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Highlights |
Vienna Accordion Festival - Austriaby Rob Howard |
The 11th annual international Accordion Festival, February 25th to March 26th, is held at various locations throughout Vienna, including Planet Music and the Porgy and Bess Jazz and Music Club. The festival includes 40 concerts and 19 different stages. A host of accordion stars from around the world will be performing everything from folk to classical, tango and punk. This year's program includes: February 15th, 8pm - Otto Lechner, Karl Hodina and Krzysztof Dobrek (Austria/Poland), Vindobona, Wallensteinplatz 6, Vienna 20th, 8pm – Paul Schuberth (Austria), Lorin Sklamberg and Susan McKeown (USA/Ireland), Bec De Cha, featuring Arnaud Methivier, Pascal Ducourtioux and Jean Hughes Billman (France), Theater Azkent, Theresianumgasse 18 A-1040, Vienna 21st, 1pm – silent films: ‘Sherlock Jr’. (USA 1924, Buster Keaton, and ‘Back Stage’ (USA 1919, Fatty Arbuckle), with accompaniment by Sasha Shevchenko and Maciej Golebiowski (Ukraine/Poland), Film Casino Margaretenstrasse 78 A-1050, V 22nd, 8pm – ‘Tribute to Lars Holmer’ concert, with Otto Lechner and Guy Klucevek (USA), Metropol, Hernalser Hauptstr. 55 A-1170, Vienna March 9th, 8pm - The Claudia Quintet (USA), Porgy and Bess, 11 Riemergasse 10th, 8pm - Midas Divas (Austria) and the duo Renzo Ruggieri and Mauro De Federicis (Italy), Ehrbar-Saal, Mühlgasse 30, A-1040 Vienna 13th, 8pm – Beyond the Pale (Canada), Theater Azkent 15th 8pm - Trio Cronopio (Ukraine/Hungary/Austria); Duo Raul Barboza and Nardo Gonzales (Argentina), Ehrbar-Saal 18th, 8pm – Klaus Paier Trio, Sargfabrik, Goldschlagstrasse 169 A-1140, Vienna 19th, 8pm – Sebastian G & Uml; Rtler & Tommaso Huber (Austria); Martin Lubenov and Vladimir Karparov (Bulgaria), Ehbar-Saal, Mühlgasse 30 A-1040, Vienna 22nd, 8pm - Dobrek Bistro (Poland, Russia, Brazil, Austria), Orpheum, Steigenteschgasse 94b A-1220, Vienna For further information email: akkordeon@akkordeonfestival.at |
3rd Strumenti & Musica Festival, Spoleto - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
The Cultural Association IAC (Italian Accordion Culture) in collaboration with the publishing and recording company Ars Spoletium s.r.l. organize the 3rd Strumenti & Musica Festival, May 15th to 23rd in Spoleto. This is an International Competition for accordion soloists and groups of chamber music, and also a selection of Italian candidates for the participation in the 63rd CIA Coupe Mondiale, to be held in Varaždin, Croatia, from October 19th to 25th 2010. The international jury will decide the name of the Italian candidates who will participate in the Coupe Mondiale. The IAC will sponsor the two best Italian accordionists selected by the jury for the trip and accommodation in Varaždin. Download the acrobat pdf file of the 2010 Spoleto Rules in Italian and English. Registration/Entry forms are on the Strumenti & Musica website. All competition entries must be received by April 15th 2010. |
Kim and Dan Christian Offer Skype Lessons, Colorado – USAby Rob Howard |
In a sign of how technology is changing our accordion world, accordionists Kim and Dan Christian have announced that they will now offer accordion lessons via Skype with the use of a webcam. All the student needs is a webcam that plugs into a USB port or a computer that already has a camera in it and high speed internet service. Accordion teachers around the world are likely to embrace this technology very quickly because of its enormous educational potential. Imagine arranging a lesson with the composer, teacher to teacher masterclasses for specific techniques, styles of music etc. Kim and Dan Christian have performed throughout the USA and as far away as China. Apart from performing and recording, the Christians have both taught accordion for over 30 years. They both have a sense of making lessons fun and intriguing for their students by offering up to date music and arrangements. A student can expect to improve technique, learn musical expression, develop good bellows techniques, learn how to improve speed, and much more. Students are accepted from beginner to virtuoso level. There is also the opportunity to perform solo or with the Christians’ bands at the Rocky Mountain Accordion Society Festival held in Denver, Colorado annually. For further information email: kdchristian@roadrunner.com |
RAM ‘Accordion Showcase’, Friedrich Lips Masterclass – UKby Rob Howard |
Students of the Royal Academy of Music, London, present a concert titled ‘Accordion Showcase’ at the David Josefowitz Recital Hall, RAM, on Wednesday February 3rd, 7.30pm. The organiser is RAM accordion tutor Prof. Owen Murray (picture top left). Attending the concert will be Prof. Friedrich Lips (picture lower left), from the Gnessin Institute, Moscow. Friedrich Lips will give a master class on Friday February 5th in the Concert Room at RAM. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend. Programme to include: Doppler – ‘Hungarian Pastoral Fantasy op.26’ Trang Nguyen – accordion, Michael Liu - flute David Gorton Wind – ‘Sculpture’ (world première) Rafal Luc – accordion, Philip Dewhurst - trombone Franck Angelis - ‘Concert Suite’ Rafal Luc – accordion Piazzolla – ‘The Seasons of Buenos Aires: Spring - Winter’ Martynas Levickis – accordion, Melinda Miguel – cello, Rimantas Vingras - piano Sofia Gubaidulina – ‘In Croce’ Amadej Herzog – accordion, Jonathan Rees – cello JS Bach - Overture from ‘Partita BWV 831’, 1st movement Ksenija Sidorova - accordion Sergei Berinsky - Partita ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’ Martynas Levickis – accordion Alfred Schnittke – ‘Revis, A Fairy-Tale’ Ksenija Sidorova - accordion For further information email: K.INGRAM@ram.ac.uk |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Governor of Nevada Honors Dick Contino - USAby Rob Howard |
Legendary American accordionist Dick Contino has been officially honoured by Jim Gibbons, Governor of Nevada. January 17th, Dick Contino’s 80th birthday, was declared a day of honour for an entertainer whose professional career began 60 years ago. Over 60 years, Dick Contino has performed all over the USA and beyond, made numerous recordings, starred in a 1958 Hollywood movie, ‘Daddy-O’, been the subject of a novel, ‘Dick Contino’s Blues’ (written by James Ellroy), and appeared a record breaking 48 times on the Ed Sullivan Show. Dick Contino’s next shows are on January 29th and 30th at the Avi Resort & Casino, Laughlin, Nevada. From March 16th to 20th he is again at the same venue. |
Bojan Volcevski (Macedonia) Wins ‘Leo Ceroni’ - Italyby Anica Karakutovska |
Picture above, Elizabeta Ilievska, Bojan Volcevski, Zorica Karakutovska. The 4th International Accordion Festival ‘Leo Ceroni’ was held in Riolo, Italy on January 4th and 5th 2010. The finalists for this international competition were selected by a jury listening to pre-submitted video applications. The competition had three musical categories: classical music, variété and folk music. A feature of this competition is that accordionists perform with an orchestra and their performances are judged by two different juries consisting of accordionists, composers, directors and other instrumentalists. Accordionist Bojan Volcevski, a senior year student of the Faculty of Music Skopje, class of Prof. Zorica Karakutovska, won the first prize in classical music category. Performing Concertstück, Op.79 (IV mov.) by Carl Maria von Weber, Bojan delighted the audience. The arrangement was specially made for this festival by the composer Elizabeta Ilievska (Macedonia) in cooperation with Prof. Zorica Karakutovska and received positive critique from the jury. This international prize is another success for students of Zorica Karakutovska. |
Will Glahe CD: ‘Accordion King’ – Germanyby Rob Howard |
‘Accordion King’ is a re-release of a CD, available via Amazon, by popular German accordionist, bandleader and arranger Will Glahe. The tracks include: ‘Beer Barrel Polka’, ‘O, du lieber Augustin’, ‘In Munchen steht ein Hofbrauhaus’, ‘Zwei herzen in 3/4 takt’, ‘Du, du liegst mir im herzen’, ‘Lichtensteiner Polka’, ‘Trink, trink, bruderlein trink’, ‘Lili Marleen’, ‘Der fröhlich wanderer’, ‘O, mein papa’, ‘Ich bin so glücklich’, ‘Du kanst nicht treu sein’, ‘Ein freund’, and ‘Auf wiedersehn’ Will Glahé (1902-90) was probably the most commercially successful German accordionist of the 20th Century, with large worldwide record sales in a recording career that lasted for sixty years. Glahé was largely responsible for popularising his country’s folk music via the accordion to the German public. Glahé studied the piano at the Cologne Conservatory. He also played the accordion in cafes. From the 1930s he directed his own orchestra, and made recordings. His flair for arranging and anticipating public tastes made him a great favourite in Germany, and many other countries. In 1938, Glahé scored a big success in Britain and America with his release of the million-seller ‘Beer Barrel Polka’. During World War II, Glahé’s version of the ‘Beer Barrel Polka’ was the US General Eisenhower's favourite record! |
Future events |
Martin Lubenov Concerts - Belgium, Finland and Scandinaviaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
Austrian-based Bulgarian accordionist Martin Lubenov has some concerts booked in Belgium, Finland, Sweden and Denmark. These are with his orchestra and trio, as follows: Martin Lubenov Orkestar January 29th – Philharmonie, Liège, Belgium 30th - Espace Senghor, Brussels Jazzta Prasta (trio) February 19th – Kokkola Winter Accordion Festival, Finland 21st – Inkonst, Malmö, Sweden 22nd – Kulturhuset, Copenhagen, Denmark Austrian-based Bulgarian accordionist Martin Lubenov combines Balkan Roma music with shades of swing, modern jazz, tango nuevo, salsa and musette. He has become one of the leading figures of the accordion and Balkan music scene in Vienna. He has performed at clubs and festivals in many European countries and beyond with the Martin Lubenov Orkestar and his jazz quartet Jazzta Prasta. In 2006 he was awarded the French ‘Prix Gus Viseur’, category ‘Jazz/World’, and has since collaborated with Austrian saxophone player Wolfgang Puschnig and international accordionists Richard Galliano (France), Renato Borghetti (Brazil) and Dancas Ocultas (Portugal). In March 2009 the one hour documentary ‘Jazzta Prasta’ (Camera Film Sofia) was presented at the International Sofia Film Festival, Bulgaria. The movie describes Martin Lubenov’s career between Sofia and Vienna. For further information email: sabina@cultureworks.at |
Jelena Milojevic Concerts, British Columbia – Canadaby Rob Howard |
Croatian-born Jelena Milojevic is now based in Canada, where she is promoting and establishing classical accordion as a performer and teacher. She is currently teaching at Vancouver Community College and her CD ‘The Art of Accordion’ will be released later this year, followed by a Canadian tour. Jelena Milojevic moved to Canada in 2007, having previously won numerous international accordion competitions, including the 2003 CMA Trophée Mondiale in Acquapella, Italy. Her New York debut in May 2009 was the first classical accordion solo-recital in the last thirty years, in Carnegie Hall. Her upcoming concerts include: January 30th, 5pm – All Saints’ by-the-Sea, Salt Spring Island, BC 31st, 2pm - Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney, BC February 3rd, 10.30am - Maple Ridge Recital Society, Maple Ridge, BC 4th, 10.30am - Silk Purse Gallery, West Vancouver, BC |
Kate Luxmoore Group Concert, London – UKby Rob Howard |
The Kate Luxmoore Group performs on February 1st, 7pm to 10pm, at the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, London, in a concert organized by the Ifa-Yoruba Contemporary Arts Trust. Described as visionary and uplifting, clarinetist Kate Luxmoore's new album ‘The Grove’ combines flavours of Paris with sumptuous and dark melodic pieces. Kate is joined for this concert by renowned jazz violinist Omar Puente, accordionist Karen Street, and Grammy award winning percussionist Lekan Babalola. Karen Street is currently touring with the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ show, based on the popular BBC television show, throughout January and February. The show visits Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield, London, Glasgow, Belfast and Newcastle. For further information email: karen@karenstreet.com |
Victor Prieto’s February Gigs, New York – USAby Rob Howard |
New York-based accordionist Victor Prieto performs as follows: February 9th, 7.30pm and 9.30pm – with Emilio Solla & the Tango Jazz Conspiracy - CD Release Party at The Jazz Standard, 116 East 27th St, New York 11th, 9pm – two duo performances (with Chris Cheek, presenting the new CD, ‘Rollo-Coaster’, and with Rob Garcia) at the Douglass St. Music Collective, 295 Douglass St. Brooklyn, NY - and Victor Prieto 12th, 11pm and 12.30am - La Lanterna, New York Victor Prieto was recently interviewed on the Spanish national TV channel TVE1 about his life in music: www.rtve.es/mediateca/videos/20091216/espanoles-nueva-york--victor/651118.shtml For further information email: victorprieto2001@yahoo.com |
Claudio Allodi @ Fairkytes Accordion Club, Essex – UKby Rob Howard |
Claudio Allodi is the guest artiste at Fairkytes Accordion Club, Fairkytes Arts Centre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, Essex, on February 3rd, 8pm. Claudio Allodi is the son of the late Bruno Allodi, whose long established ‘Allodi Accordions’ business is based at 143-145 Lee High Road, London SE13 5PF. |
NAO South East Thames Festival, Surrey – UKby Rob Howard |
The NAO South East Thames Area Accordion Festival takes place on Sunday January 31st at Ripley Village Hall, Ripley High Street, Ripley, Surrey. This one day contest is organised by Guildford Accordion Club, whose Secretary is Myra Brooks. For further information email: myrabee@btinternet.com |
New and Updated Sites |
February Diatonic News Online 1st Februaryby Werner Weibert |
The February 2010 Diatonic News online 1st February. |
Music Marche Accordions Site Updated - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
The consortium “Music Marche Accordions”– consortium for the protection, the promotion and the development of hand-crafted, quality musical instruments produced in the Marche region – has established a certification for the “Made in Castelfidardo” musical instruments with the purpose of giving a guarantee to the customer from only manufacturers producing with reliability and respecting the traditions of craftsmanship that now have a history of over 150 years in the Marche region of Italy. The “quality and origin certification” guarantee the purchase of an instrument made with selected materials and that the instrument fully complies with the criteria of quality and origin as laid down by the consortium “Music Marche Accordions” in Castelfidardo. Their web site has just been entirely up-dated, so please visit the Music Marche Accordions website. |
February USA News Online 1st Februaryby Rita Davidson Barnea |
The February 2010 USA News, online on the 1st February. |
MusicForAccordion.com new eSheet Piecesby MusicForAccordion.com |
MusicForAccordion.com site releases 6 new pieces - 'Reverie, catalog:mfa7096', 'La Sorella, catalog:mfa7097', 'La Cucaracha, catalog:mfa7098', 'Bamba - Samba, catalog:mfa7099', 'Valse Bleue, catalog:mfa8000' and 'Jarabe Tapatio, catalog:mfa8001'. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
NAA Publications New Music Releasesby NAA Publications |
NAA Publications releases 6 new pieces, 'Beer Barrel Polka (Medium Version), catalog:naa106', 'Beer Barrel Polka (Duet), catalog:naa107', 'Beer Barrel Polka (Solo – Easy Version), catalog:naa108', 'Spritely, catalog:naa109', 'La Scala Waltz, catalog:naa110', 'Joledoans March, catalog:naa111'. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
CD Reviews |
Johann Sebastian Bachby Joan C. Sommers |
CD Reviews Index for the Review of “Johann Sebastian Bach” by Joan C. Sommers. Performer is Claudio Jacomucci. |
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