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Highlights |
Viivi Maria Saarenkylä Performs World Premiere of ‘Anantango’ - Finland
Foster & Allen’s 40th Anniversary Concert, Dublin – Irish Republic
Akkordeon Grenzenlos (Accordion Unlimited) Festival, Trossingen – Germany
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Jörgen Sundeqvist’s "New" Super Size Accordion – Sweden
Renee de la Prade Accordion Stolen, Oakland - USA
Accordion Causes School Evacuation, Nebraska – USA
Gary Daverne Birthday High Tea at Historic House - New Zealand
14 Years Ago: Accordion Entertainment in Japan, January 2002
Future events |
Roberto Fuccelli Master Class, Vienna - Austria
Illinois Polkafest 28, Illinois – USA
Paris Moscou Duo Master Classes, Monteneuf – France
Marcelo Caldi and Soraya Ravenie Concert, Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
Video: Kokkola Winter Festival Promotion by Janne Åström & Bengan Janson - Finland
Brandon McPhee Performs in Auchtermuchty, Scotland – UK
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Site: Accordion Concert Music Composed by Gary Daverne - New Zealand
California Dreamin' Gary Dahl Updated Arrangement - USA
CD Reviews |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
2016 CIA Winter Congress in Cetraro, Calabria - Italyby Harley Jones |
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 The 2016 CIA Winter Congress and 135th General Assembly of Delegates will be held in Cetraro (Italy) from 18th - 20th March 2016 hosted by SIAC (South-Italian Accordion Culture) partner of the Italian Accordion Culture (IAC), the Italian member of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA). For some years IAC (Artistic Director Mirco Patarini) and SIAC (Director Antonio Spaccarotella) have been working together to promote and develop accordon in Italy and internationally. Thanks to the sponsorship of: IAC, Accordion Advance, Conservatory P.IT Tchaikovsky, Museo del Mare, Strumenti e Musica, Cetraro Municipality and the District of Cosenza, the SIAC is able to host the Winter Congress in Cetraro, a small village on the Tyrrhenian coast, Calabria region. The Winter Congress of CIA is considered one of the most important meetings of the international accordion calendar, led by CIA President Raymond Bodell. Inviting the Winter Congress to Centraro has long been the desire of Antonio Spaccarotella, who will take care of the organization and is proud to welcome to his hometown, the international delegations attending the CIA Executive and CIA Music Committee meetings and the CIA General Assembly Delegates meetings. Antonio Spaccarotella is an innovative international talent of the new generation performing many concerts, international seminars and also teaching at the Conservatory P.I.Tchaikovsky in Nocera Terinese (CZ). The Winter Congress will offer a multicultural atmosphere with performances from different artistic sources, seminars, workshops and themed events. Events include 'Recital of Piano 4 hands' by 2 talented students of the region Nico Fuscaldo and Filippo Garruba, and accordion performance of Giancarlo Palena, one of successful Italian competitors at the last Coupe Mondiale in Turku (Finland). The international delegations will be hosted at the Grand Hotel San Michele, a pearl of the hospitality industry in Southern Italy with accordion entertainment each evening. The hotel features Mediterranean food and wines, and for the bravest only, there is even a rafting adventure day on the river Lao available! Delegates of member associations are asked to register now at: http://www.accordions.com/cia/winter_16.html |
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Viivi Maria Saarenkylä Performs World Premiere of ‘Anantango’ - Finlandby Rob Howard |
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 Video: "Anantango" for Trio performed by Gorka Hermosa (accordion), Javier Berná (clarinet) & Javier Mayor (double bass) recorded in Spain.The world premiere of the symphonic version of ‘Anantango’, composed by well known Spanish accordionist Gorka Hermosa, will be performed on Sunday January 31st, 3pm. The performers are accordionist Viivi Maria Saarenkylä and the ‘Savonlinnan Orkesteri’ conducted by Hannu Vesioja at the Serakuntakeskus Hall, Savonlinna. Viivi Maria Saarenkylä will also perform some solos of famous tunes for accordion including Tango Italiano composed by Renzo Ruggieri. Viivi has won several international accordion competitions, including the Variety category in Castelfidardo in 2014. Her first solo CD and eTracks album was released April 2015. Catalog: viivi01 |
Foster & Allen’s 40th Anniversary Concert, Dublin – Irish Republicby Rob Howard |
 Foster & Allen celebrate 40 years in show business on Sunday afternoon January 31st, 1pm, with a special concert at Dublin Castle, an event that is a highlight of the festival TradFest Temple Bar 2016.In the last few months Foster & Allen have toured South Africa, New Zealand and the UK, and released a CD ‘After All These Years – The Very Best of Foster & Allen’, yet another best seller. The story of Foster & Allen began back in 1975 when accordionist Mick and singer/guitarist Tony decided to form a duo while playing the clubs of London. Foster & Allen have to date released over thirty albums, all of which have gone into the Irish and UK charts. In addition to the albums, they have released thirteen DVDs. Their album and DVD sales are in excess of 20 million worldwide. |
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Akkordeon Grenzenlos (Accordion Unlimited) Festival, Trossingen – Germanyby Rob Howard |
 Akkordeon Grenzenlos (Accordion Unlimited) annual festival in Trossingen is taking place from March 29th to April 2nd, 2016. There is a varied series of workshops, including such topics as: Auditory work in the classroom - Hans-Günther Kölz The Steirische Accordion for Beginners - Michaela Fuernschlief Basic Jazz for Beginners - Wolfgang Rus Competition Preparation - Werner Glutsch Chamber Music - Andreas Nebl Forum - Russian Music Education, Margarethe Glock & Alexander Kammerlocher If only I knew how to play - Wolfgang Rus The evening concerts are: March 29th, 8pm - Opening Concert: School of Music Orchestra, Hohner Conservatory March 30th, 8pm - Stefan Hussong (accordion) and Armin Fuchs (piano) in concert, Kesselhaus, Trossingen March 31st, 8pm – ‘Operassion’, music by JS Bach, György Kurtág, Keiko Harada and Astor Piazzolla, Kesselhaus, Trossingen April 1st, 9pm – ‘Folksmilch’, an Austrian acoustic trio perform tango, classical, Balkan swing and cabaret music, Kesselhaus, Trossingen April 2nd, 8pm – ‘Unterbiberger Hofmusik’, Dr. Ernst-Hohner-Konzerthaus, Trossingen Download the brochure (German) at: 2016Grenzenlos.pdf |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Iosif Purits’ Outstanding Success, London - UKby Roland Williams |
| Published on Nov 16, 2015, BBC Radio 3 Introducing Iosif Purits performing 'Winter' from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, live on Radio 3's In Tune program. On January 21st Iosif Purits, currently a post-graduate student in the Accordion Department at the Royal Academy of Music in London, won this year’s Patrons Award in a contest held for finalists at the Wigmore Hall. Iosif played a beautifully put together program with a masterly performance both technically and musically. His program consisted of contrasting works by Bent Lorentzen, Mussorgsky, Gubaidulina, Scarlatti, and Rodion Shchedrin. Commenting on Iosif Purits’ win Owen Murray, Head of Department, said “I am very proud of Iosif’s win, he is an outstanding player and a top Academy student. I am proud also that his success at this level follows the successes of previous accordion students against other instrumentalists, proving that the accordion is being taken seriously in the classical world”. As part of his prize Iosif will give a recital at the Wigmore Hall on Monday June 6th 2016 at 7.30pm together with the flautist Amy Yule. |
Jörgen Sundeqvist’s "New" Super Size Accordion – Swedenby Rob Howard |
 Swedish accordion virtuoso Jörgen Sundeqvist has had some fun with this picture of his "new" custom built accordion!!!!! His friend Walter Eriksson Jr in New York has skillfully changed a picture of Jörgen and his accordion to enlarge Jörgen's Scandalli Extreme accordion into a 'Super Extreme Grande’ that has received lots of social media comment. Jörgen wrote: “This unique accordion has an extended keyboard with two extra octaves in the right hand and 92 sounding basses in the free-bass in the left hand. This is a fantastic instrument with an enormous range, but quite complicated to tune!!!” Jörgen also wrote: "This is a fake but so well made, that many asked if it was real and lots of people commented!!!." Imagine trying to play the high treble notes!!! Even the very long arms of Jörgen would be very challenged!!!! |
Renee de la Prade Accordion Stolen, Oakland - USAby Harley Jones |
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 Video above: Renee de la Prade in Germany, 2014 at the Akkordeon Centrum anniversary celebration performing on a different accordion.On the 17th January, well known international accordionist, singer and editor of the 'Accordion Babes Pin-Up Calendar', Renee de la Prade, had her accordion stolen. The accordion is a Weltmeister, Wiener model: 511-21, Serial No: 1402044, Color: dark walnut wood finish, black buttons, black bellows with gold heart. The accordion was stolen in Oakland, California. Renee writes: "This accordion has a special 12-tone bass system, octave-paired bass notes, set in a whole tone scale. Also a brass grille with heart-shapes. Here is a photo of my super-custom, recently-stolen sweetheart. I hope for its eventual return." If you have any information, please email Renee at: squeezeboxgoddess@gmail.com |
Accordion Causes School Evacuation, Nebraska – USAby Rob Howard |
 A suspicious case that resulted in the evacuation of approximately 900 students and staff from Walnut Middle School Wednesday afternoon turned out to be an accordion inside a box!!!All the students and staff walked to Grand Island Senior High, just a few blocks north. The school spokesperson said that all the Walnut students were able to evacuate the school within two minutes as school evacuations are practiced regularly as part of fire drills. The State Patrol bomb unit determined that they could open the latches on the box, and that is when the accordion was discovered inside. The latched box for the accordion "did not look at all like a normal container for a band instrument or any other instrument". |
Gary Daverne Birthday High Tea at Historic House - New Zealandby Harley Jones |
 Composer, conductor, arranger and record producer Gary Daverne invited many friends to the Alderton Historic House in Mt Albert Auckland to enjoy a High Tea and to celebrate his birthday.A fun time was had by all including a number of Gary Daverne's accordionst friends. |
14 Years Ago: Accordion Entertainment in Japan, January 2002by Rob Howard |
| The Accordions Worldwide News for January 25th 2002 included details of two forthcoming concerts in Japan. We know that there is much accordion activity in Japan, and that overseas accordionists often perform there. We understand that article author Toru Katou remains active. Accordion Entertainment – Japan Contributed by Toru Katou On February 5th diatonic accordionist David Munnelly (Ireland) will perform at the Virgin Mega-store in Shinjuku, Tokyo with guitarist Gavin Ralston. The following day the duo will entertain at "Akasaka Graffiti" in Akasaka, Tokyo. This concert entitled "Accordion Summit vol.1" will include a performance by chromatic accordionist Tetsuya Kuwayama and accordion duo "Sabu and Mami". |
Future events |
Karen Tweed Concert, Wales – UKby Rob Howard |
 Accordionist Karen Tweed performs in concert on Friday February 5th, 8pm, at the restaurant Caban, Yr Hen Ysgol, Brynrefail LL55 3NR, Wales.Karen Tweed, born in England but now living in Ireland, is steeped in Irish traditional music and has recorded and performed in this genre for many years. She also performs in other genres, and has featured on over 30 CDs. She won 5 All Ireland titles on piano accordion and melodica in the late 1970s/early 80s, performed with the Poozies, and is the main piano accordion tutor at the World Music Centre, University of Limerick, and a regular tutor for the Bmus Degree in folk and traditional music at Newcastle University and at The Sage, Gateshead. For further information email: info@karentweed.com |
Roberto Fuccelli Master Class, Vienna - Austriaby Rob Howard |
 From February 1st to 5th Roberto Fuccelli will hold a master class, organised on behalf of the Italian Cultural Institute by Professor Rosabianca Merico. This takes place at Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Ungargasse 43, Vienna. On Thursday February 4th, 7.30pm, Roberto Fuccelli will perform in concert at the same venue. Roberto Fuccelli is a Professor of Accordion at the Conservatorio S. Cecilia, Rome. For further information email: istitutoitalianoviennamusica@gmail.com |
Illinois Polkafest 28, Illinois – USAby Rob Howard |
 The festival Illinois Polkafest 28 takes place at the Hyatt Regency, Schaumburg, Illinois, from February 5th to 7th. Performers include George Staiduhar, Steve Meisner, Bob Doszak, Eddie Rodick, Klancnik & Friends and The Music Connection.For further information email: ilpokafest@yahoo.com |
Paris Moscou Duo Master Classes, Monteneuf – Franceby Rob Howard |
 The Paris Moscou Duo – Domi Emorine and Roman Jbanov – hold master classes for chromatic accordion on February 6th and 7th at Au Centre d’hebergment des Landes, 1 rue des Menhirs, 56380 Monteneuf, Brittany, north western France. The organisers are L’association Atout Vent, based in Rennes, Brittany. For further information email: atout.vent@yahoo.fr |
Marcelo Caldi and Soraya Ravenie Concert, Rio de Janeiro – Brazilby Rob Howard |
 Accordionist/pianist Marcelo Caldi performs in concert with the vocalist Soraya Ravenie on Wednesday February 17th, 4.30pm at sala Baden Powell, Avenue Nossa Senhora de Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The program will be mainly folk and Latin songs, composed by Paulo César Pinheiro, Dori Caymmi, Lupicínio Rodrigues, Guerra-Peixe, Silvio Rodriguez, Chico Buarque, and Marcelo Caldi, amongst others. |
Video: Kokkola Winter Festival Promotion by Janne Åström & Bengan Janson - Finlandby Raimo Vertainen, Kokkola Accordion Festival Director |
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 Video: Janne Åström & Bengan Janson promote the Kokkola Winter FestivalThe 18th Kokkola Winter Accordion Festival takes place from February 14th to 21st. The accordion will ring out all around the city as in years past — in concert halls, on the streets and in the marketplace. Picture right festival director Raimo Vertainen. Artists appearing include: Kimmo Pohjonen, Trio Fratres, Viivi Maria Saarenkylä, Hannu Ilmolahti, Tallari, Vörå Player’s Club, Bengan Janson& Janne Åström from Sweden and the renowned juggler duo from France Jerome Thomas and Jean-Francois Baez. The final concert has become a festival tradition with a Grand Performance Concert by the tango orchestra Guardia Nueva which will feature soloists Teemu Roivainen and Saara Aalto. Kokkola Winter Accordion is a festival for the whole family and takes place in Kokkola and Pietarsaari. Come and enjoy the festival! For further for information email: raimo.vertainen@pp.inet.fi |
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Brandon McPhee Performs in Auchtermuchty, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
 Leading diatonic accordionist Brandon McPhee performs in concert on Saturday February 27th, 7pm, at the Victoria Hall, Auchtermuchty, Fife. Also on the bill is the comedian Eddie Rose.Brandon McPhee, plays the Shand Morino, and has won many competitions in recent years, including the prestigious All Scotland Championship. Still a teenager and winner of the Jimmy Shand Shield, he has emerged as one of Scotland’s brightest accordion talents, and this will be his first public performance in Auchtermuchty, home of the legendary Sir Jimmy Shand. For information phone: 01337 828173 |
New and Updated Sites |
Site Update: New Arrangment by Renzo Ruggieri, Medley Disco Music - Italyby Harley Jones |
 Just released arrangement titled Medley Disco, catalog rrenzo508. This virutoso performance arrangement by famed Italian performer and teacher Renzo Ruggieri is ideal for international competitions.Renzo Ruggieri arranged Medley Disco for Grayson Masefield to perform and the work was premiered in Belgium last November and is now available online. Medley Disco also fits well for concerts where the performer wants to display brilliant melodic repertoire. Other Virtuoso arrangements by Renzo Ruggieri (only €10 each) rrenzo501 - Song For S.B (Solo) rrenzo502 - Volo Degli Angeli (Solo) rrenzo503 - Tango Italiano (Solo) rrenzo504 - Carnevale (Solo) rrenzo505 - Roma Tango Solo rrenzo506 - Cinema (for 4 parts and drums, electronic accordion) rrenzo507 - Variations on Säkkijärven Polka rrenzo508 - Medley Disco |
Updated Site: Accordion Concert Music Composed by Gary Daverne - New Zealandby Harley Jones |
  Updated site for this CD and eTracks (mp3) album of music composed by Gary Daverne. Catalog: nzom003Newly available individual mp3 tracks purchases. Updated information. Accordion performers include: Air New Zealand Accordion Orchestra, Harley Jones, Maurice Jones, Stephanie Poole, Lionel Reekie and Sarah Langley. |
California Dreamin' Gary Dahl Updated Arrangement - USAby Harley Jones |
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 Popular US arranger Gary Dahl has released his updated arrangement of the hit song California Dreamin', Catalog: DH0126 made famous by The Mamas & the Papas group in 1966. Other famous groups such as the Beach Boys have also released this iconic song composed by John and Michelle Phillips.The song is #89 in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and the lyrics of the song express the writers longing for the warmth of Los Angeles during a cold winter in New York City. California Dreamin' Catalog: DH0126 |
CD Reviews |
CD Review: Fachwerk | Kapote CD by Friedrich Lipsby Joan C. Sommers |
 CD Reviews Index for the Review of Fachwerk | Kapote CD by Friedrich Lips. Review by Joan Cochran Sommers. |
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