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41st
Kligenthal
International Accordion Competition - Germany
Contributed
by Dr.
Herbert Scheibenreif, Manager Friedrich
Lips Productions
The 41st International
Accordion Competition was held in Klingenthal
from 7th to 13th May with a jury made up of famous teachers and performers,
including Bärbel Claus (Germany), Claudio
Jacomucci (Italy), Fritz Dobler (Germany), Friedrich
Lips (Russia), Georg Reidys, Gudrun Wall, Ivan Kjoval, Jan Meisl
(Czech Republic), Jürgen Ganzer (Germany), Lech Puchnowski (Poland),
Max Bonnay (France), Mika
Väyrynen (Finland), Ricardas Sviackevicius (Lithuania), Stefan
Fraas, Tibor Racz (Slovakia), Tobias Morgenstern, Ulf Seifert, Yu
Ping Wang (China), Elsbeth Moser (Germany) and Voin Vasovic (Yugoslavia).
The highlights
of the event included
- a concert by the Lithuanian Accordion Quintet "Concertino",
conducted by Ricardas Sviackevicius on opening night;
- a performance by Claudio
Jacomucci depicting the possibilities of mixing accordion with
electronic sounds;
- the Trio Fratres from Finland played music from the classics;
- Friedrich
Lips conducted a workshop titled "Music for Accordion and
Symphony Orchestra";
- a workshop titled "Alexandertechnik" by Claudio
Jacomucci.
The next (42nd) International
Accordion Competition in Klingenthal will be held from 6th to
13th May, 2005.
Competition Results:
Category I (Soloists up to 12 years old):
1st - Milos Avramovic (Serbia and Montenegro)
2nd - Nikolas Lazic (Austria)
3rd - Elena Ioshko (Russia)
Category II (Soloists up to 15 years old):
1st - Pavel Zyabko (Russia)
2nd - Klavdya Tarabrina (Russia)
3rd - Maciej Zimka (Poland)
Category III (Soloists up to 18 years old):
1st - Miulena Stojanovic (Serbia and Montenegro)
2nd - Vladislav Pligovka (Bielorussia)
3rd - Josif Puritz (Russia)
Category IV (Soloists without age limit):
1st - Alexander Selivanov (Russia)
2nd - Dragan Vasiljevic (Serbia and Montenegro)
3rd - Igor Kvashevitch (Belarus)
Category VA:
1st - Duo "MM"(Bosnia-Herzegovina/Croatia)
2nd - Duo Toporovski (Poland)
3rd - Duo Bajanistov (Russia)
Category VB:
1st - Russkije akzent - Dimitrenko (Russia)
2nd - Duo con Abbandono - Iserloh/Müller (Germany)
3rd - Krzanovski / Misiak (Poland)
Category VI (Virtuoso light music for soloists)
1st - Jeremy Lafon (France)
2nd - Guy Giuliano (France)
3rd - Camille Privat (France)
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Finding
a Region's Soul in an Accordion's Wail - Colombia
 A
boy is playing the accordion hard in Valledupar, and Andrés
Gil's (pictured) ears perk up. The maestro, as he is known in this
honky-tonk town, bends forward. His eyes narrow as he carefully studies
spindly fingers furiously thumping. "Just look at those keystrokes,"
Gil says proudly, shaking his head as the star pupil, Carlos Ramírez,
11, works his Hohner
accordion. "It is amazing how hard he plays, like an adult.
Just listen to the technique." Even in a world of techno, pop
and hip-hop, the wheezy drone of the accordion sets Andrés
Gil's blood pumping.
Valledupar is a traditional town, where men wear wide straw hats,
the women dress in layered, flowery skirts and people seem content
to let life unfurl with the winds that blow off the Sierra Nevada.
Nothing here is more traditional than Vallenato (pronounced vah-yeh-NAH-toe)
music, the accordion driven folk style whose ribald ballads about
women and love, vendettas and horses, serve as a testimonial to a
hard-bitten life.
And perhaps no one is doing more to preserve authentic Vallenato,
with its sometimes corny, endearing lyrics and steady beat, than
Gil of the André's Gil Musical Academy who teaches 400 students,
almost all of them children. No one is turned away; Gil waives
tuition fees for those who cannot pay.
Many of the students are poor, some of them refugees from Colombia's
long civil war. Others are the children of Valledupar's high society,
their parents as eager to get them into the academy as American parents
might be about Juilliard. The idea, Gil said, "is to teach
a new generation of musicians about the beauty and mystery of a musical
form whose roots reach back hundreds of years. The accordion is crucial
in Vallenato and Vallenato is the voice of the region and its people."
Story by Juan Forero, NY Times
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Accordion
Educational Program TV Show - China
A TV program named "Accordion, My Best Friend" was aired
on Shanghai Education TV recently showing viewers the basics about
the accordion. The show made accordion playing seem very easy for
beginners with specialists and tutors explaining and demonstrating
to accordion enthusiasts. The show also included some exciting performances
by ensembles.
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Yuri
Is First Accordionist at Moscow Arts Center - Russia
Yuri Medianik, winner of several International Competitions and the
student of Professor
W. Semionov, continued his tour through Russia last week introducing
the bayan and violin together in concert. Yuri's concert was the first
performance by an accordionist at the 400 seat Moscow Performing Arts
Center (chamber hall) built in 2002. His bayan program included composers
Rameau, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninov, Chosson etc. and his violin program
included composers Kreizler, Sarasate and Saint-Saens amongst others.
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4th International
"Fisarmonica d' Oro" Competition - Italy
 The
4th International "Fisarmonica d' Oro" Competition will
be held in Benevento from 19th to 20th July under the direction and
guidance of founder Peppino Principe, Coordinator Luigi Febbraro and
Artistic Director Renzo
Rugierri. The competition, which was founded way back in 1977
by Peppino Principe has drawn an increasing number of international
participants and professionals.
This year,
international jazz accordionist Renzo
Rugierri has been appointed Artistic Director. He has integrated
new ideas into the event, one of which is the introduction of new
categories ie the Student (boys under 13 years), the Junior (up to
16 years) and Senior (over 16 years) categories. There will be many
prizes during the two-day festival, the most important being the "Fisarmonica
d' Oro" (an artistic trophy plus €2,000 cash prize) to be
awarded to the most distinguished performance of the whole event.
For further information, email info@fisarmonicadoro-benevento.com
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International
Montreux Accordion Camp - Switzerland
 The
International Montreux Accordion Camp, usually held in Grimenx will
be held in Les Avants (5 miles from Montreux) from 20th to 27th August
as the event celebrates its 5th year. Organized and tutored by international
artists, Jean-Louis Noton,
Peter Soave and Madeleine Soave, the IMAC offers 7 days of workshops,
lectures, master-classes and private instructions at the Maison de
Jeunes, Chemin de Peccaux, providing a professional setting that harmonizes
nature and learning.
Subjects
taught include:
- Classical, tango, musette, jazz, improvisation, world-music;
- Midi programing and performance;
- Standard & chromatic bass, piano & chromatic keyboard, accordina,
bandonéon;
- Articulation, fingering, phrasing, bellow techniques;
- Preparation for performance and international competitions;
-
Solo and chamber music;
- History of the accordion;
- Sight reading and How to "play by ear" or How to play
at jam sessions.
The IMC usually draws professional and amateur participants of all
ages from around the world to perform, train, and share their knowledge
of accordion.
During
the seminar all lectures, lessons, meals and room accommodations are
hosted in a center
that emphasizes camaraderie and progress in a friendly environment.
Aside from music, there is the breathtaking panorama of the Swiss
mountains to be enjoyed!
For further information, email jl.noton@wanadoo.fr
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Farmers
Market Live - Japan, Norway
 One
of the more delightful consequences of our shrinking globe is the
way music from one place takes root in another. Farmers Market, a
quintet from Trondheim, Norway, were all students of jazz when they
met in 1991, but they eventually gravitated to Bulgarian folk music,
mainly because the form's odd meters and Oriental scales made it open
to the kind of improvisations they like. Leader Stian Carstensen plays
accordion and the other members play the usual complement of drums,
bass guitar and double on various reeds, including one playing the
euphonium.
Because the group isn't so interested in purity and just likes playing
music, they tend to play all styles. So between the jazz and the Bulgarian
folk you get metal, boogie, punk and blues. The only consistency is
the tempos, which invariably start out very fast and then accelerate.
Speed accordion!
Farmers Market play live on 22nd and 23rd May at Shibuya Eggman, Tokyo.
Story by Philip Brasor, The Japan Times
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Accordion
Players Take Top Honours - Ireland
A Group of talented musicians from East Antrim, Larne have been celebrating
since regaining a major championship title at the recent National
Accordion Organisation (NAO) Festival and Championships in Scarborough.
The East Antrim (Killyglen) Accordion Orchestra, held on to the Advanced
Orchestra Championship playing 'Finlandia' by Sibelius. They finished
two points clear of the second placed orchestra, Jenny's Accordionists
from Colchester and four points clear of the third placed J R Brown
Accordion Orchestra from Glasgow.
Musical director Clyde Johnston said he was delighted with this and
other results for the orchestra at the championships, adding that
the musicians had worked very hard over the past few months. They
had recently attracted a number of new players and Larne Mayor Bobby
McKee paid tribute to their talent and musicianship. The Mayor had
recently accompanied them to the Irish Accordion Championships in
Moate, Co Westmeath, and was delighted with how the group had performed
and conducted themselves.
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Zorica
Karakutovska and the Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra - Macedonia
On May 13th, the Macedonian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra performed
"Le Carnaval des Animaux" by Camille Saint-Saens with guest
accordionist Zorica Karakutovska at the Army Hall in Skopje. The Orchestra
also performed other French works under the direction of French guest
conductors.
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 Traditional
Accordion Concerts - France
The
group, "Original Music of Europe" (Musiques Originales de
la Grande Europe) will be on tour in France for the next few months.
Made up of accordionist, Eric Blin with Maryse Richard on the clarinet
and Natalia Ermakova-Blin on the Violin, the trio were all members
of the European Philharmonic Orchestra of Paris.
Future concert dates:
| 22
May |
49
Gennes Eglise |
8.30pm |
| 23
May |
37
Langeais Eglise |
4.00pm |
| 28
May |
72
Le Mans Eglise de Ste-Jeanne D'arc |
9.00pm |
| 29
May |
72
Allonnes Eglise |
8.45pm |
| 1
June |
72
Guecelard Eglise |
8.30pm |
| 3
June |
72
Neuville S/Sarthe Eglise |
8.30pm |
| 4
June |
72
Sarge les Le Mans Eglise |
8.45pm |
| 5
June |
41
Oucques Eglise |
8.30pm |
| 6
June |
41
Vendôme Eglise la Madeleine |
4.00pm |
| 11
June |
72
Saint-Gervais en Belin Eglise |
8.30pm |
| 12
June |
28
Maintenon Eglise |
8.30pm |
| 13
June |
28
Sours Eglise |
4.00pm |
| 20
June |
72
Le Mans Eglise Sainte-Therese |
5.00pm |
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Integral
Execution of "Arte della Fuga" of J.S. Bach - Italy
 The
concert artist of classical accordion, Italian Salvatore di Gesualdo
has executed the integrale "Die Kunst der Fuge" BWV 1080
of Johann Sebastian Bach in Bariu on the 18th and 19th May in the
Vallisa Church. This performance was particularly important for various
reasons. It was the first integral execution on one accordion of this
magnificent work of the German Master, especially so, as Master Salvatore
di Gesualdo has for the past 20 years dedicated studies to this work
as well as arrangements for accordion. We remember "Consta of
19 parts", between "Counterpoints of 4 and 3 parts"
and "Canoni of two voices".
It also includes the "ultima Fuga" in three voices left
uncompleted by Bach just as to the principle of the third exposure
with the entrance of the Subject B-A-C-H just like being signed by
the master. Bach died before finishing to this"Fuga".
There are only a few performers in the world who have integrally executed
"Die Kunst der Fuge" BWV 1080 because of the technical difficulties
constituted by the "counterpoint bachiano" and the instrumental
adaption. This work, in fact, does not give any approximate indication
of instrumental destination for which it has been written and this
has given the possibility to elaborate multiple versions: from the
organ to the cembalo, from quartet or string orchestras to the accordion
and "sintesed" antique key instrument by the critical ideology
of Salvatore di Gesualdo.
Therefore, for many reasons, a real historical moment for the accordion
was brought to the attention of the public and the critics in an absolutely
classified plan by one of the great interpreters of the world. This
event was organized by Prof.
Francesco Palazzo "storical" student of Salvatore di
Gesualdo and accordion lecturer at the Conservatory "N. Piccinni"
in Bari during the the artistic and cultural program of the institute.
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2004
Sata-Häme Soi-Accordion Festival in Ikaalinen - Finland
Contributed by Kevin
Friedrich
 The
annual Sata-Häme
Soi Accordion Festival be held in Ikaalinen, Finland from 29th
June to 4th July. This superb festival which attracted over 36,000
last year, is a regular and highly diverse six-day event held every
year shortly after midsummer. It provides an opportunity to enjoy
the finest accordion music in the most beautiful surroundings. The
individual performers and orchestras are always of the highest quality
including a concert and lecture by one of the most renowned accordionists
of today, Finland's own Dr.
Mika Väyrynen. Mika
will perform the complete Bach Goldberg Variations in concert and
in addition will offer a lecture on different accordion playing techniques.
Other artists include the Hungarian based Zoltán
Orosz Duo, Veli-Matti Järvenpää TexMex Trio, The
Bryac-Quartet from Ukraine, Arts Lyceum, the internationally recognized
accordion orchestra from St. Petersburg directed by Michael Arzumanov,
famed Finnish folk artists Maria Kalaniemi and Timo Alakotila, Orchestra
Mustarastas, the 2003 CIA
Coupe Mondiale
winners Nikolai Sivchuk and Aleksei Peresidly from Russia and many
more.
The festival will conclude with an appearance by Prime Minister of
Finland Matti Vanhanen, who will address the closing ceremony. In
addition, The Finnish Ministry of Culture has invited Accordions
Worldwide representative Kevin
Friedrich to attend the 2004 festival to report on the activities.
For more information, please visit www.satahamesoi.fi
or www.accordions.com/finland.
For a review of the 2003 festival please visit www.accordions.com/finland.
There will be daily coverage of the 2004
festival beginning June 28 on the same site.
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 Stolen
Titano Piano
Bayan Accordion - USA
Guy
Klucevsek's accordion was lost at Los Angeles Airport (LAX) on
7th May when he handed it off to American Airlines security staff
in an aluminum customized flight case. The instrument is a Titano
Piano Bayan, black with red bellows (pictured), Serial No. 89062.
Although the airline lost the instrument and will continue searching
for 90 days, it is now considered missing.
If you have any information that might help, please email guysqueeze@aol.com
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Singer's
Accordion Debut - Taiwan
Contributed by Lian
Jones of Accordion
House
 Taiwanese
singer Jolin's single "Prague Square" became the most loved
song by the fans, according to a recent internet survey.
Written by Hong Kong R&B artist, New King Jay, the single uses
a lot of rap and R&B elements with accordion playing in the background.
While the accordion music was not recorded live with the song, Jolin
practiced with the help of a Japanese accordion teacher hired by her
record company, after the song became very popular. By the time the
video clip for "Prague Square" was ready for filming, Jolin
had practiced the accordion day and night to make the accordion music
in the song live for the video.
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Star
Ways Winners - Serbia
Contributed by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
The first Star Ways international competition for young accordionists
was held between 30th April and 2nd May in Kragujevac involving some
125 participants from Russia, Ukraine, Austria, Bosnia, Macedonia
and Serbia.
The
competition, divided into five categories was judged by a jury made
of teachers of the participants as well as teachers at the Accordion
Department at the Kragujevac Philology and Art faculty. For the first
time in Serbia, the categories were further divided into 3 "subcategories"
namely, a-participants with piano instruments, b-participants with
button instruments and c-participants with free-basses instruments.
The 3 day competition was held at the Kragujevac Music School (for
categories I and II) and at the famous Kragujevac Gymnasium sale (categories
III, IV and V). The award for best Serbian Young Accordionist was
given to Rade Mijatovic who won most of the important titles in the
junior categories. The competition ended with a performance by the
winners of the competition on 2nd May. The next Star Ways Competition
will be held in April 2005.
Competition winners:
 Todorovic
Kristina (Novi Knezevac) - category Ia
Todorovic Kristina (Novi Knezevac) - category Ia
Stanic Janko (Kragujevac) - category Ib
Nikolic Aleksandar (Valjevo) - category Ic
Perkucin Natasa (Kanjiza) - category IIa
Andjelkovic Marko (Smederevo) - category IIb
Dimitrijevic Darko (Kragujevac) - category IIc
Savic MIlos (Valjevo) - category IIIa
Mirkov Petar (Kragujevac) - category IIIc
Antonic Ivan (Kragujevac) - category IV
Mijatovic Rade (Kragujevac) - category V
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Australian
International Accordion Championships - Australia
The
program
schedule for the Australian International Accordion Championships
in Sydney on the 29th and 30th of May is now on line. Contestants
are coming from China, New Zealand and Australia. The Special Guest
Artist is the 2003 Coupe
Mondiale International Piano Accordion Champion Pavel Magasarian
of Russia.
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Tango
Lorca NY Debut - USA
Contributed
by Kevin
Friedrich
 Tango
Lorca made its New York city debut appearing at the 1st Annual SPiCE
Spring Gala on 12th May. Tango Lorca merges old world tango aesthetics
with a sinuous texture of jazz, flamenco and classical music. Formed
in 1999, this fiery quartet has created a fresh and continually growing
body of original compositions and arrangements equally suited for
the dance hall or the concert stage. While evoking an undoubtedly
Argentine sentiment with classics from the "Golden Age",
they also create new, innovative works with a timeless sense of beauty.
The group plays their music with a deep understanding of tradition
as well as an obsessive desire to evolve the art form to new plateaus.
The accordionist in Tango Lorca is Lidia Kaminska, originally from
Przasnysz, Poland. Lidia recently became the first person to complete
her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in accordion performance at the
University
of Missouri, Kansas City.
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New &
Updated Sites
www.accordions.com/finland
- with updated information about the annual Sata-Häme Soi Accordion
Festival to be held in July.
www.accordions.com/rmac
- updated information and program on the 2004 Rocky Mountain Accordion
Celebration to be held July 30 - August 1, 2004 in Philipsburg, Montanta.
www.accordions.com/garydahl
- updated information on ordering your music by credit card through
PayPal system.
www.coupemondiale.org
- now offers a preview of the 2004 Test Piece and information on the
composer - Franck Angelis.
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