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Highlights |
2018 IX International Competition and Festival "Accordion Plus", Rostov-on-Don - Russiaby Alexander Poeluev |
![]() ![]() The event is held with the support of: Rostov City Administration, State Budget Professional Educational Institution of the Rostov Region "Rostov College of Art", Beijing Jiang Jie piano and Piano City School of Music and Dance, Accordion, Keyboard Association of China. Jiang Jie are fully sponsoring the five best piano accordionists to perform a concert in Beijing in Autumn 2018. The Chinese Accordion Association will also support Accordion Plus and "Harmony" has joined the Russian Association of Competitions. Download the "Accordion Plus" competition rules, regulations and entry form in English and Russian at: 2018AccPlus.pdf Closing date for entries is: 20th February 2018 The festival concerts will be held in the biggest concert halls of Rostov-on-Don. A number of famous accordionists such as Yuri Shishkin, Vladimir Murza, Alexander Poeluev, Mikhail Zatsepin and others will be performing supported by symphony and folk orchestras and jazz bands. Festival concert information will be published nearer the festival. |
Video: New Renzo Ruggieri Composition La Vita Delle Cose Released - Italyby Harley Jones |
![]() ![]() Renzo Ruggieri writes: "The composition has been dedicated to Marco Gemelli who was soloist in world premiere of International Accordion Week, Conservatory Nocera Terinese, 24 April 2017 with the Calabria Philharmonic Orchestra." "La Vita Delle Cose (The Life of Things): Things do not have life. But things tell of life by their existence and through this they acquire it. Five moments built with solutions that combine the composer's jazz, world and classical experiences and which need the sonority of the solo accordion also called upon to improvise. The flow of life is symbolised by a march increasingly rich in melodic-rhythmic events (things), up to the final climax." Catalog rrenzo514 - La Vita Delle Cose sheet music is available in eSheet pdf format, 82 pages, able to be emailed to you. Full score and single parts for: accordion solo (for free bass but adaptable for standard bass), 2 flute, 2 oboe, 2 clarinet, 2 french horn, 2 Cornet, 2 trumpet, 1 trombone, 2 percussion, Ist Violin, 2nd Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass. Available online, Catalog rrenzo514, purchase with credit card, only Euro 50 or USD$ equivalent. |
Alan Kelly Gang ‘Guinness Irish Christmas Tour’ – Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italyby Rob Howard |
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The Alan Kelly Gang, led by accordionist Alan Kelly, will be taking their Irish traditional music on tour to Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy from November 23rd to December 16th. The dates are on the poster. Alan Kelly writes: “Woohoo - here we go!!! Can't believe it’s been 10 years since our last Austrian adventures!! So looking forward to the 22nd Guinness Irish Christmas Tour plus a few shows in Switzerland, Italy and Germany so check out dates, don your sanity hats and come along for some pre-Christmas Irish cheer!” Alan Kelly is regarded as one of Ireland’s most accomplished musicians in any genre. He is a piano accordionist, composer and arranger, and comes from Roscommon. He has had three critically acclaimed solo CDs, ‘Out of the Blue’, ‘Mosaic’, and ‘After the Morning’. His most recent Alan Kelly Gang album is ‘Small Towns and Famous Nights’. He has toured and recorded with artists such as De Dannan, Eddi Reader, Matt Molloy, Sean Keane, Cathy Ryan, Arty McGlynn & Nollaig Casey, Michael McGoldrick, Karen Casey, Cathal Hayden, Alison Brown, and has worked with Galway’s Druid Theatre Company, The Lyric in Belfast and Mabou Mines in New York. For further information email: croghant@indigo.ie |
Article By Famous Music Journalist Gerlando Gatto - Italyby Harley Jones |
![]() Gerlando Gatto has collaborated with several daily newspapers and magazines (Blu Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, Blues & around) and has written and conducted many jazz programs broadcast by RadioUno and Rai International TV. Gerlando Gatto is also an "accordion fan" and has made many articles and interviews of accordionists, he is the Artistic Director for the Orpheus Award and in 2017 was the President of the Jury for the new jazz section of the international Castelfidardo PIF. He had a lecture about Accordion Jazz at the Conservatorio dell'Aquila with Renzo Ruggieri. During his lecture - concerts at Casa del Jazz, he dedicated one episode to Accordion Jazz and talking about Tango and he dedicated several episodes to accordion and bandoneon. We thank the highly respected Gerlando Gatto for his much appreciated professional support of the accordion. Article about the International PIF Competition Italian: Quando la fisarmonica, la fa da padrona English: When the accordion becomes its host... |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Free Postage, Super Value Christmas Gifts Books by Benetouxby Harley Jones |
![]() ![]() Catalog benetouxen00 The Ins and Outs of the Accordion (Book text) € 44,97 - How To Understand and Repair Your Accordion - How to Tune Your Accordion Catalog bthierryen Sounding Out The Accordion (Book text) € 42,00 Catalog benetouxfr00 Comprendre et Reparer Votre Accordeon (Book text) € 45,00 Catalog: bthierryfr L’Accordeon & SA Diversite Sonore (Book text) € 49,00 |
Videos: Semion Shmelkov Concert in Vienna - Austriaby Harley Jones |
![]() Above are videos from the concert in Vienna on 9th November made by Hermi Kaleta who recently received the CIA Honored Friend of the Accordion award for her valuable lifelong contribution to the accordion. Video 1: Sonatina in C for piano, KV 439b by W A Mozart Video 2: "Fantasiestücke" for piano, Op. 12 by R Schumann Video 3: Variations by Olga Tchistokhina (1983*) Further videos from the Semion Shmelkov concert are on the you tube site of Hermi Kaleta. Shmelkov CDs available online at: Semion Shmelkov |
Christmas Sheet Music Available Onlineby Harley Jones |
![]() eSheet Music Christmas Books and Collections (sent by email) Gary Dahl - Traditional Christmas Carols eBook, Collection #9 of 21 Christmas arrangements (Solo). View samples Catalog: DH09-eB Gary Dahl - Xmas Special Package (4 pieces) (Solo) Catalog: DHxmaspac James O'Brien Christmas choice of 12 pieces 50% discount (Solo) Catalog: obriensxmas12p James O'Brien Christmas grade 4-5 pieces 40% discount (Solo) Catalog: obriensxmas5gr James O'Brien Christmas grade 6 pieces 40% discount (Solo) Catalog: obriensxmas6gr James O'Brien Christmas grade 7 pieces 40% discount (Solo) Catalog: obriensxmas7gr James O'Brien Christmas pieces 50% discount (Duet) Catalog: obriensxmas-duo James O'Brien All Christmas solos 50% discount (Solo) Catalog: obriensxmas-solos Charnwood Publishing Printed Sheet Music (sent by post) 10 Christmas Carols (Solo) Catalog: M015A Titles are: Good King Wenceslas, Holy Night, Silent Night, While Shepherds Watched, I saw Three Ships, O Come, all ye Faithful, Away in a Manger, Hark, The Herald Angels Sing, The First Nowell, Once in Royal David’s City, The Holly and the Ivy. Busking as an Art Vol 5 Xmas Carol (Solo) Catalog: M305 Titles are: Good King Wenceslas, The First Nowell, I saw Three Ships, Once in Royal David’s City, Hark, The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, Holy Night, The Holly and the Ivy, We Three Kings, While Shepherds Watched, Away in a Manger, Good Christian Men Rejoice, O Come, all ye Faithful. Christmas Bells (Solo) Catalog: M662 Jingle Bells (Variations) (Solo) Catalog: M332 Ten Christmas Carols (Solo) Catalog: M015 eSheet Music Individual Christmas titles (Solo or Duet) - sent by email Angels From the Realms of Glory (Orchestra) jay4401 Angels We Have Heard On High (Duet) obriensxmas196 As Lately We Watched (Duet) obriensxmas197 Away in a Manger (Duet) obriensxmas198 Carol of the Bells (Duet) obriensxmas199 Christmas (Solo) hs241 Christmas Medley (Joulusikerma) from Finland (Duet) faies5005 Christmas Song (Solo) DH0123a Christmas Tree (Solo) hs176 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus obriensxmas200 Deck The Halls (Duet) obriensxmas189 Ding Dong! Merrily On High (Duet) obriensxmas190 Frosty The Snowman (Solo) DH0213 Go, Tell It On the Mountain (Solo and Duet) obriensxmas191 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Duet) obriensxmas192 Good Christian Men, Rejoice (Duet) obriensxmas193 Good King Wenceslas (Duet) obriensxmas194 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Solo) mfa7080 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Duet) obriensxmas201 Here We Come A-Caroling (Duet) obriensxmas202 Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Duet) obriensxmas203 I Saw Three Ships (Duet) obriensxmas204 I Wonder As I Wander (Duet) obriensxmas205 It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (Duet) obriensxmas206 Jingle Bells (Solo) hs169 Jingle Bells (Duet) obriensxmas207 Little Christmas Tree (Solo) hs125 Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming (Duet) obriensxmas208 O Christmas Tree (Duet) obriensxmas209 O Come, All Ye Faithful (Duet) obriensxmas210 O Come, All Ye Faithful (Solo) mfa7057 O Come, O Come Immanuel (Duet) obriensxmas212 O Little Town of Bethlehem (Duet) obriensxmas212 Olde Tyme Christmas (Solo) gm10 Once in Royal David's City (Duet) obriensxmas213 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (Solo) DH0223 Silent Night (Solo) mfa7079 Silent Night (Duet) obriensxmas214 Silent Night (Solo) DH0183 Silent Night (Solo) OY604 Silver Bells (Solo) DH0044 Silver Bells (Solo) naa160 The Boar's Head (Duet) obriensxmas215 The Christmas Song (Solo) DH0123 The First Noel (Duet) obriensxmas216 The First Noel (Easy Version) (Solo) naa175 The Friendly Beasts (Duet) obriensxmas217 The Holly and the Ivy (Duet) obriensxmas218 Vilia (Solo) mfa7002 White Christmas Song (Solo) DH0121 |
This Bunch Of Stranded Canadians Having A Singalong Is Just The Cutestby Harley Jones |
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Excerpts from www.pedestrian.tv report: written by Sam George-Allen This bunch of cheery Canucks who found themselves stranded at an airport thanks to a delayed flight. Did they moan and passive-aggressively include the airline’s Twitter handle in their disgruntled tweets? Of course not; they’re Canadian. Instead, when the charmingly-named Sheldon Thornhill found himself stuck in Toronto after his WestJet flight to St John’s was delayed for ages, he brought out his accordion. His mate Sean Sullivan whipped out a guitar. And just like that, the two middle-aged musos had the whole gate singing and dancing. And not to your standard ‘Wonderwall‘ either – the two blokes are well-versed in Canadian traditional folk songs, and that’s what they played. Sullivan revealed to CBC News that this wasn’t the first time the pair had entertained people stymied in transit. He also said that even the captain of the delayed flight joined in the singalong. What’s purer than a gaggle of good-natured folk from the land of the maple leaf singing ‘Sweet Forget Me Not‘ to the sound of an accordion and a guitar in an airport terminal? Turns out: nothing. Happy holidays, you bunch of angels. |
Know the People Interviews Index Page Updatedby Harley Jones |
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A list of Know the People Interviews published in the last 12 months are: Marconi Bellows interview at: 2017Marconi Giemme Bellows interview at: 2017Giemme Baffetti Accordions interview at: 2017Baffetti Fismen Accordions interview at: 2017Fismen Italcinte musical instrument straps interview at: 2017Italcinte MusicTech Factory interview at: 2017MusicTech Mengascini Nello Accordion Factory interview at: 2017MN-Interview Giustozzi Accordions & Diatonics Factory interview at: 2017GiustozziAcc Alessandrini Accordion Factory interview at: 2017Alessandrini Fisitalia Accordion Factory interview at: 2016Fisitalia Serenellini Accordion Factory interview at: 2016Serenellini See over 100 other interviews at: Celebrity Interviews |
Marco Lo Russo recording ‘Ave Maria’, Sermoneta - Italyby Rob Howard |
![]() Born in 1977, Marco Lo Russo graduated in classical accordion from the Conservatory of Music G. Rossini, Pesaro, Italy. He is an innovative musician, an international concert accordionist, composer, arranger, producer (Rouge Sound Production), and a Professor at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia, Rome. For further information email: press@marcolorusso.com |
Future events |
St Andrews Concert, Perth - UKby Rob Howard |
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Erika’s Dinner Dance Date, Haut-Fays – Belgiumby Rob Howard |
![]() Erika Honorez, from Tilly, a village near to Villers La Ville, Belgium, comes from a musical family, and received her first accordion at the age of 5 years. Erika's teacher was Mr Franz Lebrun from the Brussels Conservatory, and she studied the theory of music and classical music, and then specialized in the musette genre. Since 1981 Erika has been performing, composing, and recording. She has appeared on radio and TV in Belgium and France. Erika has recorded many CDs and DVDs, which are available through her website. For further information email: erika@erika.be |
Mazaika ‘Russian, Gypsy and Retro Pop Music’ Concert, London - UKby Rob Howard |
The duo Mazaika – Igor Outkine (digital accordion and vocals) and Elizabeth Harrison (violin) – perform authentic Russian folk, gypsy, romance, tango, songs from famous Russian films, 60,70,80s pop songs and some of Igor’s original music on Saturday November 25th, 8pm, at the Russian restaurant Stolle, 45-47 Parkway, Camden Town, London NW1 7PN - 5 minutes walk from Camden tube station. Tickets: £15 in advance, £20 on the door. For further information email: igor.outkine@yahoo.com |
Natalija Japerte performs in an Autumn Concert, Cumbria – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Natalija Japerte was born in 1982 in Daugavpils, Latvia, and graduated from Daugavpils Music College where she had studied with the leading teacher of accordion, Valery Khodukin. She competed successfully in several international competitions, and then studied at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Vilnius, under the tutelage of Eduardas Gabnis. Natalija now lives and works in Kendal (Cumbria). She is engaged in many activities promoting and sharing her passion for the accordion. She is currently working on the production of an accredited music syllabus for the accordion which will aid future teachers and students of this wonderful instrument. |
Accordion Gala tribute to Eugénia Lima, Serta – Portugalby Rob Howard |
![]() Performing are Joao Filipe Guerreiro, Jose Claudio, Fabio Guerreiro, Catarina Brilha, David Antunes, Patricia Farinha, Vasco Miguel, Miguel Ribeiro, the ‘Guitarra Portuguesa e o Fado’, and the group ‘Taconeando’. The highly accomplished and popular Portuguese accordionist and composer Eugénia Lima graduated from the Conservatoire in Paris. She toured Europe and Africa extensively, and was a prolific recording artist. |
Alan Young @ Black Country Accordion Club, West Midlands – UKby Rob Howard |
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Accordionist Alan Young is the guest at the Black Country Accordion Club, Rowley Regis Disability Centre, West Midlands B65 9AT, on Monday November 27th, 7.30pm. Entry is £5, but with fish and chips supper the entry is £8, payable at the door from 7pm. Alan Young, from the Isle of Wight, is known as a jazz accordionist, pianist, and keyboards with vocals entertainer. He is also a full-time accordion technician and tuner. For further information email: accordions2010@hotmail.co.uk |
Cherish the Ladies ‘Celtic Christmas Tour 2017’ – USA, Irish Republicby Rob Howard |
![]() "It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn't enjoy what they do", says the Boston Globe speaking of Cherish the Ladies, the long-running, Grammy-nominated, Irish-American super group, formed in New York City in 1985 to celebrate the rise of extraordinary women in what had been a male-dominated Irish music scene. They have since toured the world, played the White House and the Olympics, recorded 16 outstanding albums including ‘An Irish Homecoming’, a live recording of their Emmy winning TV special that aired across America and Ireland. For further information email: contact@cherishtheladies.com |
Carmela de Feo Tour Dates – Germanyby Rob Howard |
![]() Carmela de Feo, born in Germany of Italian parents, studied the accordion at Folkwang Hochschule, Essen, with Professor Mie Mikie, then with Ivan Koval and in 1997 she completed a tango master class with Hugo Diaz. She was a member of the Tango ensemble ‘Primavera del Tango’, and also has done much work performing in theatres and at music and comedy festivals. |
Zoe Tiganouria Concert Dates, Athens – Greeceby Rob Howard |
![]() These four shows will also involve singers and Tango, ballroom, and belly dancers. Musicians involved include Stephanos Chatzianagnostos – flute, Yiannis Tailas – guitar, George Politis – bass, and Stelios Generalis – drums. For further information email: info@zoe-music.net |
New and Updated Sites |
Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) Unveils New Websiteby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
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![]() The newly released site features all the latest technology making it adaptive for various viewing mediums, while adding updated and new content. One highlight is the addition of pictures of all of the World Champions. The first International competition was held in 1938 when it was won by the French accordionist Freddy Balta (picture left). The competition was suspended around the war years, and when it resumed in 1948, the competition was officially named the Coupe Mondiale and won by Yvette Horner. Through the extensive CIA Archive collection being held in at the CIA headquarters in Finland, and help from CIA member nations, over the course of many years, it was possible to find pictures of all the Champions, which have now been added to the site. In addition, pictures have also been added of the 12 CIA Presidents found during the CIA's 82 year history as well as other historical information. The site contains a full list of the CIA members and Award Winners, with additional information on the IMC and the various CIA projects including the World Accordion Orchestra, The World Accordion Museum Alliance, Archives and World Accordion Day. We invite you to explore the new site by visiting www.accordions.com/cia/ |
Accordion Russia News Change of Format - Russiaby Harley Jones |
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![]() The editors will be international competition laureate Arseniy Strokovskiy (picture right) and journalist Oksana Strokovskaya. The new format Accordion Russia News is now online. For those not able to read Russian, there is an online translation link. |
CD Reviews |
CD Review: New Klezmer Tales CD by Christian Riganelli & Massimo Mazzoniby Alessandro Mugnoz |
![]() Review by Alessandro Mugnoz. |
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