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  11 February 2005This weeks news | Past News  | Send news
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Bernadette


Editor's Note

Of all the most recent news items reported on Accordions Worldwide, one of the most significant is the recent publication of the book by Paolo Picchio, 'la fisarmonica da concerto ed il suo repertorio'. The accordion has a history dating back to 1829, and has adapted very well to most of the world's musical traditions, yet there have been very few books written about the accordion or those who play the instrument. Hopefully, there will eventually be an English language version of this new and important addition to accordion literature.

Rob Howard
 

Benetoux


This Weeks News

 

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South Pacific Accordion Championships and the New Zealand Accordion Championships and Festival
Contributed by Harley Jones

The New Zealand Accordion Association web site has got online all the information about the 2005 South Pacific Championships and New Zealand Accordion Championships. The event will be held in Auckland, New Zealand. Rules for the event, test music and entry forms are all online. Entries close April 30th.

This is the largest annual accordion event in the Southern Hemisphere with over 350 accordionists participating, and has been held continuously since 1972. President John Statham says: "We particularly wish to encourage increased numbers of Festival participants, both New Zealand and international, in solo, group, band and orchestra formats. We have warm appreciative audiences for all types of music and the variety of these performances is always enjoyed."

The weekend commences on the evening of Friday June 3rd with a 'Mix and Mingle' social. Throughout the weekend there will be festival items and competitions. The Guest Artiste for the event is the 2004 Coupe Mondiale International Competition for Piano Accordion winner, Evgeny Kochetov, of Russia. On Sunday afternoon there will be a concert featuring selected class winners and guest artistes, and on Sunday evening there will be a 'Formal Dinner' with entertainment and dancing, to round off what promises to be a most exciting weekend.
 


Nikolai Ryskov Concert, England - UK
Contributed by Rob Howard


London-based Russian accordionist Nikolai Ryskov appears at North Staffs Accordion Club on February 15th, at 8pm. His repertoire will include some pieces by Pietro Frosini, French musette, Russian traditional pieces, international and classical music.

For further information email stevehg@tomstiles.co.uk
  

Gary Dahl

Sweatshop Tango Ensemble, Montreal - Canada

The Montreal-based quintet known as the Sweatshop Tango Ensemble, featuring Jonathon Goldman on piano accordion, has a series of performances coming up, as follows:-

February 11th - Butte St Jacques, at 8.30pm
May 20th to 22nd - Tangofest 2005, Toronto International Tango Festival
July 14th - Festival International de Montreal.

For further information email info@lesweatshop.ca
 
Edition Harmonia

Karen Tweed Tour Dates, England - UK

Accordionist Karen Tweed and singer/guitarist/fiddle player Roger Wilson have been touring England and their last two dates are as follows:-

February 11th - Beldock and Letchworth Folk Club
February 13th - Rose and Crown, London

For further information email karen@karentweed.dk
 
Charnwood

4th International Competition of Bayan and Accordion Players, Moscow - Russia
Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif

The 4th International Competition of bayan and accordion players is to be held in Moscow from 11th to 18th December 2005. It will be open to musicians aged between 18 and 32 years at the time of the competition. Application deadline is September 20th, 2005.

Jury members include Friedrich Lips, Sergey Kolobkov, Vjatcheslav Semionov (Russia), Max Bonnay (France), Voin Vasovic (Serbia and Montenegro), Mie Miki (Germany/Japan), Joseph Macerollo (Canada), Owen Murray (Great Britain), Matti Rantanen (Finland), Pavel Fenjuk (Ukraine), Cao Xiao-Qing (China) and Claudio Jacomucci (Italy).

For further information email: competition@bajan.ru
 
A to Z of the Accordion


Kevin Friedrich in New Zealand
Contributed by Heather Masefield

Kevin Friedrich is to return home to New Zealand over the next few days, and will be involved in accordion activities involving members of the North Shore Accordion Orchestra and others. Brief details are outlined below:-

February 14th - Master Class with Kevin Friedrich - open to accordionists of Grade 8 standard or higher. Topics will include: 1) Presentation in International Competitions (stagecraft, dress, program choice, preparation, etc); 2) Bellows: (the importance of bellows work); 3) Repertoire (some of the recent accordion composers and their works); 4) Masterclass teaching (some students will be given short lessons). The venue is Sunnybrae Primary School, Sunnybrae Rd, Northcote, from 8pm until 10pm.

February 15th - Musicale Dinner with Kevin Friedrich & other guests. The event is a barbeque, at 292 Hurstmere Rd, Takapuna, from 7pm onwards.

February 16th - The North Shore Accordion Orchestra rehearsal has been cancelled due to the school where practices take place having an open night. Instead the NSAO will be using one classroom to run the DVD shown by the Citte di Castelfidardo at their International Festival in October. Whilst the DVD is a history of Farfisa it also gives an in depth description of how the accordion developed in Castelfidardo.

 


New Book About the Accordion - Italy
Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The Italian musicologist and Accordions Worldwide CD-Reviewer Paolo Picchio has decided to break from tradition and to officially present his newly published book titled 'la fisarmonica da concerto ed il suo repertorio' exclusively online in our Accordions Worldwide News. This is to co-incide with the opening of a new website by MusicFor Accordion.com where you can purchase the book online using secure credit card payment in US$ or Euro.

On November 18th 2003, as part of his Bachelor in Musicology degree, Paolo Picchio - his thesis titled 'The Accordion as a Concert Instrument' - discussed his work at the University of Bologna as part of the history of musical instruments. This thesis was the final part of his Bachelor in Musicology. Since then, Paolo Picchio has developed the thesis into the book titled 'la fisarmonica da concerto ed il suo repertorio', written in the Italian language.

This book is structured like a route that invites the reader to discover the instrument, starting with its repertoire. Some 40 compositions have been selected that correspond to 40 various composers, covering a period of 40 years (from the 1960s to the new millennium). Analysing some passages of these works, readers will find out "how to write" for the accordion but also - at the same time - to search for the technical, expressive and acoustics possibilities of the instrument.

Paolo Picchio decided to have the official presentation on the Internet "because the world-wide community that is interested in our instrument is less and less a 'physical' community but more and more a community on-line. With this choice I would like to give a signal. This book is most interesting to read for composers but also for musicians wanting to start a concert activity with the accordion. I have written carefully, so that enthusiasts as well as professionals of our instrument can take advantage of this book. Therefore I would like to thank 'Accordions Worldwide' for giving me the space and opportunity to present my book to a worldwide accordion community."
 

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KODA Performances, Scotland - UK
Contributed by Rob Howard

The Scottish entertainment accordion orchestra KODA, previously known as the Keith Dickson Accordion Orchestra, combine traditional Scottish accordion music with the use of other instruments such as electric guitars, keyboards, bagpipes and fiddles, also incorporating vocals and dancing into their routines. KODA's performances are an exciting and inspiring experience, and an example of how traditional and modern interpretations of Scottish songs and dance music can blend tastefully together.

KODA will make the following appearances:-
February 20th - Stanmore School, Lanark - 2.30pm
March 19th - Ceilidh Night, Woodlands House Hotel, Dumfries -
7.30pm
April 22nd to 24th - NAO UK Championships, Scarborough
June 5th - Concert, Cornwath Town Hall - 7.30pm
July 23rd - Biggar Show, The Showground, Biggar
September 11th - Peebles Arts Festival, Eastgate Theatre,
Peebles - 7.30pm
September 22nd to 27th - tour to Hemmingen, Germany

For further information email info@kodamusic.com
 


Accordion at the Official Cocktail Party, Cairo - Egypt
Contributed by Lian Jones of Accordion House

The year 2005 is the Chinese Lunar Year of the Rooster. The Chinese ambassador in Egypt, Wu Sike, hosted a New Year Cocktail Party at the Chinese Cultural Center last week. The Chinese Little Angels Art Ensemble, who happened to be in Egypt at the time for an international singing competition, were invited to the party.

The Art Ensemble performed traditional songs and dances to over 120 envoy guests from over forty countries. The four five-year-old children from the Art Ensemble played music arranged for groups on accordions. This was considered to be the highlight of the evening by all in attendance.

 

Benetoux


Musselburgh Festival, Scotland - UK
Contributed by Rob Howard

The 31st Musselburgh Festival takes place at the Brunton Halls, Musselburgh in the south border area of Scotland on March 5th, from 10am onwards. This large-scale festival is organised by the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs, and includes a wide range of competition categories for Scottish traditional and classical music for both accordion and fiddle.

The accordion adjudicators include Duncan Black, Colin Dewar, Charlie Kirkpatrick, Neil Copland and Djordje Gajic.In the evening, there is a concert (6.15pm to 8.15pm) followed by a dance (9pm to 12pm), to the music of the Graeme Mitchell Scottish Dance Band. The concert features the winners of the various sections plus play-off contests for the senior accordion and fiddle sections.

For further information email Postmaster@naafc.fsnet.co.uk

 

Nicemelody


Award Winning Works Concert - China
Contributed by Lian Jones of Accordion House

The Students Award Winning Works Concert was on show at the Music Conservatory of Northeast Normal University on January 20th. The audience filled the concert venue, with many people were standing throughout the concert. Li Fei played the accordion solo of Russian Folk Song 'Dark Eyes', Li being the 3rd place winner in the Adult Solo Class of China 1st Accordion Gala & Solo Competitions. Other fellow students also performed dance, vocal and piano numbers during the concert.
 

Charnwood

Good News from the Children's Palace - China
Contributed by Lian Jones of Accordion House

As the Chinese students' winter holiday just started, the great news is spreading from Heping District Children's Palace in Shenyang City, China. The accordion trio 'The song of the Guerilla Fighters' has won the Children's Gala Show of North East, Northern China, North West Region on January 28th. The accordion solo 'Another Harvest Year' was the 1st runner up in the Gala show.
 
Ángel Luis Castaño
 

Accordion Seminar in Metz, France
Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

The extensive series of workshops, concerts and other musical activities that take place annually at the Centre Acanthes in the French city of Metz takes place from 3rd to 19th July 2005. There is tuition for composition and all orchestral instruments, including accordion. The accordion tutor is Teodoro Anzellotti, and the course will concentrate on the study and performance of contemporary accordion repertoire.

For further information email teodoro@anzellotti.de

 
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John Kirkpatrick Concerts, England - UK
Contributed by Rob Howard

John Kirkpatrick, diatonic accordion, melodeon and Anglo concertina player and singer is one of the busiest accordion players in the UK. He specialises in English folk song and dance music, and has recorded more than sixty albums in a career that has seen him perform in folk clubs and festivals all over England. Listed below are his appearances for the remainder of February.

February 11th - The Ram Club, Foley Arms, Claygate, Surrey
13th - Hitchin Folk Club, The Sun Hotel, Hitchin, Herts
18th - Ceildh, Bolford St Hall, Thaxted Essex - 8pm
18th - Rushbury Village Hall, Church Stretton, Shropshire
24th - Nightjar Folk Club, The Courtyard, Edgar St, Hereford
 
Gary Dahl
 

New Brendan Shine CD - Ireland

Irish singer and accordionist Brendan Shine, fronting the Brendan Shine Céili Band, has recently released a CD titled 'Live as Ever', consisting of live recordings made in Ireland, Britain, USA and also during a Caribbean cruise. This recording is the first to feature Brendan Shine's daughter, Emily, on vocals and keyboard.

Brendan Shine has done much to keep the accordion in the public eye during his 40-year career, and presenter Terry Wogan has often played his recordings of Irish, Country and Western, ballads and humorous songs in the UK on BBC Radio Two.

For further information email shinemusic@hotmail.com
 
Lips CD's
 

Frankfurt Music Fair Hotel Accommodation - Germany
Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Could those people who contacted the hotel mentioned in last week's AWW news by email please repeat their requests. This is necessary due to email problems last week at the reservation center. For your convenience, the information is repeated:-

This year's Frankfurt Music Fair (International Musik Messe) takes place from April 6th to 9th. There are hotel rooms available at 10 minutes walking distance or an underground station, stopping directly in the exhibition entrance hall for the price of :
1 room/2 persons (2 single beds, refridgerator, bath, wc) Euro 100
2 rooms/3 persons (1 room with 2 beds, 1 room with 1 bed, refrigerator, bath, wc) Euro 120
Euro 25 final cleaning costs.

For further information e-mail: hotel@accordions.com

 
Bernadette

CD Review


A new CD Review of David Carovillano (accordion) and Becky Sajo (clarinets). Review by Paolo Picchio.
Lips


New & Updated Sites

http://www.accordion.co.nz - New Zealand Accordion Association site, newly updated with the 2005 South Pacific Championships and New Zealand Accordion Championships Prospectus, test music and entry forms. This is the largest annual accordion event in the Southern Hemisphere with over 350 accordionists participating, and has been held continuously since 1972.
 


http://www.accordions.com/zanchini - with new information/concert dates in February of the Italian jazz accordionist Simone Zanchini
 

Yuri & Vadim Fjodorov


http://accordions.com/picchio - Paolo Picchio, Musicologist, CD Reviewer, Artistic Director of the International Competition 'Città di Castelfidardo' for Solo Accordion Players and Accordion Ensembles. Site update includes information about his new book 'la fisarmonica da concerto ed il suo repertorio'.
 

    
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