Friedrich
Lips new CD titled "No Comments" named after the work
of the Lithuanian composer Merab Gagnidze, represents an interesting
mixture of works of different character. The CD features music by
Schnittke and Khatchaturjan (arranged by Lips) as well as original
works by Berinsky and Derbenko, dedicated to the artiste. Miniatures
by Solotarjov, Shurbin, Precz and Londonov complete the varied program
of this CD, which gets its special freshness from two live-recordings.
Listed on the CD cover is information about a very special honour that was assigned to Friedrich Lips recently. According to a resolution of the regional parliament of Chelyabinsk, his former music school was re-named after him: "Friedrich Lips - Art School“.
In 1960 Friedrich Lips was the first pupil and in 1964 the first graduate of this school which is now named after its most famous pupil. Thus, Friedrich Lips ranks among the few artistes of any instrument who have actually received such an honor during their lifetime!
Former
USA Champion William Samonek Passes Away, Connecticut - USA
Contributed
by Kevin Friedrich
William
M. Samonek, age 46, of Fairfield, died on Wednesday, May 3rd 2006
in Beacon Falls, Connecticut. Born in Bridgeport to John C. and
Anastasia (Alice) Werchak Samonek, he was a Fairfield resident since
1961. He was a graduate of Roger Ludlowe High School and attended
the University of Bridgeport. An accomplished accordion player,
he had placed first in the AAA
United States Competition in 1977 and third in the CIA
Coupe Mondiale World Competition later that year in Eindhoven,
Netherlands.
Bill was also a keyboard player and was a freelance musician. In addition to his parents, he is survived by two sons, William Samonek of Bridgeport and Jonathan Samonek of Derby; one brother, Kenneth Samonek and his wife, Nancy, of Monroe; one sister, Carol Ann Fawver and her husband, Harlen, of New Hampshire; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
The funeral took place on May 6th, with the Rev Vadim Pismenny officiating, followed by in St. John's Cemetery, Monroe.
On
May 1st, in the Government Palace of Ancona, Marino
Ascani was awarded with the ‘Merit Star’ in honour and
merit of his work as a craftsman. Marino has received this award
for his excellent work and professionalism in the Pigini
accordion factory, where he trains and prepares young workers with
the maximum care and attention.
The
Pigini
Company wants to thank Master Ascani for having worked for the
last 33 years with dedication and passion to produce the best keyboards
for accordions. The picture shows: Ascani Marino and Francesa
Pigini.
Nikolai
Ryskov Performs for Royalty, London - UK
Contributed
by Rob
Howard
Russian
accordionist Nikolai Ryskov performed in a concert on May 10th at
Kensington Town Hall, in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess
Alexandra. The concert was part of the International Social Service
Spring Fair, of which HRH Princess Alexandra is the Patron.
Also performing was the singer Dasha Kirilishina, a student at the
Anglo-Russian music Academy ‘Musica Nova', based at 88 Cromer
St, London WC1H 8DG. Nikolai Ryskov accompanied her as she sang ‘Nightingale’,
by A. Alyabiev, and the famous folk song ‘Kalinka’. Nikolai’s
solo pieces were 'Dark Eyes', 'Katusha', 'The Gold Moscow ', ' Ash
Tree of the Urals', 'The Pedlars', 'The Heart', 'Moscow
Quadrille', 'O Flowering Kalina', and some Russian waltzes.
Nikolai Ryskov, who was introduced to Princess Alexandra after his
performance, teaches at the Music Academy 'Musica Nova'.
Renzo
Ruggieri Performances – Albania, Italy, France
Contributed by
Rob
Howard
Italian
accordionist Renzo
Ruggieri makes the following appearances:-
May 21st, 10.30am, solo performance in the UniCredit Circle of Verona.
June 1st - Renzo and Luca Ciarla (jazz violinist) are in concert together
at the Tirana Jazz Festival, Albania.
June 4th – solo performance at the Chartres Accordion Festival,
France.
June 7th to10th – Renzo
Ruggieri appears at the Dolci Romori Jazz Festival, Italy, as
both Artistic Director and performer. Renzo will perform in the theatrical
show La Spada Di Fuoco, by Pablo Neruda.
June 11th to 13th - the ‘Association for the Promotion of Art’
organizes the 1st Stage of Jazz/Modern Music, Roseto degli Abruzzi.
Two days of ‘Full Immersion’ with lessons for 8 daily
hours.
Concertina,
Fiddle and Accordions Concert, Stockport – UK
Contributed
by Rob
Howard
The Fosbrook
Folk Education Trust are having a concert on May 20th, 7pm,
at the United Reform Church, Maitland Street, off Hempshaw Lane,
Heaviley, Stockport. The guests are Emma Reid and Robert Harbron
(fiddle and English concertina), supported by the Fosbrooks –
an ensemble of young folk musicians that includes several accordionists.
Emma Reed is a brilliant young fiddle player who has studied Swedish
traditional music as well as working regularly with British folk
musicians. Robert Harbron has a growing reputation for his work
in the field of English traditional music. The concert is organised
by Liza Austin-Strange MBE.
Altan Concert Dates in England and Wales - UK
Contributed by Rob Howard
Irish traditional music favourites Altan, featuring Dermot Byrne on diatonic button accordion, tour England in late May. Their dates are as follows:-
May 19th – Southport Arts Centre, England
20th – The Coliseum Theatre, Aberdare, Wales
21st – Victoria Hall, Saltaire, Bradford, England
22nd – Leeds Irish Centre
23rd – Sheffield City Hall
24th – Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre, Accrington
25th – The Sage, Gateshead
26th – Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
27th - Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth, Wales
28th - Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan
Accordion Concert, Vienna - Austria Contributed
by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl A concert takes place in Vienna on June 10th, at 6pm, starring accordionist Hermi Kaleta, and the ensemble ‘Akkordeonissimo’, featuring Christian Theueremann, Muamer Kebic, Lukas Schmied, Daniel Stratznig and Walter Schildberger (MD Roman Pechmann).
The venue is Volksheim GroB Jedlersdorf 1210, SiemenstraBe 17.
Domi
Emorine and Roman Jbanov, known as the Paris-
Moscow Duo, are to perform the following concerts:-
June 10th, 8.30pm – Agora, Genlis, France
16th to 18th – Bucharest Festival, Romania
21st, 8.30pm – Issoudun, France
27th, 6.30pm – Ancennis
July 6th to 9th – Ransäter Festival, Sweden
16th, 8.30pm – Pfaffenhofen, Germany
21st, 9pm – Rouret, France
22nd, 9pm – Colomars
23rd, 9pm – Valberg (Nice)
29th, 10pm – Casino, La Bourboule
July 30th to August 4th – Master Classes, La Bourboule
Main Squeeze Orchestra Concert, New York - USA
Contributed by Rob
Howard
The Main Squeeze Orchestra, an all-female accordion orchestra (MD Walter Kuhr) based in New York City, perform at Mo Pitkins House of Satisfaction, 34 Avenue on June 22n,at 7.30 pm.
Balkanfolk Seminar, Bankya - Bulgaria
Contributed by Rob
Howard
The 9th Balkanfolk Seminar takes place in the resort of Bankya, 15 km away from the Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, from July 17th to 30th. This event, the only practical seminar for Balkan Folklore in Europe, takes place in the hotel ‘Jeravna’.
The program of Balkanfolk 2006 includes the following courses: accordion - Bulgarian music, gaida, kaval, dvoyanka, duduk, gadoulka, tamboura, tapan, tarambouka, taragot - Romanian music; folklore dances, Bulgarian folk dances , Romanian folk dances ; Bulgarian folk singing.
Participants will have the option to visit Melnik (the smallest town in Bulgaria), the Rozhen monastery, National park Vitosha and the 10th International folk festival ‘Vitosha’.
Bruno Maurice Master Classes and Concerts, Bordeaux, France
Contributed by Holda
Paoletti-Kampl
French accordionist Bruno Maurice currently is Professor of Accordion at the national Conservatory of Bordeaux, France. He has won several international competitions, made three solo recordings, and often performs with other musicians.
During the summer of 2006 he is to perform and hold master classes:-
July 15th to 28th – International Music Academy and Festival of Les Arcs.
August 12th to 26th - International Music Academy and Festival of Guérande
Debate Proposed for Improving Bayan Design - Belgium
Contributed by Rob Howard
Belgian accordionist Stefaan Walraet likes to play a wide range of classical music, such as organ pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers. For this music he believes it is important to use the thumb of the left hand on the 3 rows in a very flexible manner.
Current designs of free bass accordions only allow the use of 4 fingers of the left hand on the bass side of the accordion, and Stefaan would like to see a more ‘ergonomical’ design for the accordion, so that accordionists can use 5 fingers. They would then be able to use the same fingering for the right hand and for the left hand! He believes accordion education would improve much in doing so, possibly reducing study time. The theory is that if the same fingering can be used for both hands, the brain is less ‘troubled’, enabling one to play more easily.
In the USA, 1979 AAA US Champion Don Severs, from Des Mines, Iowa, has produced a design for an ‘ergonomical bayan’. Stefaan Walraet would like to propose to organise a seminar or symposium or congress around this subject.
Friedrich
Lips
In 1960 
Award
for Pigini Craftsman, Ancona – Italy
On
May 1st, in the Government Palace of Ancona, Marino
Ascani was awarded with the ‘Merit Star’ in honour and
merit of his work as a craftsman. Marino has received this award
for his excellent work and professionalism in the 
Russian
accordionist Nikolai Ryskov performed in a concert on May 10th at
Kensington Town Hall, in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess
Alexandra. The concert was part of the International Social Service
Spring Fair, of which HRH Princess Alexandra is the Patron.
Italian
accordionist 
Accordion Concert, Vienna - Austria
Domi
Emorine and Roman Jbanov, known as the 
Main Squeeze Orchestra Concert, New York - USA
The 9th Balkanfolk Seminar takes place in the resort of Bankya, 15 km away from the Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, from July 17th to 30th. This event, the only practical seminar for Balkan Folklore in Europe, takes place in the hotel ‘Jeravna’. 
French accordionist Bruno Maurice currently is Professor of Accordion at the national Conservatory of Bordeaux, France. He has won several international competitions, made three solo recordings, and often performs with other musicians.
Belgian accordionist Stefaan Walraet likes to play a wide range of classical music, such as organ pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers. For this music he believes it is important to use the thumb of the left hand on the 3 rows in a very flexible manner.