the obligation to provide evidence. Regarding the entry quarantine: The separation obligation now applies until September 30, 2021. Information for vaccinated and convalescent people: Vaccination and recovery certificates can replace a negative test certificate and release you from the entry quarantine. This does not currently apply to previous stays in a virus variant area. Therefore I have updated our templates for the CM Travel Guidelines (see attachments). Download: 2021Travel.pdf |
Video: Jörgen Sundeqvist Arrangement of "Till Havs" - Swedenby Christine Johnstone |
A few weeks ago Jörgen Sundeqvist made a video together with Klas Norberg, a famous singer (tenor), colleague and a very good friend. The video was produced by the famous composer Fredrik Högberg, who made the Concerto for Accordion and orchestra "The Accordion King" for Jörgen a few years ago. The video was made as the Västernorrland region and Kramfors community wanted a special film to present this beautiful area, also called "The High Coast" and the famous river "Ångermanälven", which is also called "The Accordion river". They also wanted to present "The Mississippi of the Accordion”, as so many famous Swedish accordionists such as Andrew Walter, Hans-Erik Nääs, the brothers Karl and Erling Grönstedt and many others were born in Kramfors next to the river and made this area very famous. Kramfors and Ångermanälven are so connected with all these famous accordionists and their music. Jörgen and Klas have chosen a very dramatic song, both the words and most of all the music. The song is called "Till Havs" (At Sea) written by the Swedish composer Gustaf Nordqvist in 1922 for tenor and large symphony orchestra. This song became very famous, and a big "hit" for the legendary Swedish tenor Jussi Bjoerling. Jörgen made a special arrangement for the accordion, where he has brought out every single detail from the orchestral score to one accordion. We hope you enjoy "The High Coast Version 2021 of Till Havs", with Klas Norberg (vocals) and Jörgen (accordion). |
Esther Bejarano, Holocaust Survivor, The Accordion Saved her Life - Polandby Rob Howard |
Esther Bejarano, Auschwitz survivor and musician, was born on December 15th, 1924 and died on July 10th, 2021, aged 96. The item below was an excerpt from The UK Times on August 5th, 2021. During her life, Esther Bejarano gave poignant talks about her time as an accordion player with the Auschwitz women’s orchestra. In her first month as a prisoner at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp in Poland, 19-year-old Esther Loewy was forced to do hard labour in a quarry. It nearly killed her. She then heard about a women’s orchestra that Maria Mandl, the SS-Helferin [helper] in charge of female prisoners, had recently started, essentially as a propaganda tool for visitors and camp newsreels. Every Sunday they would perform a concert for SS officers. Those chosen to play in the orchestra were given extra food as well as their own bed. They were also excused hard labour. As this looked like her only chance of survival, Loewy approached the prisoner who was leading the women’s orchestra of Auschwitz and told her that she was a pianist. There was no piano in the camp she was told, but there was an accordion. Loewy lied that she could play one. For her audition she was asked to play Bel Ami, a popular German song. “I didn’t have any problems with my right hand, because I knew how to play the piano and I immediately found the keyboard, but the bass is on the left, and only thanks to the fact that I have a good ear could I find the right tones,” she recalled. The orchestra played upbeat music as prisoners left the camp to work and when trains full of Jews arrived. “You knew that the new arrivals were going to be gassed and all you could do was stand there and play. We played with tears in our eyes,” Esther Bejarano, as Loewy later became, recalled. “The new arrivals came in waving and applauding us, but we knew they would be taken directly to the gas chambers.” After six months in Auschwitz, she was transferred to Ravensbrück concentration camp. Then, in the spring of 1945, she escaped from a death march along with several other prisoners. A few weeks later she was rescued by American troops and celebrated the Allied victory in a market square in Lübz, Germany. An American GI handed her an accordion, which she played as American soldiers, Soviet troops and camp survivors danced around a burning portrait of Hitler. Many survivors who had played in the camp never played an instrument again, but a life without music was not something that Loewy ever considered. She studied singing, joined an award-winning choir and taught children to play the recorder. Bejarano, a small, energetic woman who was not even 5ft tall, continued to perform well into her nineties, playing almost 900 concerts around the world. |
Società Umanitaria 28th Music Competition – Italyby Christine Johnstone |
The Jury of the XXVIII International Music Performance Competition (and the 7th International Edition) of the Humanitarian Society in Milan, Italy has announced the 10 finalists of the competition. Two of these finalists are accordionists as follows: Martin Kot (Czech Republik) - picture above left Ratoi Radu (Denmark) – picture above right The live finals will begin on October 6th and 7th in the Società Umanitaria Fresco Salon in Milan. |
Video: “Waltz for Nicky” Performed by Eglė Ona Bartkevičiūtė - Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
Video: “Waltz for Nicky” (Richard Galliano) performed by Egle Ona Bartkeviciute (Austria). This video was recorded in May during the Pantonale 2021 Festival in Berlin, Germany. Sound: Sebastian Ohmert Filming: Premier Vision |
Video: Danaja Grebenc Online Winning Polka Championship Performance - Canadaby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Danaja Grebenc (Slovenia) video for the 2021 World Cup Accordion Virtual Polka Championship held in Toronto, Canada. She won the title of Overall Champion. Performing “Balajo” (by Jo Privat) and “Alpengold Spielerein” (by Manfred Eisel). |
Concert Under the Stars – Italyby Christine Johnstone |
Video: The Concert Under the Stars event was held at the Piazzale Madonna della Neve in Firenze, Florence, Italy on July 31st, 2021. This video shows an extract from the concert including accordionist Claudio Azzaro and the Modern String Quartet performing "Medley Pinocchio" arranged by Renzo Ruggieri. |
Video: Accordionist Desidério Souza Live – Brazilby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Accordionist Desidério Souza performs with guitarist Regis França Dos Reis Papa Figo in Brazil. |
Vardos Trio Live from Melbourne Recital Centre – Australiaby Christine Johnstone |
The Vardos Trio (which includes accordionist Sophia Chapman) performed a live concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre in Melbourne, Australia on July 31st, 2021. Their program was entitled “Journey through Eastern Europe” and the trio “delved into the great melting pot of music from Hungary, Romania and their neighbours, stirring up many delicious discoveries to savour.” Original arrangements of rarely heard songs about cooking and food provide a glimpse into the region’s wonderful culture. Video program as follows: • Hungarian starter 00:40 Traditional The best bacon song • Romanian starter 06:34 Traditional Romanian The charm of basil • Traditional Transylvanian 10:45 'Nincsen kenyér' Served with bread Vegetarian option Traditional Fehér fuszulyka virág - bean dish • Soup (Romanian) 19:40 • Traditional Romanian Tale of the stone soup • Traditional 25:03 Paprika suite • Mains 30:16 Traditional Red wine and goulash song • Traditional Romanian 35:49 Songs of Romanian green leaves • Side salads 41:12 Traditional Tomato 'natur' Greek salad • Sweets 50:28 Traditional Sweets suite Watermelon • Traditional Turkish 57:55 Turkish coffee song |
The New England Accordion Connection & Museum Co. New Location - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
The New England Accordion Connection and Museum Co. has now moved into new premises at 75 Main Street, Canaan Union Railroad Station, Canaan, Connecticut, 06018, USA. Museum curator Paul Ramunni (picture left) extends an invitation to visitors, announcing “We've been open at our new location for over 10 days now and something amazing has been happening. At least 200 people have come through our doors, most of whom I never met before.” The Museum is open 7 days a week and holds “hundreds of accordions from floor to ceiling.” The collection follows the development of accordions from around 1900 through the height of their popularity in the 1950’s and today’s instruments. It includes button, piano and even digital accordions. Among their vintage treasures are a rare 1829 ‘Flutina’, Art Deco wonders of the 1920's and 1930's and Lawrence Welk’s first accordion. Visitors should be sure to look for the spectacular instrument that once belonged to Barbara O’Connell, who entertained over 300,000 troops during WWII, many of them mere hours away from deploying to the front lines. |
Future events |
Rățoi Radu Performs at Conacul Cazimir - Moldovaby Christine Johnstone |
Ratoi Radu (picture left) will perform at Conacul Cazimir (Cazimir Mansion) in the village of Cernoleuca, Donduseni District, Republic of Moldova on August 7th, 2021 at 7pm. This free outdoor event is organised by Moldo Crescendo and Chateau Cristi and will include performances by over 12 musicians. Their program will include works by Schubert, Piazzolla, Boccherini, Kreisler, Shostakovich and others. If it rains the concert will be transferred to the Cultural Centre in a nearby village. For further details email: ratoi.radu@gmail.com |
“Forro Do Canna” Performs Brazilian Music Concert, Vancouver – Canadaby Rob Howard |
“Forro Do Canna” will perform a live “Brazilian Sunset Concert” of Brazilian Music at Hadden Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on August 8th at 7 pm. This free concert is organised by Caravan World Rhythms Events and Publik Secrets in Vancouver, British Columbia. “Forro Do Canna” was formed in 2018 as a passion project, dedicated to the dissemination of the music of North Eastern Brazil. Their music blends the sounds of the accordion played by Serena Eades and Steve Charles respectively, violin, 7 string acoustic guitar, percussion and Portuguese vocals. Forró is a partner dance with a variety of rhythms and accompanying steps from very intricate and showy to subtle and sensual. A whole family of related rhythms are referred to under the umbrella term Forró: Baião, Forró, Xaxado, Xote and Arrasta pé. Advance registration to attend this event is required. Masks are not required. For further details phone: +1 604-257-8400 |
Jérémy Dutheil Performs at Festival Au grès du Jazz – Franceby Christine Johnstone |
Jérémy Dutheil (picture left) and his quartet will entertain at the Festival Au grès du Jazz in Maison du Parc, La Petite Pierre, France on August 10th, 2021. The festival will run from August 7th to 15th and includes 12 concerts on the big stage, 15 free concerts and a concert especially designed for a young audience. For details email: dutheil.jeremy@gmail.com |
An Evening with Cafe Accordion Orchestra - USAby Christine Johnstone |
The Café Accordion Orchestra (picture above) will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their 1st full-length recording, “Dancing on the Moon” with a concert at The Belvedere at Crooners Supper Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA on August 19th at 7pm. The group performs a variety of musettes with swing, ballads, cha chas, rumbas, and cumbias to create a wonderfully varied show. Members are Dan Newton (accordion), Eric Mohring (mandolin, violin and vocals), Brian Barnes (guitar and vocals), Erik Lillestol (bass and vocals), and Joe Steinger (percussion) who will perform with special guest vocalist Diane Jarvi. Note: In response to new CDC recommendations issued as a result of spiking COVID-19 Delta variant numbers, Crooners Supper Club is re-instituting its masking requirement effective immediately. All guests entering the Crooners building will be asked to wear a mask at all times, except when seated at their tables. Crooners service staff will continue to wear masks inside and outside the Crooners building. The wearing of masks by guests in the tented Belvedere is suggested but not required For details email: admin@croonersloungemn.com |
Accordi 2021 Concerts at Otranto Castle – Italyby Christine Johnstone |
The Accordi 2021 initiative will take place at Otranto Castle (picture left) in Lecce, Italy from August 20th to 22nd, 2021 which will include three concerts, each beginning at 9.30pm. The first concert will feature Duo Folksongs, which includes Francesco Palazzo (accordion) and Tiziana Portoghese (vocals) on August 20th. On August 21st, Renzo Ruggieri will perform and on August 22nd, Eugenia Cherkazova will give her concert. The event will also launch a new opportunity not only for young accordionists, but for all the free reed instrumentalists (organetto, bandoneon, harmonium, etc) to attend the event and gain the opportunity to win prizes. See poster for details. |
Northeast Squeeze-In Festival - USAby Christine Johnstone |
Registrations are now open for the Northeast Squeeze-In Festival, which will be held at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC), a National Park in Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania, USA from September 10th to 12th, 2021. This live event is hosted by the Button Box. Attendees will be required to be fully vaccinated at least 3 weeks before the event (by August 19th, 2021). A copy of your vaccination card must be submitted with your registration form. Organisers welcome beginners and advanced alike to play, sing, and dance together at this event. Assemble with friends old and new in a comfortable, rustic setting with many places for workshops, sessions, and spontaneous jams. Download registration form here: 2021NESIRegistration.pdf For details email: register@squeeze-in.org |
Childrens Corner |
Video: Performance by Francesca and Julianna Busso - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
Video of Francesca and Julianna Busso performing Palmer-Hughes' "Sailing” in July 2021. They performed this duet for the 2021 American Accordionists' Association (AAA) virtual competition and won the gold medal in the Open-Juniorette Duet Category and silver in the Open-Juniorette Category. Francesca and Julianna really enjoy playing the accordion! having been surrounded with music from their earliest memories with famous accordionist father Frank Busso Jr. and uncle Frank Busso Sr. |
New and Updated Sites |
2021 PIF Castelfidardo, Schedule, Rules and Entry Information Updated - Italyby Harley Jones |
The 2021 PIF Castelfidardo dates are 28 September to 02 October. The major change for 2021 is that the results, prizegiving and Premio round III will be held on Saturday 02 October changing the tradition of Sunday 4 pm schedule. Artistic Director is Antonio Spaccarotella from Calabria. The revised schedule is online: 2021PIF-schedule The latest update of the rules and entry information is online at: 2021PIF-en and 2021PIF-it The closing date for entries is 31 August 2021. |
2021 AAA Virtual Competition Results - USAby Joan Grauman Morse |
Even though the 2021 AAA Festival had to be cancelled, Mary Tokarski took on the task of seeing to it that our accordionists, young and old, would have an opportunity to compete virtually. Thanks to immense assistance from computer guru Mike Silvia, the competition was a success! Competition categories included Standard elementary and Intermediate categories, for Open Juniorette through adult categories, and for Ethnic, Pop, Jazz, Honors and Entertainment. Download results at: 2021AAAResults.pdf This year’s prize money was generously donated by The Mary and Frank Tokarski Musical Arts Fund. This fund, managed by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (Connecticut) was established in 2018. It was created by former AAA President Mary Tokarski to honor her late husband Frank (picture left), who lovingly supported her music through the decades, and for her to give young people the ability to “experience the enrichment and the joy that comes from making music.” |
Updated Site: Julia Gordon Scottish Music Arrangements - Scotlandby Harley Jones |
Julia Gordon, entertainer, teacher and arranger, has a tutor book and a large catalog of Scottish arrangements that have received very complimentary reviews. The music is in pdf format able to be emailed to you. Another 20 more titles, many of them famous Scottish traditional works arranged by Julia Gordon are now online. Click the link below, to view a sample of each piece, grade and other information. Catalog No. - Name of Music jgordon102 - The Boatman, The (Fear a' Bhàta) jgordon107 - South Uist Whaling Song jgordon108 - Cailin Mo Ruin-Sa jgordon111 - Griogal Cridhe jgordon115 - Kirkconnel Lea jgordon117 - Sound The Pibroch jgordon124 - The Loch Tay Boat Song jgordon131 - My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose jgordon132 - Wild Mountain Thyme jgordon133 - The Rowan Tree jgordon139 - Tha Mo Ghaol Air Àird A’ Chuain (My Love Is On The High Seas) jgordon142 - Sine Bhan jgordon156 - Neil Gow's Lament For His Second Wife jgordon160 - The Iona Boat Song, The (Caol Muile) jgordon175 - Westering Home jgordon177 - Dark Lochnagar jgordon180 - Morag of Dunvegan jgordon182 - The Skye Boat Song jgordon194 - Dream Angus jgordon197 - Row Me Home To Islay jgordon209 - Haste Ye Back jgordon211 - The Mist-Covered Mountains Of Home (Chì Mi Na Mòrbheanna) jgordon213 - Mingulay Boat Song jgordon217 - The Massacre Of Gencoe jgordon224 - Bonnie Galloway jgordon230 - Mo Ghile Mear jgordon239 - Loch Lomond jgordon244 - Hector The Hero jgordon325 - Mairi's Wedding jgordon327 - Scotland The Brave |
Online 2021 Australian International Accordion Championships – Australiaby Christine Johnstone |
Unfortunately, due to the current Covid-19 lockdowns in Sydney, the in-person section for Australian residents has been cancelled. Unaffected is the online competition and closing date for the video 2021 Australian Accordion Teachers Association (AATA) International Accordion Championships, President Tatjana Marx, is on August 13th, 2021. Results will be announced on August 30th, 2021. For further details see the AATA website or email: tats64@gmail.com |
Gary Daverne Conductors Video Competitionby Harley Jones |
The entry closing date for the 2022 International Video Competition for Conductors performing music compositions by New Zealand composer Gary Daverne has been altered to: 01 June 2022 Video Competition for conductors of: orchestras, bands (brass, wind, accordion, etc.) or ensembles. 1st prize is a return trip air ticket to New Zealand to conduct at a suitable concert in 2023, in Auckland, New Zealand. Accommodation for 5 nights is included. This is a great opportunity for the winning conductor to visit New Zealand and even make a holiday after the performance/s. This competition is open to conductors of any age, gender and nationality. Download rules and regulations at: http://www.garydaverne.gen.nz/VideoDaverneCompetition.htm |
CD Reviews |
CD Review: Double Mirror CD by Friedrich Lipsby Joan C. Sommers |
CD Reviews Index for the Review of Double Mirror CD by Friedrich Lips. Review by Joan Cochran Sommers in English and German languages. |
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