Bellows and
Keyboards
Imagine a story where the winner is
passion. It is significant to know that this accordion orchestra is composed entirely
of amateurs; amateurs that with the above mentioned passion find the necessary
free time for their music.
Let us first review the history of this orchestra.
One of Italy's greatest accordion teachers, Laura Benizzi, started her accordion
school in the city of Varese and founded the original all accordion orchestra
in 1948. Numerous talents were developed as a result of this musical activity
including Luigi Luoni, World Champion in 1957 at Helmond, Netherlands. However,
in 1961 Prof. Benizzi relocates to Rimini (350 km to the south) and the orchestra
disbands.
But the passion doesn't die, the embers keep kindling like hot
coal and relight a flame when Luigi Luoni reforms the group in 1984. Later, in
1987, Luigi's daughter Chiara, an accomplished pianist and graduate of the Conservatory
of Padova , joins the group as Director. Luigi remains as First Accordion and
adapter/arranger of the transcriptions. The great passion that motivates this
group, primarily devoted to it's concert activity, also keeps alive the reminders
of the group's history and significant milestones. They celebrated the 10 years
after the re-founding, the 90th birthday of Prof. Benizzi (with a concert trip
to Rimini), the 50th anniversary of the original formation, and now, with this
CD, the 20th year since the re-founding.
 Despite
the excellent graphics of the CD-booklet , a photo of the musicians is not included.
This is another sign of the intention to provide purely a musical deposition of
how music can motivate unity among people. The repertoire introduces great classics
(Bach, Beethoven, Rossini, Puccini, Katchaturjan), an original piece ("Arioso"
by Wolfgang Jacobi) and medleys of popular Russian Songs, American Songs, and
Neapolitan Songs.
A typical
repertoire for an accordion orchestra of this type (perhaps the only exception
is the excerpt from the Passion according to Mathew by J.S.Bach) which for the
difficult pieces like Beethoven or Rossini not only highlights the effort of the
players but also the timbre limitations of the
classic reed accordions.
Remember
the individual and group passion of this "complesso" and take note that
the perspective emphasized must be that of the player. The satisfaction is to
perform "Egmont" or "William Tell" with friends who have the
same love for this instrument, this music and this repertoire. The enjoyment to
actively participate and present this type of repertoire; exactly what is lacking
in today's society.
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