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I sometimes get asked what's so different about the accordion, and my answer is that I believe there are two things that separate our beloved instrument from any other. Firstly, the bellows. Here you have a virtually unlimited source of expression. Next is the bass system (whichever one you use). For people changing from another instrument to the accordion, I believe that once you have mastered these two elements, the rest will come a lot easier.
Wayne Knights
Contributed by Kimmo Mattila
The Sata-Häme Accordion Festival will be held from June 29th to July 5th
and is one of the largest accordion festivals in Finland. The festival
(which began in 1972) will include over 50 concerts during the week, with
international soloists, groups and orchestras performing a variety of musical
styles. The Artistic Director of the festival is Kimmo Mattila.
For further information email: kimmo.mattila@sci.fi
Contributed by Frederic Deschamps
The Saint Denis Accordion Festival was held from June 12th to 21st in
Saint Denis (Paris Region). A variety of accordion music was performed
including musette, tango, celtic rhythms and jazz. Performers included
Frédéric Guérouet and his students, The Daniel Colin Orchestra with
soloists Arrnand Lassagne, Louis Ledrich, Jean-Marc Torchy and Emile
Decotti, Ronan Robert (trio), Yann-Fanch Perroches Trio, Juan José
Mosalini Orchestra, Daniel Colin jazz quartet, Trio Bolovaris Tibown,
Duo Gian Luigi TrovesI and Gianno Coscia (accordion and clarinet) and
Marcel Azzola and Lina Bossati (accordion and piano).
On June 21st a popular ball was held with Michel Pruvot and his
dance orchestra to close the Music Festival.
Contributed by Jean-Claude Pouly
The "Schwyzeroergeli Trio" performed at the Rietberg Restaurant, Zurich
on June 11th. Trio members Iwan Meier (accordion, schwyzeroergeli &
violin), Seebi Schmidig (accordion & schwyzeroergeli) and Mark Schuler
(contrabass) performed pieces in "Central Switzerland" style and other
popular tunes. The trio also performed on June 21st at the "Alte Post"
restaurant in Zurich.
Contributed by Andrea Rautenberg
The 2nd Tangofest in Dresden was a huge success. From June 19th to 21st
the "Gare de la Lune" was crowded with tango-fans, who enjoyed
performances by "El Arranque" (Argentina), "Tango Andorinha" (Dresden)
and "Cuarteto Almagro" (Argentina).
"El Arranque" (Buenos Aires) is a tango-band that was founded 3 years
ago, with two bandoneons, two violins, contrabass, guitar and piano.
Their arrangements of original themes, accompanied by singer Marcello, filled
the dancefloor right from the start of their performance. Camilo and Jorge
(bandoneonists) have been playing for over eight years and attended the
"Escuela de Música Popular" (music school near Buenos Aires).
This was the group's first visit to Europe. After the Tangofest they
travelled to Berlin for two performances on June 25th and 26th. Then
they will take part in the Bologna Summer-Festival (Bologna, Italy).
From July 8th to 15th the group is looking for engagements in Italy.
Please contact Esteban Moreno: emoreno@tin.it
For further information about the group and their new CD "El Arranque"
email: elarranque@hotmail.com
Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association
Actor/accordionist Ray Rue is bringing his accordion and his Elvis Presley
costumes to New Orleans where he will appear as an Elvis look-alike. He
will be accompanied by drums and bass in a combo competing for a US$1000
top prize in the American Accordionists' Association "Battle of the
Bands" on July 9th. The New Orleans Show, dubbed "Cabaret Night" will
be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Radisson Hotel, New Orleans.
For ticket information phone: + 1 516 746-3100.
Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association
Prominent United States accordionist Carmelo Pino will travel to Venice to
appear as an accordionist in an Italian film for which he has also scored
the music. In one scene, Pino will play his accordion with a youngster who
performs as his son. The film will not only depict the pleasures of accordion
playing, it will show the multi-generational quality of this joyful instrument.
Contributed by David Batty
Accordionist Seamus Shannon was the guest artist at the Wyre Accordion
Club, Lancashire, England on June 17th. His act was a mixture of good
playing, humour and audience participation. He played a selection of
music, including some very fast jigs and reels and some titles from his
new CD such as Cossackoff Medley, Whistling Rufus, The Beer Barrel
Polka, My Old Melodeon and Johnny Brown. Seamus has written tunes for
Foster and Allen, with Tony Allen also being the executive producer of his new CD.
Rumour has it that Seamus has been booked to play at the wedding
reception of the barmaid from Coronation Street!
Contributed by Wayne Knights
Contributed by Ingi Karlsson
The Nupur Accordion Festival was held from June 19th to 21st in Iceland.
The event included an informal "Get-together", solo and group performances,
a dinner, evening entertainment and a variety of new and used accordions for sale.
Guest performers included Baldur, Villi, Oli Kitt, Magnus Reynir and Gunnar Holm
(jazz band), the Danish Versesinger and Jens Olesen.
Contributed by The Classical Free-reed
James Cottingham of the Coe College Physics Department will be presenting
two papers on free reed instruments at acoustical conferences in June.
"Theoretical and experimental investigation of the air-driven free reed,"
was presented at the joint meeting of the International Congress on
Acoustics and the Acoustical Society of America in Seattle on June 23rd.
This paper focuses on the physics of the free reed.
"The acoustics of the khaen," will be presented at the International
Symposium on Musical Acoustics (ISMA98) on June 28th, at the Sleeping
Lady Conference Center near Leavenworth, WA, in the Cascades. This
paper is co-authored by Coe College student Casey Fetzer.
Contributed by Toru Katou
On 17th July, the Toshie Ishikawa evening accordion concert will be held
at Minami Ohsawa Kohminkan, Hachiohji, Tokyo at 7pm. Admission is free.
For further information email Mr Shimmyo: izshinmi@fa2.so-net.ne.jp
Contributed by Wu Jie
On June 25th an accordion exhibition began in Zhengzhou, Henan
Province sponsored by the Tianjing Musical Company which includes a
variety of accordions made by the company. The exhibition will attract
many accordionists, teachers and others who will be able to see new
products and order goods.
Contributed by Iain Grogan
When Jim was serving with the Royal Air Force in Germany, he was sent
home by his superior officers to get his accordion so he could broadcast
regularly on the armed services radio. The Blue Bonnets band was reformed
when he came back to civilian life and played all over the country, as well
as broadcasting regularly on the BBC.
Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl and Jean-Louis Noton
Jean-Louis Noton will tour China from August 9th to 23rd giving concerts at the
Exposition Palace of Peking, in Tianjin, Tangshan, Shijiazhuang and a concert and
lecture in Haerbin.
For further information see Future Events
Contributed by Serge Latychev
On June 29th "Alphen opus 2" Accordion Orchestra (The Netherlands) will travel to the Sata Häme Accordion Festival in Ikaalinen, Finland. Prior to this they held a concert on June 21st which was a presentation of their new CD released on June 5th in Haarlem. Their concert program included pieces such as Collection (Henk op't Ende), Boardwalk (Ad Wammes), Four Moods (Jack Kat), Suite Gothique (Leon Boellmann), Russian and Trepak (Anton Rubinshtein) and Heksencapriolen (Lorre Lynn Trytten).
For further information regarding the CD email: jarmarka@wxs.nl
Contributed by Vladimir Besfamilnov
A jubilee concert was held at the Kolonni Hall, Ukraine National Philharmonia for the 130 year celebration of the Glier Kiev Music College. Many soloists and ensembles performed, including Professor Nikolay Rizol, a member of the famous Kiev Quartet of Bayanists. He gifted to the college button accordions which were played by members of the ensemble and are now historical instruments.
Contributed by Christine Adams
The 11th Annual French Festival will be held in Oak Park, Santa Barbara,
California on July 11th and 12th. It is the largest French celebration
in the western U.S.A with one stage devoted completely to accordions,
and other stages featuring accordionists regularly during the day. The
festival will feature fine French food, beer, wine, champagne, and over
40 acts on three stages. Accordionists will perform throughout the crowd.
Guest accordionists include Jacques Beaumont et les Accordeonaires,
Michael Gutin, Johnny La Padula Largo and Bret Larson. Admission is free
and over 20,000 people are expected to attend. For further information please email: info@frenchfestival.com.
Contributed by Sam Gentry
The Third Coast Accordion Network Rendezvous (3CAN) hosts an accordion
showcase on the third Wednesday of every month at the Highlife Café,
Austin, Texas.
On July 2nd from 7.30 to 9.30pm Pete Nalda and Rumbullion will perform.
They describe their music as "Euro-Lounge-Folk-Jazz". The quartet
includes accordion, guitar, double bass, and violin.
For further information phone: + 1 512 892-3511
Contributed by Wu Jie
On June 24th an accordion concert sponsored by the Chengdu Accordion
School was held at Sichuan University, Chengdu. Over 80 accordionists
from the accordion school aged from 9 to 19 years old participated in
the event. Teachers Xu Wei, Zhao Jun, Li Yamei and Li Lin also performed with the
students.
A capacity audience of over 5,000 people enjoyed a varied program of
Chinese and light music.
Contributed by Roberto De Simone
The sixth "Tommaso Coccione" competition for composers and performers of
accordion music will take place in Poggiofiorito, on September 19th. The winner
will receive a plaque and one million Italian lira. The chosen composition will be
published by "Primo Tema" and become a test piece in the "performance" section of
next year's competition.
Contributed by The Classical Free-reed
Accordionist and composer Guy Klucevsek received mention in the Spring
1998 issue of "New Music Connoiseur," a magazine devoted to the
contemporary music scene. In a review of a concert on February 5th
featuring Margaret Leng Tan at the Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NMC
writer Gene Pritsker wrote, "Sweet Chinoiserie by Guy Klucevsek is for
toy piano and toy instruments. Miss Tan sat on her knees at a toy piano,
with a toy accordion strapped to her, surrounded by a huge array of toy
instruments. The music is rhythmical and a bit slapstick funny."
Subject: Retailers & Distributors list
I have noticed you have not yet entered Gortin Music Wholesale (Ireland's largest distributors) or ONeill's of Gortin (retailers). Most of their details are available on their site. Also, I note some of the firms listed as distributors are only small retailers.
Best regards,
John P. O'Neill
Hello John,
Thank you for your advice. We will have a look at the site of Gortin and enter the details into our database. With regards to retailers being listed as
distributors, we rely on the accordionists and accordion organisations to submit their details correctly to us.
Best wishes,
Wayne Knights |
New Zealand's famous Huka Lodge (Taupo) is widely regarded as one of the world's most exclusive and private retreats, with many famous people having stayed there. As a sponsor of the Auckland Philharmonia, annually they invite musicians from the orchestra to perform there. This year accordionist 
Accordionist Jim Scott died suddenly at his home in Crossford, Scotland
last month. Jim began playing the accordion when he was seven and was a
well-known figure in the world of Scottish country dance music. He bought
his first accordion from Jimmy Shand and he later went on to form his own band,
Jimmy Scott and the Blue Bonnets (which later became the Blue Bonnets Scottish
Country Dance Band). This band played for many years around the Dundee and
Angus area and made its first BBC broadcast in 1949.
