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Highlights |
Daily Reports, Harbin 2014 China Summer International Accordion Art Week - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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Daily Reports are online for the Harbin 2014 China Summer International Accordion Art Week at: Harbin 2014 |
All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil, Sligo – Irish Republicby Rob Howard |
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![]() The Fleadh Cheoil is a huge competitive festival of Irish music, song and dance, with approximately 10,000 competitors and performers, including sections involving large numbers of accordionists, melodeon, concertina and harmonica players, as well as many ceili bands, accordion and marching bands. Accordion-based performers involved include The Mairtin O’Connor Band, Mick Foster (of Foster & Allen fame), Matt Cunningham, Dermot Byrne, Innisfree Ceili Band, Darty Ceili Band, Heather Breeze Ceili Band, to name but a few. The first half of the festival is taken up by Scoil Éigse: tuition classes (for all ages and abilities in traditional Irish music) for piano accordion, diatonic button accordion, Anglo concertina, and many other instruments used in Irish traditional music. This is a festival with accordion in so many bands, playing in so many places at the festival. Accordionists love the festival which is the largest single festival of Irish Music and up to 400,000 visitors attend during the nine day event. For further information email: info@fleadhcheoil.ie |
Syros Accordion Festival, Syros - Greeceby Rob Howard |
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![]() They achieved that goal and the Syros Accordion Festival was a great success both in 2012 and 2013, growing in reputation and size each year. This year, our dreams are even bigger and Syros Accordion Group works in co-operation with the non-profit organisation Ourios Anemos, to organise the third Syros Accordion Festival, which takes place on August 27th and 28th. This year’s guests include Claudio Jacomucci (picture left) - classical accordionist, composer and Alexander Technique teacher, from Italy; Kathleen Delaney – dancer and Alexander Technique teacher; Konstantinos Raptis – solo accordionist and chamber musician; Stelios Katsatsidis – accordionist and Alexander Technique teacher; Stamatis Pasopoulos – accordionist and Greek traditional music exponent; Accordion Orchestra of the New Music School of Ptolemaida; Alexander Tchuev – solo accordionist and teacher, from the Ukraine; Elpida Rigoutsou – accordionist, pianist and teacher; TangoartO – tango quintet; El Beso – dance group; Akropoditi Dance Theatre; Maria Dafka – solo accordionist; Gadjo Dilo – gypsy jazz ensemble. For further information email: accordeon.syros@gmail.com |
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Video: World Premiere of "Hope For" by Yuri Shishkin and Shao Dan, Harbin - Chinaby Harley Jones |
Video: World Premiere of "Hope For", a double concerto for er hu and accordion performed by Yuri Shishkin and Shao Dan. "Hope For" was composed by Shao Dan and Liu Qiao and compiled by Liu Qiao. The World Premiere performance was highly acclaimed. Video above. Daily Reports are online for the Harbin 2014 China Summer International Accordion Art Week at: Harbin 2014 |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Profoundly Deaf Norman & Elaine McLaren Raise Money - UKby Harley Jones |
![]() For the past 11 years they have been raising money for the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People by delivering talks all over Lancashire and North Manchester. At first he would play for just five minutes at the end of a talk but now he talks less and plays more. The playing was very successful and doubled the amount they would normally raise for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. |
Video: Yuri Shishkin Performance at the Opening Concert, Harbin - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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Video of the superb Yuri Shishkin performing Polka by Alfred Schnittke at the Opening Concert of the Harbin 2014 China Summer International Accordion Art Week. Harbin 2014. |
Video: Polish "Harmonium Duo" at the Opening Concert, Harbin - Chinaby Harley Jones |
"Harmonium Duo" of Hubert Giziewski and Rafal Grzaka (Poland) performing at the Opening Concert, Harbin 2014 China Summer International Accordion Art Week. Video 1: The Spinner, Stanislaw Moniuszko (arr. W. Puchnowski) Video 2: Winter, Anatoly Shalaev Daily Reports at: Harbin 2014 |
Video: Aleksandar Kolovski (Macedonia) Performs at Opening Concert - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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Aleksandar Kolovski (Macedonia) Performs: Video 1: Don't Leave Me Video 2: Lonely Tango Daily Report for the Harbin 2014 China Summer International Accordion Art Week at: Harbin 2014 |
Hallmark Card Winner Stephanie Jamiolkowski - USAby Harley Jones |
![]() Stephanie is Polish and Slovak and she and her family loves polkas and accordion. That includes her cat, Gnocchi who is on the birthday greeting card that Stephanie, who is a Pharmicist, has designed. |
Video: Suite Venitienne Follow Me by Kathleen Delaneyby Harley Jones |
Suite Venitienne / Follow me, a new creation by the choreographer Kathleen Delaney inspired by the intriguing multimedia text by photographer Sophie Calle, who followed strangers to photograph them. Music for accordion and doublebass by Claudio Jacomucci and Daniele Roccato (2014) Based on a text by Sophie Calle Kathleen Delaney, dancer Roberto Lori, dancer Daniele Roccato, doublebass Claudio Jacomucci, accordion. |
Video: Deng Junchi, First Contestant Performs at Harbin 2014 International Accordion Art Week - Chinaby Harley Jones |
Video above is the first competitor performance at the Harbin 2014 China Summer International Accordion Art Week. Deng Junchi (China) performed A Flight beyond Time composed by Petri Makkonen (Finland) as part of a program for the senior Performer category. |
Future events |
Marco Lo Russo: Future Performances - Poland/Italyby Harley Jones |
![]() at Week of song- special guest with Agnieszka Charzanowska August 16 - 7 pm - Karpacz, Poland at Festival Gitara i Piorem special guest with Agnieszka Charzanowska August 21 - 9 pm - Island of Ponza, Italy Marco Lo Russo accordion solo August 23 - 9 pm - Lido di Tarquinia (Viterbo) Italy Chiesa di Maria SS Stella del Mare, Marco Lo Russo accordion solo Master Class at Valtidone Summer Camp. September 1 - 7 For further information or to enroll: livio.bollani@gmail.com or phone (+39) 0385245798 |
Akkordeon-Musikpreis by the DHV, Trossingen - Germanyby Harley Jones |
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![]() Full information download at: 2014Musikpreis.pdf |
David Vernon & Dick Lee return to the Edinburgh Fringe – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() This year’s theme for the duo is Italian, with music such as The Godfather, Neapolitan melodies, Rossini, etc. Their dates are August 4th, 7th, 9th, 15th, 21st at 7.45pm, and 19th and 23rd at 1pm. Tickets cost £16, £8 concessions. For further information email: dvernon100@aol.com |
Arbroath Accordion & Fiddle Club Open Day, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The afternoon session is from 2pm until 5pm, admission £3 – all musicians welcome. There is an evening dance, 7.30pm – midnight, to The Bon Accords and friends, admission £6. Afternoon & evening - admission £8. Proceeds to Arbroath Town Mission. High teas available at the Meadowbank, must be pre-ordered, tel 01241 858091. For further information email: denton_dene@tiscali.co.uk |
‘British Button Box’ Course, Shropshire – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() This weekend is incredibly instrument specific, and John Kirkpatrick will be looking at what you can get out of the 3-row British chromatic accordion that he’s been playing now for 50 years. These sessions will not be relevant for players of the Irish style 2-row accordions, tuned a semitone apart, nor for the usual G/D melodeon, nor for the totally unrelated Continental Chromatic button accordion. John’s is based very much on traditional English music and style. As well as covering the fields of Morris tunes, Country Dance tunes, and folk songs, John will also be looking at the complexities of playing in all the keys available on this gloriously compact instrument, and exploring swathes of repertoire that may not be immediately associated with the poor old push-pull squeeze-box! Whether you’ve been playing five minutes or fifty years, this is a great opportunity to come and learn from one of England’s most dedicated and respected folk musicians. John Kirkpatrick (born 1947), originally from London but now Shropshire-based, is mainly a solo artist, but also a member of Brass Monkey, an occasional duo with accordionist Chris Parkinson, and in the 1970s was a member of Steeleye Span. He has many solo albums to his credit, and has appeared on recordings by many other artists. The price £140, includes all tuition, Friday night buffet, home-cooked lunches and refreshments. The Gleaning Centre website contains details of local accommodation. For further information email: yj.hart@virgin.net |
Music Academy 'Karol Lipinski' Degree Course, Wroclow – Polandby Rob Howard |
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The Music Academy 'Karol Lipinski' in Wroclaw, Poland, offers a degree in instrumental playing orchestral instruments, baroque violin, tuba, saxophone, baroque oboe, recorder, viola da gamba, keyboard instruments, guitar, and accordion. Courses last for three years. The system of training provides students with an opportunity to intensively improve their music-playing skills, to master a broad repertoire of works and to frequently present them to the public. The core of the course is made up of classes aimed at perfecting instrument-playing skills, chamber ensembles, the orchestra and orchestral studies. The curriculum also includes theoretical subjects, which ensure that instrumentalists receive a thorough music education, and a group of pedagogical subjects and arts. There is an entrance examination held in English. The deadline for applications is August 29th, and the courses begin on October 1st 2014. For further information email: info@amuz.wroc.pl |
Deoch 'n' Dorus New CD, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() They were voted best Scottish Dance Band in 2012 at the MG Alba Traditional Music awards. Tracks: Skylark's, Peter J. MacInnes, Bonawe Highlanders, Gaelic Waltzes, Pipe Reels, Puirt A Beul, The Trees of North Uist, Box Medley, Pipe Marches, Joan's Jigs, Kintra, Willie's Brouges, Deoch N Dorus, Sally Garden Reels Please write for more information to: jiml@musicinscotland.com |
‘Le Grand Tour’ Concert, Wengen – Switzerlandby Rob Howard |
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‘Le Grand Tour’ is a concert of folk music from around Europe, organised by Alpine Holiday Services, and presented by the Volker Biesenbender Trio on Wednesday August 20th, 5pm, in Wengen, Switzerland. The trio includes Volker Biesenbender - violin, vocals, Clara Gerais - double bass, vocals, and Michelangelo Rinaldi - piano, accordion, vocals. Adults: Chf 25’ accompanied children up to the age of 10 are free. For further information email: info@alpineholidayservices.ch |
New and Updated Sites |
Jon Hammond Releases eTracks Album - USAby Jon Hammond |
![]() 'Hammond's Bolero', catalog: hjon301 with sound samples. Music performed by Jon Hammond. |
Franco Cambareri Release New Compositionsby Franco Cambareri |
![]() 'Rumba de Rua', catalog: cfranco188 The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
Jon Hammond Releases eTracks Album - USAby Jon Hammond |
![]() 'The NRD Sessions Projekt', catalog: hjon302 with sound samples. Music performed by Jon Hammond. |
Updated Site for eTracks album by Zhang Guoping - Chinaby Zhang Guoping |
![]() 'In Concert Album', catalog: guoping03 with sound samples. Music performed by Zhang Guoping. |
CD Reviews |
“3 Couleurs” CD by Lydie Auvray e AUVRETTESby Alessandro Mugnoz |
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