During the middle-end of the
last century, musette was a very popular musical instrument in
France (woodwind musical instrument, some symplified version of
obou), and people used to dance to musette music. After it had
been discovered, accordion took over the musette style. Today,
musette is very strongly associated with the accordion as a main
representative of that style.
As it's name implies, "Musette Ensemble" performs
in the musette style. It was in 1984 that Vladimir Ushakov and
Sergei Likhachov joined in a duet of accordion players. In 1987
the idea of widening the staff prevailed. Bass guitar, guitar
and drums appeared. The ensemble often appears on different
stages of the city of St. Petersburg and of the country as well.
Very often "Musette Ensemble" can be heard in the broadcasting
programmes of St. Petersburg radio and TV. The repertoire of
the group is varied, it contains popular melodies of Russia,
France, Germany, Italy and America.
Finally!!! I was so pleasantly surprised to
see that Russia finally has an accordion entertainment ensemble
of world standard! For a few decades in Russia, the entertainment
aspect of the accordion was completely neglected. That style
was looked down upon as well as the people playing it.
Musette Ensemble is no doubt a group of very
talented musicians with two leading accordions. Their performance
is very professional and the general sound of the ensemble is
very sophisticated. They are also very entertaining to listen
to, and surely they are showing the best aspects of the accordion.
Superb ensemble and performance !!!!!!
