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Highlights |
2012 Hohner Cup Variété Accordion Competition, Beijing - China
2012 Baidi Cup National Competitions, Jinan - China
Alexander Sevastian Premieres, Music Niagara International Festival – Canada
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Valuable Accordions Stolen from Ken Hopkins in Comber, Belfast - UK
The Accordion in ‘Lost In The Stars’, New York State – USA
‘14 Years Ago’ – Accordion Events in Japan
Future events |
Ludo and Seppe Marien Concert, Gooik – Belgium
‘Piaf: The Songs’ @ Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland – UK
Tango Buenos Aires Festival and World Cup - Argentina
‘Bryant Park Accordion’, Manhattan, New York City – USA
Helen Maher Gig List, Liverpool – UK
Paolo Bertoli Concerts – Italy
Steve Albini Performing @ Cotati Accordion Festival, California – USA
Willie MacFarlane Band @ Tynedale Accordion and Fiddle Club, Northumberland - UK
Accordion and Diatonic Accordion Concert, Piana di Cerchiara – Italy
Milos Miliojevic performs at the Burton Bradstock Festival, Dorset - UK
Brandon McPhee Trio Ceilidh, Elgin – UK
New and Updated Sites |
Don Grzanna updated his site
CD Reviews |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
65th CIA Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships, Spoleto - Italyby Rob Howard |
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 Daily Reports are now online at: Coupe MondialeThe 65th Coupe Mondiale and the 128th CIA International General Assembly of Delegates Congress take place Spoleto, Italy, from August 21st to 25th 2012. The event in Spoleto will be hosted and organized by the CIA member from Italy, the Italian Accordion Culture (IAC). The Coupe Mondiale includes categories for senior and junior solo virtuoso level players, solo entertainment, and accordion ensembles and orchestras. Some of the many events in this accordion spectacular include: August 18th, 7pm – Festival Opening Concert starring Mirco Patrarini, appearing in his home town. August 19th, 19pm - Samuele Telari in Concert August 20th, 7pm – concert with the duo Una Sinistra (Alexander Selivanov and Yulia Amerikova) and a performance from Contemporanea Mente Gruppo Danza. August 21st, 8pm - Opening Ceremony Concert and Piazzolla Music Award, featuring Giuliana Soscia & Pino Jodice (accordion/piano duo), Peter Soave Quartet (Piazzolla Tribute), Bisse Association Choir (MD Claudio Scarabottini), based in Spoleto. August 24th, 9pm – concert with the Fisorchestra Luciano Fancelli (MD Marco Gatti), Orquestra de Acoreon de Brusque (MD Bruno Moritz), Concertino (Moldova), Akkordeonorchester Hof (Germany), and the World Accordion Orchestra (MDs Joan Sommers and M° Torsten Petzold). August 25th, 9pm – Concert featuring Nenad Ivanovic (Serbia) Winner of the 2011 Coupe Mondiale in Shanghai, China, the winners of the 65th Coupe Mondiale, and the orchestra ‘Giuseppe Tartini’ (MD Marco Gatti), and Vladimir Zubitsky - accordion soloist, composer and conductor, and winner of the CIA Coupe Mondiale in 1975. August 26th, 6pm - Farewell Jazz Concert with Antonio Spaccarotella |
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2012 Hohner Cup Variété Accordion Competition, Beijing - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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  Daily Reports including competition results of the 2012 Hohner Cup Variété Accordion Competition, Beijing, August 15th to 17th, 2012, are online on the 2012 Hohner website.This new competition is different, as each contestant is required to play a test piece with a backing track that is supplied by the competition organisers. The style of music is Variété accordion entertainment. Categories are for solo, duet, trio and ensemble plus other instruments. The event was organised by Ding Peng (picture left) and the Hohner team of helpers with host unit China Accordion Association (President Prof. Li Cong, picture right) who made the event very enjoyable for the contestants, teachers, parents and jury. Both Ding Peng and Li Cong are pictured at the Opening Ceremony. |
2012 Baidi Cup National Competitions, Jinan - Chinaby Harley Jones |
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 Daily Reports including competition results of the 2012 Baidi Cup National Competitions, Jinan, August 11th to 13th, 2012, are online on the 2012 Baidi website.This is a major event with over 500 contestants coming to Jinan City from around China to compete. The person leading the competition organisation is Fu Yong (picture right), who is the Standing Director of the China Musician Association Accordion Branch and also head of the jury for this event. What is very exciting about the Baidi Cup is the large numbers of young accordionists (under 7 years) competing and playing in groups and orchestra. Read the pictures and results online at: 2012 Baidi |
Alexander Sevastian Premieres, Music Niagara International Festival – Canadaby Rob Howard |
 On August 2nd several important new accordion works were premiered by Alexander Sevastian and the Glenn Gould String Quartet at the Music Niagara International Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada.The concert was dedicated to the anniversary of 1812 the Battle of Queenston Heights (a victory for the British in the first battle of the war with the USA, fought in Canada) and the performers were dressed in the costumes from that era. The program included: 1. ‘Angel of Love’ and ‘Sorrow Angel’, by Mikhail Bronner (for bayan and violin) - World Premiere. 2. ‘Capriccio 1812’ by Mikhail Bronner (for bayan and string quartet) - World Premiere. 3. ‘Quinston Heights Rhapsody’, by Dmitriy Varelas (for bayan, string quartet, flute, flute-piccolo and drums) - World Premiere. 4. ‘Still Life in Beige’, by Dmitriy Varelas (for string quartet). ‘Capriccio 1812’ was commissioned by Alexander Sevastian. The performance was very well attended and well received by the crowd. The piece has already been recorded and will be released soon on Alexander Sevastian`s 4th CD. The future performance of this piece is scheduled on November 15th at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Ontario. ‘Quinston Heights Rhapsody’ was commissioned to the young Canadian composer Dmitriy Varelas by Music Niagara. For further information email: sevastian2004@yahoo.com Picture below: Alexander Sevastian, Mikhail Bronner, Atis Bankas (leader of the Glenn Gould string quartet). |
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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Günther Stoll Merit Award, Böblingen District - Germanyby Harley Jones |
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 On the 11th June, accordion teacher and accordion orchestra conductor Günther Stoll (on left) received the Merit Award from the Böblingen District in "our appreciation for your commitment"."Our society needs dedicated people like Günther Stoll who are willing to put their creativity, humanity and kindness in the service of the community," said the District representative Roland Bernard in his speech. Günther Stoll began, from the 1970s, accordion teaching and conducting in the areas of Ehningen, Deckenpfronn, Nufringen and Böblingen. "His tireless commitment to teaching and leading accordion orchestras led him often to foreign countries, so that his work could be described as a 'musical ambassador' of the district of Böblingen." The Merit Award Medal of Böblingen District s awarded rarely, and less often than the Federal Merit Award. So far there are only 21 awards in the last ten years. "The Medal is intended to express our appreciation and encourage others to emulate role models like Günther Stoll." Picture below: accordion performance at the presentation. Günther Stoll pictured at the front of the audience. |
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Valuable Accordions Stolen from Ken Hopkins in Comber, Belfast - UKby Rob Howard |
 This information is from an article in the Belfast Telegraph newspaper.A man who has one of the biggest collections of accordions in the world has had several hundred thousand pounds worth of them stolen. Accordions thought to be worth several hundred thousand pounds have been stolen from a collector in County Down. Ken Hopkins (picture left), who has one of the largest collections of accordions in the world, was visited by two men on 4 August who said they wanted to buy one for their grandfather. They arranged to meet him in west Belfast a week later but failed to show up. When Mr Hopkins returned home to Comber he discovered 30 instruments were gone. The thieves had also taken a motor home and jewellery. Mr Hopkins said: "They phoned me to say they were running behind time, but they didn't turn up, but at the same time they were clearing my house out. Ken Hopkins said the stolen accordions had been very rare and valuable. "They got the keys to the motor home, filled it up with accordions and away they went." He said he realised what had happened when he returned home to find the house ransacked. "Those accordions were quite rare and quite valuable. They were the cream of my collection and I think they might have been stolen to order. Some of them were one-offs, made for certain people." Although the 1950s accordions were stolen in County Down, police believe the instruments could be offered for sale anywhere in Northern Ireland or further afield. They have appealed for the public's help. A police spokesperson said: "These items are rare and specialised. They are not the sort of thing you would normally see in a pawn shop or being offered for sale door to door or even on web sites. "You would not pay a couple of hundred pounds for an instrument like this and anyone who wanted one knows what they are looking for and knows a reputable seller. "We would appeal to anyone who has information on the whereabouts of these instruments, or is offered something similar for sale in suspicious circumstances, to contact police." Police believe the Fiat Ducato white six-berth motor home, registration W91 PVM, may have been driven out of Northern Ireland. Most of the accordions are pictured in the book Vintage Accordions by Rob Howard. |
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The Accordion in ‘Lost In The Stars’, New York State – USAby Rob Howard |
 Henry Doktorski is currently playing accordion in the orchestra for 9 performances of Kurt Weill's opera ‘Lost in the Stars’ at the Glimmerglass Music Festival, at the Alice Busch Opera Theater, Otesgo Lake, New York State. The festival runs from July 14th to August 24th, and there will be performances on August 18th, 20th, and 25th.Katherine Kozak, Glimmerglass' Principal Coach and Accompanist for ‘Lost in the Stars’, spoke at length about the accordion in Kurt Weill's opera. Some excerpts: “What is interesting to me about the use of the accordion in this score, is how Weill scores it to make use of the many varied colors and textures of which the instrument is capable. It has the capacity to be used both rhythmically and lyrically. It is sometimes highlighted, and sometimes used as a supporting color, in different numbers. Weill has the accordion switch back and forth between rhythmic reinforcement and melody lines. As I play piano in the pit for this show, I have enjoyed my place next to Henry, as he plays with such expertise and personality. He is secure on the instrument and his role in the orchestra, and his competency and skillful playing are well-appreciated”. |
‘14 Years Ago’ – Accordion Events in Japanby Rob Howard |
 The Accordions Worldwide news for August 21st 1998 included two items of news from Japan. We know that there are many active Japanese accordionists, and it would be good to have some up to date news of accordion events and personalities in Japan. REMEMBRANCE CONCERT - JAPAN Contributed by Toru Katou On August 23rd a ‘Remembrance Concert’ for the late Ms Kazuko Watari will be held at the Zentokuji Temple, Minami ward, Hiroshima at 1pm. Guest accordionist Go Akagi, from Kitakyushu, will perform at the event. SUMMER CONCERT - JAPAN Contributed by Toru Katou On August 23rd the third ‘Summer Concert’ will be held at the Takatsuki City Shogai Gakushu Center Hall, Takatsuki, Osaka at 1pm. Accordionist Ryuji Horibe and his students will perform at this event and admission is free. |
Future events |
‘Reviving the Accordion’, Nairobi – Kenyaby Harley Jones |
 ‘Reviving the Accordion’ is the title of a solo concert given by French accordionist Viviane Arnoux on August 24th, 7pm, in the gardens of the Alliance Francaise, situated on the corner of Loita and Monrovia Streets, Nairobi. Her repertoire includes classical, jazz, contemporary and world music.This will be followed by a week of workshops in which she will lead musicians from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The accordion was once popular in this region of Africa, and the objective of the workshop is to help put it back in vogue. Viviane Arnoux started the accordion at age 4 and played in professional orchestras for 12 years. She created the group MAM in 1992 with François Michaud to explore ways of playing jazz. These years resulted in eight albums and numerous stage projects. Turning to the accordion in its diversity of styles and possibilities, she is particularly interested in African music, in their semantic and rhythmic power. "I discovered, and was fascinated by the music of Papa Wemba. It was a revelation: this music is all music, rhythm, harmony, melody”, she says. |
Ludo and Seppe Marien Concert, Gooik – Belgiumby Rob Howard |
 Wednesday August 22nd, 8.15pm, bayanists Ludo and Seppe Marien, a father and son duo, perform at St Nicholas Church, Gooik, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium.Seppe Marien is currently studying at the Academy of Art, Antwerp. For further information email: info@muzmoz.be |
‘Piaf: The Songs’ @ Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
  Edith Piaf (1915-63) went from being a Paris street urchin to a legendary international star, whose name and reputation have not diminished with the passing years. ‘Piaf: The Songs’ is a brilliant tribute concert to the life and music of the great Edith Piaf, starring French vocalist Eve Loiseau, accordionist Eddy Jay, and violinist Fiona Barrow. ‘Piaf: The Songs’ is booked at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, August 16th to 26th, with dates and times as follows: August 16th, 5pm (finish at 6.15pm) - Edinburgh Academy (Venue 70 in the festival brochure) August 17th, 5pm (6.15pm) August 18th, 5pm (6.15pm) August 19th, 5.45pm (7pm) August 20th, 5.45pm (7pm) August 21st, 5.45pm (7pm) August 22nd, 5.45pm (7pm) August 23rd, 5pm (6.15pm) August 24th, 5pm (6.15pm) August 25th, 5pm (6.15pm) August 26th, 5.45pm (7pm) For further information email: Eddy@Piaf-the-songs.co.uk |
Tango Buenos Aires Festival and World Cup - Argentinaby Rob Howard |
 The world's largest annual tango festival and championship takes place from August 14th to 28th at various theatres and cultural centres in Buenos Aires, Argentina.The two-week long event offers more than 500 free dance lessons, concerts and recitals. Included is an homage to the legendary composer and bandoneon player Astor Piazzolla, a man whose name is synonymous with the tango. Visitors can enjoy a dinner tango show at the Esquina Carlos Gardel. Hundreds of professional dancers will compete in the championship, and many will teach the eight basic steps of the dance in the city where it was born. On Friday 17th, in the afternoon, the 2012 edition of Tango Buenos Aires Festival and World Cup will be officially presented at El Café de los Angelitos, a historical spot in Buenos Aires’s tango culture, featuring the participation of Minister of Culture Hernán Lombardi and Festival Artistic Director Gustavo Mozzi, accompanied by great artists, musicians and dancers of all the different generations participating in the program and competitions of the world’s major tango event. |
‘Bryant Park Accordion’, Manhattan, New York City – USAby Rob Howard |
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 Bryant Park in Manhattan is open 7 days a week, and hosts a variety of events, one of which is ‘Bryant Park Accordion’ - French musette style music, played by highly regarded accordion players from the New York City area every Monday, Tuesday and Friday at lunchtime. The concerts take place at 40th Street Plaza, and all are from 12.30pm until 2.30pm. Bryant Park is located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and between 40th and 42nd Streets in midtown Manhattan. Accordionists booked for August include: August 17th – Dallas Vietty’s Musette Project August 20th – Bob Goldberg (picture left) August 21st – Bob Goldberg August 24th – Bob Goldberg August 27th – Harlan Muir August 28th – Harlan Muir August 31st - Harlan Muir For further information email: events@urbanmgt.com |
Helen Maher Gig List, Liverpool – UKby Rob Howard |
 Accordionist and vocalist Helen Maher, from Liverpool, performs as follows:August 18th - Wedding with the band Trez Fez (private function), Southport August 18th – Ceilidh with the Liverpool Country Dance Band (private function), Ormskirk August 20th, 8pm – Concert with Izenik Ez – Folk band from the Spanish Basque Country, Alexanders, 2 Rufus Court, City Centre, Chester CH1 2JW August 24th, 12-6pm – folk and Irish music, Liverpool Airport August 24th, 8pm – with singer/songwriter Ian Prowse, Commercial Inn courtyard, Chester September 9th, 1-5pm - Closing ceremony of the Olympics, Sefton Park Bandstand, Liverpool For further information email: helenmaher@hotmail.com |
Paolo Bertoli Concerts – Italyby Rob Howard |
 Italian accordionist Paolo Bertoli performs this weekend, as follows;August 17th - Tramontalla (AL) August 18th Festival of Seisi, Ravarano (PR) August 19th - Festa Della Patata, Roccatagliata (GE) August 20th - Chiaravalle Della Colomba (PC) |
Steve Albini Performing @ Cotati Accordion Festival, California – USAby Harley Jones |
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 Steve Albini along with Roland Artists Tatiana Semichastnaya and Santiago Jimenez Jr. will be performing at the at the Cotati Accordion Festival this next weekend, August 18th and 19th, There will also be a pre-Cotati Accordion Festival event with Steve, Tatiana, Santiago and more at D'Argenzio Winery, 6-9pm, on Friday August 17th. |
Willie MacFarlane Band @ Tynedale Accordion and Fiddle Club, Northumberland - UKby Rob Howard |
| Accordionist Willie MacFarlane and his band are the guests at Tynedale Accordion and Fiddle Club on Thursday August 16th, 7.30pm. The venue is the Hexham & District Ex-Service Club,1 Hallstile Bank, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3PQ. For further information email: secretarytafc@hotmail.co.uk |
Accordion and Diatonic Accordion Concert, Piana di Cerchiara – Italyby Rob Howard |
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| A concert featuring accordion and diatonic accordion students of the Sybaris Accordion School takes place on August 21st, 9.30pm, in the Piazza M.P. Adducci, Piana di Cerchiara, Calabria (CS). |
Milos Miliojevic performs at the Burton Bradstock Festival, Dorset - UKby Rob Howard |
 Accordionist Milos Miliojevic performs next week at the Burton Bradstock Festival, Dorset, England, as follows:August ?21st, 7pm – concert with Paprika. August 22nd, 9,45pm - ‘Late Night Recital’, with Anna Hashimoto (clarinet) and Jonathan Barritt (viola); works by Scarlatti, Rebecca Clarke, and Graciane Finzi. August 23rd, 7pm - ‘The Glory of English Music’, concert in the church featuring the Festival Players playing a programme of English music. August 24th, 7pm - Orchestral concert in the church. The Festival Players perform Debussy’s ‘Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune’, Vivaldi’s ‘La Notte’, Gordon Jacob’s ‘Concertino for Clarinet’, Vaughan Williams’ ‘Lark Ascending’, and Zolotaryev’s ‘Rondo Capriccioso’. The Festival’s Musical Director is violinist Davod Juritz. For further information email: milosmusic@hotmail.com |
Brandon McPhee Trio Ceilidh, Elgin – UKby Rob Howard |
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| The Brandon McPhee Trio play for a ceilidh on August 18th, 8pm, at the Lhanbryde Community Centre, Robertson Road, Lhanbryde, Elgin IV30 8QQ, Scotland. Shand Morino player Brandon McPhee, one of Scotland’s brightest accordion talents, has won many competition prizes, and is currently an All Scotland Junior Champion. |
New and Updated Sites |
Charnwood Publications composer Sue Coppard has a new siteby Sue Coppard |
 Charnwood Publications composer Sue Coppard has a new site with 7 pieces listed titled,'Cows in the Meadow / The Farmers Boy', catalog:M633, 'She Sang Like a Bird in Springtime', catalog:M635, 'Heathcliff', catalog:M663, 'The Time of Stone Circles', catalog:M668, 'The Age of Elegance', catalog:M671, 'La Vida Brava', catalog:M672 and 'Off to the Ball', catalog:M684 . Samples of the music are available online. Purchase with credit card. |
Don Grzanna updated his siteby Donald E Grzanna |
 Don Grzanna updated his site. Video was added to 26 of his music selections available online so you can see and hear the video of the music. |
CD Reviews |
Richness of the Tones CD by Esra Pehlivanli (Viola) and Marko Kassl (Accordion)by Joan C. Sommers |
 CD Reviews Index for the Review of Richness of the Tones CD by Esra Pehlivanli (Viola) and Marko Kassl (Accordion), in English language, reviewed by Joan Cochran Sommers. |
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