Finnish
accordionist Mika
Väyrynen will appear at the Sibelius Festival in Loviisa
on June 15th when he will perform on bandoneon in a concert called
‘Le Grand Tango.’ Mika
will perform Piazzolla's ‘Hommage a Liege’ - a concerto
for strings, bandoneon and guitar, ‘La Camorra I,II,III’,
‘Concierto para Quiteto’, ‘Milonga del Angel’,
and ‘Adios Nonino’, with a quintet including bandoneon,
violin, guitar, piano and double bass.
On this same concert, Mika will perform the world premiere of ‘Loviisa Duo’ for bandoneon and cello, by composer Jaakko Kuusisto, who is also the violinist in ‘Tango for Four’, and the leader of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra. This fascinating and difficult work, described as one of the most magnificent ever written for bandoneon, has been commissioned by the Loviisa Sibelius Festival.
Also Mika will perform his new revised version of the ‘Chaconne’,
by J. S. Bach, on bayan at this festival.
Recently, on May 29th Mika performed at the Ritarihuone in Helsinki
where he shared the concert with baritone Tommi Hakala (past winner
of the Cardiff Singing Competition). Mika performed the music
of Bach, Scarlatti, Rameau and Moskowski.
Editor’s Note:
A few weeks ago Dr. Lynda Griffith appealed
for accordionists, amateur or professional, to fill in her questionnaire
in connection with her book about the prevention and treatment of
injuries to players. To date, she still needs feedback from players
anywhere in the world, which is why her request is repeated this week
(see below). Please take a look, and help out if you can. Rob
Howard
Questionnaire for Accordionists, Minnesota - USA
Dr.
Lynda Griffith is collecting research data (Questionnaire)
about accordionists, concertina and bandoneon players, etc. and their
practice habits, skill levels, and possible injuries. Information
gathered will be included in an upcoming book about the mechanics
of playing different types of accordions, and prevention and treatment
of injuries to players.
To date, Lynda Griffith has collected responses from over 400 players in more than 25 countries, but still needs more respondents, especially from outside the USA. The book will be written as a reference for the player, for teachers, and for medical practitioners who treat injuries.
Lynda Griffith has unique qualifications as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Licensed Physical Therapist, a Certified Accordion, Concertina and Bandoneon Repair Technician, who plays all seven of the major instruments of the accordion family. Lynda Griffith is also a member of the Performing Arts Medicine Association and the Performing Arts Special Interest Group of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Most respondents in the study to date are from around the USA, and
the accordionists of Europe, Asia, Russia, Africa and China need to
be much better represented in the study, to improve the world significance.
Please help by participating and by asking your friends, colleagues,
students and teachers to complete the Questionnaire.
3rd Harmonica Days Festival, Prague – Czech Republic
The Club Tours Agentur Prague and the Czech Accordion Association
are organizing the third Harmonica Days Festival, an international
competition for harmonica and accordion ensembles and orchestras.
The festival takes place from November 1st to 4th. Amateur ensembles,
orchestras, accordion and harmonica enthusiasts from all over the
world are welcome to this international music show.
The categories are as follows:
I) Accordion, Melodeon and Concertina ensembles
Ensembles of 4 to 11 musicians, without conductor. These bands may also include other instruments, but accordions and harmonicas have to predominate. Free choice of program; time limit 12 minutes maximum.
2) Accordion Orchestras – Youth (up to 25 years)
Orchestras of 12 or more members. Other instruments are allowed, but accordions have to predominate. Free choice of program from any era and style; time limit 15 minutes maximum.
3) Accordion Orchestras - Adult
Orchestras of 12 or more members, other instruments are allowed, with accordions predominant. Free choice of program from any era and style; time limit 15 minutes maximum.
The
South Pacific Accordion Championships (Daily
Reports) were held in Auckland, New Zealand from June 1st to 3rd.
One week later was held the Australian International Accordion Championships
(Daily Reports) in Sydney,
Australia from June 9th to 10th.
Both events now have international categories for contestants from
any country in the world and are starting to attract more international
entries.
The AATA has now published its 2008
Prospectus (competition rules) online and these rules are virtually
the same as the New Zealand event. The two events will again be held
one week apart in 2008 continuing the cooperation of many years.
Rules and 2007 CMA Competition Information – Russia
On
Monday 18th June the CMA
website will have the rules and each category listing for the 2007
CMA online.
The dates of the event are November 6th to 11th 2007 in Samara, Russia,
with Sergei Voitenko being the main organiser.
There are 4 Trophee Mondiale Trophee solo categories:
Senior Classique Trophee Mondiale
Junior Classique
Senior Virtuoso Variete
Junior Virtuoso Variete
For further information, please view the CMA website on Monday 18th
June.
Richard Galliano Honors Michel Legrand, New York – USA
Accordionist Richard Galliano, with George Marz – bass, and Clarence Penn – drums, performed at a special 'French Evening' award ceremony honoring the composer Michel Legrand at the IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators Convention), held at the Hilton Hotel, New York. Galliano’s performance, which included such pieces as the ‘Windmills of Your Mind’ and ‘Under Paris Skies’, “mesmerised” the audience, according to the official report.
This was, incidentally, the first time the French government received recognition by the IAJE for welcoming many American ex-pat jazz musicians in Paris over the years. The French were undoubtedly responsible for saving the careers of some of the most important jazz figures who couldn't make enough money in the USA to live comfortably.
The next IAJE convention will be in Toronto Canada, January 2008.
Accordionist Salvatore Cauteruccio is presently involved with ‘La Barraca’, a theatrical company, in a touring show titled ‘Beyond the Road’. This production is about social injustice, and has a musical score for accordion.
Cauteruccio has also recently performed with the trio ‘Acoustic Music Ensemble’ (P. Perrone, E.Campagna) at the theater of the Hotel Santa Caterina (Scalea, Cs) and with the ‘Jazztango Quartet’ (E.Campagna, A.Mango, A.Sirufo) at the Sala Consiliare, Town Hall, Scalea (Cs).
The Karen Street Quartet (Karen Street – accordion, Ben Castle – saxophone, Mike Outram – guitar, and Fred Baker – bass) perform as follows:
June 15th, 9pm - Be–Bop Club, The Bear, Hotwell Rd, Bristol
June 27th, 8.30pm - YPI Social and Sports Club, Chanterlands Avenue, Hull HU5 4EF
June 28th, 8pm - Corner House Hotel, Heaton Rd, Newcastle-on-Tyne
June 30th, 8.30pm - The Little Theatre, Wells, Somerset
July 1st, 8pm – The White Swan, Rother St, Stratford-upon-Avon
The
Erstes Kölner Akkordeon-Orchester 1935, one of Germany’s
longest established accordion orchestras, perform in concert on August
31st, at 8pm, in the Cologne Philharmonic Hall. The program will include
everything from classical music to the sounds of the swing bands.
The concert will a selection of music from classical to the sounds
of the swing bands. The concert will have special guest appearances
by the Willy Ketzer Trio, Hans-Günther Kölz – jazz
accordion, and Katrin Gass – harmonica.
Other concert appearances by the EKAO 1935 include:
July 1st, 2.30pm – Tanzbrunnen, Cologne
August 31st, 8pm - Philharmonic Hall, Cologne
September 9th, 10.45 and 4pm, Streetcar Museum, Thielenbruch
9th, 1pm and 2pm - International Folklore Festival, Tanzbrunnen, Cologne
December 2nd, 5pm - Cologne University
The Tønder Festival, takes place from August 23rd to 26th and
is a four-day folk music event that has been going from strength to
strength since its inauguration in 1975, with performances in venues
across the town.
Performers
at the festival will include a variety of free reed instruments including
the Dirk Powell Band (USA), Balfa Toujours (USA), Solas (USA), Great
Big Sea (Canada), Hans Theesink Band (Austria/Zimbabwe), Runrig (Scotland),
Lau (Scotland), and Danú (Ireland).
Two main tents provide large capacities for the headline acts, while
the Old Windmill and Tønder High School offer a more intimate
atmosphere. There is ample camping space available for those who want
to make a long weekend of it.
The 17th National Accordion Competition, the 7th International Competition
for Classical and Variety accordion, and the 9th Premier International
Competition for concert accordionists, takes place from 5th to 7th
October in the Fedele Fenaroli Theater, Lanciano. Entrance is free
to all events.
The festival includes two concerts: Saturday October 6th - Roberto Caberlotto and Gilberto Meneghin as a duo, and Sunday October 7th - the Orchestra of Archi.
The Artistic Director is Cesare Chiacchiaretta, and event organiser is Nicola Gargarella.
Yehuda Oppenheimer update 2 arrangements of 'Young Love', and ‘Jaffa Nights’. Samples of the music are available online. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card.
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Finnish
accordionist 
Dr.
Lynda Griffith is collecting research data (
The
South Pacific Accordion Championships (
Full
reports of the 
On
Monday 18th June the 
Accordionist Richard Galliano, with George Marz – bass, and Clarence Penn – drums, performed at a special 'French Evening' award ceremony honoring the composer Michel Legrand at the IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators Convention), held at the Hilton Hotel, New York. Galliano’s performance, which included such pieces as the ‘Windmills of Your Mind’ and ‘Under Paris Skies’, “mesmerised” the audience, according to the official report.
Accordionist Salvatore Cauteruccio is presently involved with ‘La Barraca’, a theatrical company, in a touring show titled ‘Beyond the Road’. This production is about social injustice, and has a musical score for accordion.
The Karen Street Quartet (Karen Street – accordion, Ben Castle – saxophone, Mike Outram – guitar, and Fred Baker – bass) perform as follows:
The
Erstes Kölner Akkordeon-Orchester 1935, one of Germany’s
longest established accordion orchestras, perform in concert on August
31st, at 8pm, in the Cologne Philharmonic Hall. The program will include
everything from classical music to the sounds of the swing bands.
The concert will a selection of music from classical to the sounds
of the swing bands. The concert will have special guest appearances
by the Willy Ketzer Trio, Hans-Günther Kölz – jazz
accordion, and Katrin Gass – harmonica.
Tønder
Festival 2007, Tønder - Denmark
Performers
at the festival will include a variety of free reed instruments including
the Dirk Powell Band (USA), Balfa Toujours (USA), Solas (USA), Great
Big Sea (Canada), Hans Theesink Band (Austria/Zimbabwe), Runrig (Scotland),
Lau (Scotland), and Danú (Ireland).
