The second International Reykjavik
Accordion Festival was held from July 14th to 16th, 2000 in several
locations in Reykjavik. The festival aims to provide an opportunity
for accordion enthusiasts to meet their colleagues and also to
present the accordion and accordion music to the public. The instrument
has been played in Iceland for generations and is an important
part of the musical heritage of the nation. In past years the
instrument's popularity has risen, more people are learning to
play and the instrument is beginning to be used in contemporary
music of today as well as traditional music.
It is not often that I receive
recordings from accordion festivals and competitions. I believe
this is the second one I have ever received, the first one was
a live recording from the Coupe Mondiale, held in Slovakia in
1998.
Personally, I believe recordings
of highlights from such events as international accordion competitions
and festivals are a great way to promote the accordion in general
and, on the other hand, it gives an insight of the event to the
people who were unable to attend.
So, this recording represents highlights
of the Reykjavik Accordion festival 2000. Tracks include solo
accordion as well as accordion ensembles, various bands with accordion,
and accordion orchestra. The repertoire consists of popular pieces
of lighter character such as Hot Fingers, Jalousie, Flick Flack,
and many, many more.
Although the pieces performed are
of an entertaining character and each track performed by different
player, the playing standard is quite high. Perhaps my favorite
tracks would be "Jazz fra Russia", jazz improvisations on the
Russian themes performed skillfully, passionately and with a sharper
style by Bjorke Mongeson and "La vie en rose", played by K. Jonatansson
and Neister.
If you are after a variety of entertaining
tunes, this recording would be the way to go.
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