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Highlights |
Register for CIA "World Accordion Orchestra VI” in Spoleto - Italyby Joan C. Sommers |
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![]() We welcome you to this exciting International accordion event and encourage your participation in the historic "World Accordion Orchestra VI". The WAO VI will perform on Friday 24th August at the stunning “Giancarlo Menotti” Theatre (picture above). The members of the CIA "World Accordion Orchestra VI" will again include musicians from many different countries – including the President Raymond Bodell (Concert Master) and many officers of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) and delegates attending the 128th CIA Congress. Registration for the CIA "World Accordion Orchestra VI" is available online. Accordion enthusiasts from around the world are invited to join and enjoy participating in a fun, high quality musical event. Register now as numbers are limited. View the "World Accordion Orchestra VI" internet page to see information about the conductors Joan Sommers (Founder - CIA World Accordion Orchestra) and Torsten Petzold (Germany) plus program notes about the works being performed and other instructions and information. The orchestra will perform two pieces: - Paragon March by Anthony Galla-Rini, conducted by Torsten Petzold (Germany) - Selections from E.T. (The Extra-Terrestrial) by John Williams, arranged and conducted by Joan Cochran Sommers (USA). |
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AAA Festival Underway with TV News Report, Baltimore - USAby Pamela Tom |
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On 11th July, the American Accordionists' Association (AAA) Festival got underway in Baltimore and runs through to the 15th July. Here is a News Report taken at the AAA "Press and Squeeze" Party. Exhibitors present included: Accordions USA, Alessandrini, Deffner Music Publications, Music Magic, Ottavianelli Accordions Factory, Pancordion, Pigini srl, Roland, Roland-USA, Scandalli, Titano, Victoria Accordions, SqueezinArt, The New England Accordion Museum, Petosa Accordions and Brandoni. A full report of the AAA Festival event will be in next weeks news. Photo below of Steve Albini and Tatiana Semichastnaya performing at the AAA Festival. |
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Victoria International Accordion Festival, BC – Canadaby Rob Howard |
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![]() Alexander Sevastian (with some special guests) headlines a ‘Russian Night’ concert on Friday, July 20th, 7.30pm, in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Popular yodeler accordionist Kerry Christensen and sensational Russian Trio Voronezh will hit the Market Square stage on Saturday July 21, together with many other free events starting at 1pm with the Accordion Parade. The internationally acclaimed Quartetto Gelato, will highlight the festival with their concert on Saturday night, July 21st, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church at 7.30pm. The festival culminates on Sunday with a concert featuring the competition winners in the Comfort Hotel. For further information email: contact@bcaccordion.ca |
Julien Labro Performs with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
![]() The program included accordionist Julien Labro, a graduate of Wayne State University and co-leader of the Django Reinhardt-inspired Hot Club of Detroit group. Also performing were Brazilian-born singer-guitarist Paulinho Garcia and Polish jazz vocalist Grazyna Auguscik in a program of songs by the celebrated Antonio Carlos Jobim. Julien and Garcia are longtime collaborators playing the music of Brazil and the Bossa Nova themed evening of Brazilan music featured many favorites including ‘The Girl From Ipanema’ and Piazzolla's ‘Adios Nonino’. With a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies and in Music Composition, Labro has performed at numerous jazz venues and festivals. Labro is an arranger for several professional ensembles and is featured on Grammy-award winning vocalist Cassandra Wilson's ‘Another Country’. For further information email: julien@julienlabro.com |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
BREAKING NEWS: Passing of Ralph Stricker - USAby Ron Ostromecki |
![]() ![]() Ralph is the author of the landmark book "Jazz Theories and Improvisation for the Accordion". He was also a noted professional Blackjack player in his earlier years and he wrote books on that subject as well. Ralph was a kind man who readily offered his musical knowledge to anyone who requested it. I will miss his friendly calls and kind words. We offer our condolences and prayers to his loving, caring daughter Kathy in her hour of loss. Ron Ostromecki |
Steve Roxton/Jean Dauvin Concert, Stockport – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The concert opened with a set from the Stockport Accordion Band (MD Derek Stubbs), who played the march ‘Accordion Friends’, the traditional Polish waltz Szla Dzieweczka, and a lively waltz from Venezuela called ‘La Partida’. Other contributions came from Helen Rich with the ‘Trieste Overture’, a Stockport Accordion Club Quartet who played ‘Sunset Tango’ (Jerry Mayes) and ‘Crackerjack’ (GS Mathis), and Stockport AC Vice President Walter Perrie, who performed the music from Lehar’s ‘Merry Widow’. Steve Roxton began the guest spot singing and playing some Johnny Cash songs, followed by the ‘Fields of Athenry’, then a typical bierkeller medley in which he had everybody ‘schunkling’ up and down, side to side. He then brought on Jean Dauvin, and they played together in French musette mode. Jean then went solo, including demonstrating some of the impressive sounds of his MusicTech digital accordion. Their pieces included ‘March des Accordeonists Lyonnaise’, ‘Under Paris Skies’, ‘Fleur du Jura’, ‘Luci e Ombre’, ‘Jealousy’, ‘Reine de Musette’, ‘La Vie En Rose’, ‘La Seine’, ‘Pigalle’, ‘Reve de Jockey’, and many more. At the end many CDs and DVDs were sold, a mark of how well they went down with the audience. Steve Roxton and Jean Dauvin are also performing on their tour, as follows: July 21st – Middlesbrough Accordion Group July 22nd – Rosley Village Hall, Cumbria July 23rd – Black Country Accordion Club, Rowley Regis, West Midlands For further information email: robaccord5@hotmail.com |
Miroslav Lelyukh & Artem Khachaturov Perform Piazolla, Kaliningrad - Russiaby Harley Jones |
The very different sound of accordion and organ performing Piazolla. This video is from the concert "In the Style of Tango" held July 7th at the Cathedral in Kaliningrad. Miroslav Lelyukh (accordion) and Artem Khachaturov (organ) as part of 'Project Organ +'. |
Monarch Accordions/YMA Music Receives 2012 Denver Award - USAby Harley Jones |
![]() The Monarch Accordion Company was founded in Denver, Colorado in 1946 and in 1976 it was purchased by professional accordionist Mike Aman. Mike Aman assisted by his wife Alice, has spent 40 years in the accordion field as a teacher, professional player and businessman. Virtuoso accordion orchestras from YMA Music School have won first place at virtually every major North American accordion competition plus many solo student competition successes. "Each year, the Denver Award Program identifies companies they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. The Denver Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community." |
The Mahones - Across the USA, 2012! Tour - USAby Harley Jones |
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‘Heir of the Dog’ New James Keane CD, Dublin – Republic of Irelandby Rob Howard |
![]() James Keane, highly regarded by his peers in Ireland and the USA, is one of those responsible for establishing distinct styles of accordion playing in Irish traditional music. The tracks are: Reels: Jimmy Goblin's/Throw It Across/The Humours of Toomagh Reels: The Ladies Pantalettes/The Shepherd's Daughter/Kilty Town Jigs: Slieve Russell/Old Tipperary/The Hungry Rocks Hornpipes: The Humours of Tullycrine/The New Phone Reels: Spindle Shanks/John Brennan's/The Humours of Loughrea Jigs: The Woods of Old Limerick/Scully Casey's/The Sturgeon O'Carolan's Dream Reels: The Joys of Summer/Ferny Hill/The Old Wexford Reels: Julia Delaney's/Pretty Molly/Bill McEvoy's No.1 Jigs: Tommy Mulhair's/Josie's Visit/The Legacy Reels: The Grand Spey/The Galtee/Lucky In Love For further information email: support@allcelticmusic.com |
Accordions and Fuel Efficiency, Hyundai TV Advert - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
If accordions can have a month, so can fuel efficiency says the latest Hyundai USA TV advertisement. |
14 Years Ago’ – Holland’s First Accordion Museum Opensby Rob Howard |
![]() ACCORDION MUSEUM IN THE NETHERLANDS Contributed by Henk Kuik The first Dutch Accordion and Harmonica Museum "De Muse" opened last month with a collection of over 100 bellows instruments. The museum shows the development of these instruments from the Chinese Sheng to modern day instruments including bandoneons, concertinas, melodeons, accordions and some automatic instruments such as the Tanzbar and Hohner Organa. The 19th Century building is situated in Kerkplein 12, 6581 AC Malden, (near Nijmegen) in the southeast of Holland and also includes an accordion shop and a Music-café where musicians can meet and play. For further information email: museum@demuse.nl |
Sesame Street and Zydeco - USAby Harley Jones |
This just published video of Zydeco by the very famous childrens TV Show Sesame Street is pure FUN. So Enjoy!! They even included an education text. Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music. As of 2012, the rural Creoles of southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas continue to sing in Louisiana Creole French. Zydeco combines elements of an older American musical style that began in the late 1700s, Cajun music, a style that consists of French fiddle tunes, Irish Celtic fiddle tunes, German button accordion, Latin rhythms, and Appalachian styles. Zydeco music was born as a blend of Cajun music and two other "new" American music styles, blues and rhythm and blues. |
Future events |
Richard Galliano Master Class, Normandy – Franceby Rob Howard |
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![]() For further information email: martine.croce@instantpluriel.com |
Accordion Orchestra Brusque Featured - Brazil & Italyby Harley Jones |
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![]() In August, the Accordion Orchestra Brusque which was formed in 2009, will be touring to Italy where they will be featured at the 2012 Coupe Mondiale in Spoleto on the Friday 24th August evening concert in the “Giancarlo Menotti” Theatre. The players are: Bruno Moritz, Marise Zen Walendowsky Sonia, Till Claudio Eduardo, Rubens Marques, William Kriscinsky, Gelasius Schaefer, Claudemir Westarb and Cristiano Lang. |
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Marco Lo Russo Tribute to Piazzolla Recital, Latina - Italyby Rob Howard |
![]() This concert, which takes place at 10pm in the Cortile della Giudea (Courtyard in the Jewish district of Judea), is a tribute to Astor Piazzolla, who died 20 years ago, and includes such pieces as ‘Oblivion’, ‘Libertango’, Meditango Vuelvo’, and ‘Muerte del Angel e Chiquilin’ by Bachin. For further information email: dina.tomezzoli@alice.it |
Henry Doktorski @ Glimmerglass Music Festival, New York State - USAby Rob Howard |
![]() Performance dates are: 22nd July 2012 28th July 2012 3rd August 2012 7th August 2012 11th August 2012 16th August 2012 18th August 2012 20th August 2012 25th August 2012 Check times nearer the concert date as some might be matinee performances. Presented by Cape Town Opera, ‘Lost in the Stars’ is the story of a South African priest's spiritual crisis, based on ‘Cry, the Beloved Country’, the classic novel by Alan Paton, and starring 2012 Glimmerglass Artist in Residence Eric Owens. For further information email: blesavoy@glimmerglass.org |
Lácides Romero Concert, Barranquilla - Colombiaby Rob Howard |
![]() The program includes music by Handel, Byrd, Albeniz, Piazzolla, Romero, Metra, and others. The concert is in the Auditorio Mario Santodomingo, Barranquilla, northern Colombia. For further information email: lacidesromero@gmail.com |
Romano Viazzani Entertains, London - UKby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: romanoviazzani@hotmail.co.uk Three CD's available online at: Romano Viazzani |
Beto Caetano Performing, Santiago – Brazilby Rob Howard |
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Beto Caetano performs on August 3rd, 9pm, at the Churrascaria Gaucha, Santiago, RS, Brazil. The highly accomplished Beto Caetano has performed at festivals and venues in Brazil since the early 1980s, and has recorded 34 albums to date. |
III Festival International "Accordion Spectacular" - Portugalby Harley Jones |
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New and Updated Sites |
Gary Dahl New and Updated Music - USAby Gary Dahl |
![]() 'The Swan', catalog:DH0244. Samples for these music are now available at the MusicForAccordion web site. The music is in eSheet format e-mailed directly to your computer. Easy purchase with credit card. |
CD Reviews |
Richness of the Tones CD by Esra Pehlivanli (Viola) and Marko Kassl (Accordion)by Joan C. Sommers |
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