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Tania Lukic-Marx now gives the CD reviews a rating system. This system includes a number of stars at the completion of the review, for example 5 stars (*****) means the CD was "brilliant" or "excellent", 4 stars = impressive, 3 stars = good, 2 stars = satisfactory and 1 star = didn't impress.

Title:	Djordje Gajic - Accordion
Artist:	Djordje Gajic
Supplied by:	John Leslie
Review date:	March 1st 2002
Tracks:	1. J.S. Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D Minor 2. Scarlatti - Sonata K162 in E Major 3. Scarlatti - Sonata K11 in C Minor 4. Scarlatti - Sonata K107 in F Major 5. Mozart - Andante KV616 in F Major 6 - 8. Zolotaryov - Sonata No2 in 3 mov. 9. Albeniz - Asturias 10. Albeniz - Cordoba 11. Villa-Lobos - The Dance of the White Indian 12. Lecuona - Malaguena

Djordje Gajic, Yugoslav accordionist living in Scotland, began his musical studies in Yugoslavia at the age of 6 and graduated from Kragujevac Secondary School of Music with the leading Yugoslav teacher *Radomir Tomic. He continued his accordion studies at the Russian Academy of Music in Moscow with Professor *Yuri Dranga - the only piano accordionist tutor at the Academy- where he graduated in 1995. Djordje has won many International Competitions, amongst them Tropheo Mondiale (CMA) in 1988 and the Grand Prix in 1987. He also received many awards of outstanding merit leading to television and radio broadcasts. Djordj has performed with the Russian State Symphony Orchestra under the baton of famous Yevgenij Svetlanov, as well as many solo recitals throughout Europe. Currently residing in Glasgow, Djordje has an active performing and teaching career. 99% of the classical recordings I receive use button accordion. I was very pleased to receive this recording, which uses piano accordion and is of an equally high performing standard. Djordje's program includes baroque, classical, modern and original pieces. This would be a text book example of a well built program. Djordje's performing style characterises extraordinary tonal clarity, refined musical taste, strength and power in expression and delicateness in details. In his performance of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor I was impressed by his ability to perform it as a "whole musical picture" (to use Russian expression), meaning: to perform having in mind the whole musical painting, not breaking it into sections, not losing the site of 'the whole' (as so often accordionists do). My favourite tracks would be the three Sonata's by Scarlatti performed with exquisite refineness and ravishing musical taste. This is very fine performance and with a lot of style*****