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Highlights |
Musikmesse 2014, Frankfurt – Germanyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() See, feel, hear the many artists demonstrating new models from the accordion factories, which you can find at the following stands: Beltuna Accordions S.r.l .Location 3.1 C63 Bugari Armando srl. Location 3.1 B63 Cagnoni S.p.A.Location 3.1 B52 Dino Baffetti di Baffetti G. & C. snc Location 3.1 C54 Mengascini Nello S.r.l. Location 3.1 A49B MusicTech di Sabbatini Claudio & C. snc Location 3.1 C58 ORLA srl Location 5.0 B30 Paolo Soprani Location 3.1 A49C Pasco Italia S.a.s. Location 3.1 A49C Piermaria, Industria Musicale Castelfidardo- S.r.l. Location 3.1 A50 Pigini Srl Location 3.1 B44 Roland Germany Location 3.1 A55 Scandalli Accordions s.r.l. Location 3.1 B46 Victoria Accordions 1919 location 3.1 A07 Zero Sette Location 3.1 B63 Artists of Accordion Stage Wednesday 12 March 2014 11:00 - 11:30 hrs Andreas Schertel 12:00 - 12:30 hrs Matteo Petronio - Mengascini Nello s.r.l. 13:00 - 13:30 hrs Jerome Richard 14:00 - 14:30 hrs Matthias Matzke - Roland Germany 15:00 - 15:30 hrs Pino di Modugno - Beltuna Accordions s.r.l. Thursday 13 March 2014 11:00 - 11:30 hrs Tobias Mayer 12:00 - 12:30 hrs Rodrigo Mauricio - Mengascini Nello s.r.l. 13:00 - 13:30 hrs Jerome Richard 14:00 - 14:30 hrs Matthias Matzke - Roland Germany 15:00 - 15:30 hrs Mario Gatto - Beltuna Accordions s.r.l. Friday 14 March 2014 11:00 - 11:30 hrs "Die Lustigen Drei" (Rulph Penz) 12:00 - 12:30 hrs Buzor Nenic - Mengascini Nello s.r.l. 13:00 - 13:30 hrs Jerome Richard 14:00 - 14:30 hrs Ludovic Beier - Roland Germany 15:00 - 15:30 hrs Pino di Modugno - Beltuna Accordions s.r.l. 16:00 - 16:30 hrs Sarah Rittweger Saturday 15 March 2014 10:00 - 10:30 hrs Lukas Höckel - Beltuna Accordions s.r.l. 11:00 - 11:30 hrs Jerome Richard 12:00 - 12:30 hrs Lelo Nika Trio 13:00 - 13:30 hrs Antonio Spaccarotella - Scandalli Accordions s.r.l 14:00 - 14:30 hrs Ludovic Beier - Roland Germany 15:00 - 15:30 hrs Mario Gatto - Beltuna Accordions s.r.l. 16:00 - 16:30 hrs Edo Krilic Duo |
Winter Congress, Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) - Bosnia and Herzegovinaby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
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![]() Picture of Congress attendees above. Picture right, presentation by host Zoran Rakic to Raymond Bodell. CIA President Raymond Bodell welcomed all those in attendance to the CIA's first event held in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the 131st General Assembly of Delegates and Winter Congress. Congress admitted two new CIA members: - VZW Accordeon Salon (Belgium) - International Art Centre and Acco Holiday Festival of Kiev (Ukraine) Three nominations had been received for CIA Awards. All were accepted: - CIA Merit Award: Herbert Scheibenreif (Austria) - CIA Merit Award: Luigi Bruti (Italy) - CIA Honored Friend of the Accordion: Marco Cinaglia (Italy). The CIA Music Committee finalized plans for the promotions of the new compositions that were accepted into the CIA Composers Portfolio. They will also publish information online to assist composers in writing for the accordion. This will be updated periodically and coordinated by Grayson Masefield. The Austrian Accordion Association (Harmonikaverband Österreichs - HVÖ) delegates Werner Weibert and Herbert Scheibenreif reported preparations for the 2014 Coupe Mondiale to be held at the world class Salzburg Congress Center, 27th October to 2nd November. Full information online at: Coupe Mondiale Picture below: Welcome banner with national flags. Download a more detailed Winter Congress report by Kevin Friedrich including full list of attendees at: 2014Winter |
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Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny Assists Maugein Accordions – Franceby Rob Howard |
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![]() Accordion company Maugein was founded in 1919 but has fallen on hard times recently due to cheaper exports from China and Eastern Europe. According to The Guardian (UK) newspaper, Mayor Bernard Combes (Tulle) reached out to Koscielny, who is also from Tulle city where the Maugein factory is located. According to the report, Laurent Koscielny has donated €600,000 and is part of an investment group whose aim is to keep the company open and, as a result, save 20 jobs. |
World Premiere of ‘Dizzy Fingers: The Life of Joe Soprani’, Philadelphia - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
![]() Joe Soprani (accordionist, educator and arranger-composer) has dominated the accordion scene in Philadelphia for more than 45 years. His many accomplishments include being the only accordionist in the history of the Philadelphia Orchestra to appear as featured soloist under Eugene Ormandy. He was also the accordion soloist with the US Air Force Band in Washington, DC, and was for eight years, accordion soloist with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard Band. Joe Soprani (now 80) has collaborated with Bon Jovi, performed at the White House, with tenors Pavarotti and Russell Watson, with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, on national TV, and more. In 2006, he was voted by the Philadelphia City Paper as "the most versatile accordion player" and he continues to promote the accordion as a serious instrument. He is currently the in-house accordionist on the Don Giovanni Italian Oldies Radio Show, which can be heard via the internet. ‘Dizzy Fingers: the Life of Joe Soprani’ explores a remarkable life filled with music, and includes interviews with Bon Jovi, Susan Ashbaker (Opera Company of Philadelphia), and Joe Parente (president, Local 77). The film also provides a historical context to the instrument itself, from ethnomusicologist, Marion Jacobson. With the accordion seeing a great resurgence, the time is now to recognize the man who never left it behind. For further information email: ticketingstaff@worldcafelive.com |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
FMAE/MESA Accordion Event and Joan Sommers 80th Birthday Celebration - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
![]() ![]() Then there are those who are not only all of the above but are even more. I am talking about Joan and Dan Grauman (picture left), who have a special gift of making friends and bringing them all together on "Planet Accordion", which happened to be annually in Mesa, Arizona for the past eight years. The eight years of the MESA accordion event originally named the FMAE (Frank Marocco Accordion Event) provided a unique musical experience for musician and non-musician alike. It was eight years of memorable times including the special years when the legendary Frank Marocco shared his musical expertise in a way both kind and exciting. Stas Venglevski took over the baton with great skill after Frank's passing. For the 2014 MESA event, in honor of her 80th birthday, Joan Sommers (picture right), Professor Emerita, University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music, internationally known conductor and arranger, was invited to be the guest conductor and concert leader. Everyone who attended left the MESA events with very special memories, new ideas, new friends, an encouraging and newly renewed enthusiasm for learning and performing, and a huge amount of gratitude to the devoted FMAE/MESA organizers, Joan and Dan Grauman. |
Video: Stas Venglevski Work Polka 'Accelerando', Mesa Accordion Event Orchestra - USAby Harley Jones |
![]() Dan Grauman writes: "It’s one of Stas’s cute new compositions titled Polka 'Accelerando'. It was performed at our Mesa Accordion Event concert and was very well received, as you will see from the audience reaction." The performance took place in Mesa, Arizona on February 16, 2014. Compositions and CD's available online at: Stas Venglevski |
‘J'habite une frontière’ New Marco Lo Russo CD, Latina – Italyby Rob Howard |
![]() The music is “a tribute to French music and more…”, featuring the compositions of Jacques Brel, Charles Trenet, Serge Gainsbourg, Sergio Mendez, and Marco Lo Russo. The recording is by Rouge Sound Production. Over the past 25 years, Marco Lo Russo has emerged as an internationally acclaimed accordionist, composer, arranger, teacher, producer, conductor and musicologist. For further information email: stampa@marcolorusso.com |
Video: Stefan Hussong Performs Igor Stravinsky "Tango" - Germanyby Harley Jones |
Stefan Hussong Performs Igor Stravinsky "Tango" Highly regarded Stefan Hussong is teaching at the Musikhochschule Würzburg where he is Professor for Accordion and Chamber Music and degrees offered are: Bachelor degree, Masters degree, PHD. Hussong has premiered more than 80 works dedicated to him and he has recorded more than 25 CD`s, some of which have won several prizes. |
Norwegian Composer Bjorn Bolstad Skjelbred to Tour US with his New Accordion+Cello Workby Rita Davidson Barnea |
![]() The concerts are scheduled in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Together with ‘ConVergEnce’, the concert will also include Skjelbred’s classical guitar solo, ‘Moves’, Magnar Am’s ‘On the Banks of the Eternal Second’, and Wolfgang Plagge’s ‘Fractals’. In April 2013, the Norwegian Composers Fund awarded Mr. Skjelbred a 60,000 kroner commissioning grant to write ‘ConVergEnce’. Mr. Skjelbred’s travel and lodging expenses are covered by generous grants from the Norwegian Association of Composers and Music. The world premiere is scheduled at Everett Theater in Bennnington, VT, with cellist Michael Gilbert Ronstadt and accordionist Rocco Anthony Jerry. Cellists Jared Shapiro and Dr. David Bebe will be performing with Mr. Jerry for the later concerts in the tour. Classical guitarist Eric Despard will be performing Skjelbred’s ‘Moves’ at all the venues. |
Video: Ensemble Black Pencil Live in Concert Performing 'Buffoni!' - Netherlandsby Harley Jones |
Ensemble Black Pencil consists of: Marko Kassl (accordion), Jorge Isaac (recorder, artistic director), Esra Pehlivanli (viola), Mathijs Koene (panflute), Enric Monfort (percussion). This video is a live recording from their concert of 'Buffoni!' on 6th December 2013, at De Doelen Rotter (Eduard Flipse Zaal), Rotterdam, Netherlands . |
Accordion Babes 2015 Calendar, California – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() There are lots of tips and diagrams available from the organizer Renee de la Prade for producing a calendar-quality photo, including nuts-and-bolts stuff like image dimensions, and some do's and don'ts for your photo shoot. Please note that a photo needs to be accompanied by a photo release form signed by the applicant and her photographer. There are only a few rules for the song submission: 1) You need a professional quality recording of your song, in WAV or AIFF format. You can also send a physical CD to: Renee de la Prade, 2511 Broadway, Oakland CA 94612 2) Your song can be a traditional (folk) song or your own composition: but no cover songs. 3) Your song needs to be accompanied by a song release form; available here: http://www.accordionpinupcalendar.com/contact.html 4) You must be playing accordion in the recording. For further information email: accordionpinupcalendar@gmail.com |
Video: TNT Trio Featuring Tracey Collins (accordion) Perform Shamal - New Zealandby Harley Jones |
Video Published on Feb 18, 2014. Together Tracey Collins (accordion) Tamara Djordjevic (cello) and Yoomia Sim (violin) are the amazingly talented and beautiful musicians that are the instrumental group TNT. The trio that was formed in 2011 and have their own unique music of instrument choice, sound, compositions and presentation. |
'Play Your Accordion Without Pain', Two New Chapters Releasedby Harley Jones |
![]() ![]() This exciting eBook is being published chapter by chapter, with about one chapter being released each month. Released chapters to date are: Introduction Chapter 1 - An Overview Chapter 2 - Learning to Read Your Body’s Signals Chapter 3 - Neck and Neck-Related Symptoms Chapter 4 - The Shoulder Chapter 5 - The Amazing Brain and What It Does For You Chapter 6 - The Elbow Chapter 7 - The Great Accordion Myth Uncovered Chapter 8 - The Elbow Revisited Chapter 9 - Wrist and Fingers Chapter 10 - Caring for our Ten Precious Digits There will be a minimum of 24 chapters. As a special introductory offer, you can purchase the whole book for US$22 (or Euro equivalent) and be sent each chapter by e-mail as it is released. For more information, and to purchase the eBook: John Bonica |
Video: Cafe Accordion Orchestra, Dan Newton (accordion) 20th Anniversary Dance - USAby Harley Jones |
Cafe Accordion Orchestra, led by Dan Newton (accordion). The Café Accordion Orchestra is a dance band for people who love to dance. Here they perform Blue Light Boogie at the Cafe Accordion Orchestra's 20th Anniversary Dance, held January 12, 2014 at the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis Minnesota. |
Video: Huib Hölzken and Jo Brunenberg Duo Perform 'Sirtaki' - Greeceby Harley Jones |
Accordionists Huib Hölzken and Jo Brunenberg on beautiful Samos island performing Greek folk music polka 'Sirtaki'. |
‘14 Years Ago’: Ari Haatainen performs with Pavarottiby Rob Howard |
![]() Swedish Accordionist to Perform with Pavarotti in USA Swedish accordionist Ari Haatainen will perform with Pavarotti in July this year in the USA. Ari has played with Pavarotti on a number of occasions during the last ten years, firstly in Stockholm, Sweden (1989), Los Angeles, USA (1994), Gotenborg, Sweden (1996) Paris, France (1998) and five concerts in Stockholm, Oslo (Norway), Munchen (Germany) and Helsinki (Finland) during 1999. Ari has also played on Pavarotti's CD recordings and television appearances. Pieces include Neapolitan songs with Symphonic orchestra such as Non ti scordar di me, Mamma and Chitarra Romana. |
Future events |
Declan Aungier Gigs, Waterford, Galway – Irish Republicby Rob Howard |
![]() Saturday March 8th – Crottys Lounge, Lemybrien, County Waterford Sunday March 9th - Cheevers Lounge, Craughwell, County Galway |
CT Tango Ensemble @ Stellenbosch University – South Africaby Rob Howard |
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The CT Tango Ensemble perform a ‘Piazzolla and beyond’ concert at Endler Hall, Stellenbosch University, on Tuesday March 11th, 8pm. The CT Tango Ensemble line-up is Stanislav Angelov - bandoneon and accordion, Willie van Zyl - clarinet and saxophones, Albert Combrink – piano, Dave Ridgway - double bass Other bookings this month include: March 18th, 7.30pm - Concert with Tango & Gypsy music, Erinvale Golf Club, Somerset West March 21st, 8pm - Tango Jazz, The Crypt Jazz Restaurant, Cape Town For further information email: music@goodmusic.co.za |
Marko Kassl Diary Dates - Germanyby Rob Howard |
![]() March 15th, 8pm – Musikhochschule Munster, Ludgeriplatz 1, D-48151 Münster March 16th, 6pm – Hangar 21, Charles-Lindberg-Ring 10, D-32756 Detmold March 22nd, 8pm – Musikschule Dortmund, Steinstrasse 35, D-44147 Dortmund March 23rd, 6pm – Rudolf-Oetker Halle, Lampingstr. 16, D-33615 Bielefeld March 28th, 8pm – Alte Feuerwache, Melchiorstrasse 3, D-50670 Cologne March 30th, 6pm – VaBbenfersaal an-der-Ev. Stadkirche, Schulgasse 1, D-42853 Remscheid March 31st, 6.30pm – Folkwang Musikschule, Thea-Leymann-Str. 23, D-45217 Essen April 6th, 8pm – Theater im Ballsaal, Frongasse 9, D-53121 Bonn April 10th, 8pm – Klangbrucke im Alten Kurhaus, Kurhausstrasse 1, D-52062 Aachen April 11th, 8pm – Theatermuseum, Jägerhofstrasse 1, D-40479 Düsseldorf For further information email: info@marko-kassl.de |
Renee de la Prade Gigs, California – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() March 15th, 3-6pm - with the Irish rebel rock band the Bog Savages, Irish Bank pub, San Francisco March 17th, 3-6pm - with the Irish rebel rock band the Bog Savages, Irish Bank pub, SF March 21st, 9pm – ‘Whiskey & Women’ show, Redwood Café, Cotati, CA For further information email: squeezeboxgoddess@gmail.com |
Cajun Specials Dance, Manchester – UKby Rob Howard |
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The Cajun Specials perform at Chorlton Irish Club, High Lane, Manchester M21 9DJ, on Friday March 28th, 9pm. There is a dance workshop at 8pm. The proceeds from the evening go towards local anti-fracking campaigns. |
Marcelo Caldi and Soraya Ravenie Gigs, Rio de Janeiro - Brazilby Rob Howard |
![]() The following evening, March 12th, 7.30 until 9pm, Marcelo Caldi and Soraya Ravenie will be performing a tango-based programme at the Teatro Rival BR, Rua Álvaro Alvim, 33, 20031-010 Rio de Janeiro. |
Summer Accordion Academies – France, Germanyby Rob Howard |
![]() Four intense days of festival welcoming thirty concerts given by teachers and students will conclude this exciting academy. For further information email: academie.delsmonts@gmx.fr The Academy - Cortinas Festival 2014 will take place from August 23rd to 30th in Villingen, Germany, the heart of the Black Forest. The accordion will join the piano, violin, viola and cello, for a week of musical exchange and instrumental development. Each evening the teachers give recitals and the final concert will be reserved for students with the most advanced will have the opportunity to be accompanied by the Festival Orchestra (contact us for possible concertos or pieces). Information and registration email: festivalcortinas@gmail.com Music academies are opportunities for exchanges, discoveries, and they provide a place and a time to grow in the short and long term. They offer the chance for students to be in daily contact with brilliant musical personalities of all walks of life and all generations and share music with all the families of instruments, allowing for music practice room. They cater for all ages and all levels of enthusiasts in search of discovery and musical enjoyment to pre- professionals wishing to prepare effectively to specialist and senior curriculum. We choose to partner to enjoy every student in our two courses and our artistic experiences, transmitting their sensitivity and knowledge acquired from great teachers (Hugo Noth, Teodoro Anzellotti, Philippe Bourlois, among others) in our international journey. For further information email: fanny.vicens@orange.fr |
New and Updated Sites |
New Douglas Ward Site, Charnwood Publishing - UKby Douglas Ward |
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Renzo Ruggieri Publishes Virtuoso Entertainment Composition - Italyby Renzo Ruggieri |
![]() Carnevale by Renzo Ruggieri can now be purchased online. This virtuoso entertainment composition by Renzo Ruggieri is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
Renzo Ruggieri Releases New Solo Virtuoso Arrangement - Italyby Renzo Ruggieri |
![]() This newly available virtuoso solo arrangement by Renzo Ruggieri can now be purchased online. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. Video above is Renzo performing the same work with his group. This is NOT the solo arrangement. |
CD Reviews |
Johann Sebastian Bach - Volume 2 - The French Suites 4 – 6 Prelude and Fugue in A minor Airby Joan C. Sommers |
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