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15th February 2002 This weeks news | Past News | Send news


Editors Note
This week we have news of concerts on Valentine's Day. It is great to see accordionists entertaining at venues to celebrate this and other popular special occasions. Please check our Future Events section of the Yellow Pages where we have over 260 listings for a variety of concerts, festivals, competitions, accordion camps and workshops. If you would like to include your listing in this section please use our online submit form or email: news@accordions.com

Wayne Knights Webmaster

Fisitalia


This Weeks News

Orla


2002 National Accordion Convention - USA

Contributed by Norman Seaton

The Texas Accordion Association will hold their very popular 2002 National Accordion Convention from March 7th to 10th at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Plano, Texas. The event will include guests Tim Alexander (5-time Grammy Award Winner) and Santiago Jiminez plus concerts with accordion orchestras, workshops, trade shows and lots of fun! For details email: nns5522@dcccd.edu

 


Accordionist Wins Young Traditional Musician Award 2002 - Scotland

The finals of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award 2002 were held on January 27th at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. A capacity audience were treated to some amazing performances from seven finalists playing the accordion, violin, pipes, guitar and clarsach. Accordionist and vocalist Emily Smith won the award and was presented with a record deal with Footstompin' Records plus invitations to various festivals including Tonder in Denmark, and next years Celtic Connection's BBC Radio Broadcast. Concertina player Simon Thoumire is the organizer of this annual event.

 

Fisitalia

Finnish Accordionist Tours France

Finnish accordionist Markku Lepistö will tour France from February 28th to March 8th with his group "Värttinä". The group will perform concerts in St. Nazaire, Saint Brieuc, Bressuire, Rezé, with a final concert at the Théâtre de l'Hôtel de Ville in Saint Barthelemy d'Anjou. For further information email: mlepisto@siba.fi


Orla

Prestigious Appointment for Renzo Ruggieri - Italy

Accordionist Renzo Ruggieri was appointed "Chief Arranger" by the prestigious Opera Theatre in Rome for the arrangement, orchestration and direction of the music of "The Legend of the Flax Flower", a the children's show staged at the Teatro Nazionale recently. The work was written by Rosa Stipo and directed and adapted for the theatre by David Haughton, well known for his long standing work with mime/dancer Lindsay Kemp. The music was written by Adriana Del Giudice, while the stage design and costumes were created by Michele Della Cioppa and Anna Biagiotti respectively.

The recordings took place at the "Musicomania Digital Studio" in Bellante (province of Teramo) and featured the "Piccola Orchestra Moderna", Ruggieri's ensemble of choice when it comes to theatrical productions. The soundtrack required the work of 34 musicians, including a string section, brass section, rhythm section and a choir, and made use of an electronic sampler in order to record and play sounds such as the rustling of the wind through the trees, the singing of birds and the noises of everyday life in the city.

Here's an excerpt of a newspaper review: "... the orchestral adaptation by Renzo Ruggieri is praiseworthy. This journey into nature was enriched by the beautiful sounds captured and arranged by Renzo Ruggieri. Ruggieri's masterful use of the sampler harnessed the howling of the wind during a storm and turned it into a musical piece, a cosmic voice which descended upon us like something ancient and familiar." (Paola Pariset, Il Tempo, Oct. 17, 2001). To listen to this work email: renrug@libero.it


Accordion and Saxophone Concert - USA


Photo of Guy Klucevsek (foreground) by Cliff Furnald and photo of Phillip Johnston (background) by Viki Rutsch.

On February 16th the Guy Klucevsek/Phillip Johnston Duo will present a concert at the Veteran's Hall, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island, New York. The duo, which consists of Guy (accordion and compositions) and Phillip (saxophone and compositions) will perform a variety of original tunes covering contemporary classical music, world music, jazz and blues. The result: Polka-Bop? Trance-Tango? Avant-Baroque?

Also appearing at this concert is the Brazilian jazz group "Ben Sher and Tudobem" which features accordionist Joe Barbato. For concert details phone: +1 718 815-SNUG


Fisitalia

Duo Muta Performs Hosokawa Premiere - England

David FarmerThe innovative new duo "Muta" which includes David Farmer (accordion) and Gareth Davis (clarinet) will give a recital in St Giles Church, Cripplegate, London of Contemporary Japanese music as part of the nationwide Japan 2001 Festival. This concert which will take place on February 16th will include three world premieres by young Japanese composers Dai Fujikura, Noriko Motomatsu and Misato Mochizuki, plus the world premiere of "In der Tiefe der Zeit" by Toshio Hosokawa. Hosokawa is now recognised as the leading Japanese composer of our time and the premiere of this work (which has been especially revised for Muta by the composer) marks the end of a Hosokawa season which included performances of his Opera "Visions of Lear" at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and a "Portrait" concert featuring works with strings.

For concert details email: david@davidfarmer.net

Orla


Russian Bayanist Performs at Floratheater - Netherlands

Russian bayanist Anatoli Senine will perform at the Floratheater, in the centre Delft City, Zuid-Holland on March 9th. Senine (who now resides in The Netherlands) has performed over 2,000 concerts during his 35 year career. He is currently an accordion/bayan teacher and conductor of the several music ensembles at music schools in Maastricht, Haarlem, Zoeterwoude and Delft. For concert details phone: +31 15-285 39 75



Heartfull Concert - Japan

Contributed by Toru Katou

On February 24th the Kansai Accordion Club will hold a "Heartfull" concert at the Osaka Philharmony Kaikan Hall in Nishinari Ward, Osaka. For details phone Mr Yoshida: +81 78882-3226

 

Fisitalia

Akorva Accordion Orchestra Concert - Belgium

Contributed by Stefaan Taelman

The Akorva Accordion Orchestra (formerly known as 't schuusies Muziek) will perform at a dance party at the Schoolcomplex Leupegem in Leupegem, Oudenaarde on February 23rd. For details email: stefaantaelman@advalvas.be


Orla

Valentine's Concert - USA

Accordionist Jon Hammond (with saxophonist Marc Baum & drummer Ronnie Smith) performed a special Valentine's Day concert on February 14th for patients at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco. The trio played in the Clarendon Building of the Hospital and in the locked wards of the main building.

Their program included "My Funny Valentine", "My One and Only Love" and "There Will Never Be Another You". The hospital has over 3,000 patients and the trio attempted to perform to as many as possible by performing in the two locations.

On February 17th Jon will return to the hospital for two further concerts. For details email: laterent@webtv.net

 

 


The Accordion at the Museum - Italy

Emilio CervettoContributed by Carlo Fortunato

Two new events will enrich the "FisAlMuseo" exhibition currently held at the Ethnografic Museum in Alessandria, Italy. Jazz musician Emilio Cervetto will hold a concert at the museum on February 15th, and on the same day an interesting exhibition of antique accordions organised by Carlo Fortunato will be inaugurated. The exhibition will close on February 24th. The event's programme includes a course on piano and chromatic accordion held by Gianluca Campi which began on February 6th. For details email: carlofortunato@virgilio.it


Fisitalia


Music School Concert - Macedonia

Contributed by Anica Karakutovska

On February 1st a concert was held at the "Ilija Nikolovsk-LUJ" Skopje Music High School in Macedonia. Solo, duo and trio accordion students from the class of Professor Zorica Karakutovska entertained an enthusiastic crowd with works by Prech, Zolotaryov, Belosicky, Derbenko and others.

Orla

New Accordion Course at Victorian College of the Arts - Australia

After many years of struggle, the accordion has finally been accepted as a classical instrument by the Victorian College of the Arts, the Melbourne University fed secondary school. The College will now accept secondary level students for performance on accordion. Melbourne accordionist Bernadette Conlon has been appointed as tutor in this breakthrough for the accordion in Australia. Accordion students began their tutoring at the beginning of February and will study works such as Carmen Fantasy (Bizet), Flirtation (Frosini), Die Fledermaus (Strauss) and pieces from the Grade 6 Syllabus. For course information email: accordionbernadette@bigpond.com



Jiaozi Art Center Concert - China

Xia GangContributed by Li CongXia Gang

Chinese accordionist Xia Gang held a solo concert at the Jiaozi Art Center in Chengdu recently. Gang began learning the accordion at the age of 4 and was admitted to the Affiliated College of Sichuan Music Conservatory in 1993. In 1997, he enrolled at the St. Petersburg Music Conservatory to learn bayan. While there he won the adult section of the St. Petersburg International Accordion Competition in 1999. He was also given a Bayan Performing Artist award at the 16th St. Petersburg International Accordion Festival in 2000.

Over 1000 people attended his Chengdu concert which included a program of works such as "Ave Maria" and pieces by Piazzolla.

After the concert, Professor Huang Wanfu (Head of the Sichuan Music Conservatory) said "Xia Gang's performance was very detailed and he had wonderful expression of the music. This concert will help to develop bayan tuition and performance at the Sichuan Music Conservatory and the province of Sichuan".

 

Fisitalia

New Fisorchestra Liberina Plays in Rome - Italy

Pasquale De MarcoContributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

After a brief winter break (spent polishing and practicing its new repertoire), the New Fisorchestra Liberina resumed its performances at the San Leone Magno Auditorium in Rome under the baton of Pasquale De Marco, Artistic Director and head of the Music Workshop at the "Giordani" Technical Institute in Caserta. This concert, the orchestra's first in 2002, was organised by the A.R.M.O.N.I. Association.

The accordion was the absolute centre of this magical performance, and it served both as a metaphor of rural life and as a symbolic object firmly rooted in the past. The program covered a variety of genres, and included religious (Schubert's "Ave Maria"), classical ("Fantasia in A", "Flight of the Bumblebee" & "Barber of Seville"), ethnic (Piazzolla's "Primavera Portena", "Chitarra Romana" & "La Paloma"), dance ("Fior di Campo", "Sale e Pepe e Frutto di Mare", "Eternamente" & "Espana Cani") and traditional pieces ("Comme facette mammeta", "'O surdato 'nnammurato" & "Nannì").


Orla

New Edition of News Francais Now Online

A new edition of the French National News "News Francais" is now online. If you would like to contribute as item for this news please email Greg Frenard at: greg@accordions.com



Welsh Traditional Music Group Tours USA

Welsh traditional music group "Crasdant" will tour USA from February 14th to March 10th. The group includes Stephen Rees (accordion, violin & pibgorn), Robin Huw Bowen (triple harp) Andy McLaughlin (flute, whistles & pibgorn) and Huw Williams (guitar and clogger). Concerts will be held in Lexington (MA), Athens (GA), Roanoke (VA), Chocowinity (NC), Jacksonville (FL), Phoenix (AZ), Prescott (AZ), Kansas City (MO), Utica (NY), Poultney (VT), Altamont (NY), Harrisburg (PA), with a final concert at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square (PA).

 

Fisitalia

Anne Landa Performs in Utrecht - Holland

Anne LandaContributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Accordionist Anne Landa will perform in Utrecht on February 16th with the prestigious viola player Vladimir Mendelsshon and vocalist Mar-Lin Schut. Their program will include music by Hans Riphagen and contemporary poetry. This project entitled "Day Night, Day, Day" will be performed in many Dutch cities this year. For concert details email: a.landa@airtel.net

Orla

New Bulgarian Accordion Music Book

Contributed by Sandie Merrill

A new book and CD of original Bulgarian accordion music entitled "Bright Stage" by Milen Slavov is now available through the MS Music Agency. The book, which features solo piano accordion pieces is ideal for anyone who loves to listen to Bulgarian music and contains uniquely and thoroughly detailed notation of the ornaments.

Timothy Rice, Chair of the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology says: "Milen Slavov's compositions for accordion are a wonderful combination of references to the oldest part of the rich heritage of Bulgarian folk music and new ideas that are fresh and original".

For further details email: agency@msaccordion.com



New CD Includes Transcriptions from 300 Years Ago - Finland

Mika VayrynenAccordionist Mika Väyrynen has a new recording contract with Naxos, which means his recordings will now get worldwide distribution. In March he will begin recording his next CD, which will include transcriptions from periods up to 300 years ago. The CD will be released in early autumn 2002.

Mika's last solo CD, "A Flight Beyond Time" (also produced by Naxos) has received very good reviews in Finnish and International press. This CD includes new Finnish works for the accordion, mostly commissioned by Mika himself. For further CD information email: mika.vayrynen@pp.inet.fi


Fisitalia

Beltway Balalaikas Concert - USA

The Beltway Balalaikas ensemble (which includes accordionist Jim Vandelly plus balalaikas and domras) will perform a one-hour concert at the Pilgrim Church, United Church of Christ in Wheaton, Maryland on March 9th. This concert is the 7th in a series endowed as a memorial to Elizabeth Gooding Wegman Petersen. For further details email: vandelly@erols.com


Orla

New Sites/Updated Sites

www.accordions.com/pagni Updated information on Italian accordionist Sylvia Pagni

www.accordions.com/contet Updated information on French accordionist Pascal Contet including new contact details

www.accordions.com/salpa Updated information on Salpa Reed manufacturers including new contact details

www.accordions.com/orla Updated information on Orla Electronic Organs & Musical Instruments

www.accordions.com/annelanda Updated information on accordionist and Alexander Technique teacher, Anne Landa



Accordion Information Required

Adam Seli would like to contact accordionist Stanimir Uzunov who lives in Portugal. If you can help please email: adamse@tin.it


 

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