Accordions Worldwide The Squeeze

24th April 1998
- Weekly Accordion News from around the world -
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Editors note:

From this week we now have the Weekly News in Russian, joining English, German, French, Italian and Japanese languages. There are many highly skilled and talented Russian accordionists and their accordion composers and educators have had an impact worldwide on the concert literature and tuition methods of our favourite instrument. We hope to welcome many more Russian language readers from this important part of the accordion world to our Weekly News.

Wayne Knights
Webmaster

This weeks news:

Accordionist Plays to 6,000 in South Africa
Accordion Club Presents Betty Jo Simon in Concert - USA
Accordionists Perform to Over 10,000 – Panama
"Hohner" to Open Accordion Factory in China
Competition Dedicated to Australian Accordionist
Givet Festival - France
Festival in Vienna – Austria
Accordionist James Crabb Featured in Newspapers - England
Classical Accordion Program on FM Radio - USA
First Accordion of Serbia Competition - Yugoslavia
Accordionist Receives Citation Award – New Zealand
Duo From Norway at "Virtual" Festival
Sylvia Pagni in Concert - Germany
New Accordion Music Bookstore – China
French style accordion at Manchester Airport - UK
Personal Success Due to the Accordion - Russia
Noton Performs in Spain and Italy
Accordionist Performs at Confectionery Café - USA
Concertina Article Accepted by Publishers
Augusta Heritage Center Accordion Classes - USA


ACCORDIONIST PLAYS TO 6,000 IN SOUTH AFRICA

Contributed by Etienne Ozorak

Etienne Ozorak The "Laughing Gypsies" with lead singer Clarabella Von Niekerk (bass guitar and vocals) from South Africa and Etienne Ozorak (accordion) features 1950's American music, Russian folk songs and French ballads sung in Afrikaans, English and French.

They were recently invited to perform at the Klein Karoo art festival in South Africa (which is a celebration of Afrikaans culture) and they performed rock music to over 6,000 people. Five performances were scheduled with reviews in local newspapers.

The accordion is prevalent in South Africa, primarily in "Bourou" (their equivalent of Cajun) music. South Africa's "Magnante" is Nico Carstens, who has recently released a very popular CD.


ACCORDION CLUB PRESENTS BETTY JO SIMON IN CONCERT - USA

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

Betty jo Simon On Monday, April 27th, at 7.30pm, the Milwaukee Accordion Club will present Betty Jo Simon at the Root river Center, Franklin, Wisconsin.

Betty Jo Simon received her Bachelor of Music in Accordion Performance from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and has since accumulated a long list of achievements. She has performed worldwide as a soloist, a member of the UMKC Accordion Orchestra, with Symphony orchestras, on the Fred Waring Show, and with her own German Polka Band the "Alpen Spielers".

Recently, she has concentrated on utilising MIDI technology, to enhance her performances, and has just released her first CD entitled "Mamma Mia", which will be available at the concert. For further information email: 72753.2567@compuserve.com


ACCORDIONISTS PERFORM TO OVER 10,000 - PANAMA

Contributed by Carlos Burac

On April 18th at the Chorrera International Fair, accordionists Victorio Vergara, Ulpiano Vergara and Osvaldo Ayala performed to over 10,000 people. Victorio Vergara played his Number 1 hit single on the Panama charts "Bebe". The accordionists' performance was a "mano a mano" which is like a competition between the performers.

In Panamá live accordion music can be heard almost every day because the accordion is one of the principal instruments in "musica tipica" which is one of the most popular music styles in the country.


"HOHNER" TO OPEN ACCORDION FACTORY IN CHINA

Contributed by Wu Jie

"Hohner" Accordion Manufacturing plan to open a factory in Zhejiang Province, China this year which will be the first foreign accordion company to operate in China.


COMPETITION DEDICATED TO AUSTRALIAN ACCORDIONIST

Contributed by Tania Lukic-Marx

The 5th Australian International Accordion Festival and Championship held by the AATA (Australian Accordion Teachers Association) is dedicated to the popular Australian accordionist Lou Campara. This is believed to be the first Accordion Testimonial Dinner in Australia. Lou will attend a concert in his honour on Friday May 22nd and his Testimonial Dinner on Sunday night May 24th. For further information email: tlukic@jigsaw.net.au


GIVET FESTIVAL - FRANCE

Contributed by Frédéric Deschamps

The Givet Accordion Ensemble (directed by Mrs Cottel), will host the Sundgau Orchestra (Alsace), directed by Philippe Rey, at a concert at the Givet Riding School on Saturday May 30th at 8.30pm with guest conductor Brigitte Billy.

ADAG (The Givet Accordionists Association) was formed in 1980 and has enthusiastically encouraged high musical standards, under the energetic direction of Mrs Cottel.


FESTIVAL IN VIENNA - AUSTRIA

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif

A festival of contemporary music called "Hörgänge" was held recently in Vienna Austria. Georg Schulz, (accordion teacher at the Hochschule für Musik in Graz, Austria), presented the first accordion solo recital, designed to demonstrate the development of the accordion as a concert instrument. He performed "Dinosauros" (Nordheim - accordion and tape), "Painted clouds" (Bargielski) and "Grand Jeu" (Kaufmann - accordion and tape) as well as pieces by young Austrian composers like Sande, Kretz, Präsent and Kern.

In a second concert Philippe Thuriot, (accordion teacher at the conservatory in Gent, Belgium), performed "Akkordeonkonzert" (Dirk d'Ase) with the "Ensemble of the 20th century" conducted by Peter Burwik.


ACCORDIONIST JAMES CRABB FEATURED IN NEWSPAPERS - ENGLAND

Contributed by Gary Blair

On April 17th, accordionists James Crabb and Geir Draugsvoll held a recital at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. The next day James Crabb held a 2-hour Masterclass. The Observer newspaper recently wrote ''James Crabb is a major discovery, a performer of perfect poise, taste and passion'' and The Independent newspaper wrote ''an accordionist of dazzling virtuosity''.


CLASSICAL ACCORDION PROGRAM ON FM RADIO - USA

Submitted by The Classical Free-Reed, Inc.

Peter Schickele (pianist and host of the weekly PRI radio show "Schickele Mix") hosted a classical accordion concert program on Radio WQED-FM recently, that included solo works and accordion with a chamber ensemble. Solo works included Guy Klucevsek (Phantom Polka), Helmut Jacobs (Romance for harmonium), Geir Draugsvoll (Confetti), Pauline Oliveros (Crone Music) and Stefan Hussong (Stravinsky's Tango).

Chamber Works included Relache (Parterre), Robert Davine (Suite for accordion, cello & piano), Geir Draugsvoll (Children's poems from Germany for soprano, violin and accordion) and Douglas Rogers (Leisure Moments for concertina & piano).

The successful show also included an encore piece by Joanne Castle (from the Lawrence Welk Show) who played Flight of the Bumblebee Boogie.


FIRST ACCORDION OF SERBIA COMPETITION - YUGOSLAVIA

Contributed by Milan Tomic and Tania Lukic-Marx

The First Accordion of Serbia International Accordion Competition will be held at Beograd Philharmony Orchestra house, Beograd, Yugoslavia on June 27th and 28th.

Competition categories range from 10 years and under to 19 years and over. Competitors are required to perform a minimum of two pieces by memory. The Jury will comprise of Yugoslavian accordion teachers and winners will receive cups and prize-money.

Competition closing date is June 1st. For further information fax: + 381 34 335-291 or email: tomic@yugo.ia.kg.ac.yu


ACCORDIONIST RECEIVES CITATION AWARD - NEW ZEALAND

Contributed by Christine Adams

In February Harley Jones was created a Fellow of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers of New Zealand. On April 18th Harley was presented with his Citation by the Auckland Branch of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers. Over 80 Institute members, accordion teachers, colleagues, friends and family attended the presentation. Entertainment was provided by accordionist Campbell Bettridge who performed The Harmonious Blacksmith (Handel) and the Final movement of Sonata in B minor (Chaikin) and Maurice Jones who played a French medley, La Cumparsita (tango) and 12th Street Rag.


DUO FROM NORWAY AT "VIRTUAL" FESTIVAL

Contributed by Cliff Furnald

From April 15th to May 30th, the First Annual RootsWorld Free Reed "Virtual" Festival will be held on the radio and on the internet.

Many accordionists have contributed articles to this festival including Henry Doktorski ("The Classical Free Reed"), Dirty Linen, Musical Traditions and Folk Roots magazines and radio stations will feature broadcasts.

Each day a different performer is featured. So far artists include UK melodeon maestro Brian Peters, and a duo from Norway of Gabriel Fliflet (accordion) and Ole Hamre (drums) called "Fliflet / Hamre Energiforsyning". The duo have recently released a CD called "Ivar Aasen Goes Bulgaria" which features mainly accordion and drums with occasional bass and guitar. Their music is a mixture of Scandinavian and ethnic styles in unusual time signatures


SYLVIA PAGNI IN CONCERT - GERMANY

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

Young accordionist Sylvia Pagni held a very successful concert at the Gallery of Frankfurt, Germany, during the opening of the "World Fair". She amazed the large audience with jazz arrangements of classical pieces and music by Astor Piazzolla.

Sylvia will participate as a Cemex demonstrator at the "Music Fair" in Rimini, Italy from May 8th to 11th. On May 14th she will hold a concert at the Pavia Theatre where she will play classical pieces by the famous Italian composer Peppino Principe.


NEW ACCORDION MUSIC BOOKSTORE - CHINA

Contributed by Wu Jie

Mr Lin Yulin, an accordion teacher at the Chengdu Accordion School, plans to open an accordion music bookstore called "Wei-Wei" near Sichuan Conservatory of Music in Chengdu, China. The store will be the first exclusive agency for accordion music in China with accordion books, recording tapes, CDs and music.


FRENCH STYLE ACCORDION AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT - UK

Contributed by Hugh Barwell

On Monday April 20th, aviation chiefs and the Deputy Prime Minister attended the opening of the new terminal building at Manchester Airport, where accordionist Hugh Barwell performed French accordion music on MIDI. Hugh's music created a pleasant atmosphere, as he alternated with a Dixieland band and other musical acts.


PERSONAL SUCCESS DUE TO THE ACCORDION - RUSSIA

Submitted by Reuters News Service

Former Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, prior to his recent dismissal was awarded a medal "The Order for Services to the Fatherland" and was praised by President Yeltsin. Chernomyrdin was quoted in a Reuters News Service article as saying "that part of his success stems from his image as a typical and down-to-earth Russian man, who enjoys playing the accordion in his rare spare moments."


NOTON PERFORMS IN SPAIN AND ITALY

Contributed by Frédéric Deschamps

Jean Louis Noton has been performing at the Cavagnolo stand at the Salon de la Musique (Music Fair) in Valencia, Spain from April 22nd to 25th. Following this he will be performing at the Rimini Fair in Italy from May 8th to 11th.


ACCORDIONIST PERFORMS AT CONFECTIONERY CAFÉ - USA

Contributed by Jim Wangemann

Accordionist Jim Wangemann will be regularly performing at the Confectionery Café Salzburg, Altoona, Iowa on Friday and Saturday nights. This Austrian restaurant features confectioneries that are "out of this world!" says Jim.

Jim will also be playing at the "Mai (May) Fest" in Altoona on May 2nd and is also planning to attend the American Accordionists Association Accordion Festival in New Orleans from July 8th to 12th.


CONCERTINA ARTICLE ACCEPTED BY PUBLISHERS

Submitted by The Classical Free-Reed, Inc.

Allan Atlas, American classical concertinist and author, has had an article, "The Respectable Concertina" accepted by the British Musicological journal "Music & Letters". The article will appear in the May 1999 issue (one year from now) and covers subjects like new music for the English concertina, notable recordings and performances, new research, entry into Dutch music education curricula, the new home for Wayne's collection at the Horniman Museum and the up-coming Wheatstone Bicentennial in 2002.


AUGUSTA HERITAGE CENTER ACCORDION CLASSES - USA

Contributed by Gordon Blackley

The Augusta Heritage Center in West Virginia which is dedicated to making traditional music, crafts, dancing and folklore available to visitors and residents are featuring a variety of accordion workshops throughout July as follows:

  • July 5th to 10th - Cajun Creole week with Preston Frank, Danny
    Poullard, Dirk Powell, Tracy Schwarz, Rose Sinclair and Bois Sec Ardoin.
  • July 12th to 17th - Swing week with Dan Newton
  • July 19th to 24th - Irish week with Billy McComiskey
  • July 25th to 31st - French Canadian Music week with Sabin Jacques

For further information email: augusta@augustaheritage.com


Email of the week

Subject: My accordion sold!

Dear Mr. Knights,

My accordion sold! Please remove my "for sale" ad (Giulietti/Julio Giulietti F93). I'll submit another ad soon. Also, thanks for putting me in touch with Bob Tedrow. We traded his 1830's Busson Accordeon for my 1873 Lachenal concertina

Thanks for all your help and have a great day.

Richard Marzec

Well done! I'll have the advert removed when we next update the site in the next week. Thanks for using our service.

Wayne Knights
Webmaster
Accordions Worldwide
http://www.accordions.com



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