Antonio Galla – Rini fue la personificación de la historia del acordeón en el siglo XX. Nacido en EEUU pero de origen italiano, Galla-Rini interpretó, compuso y arregló al más alto nivel y fue inspiración a nivel mundial como individualidad asociada al acordeón. Debemos recordarle por su fallecimiento pero también por sus logros y trabajos.
Antonio Galla Rini (1902-2006) nació en Manchester, Connecticut, EEUU. Tocaba la corneta a la edad de 4, y el acordeón desde los 6. Se presentó en el teatro de Vaudeville a la edad de 7, y posteriormente estudió teoría de la música y dirección. En su adolescencia, Antonio, comenzó a aprender el acordeón y a escribir música para el instrumento. Se convirtió en un artista, tocando por todo EEUU, incluyendo el Carnigie Hall en varias ocasiones. También hizo giras por Europa.
Galla Rini escribió su primer concierto para acordeón en 1941, y el segundo en 1976. También ha realizado numerosos arreglos para acordeón.
Este gran músico participó también numerosas producciones de Hollywood durante varios años, como en la “Rapsodia in Blue “ o “High noon”.
Galla Rini tocó, enseñó dirigió master-classes y seminarios por todo el mundo. Realizando una gran contribución.
Más información puede encontrarse en su Memorial Site, también donde enviar sus condolencias.
A few hours ago, on the Sunday 30th July 2006, Anthony Galla-Rini had some troubles at the nursing home where he lived. He was taken to hospital where the family quickly gathered to say their goodbyes. His son Ron told me, that Tony Galla-Rini had a massive heart attack and died, at the grand age of 102 years.
Galla-Rini had a huge influence on the development of the accordion over so many decades. He is probably the most published arranger of all time and was famous for his recordings and teaching. His arrangements were always regarded as an epitomy of accuracy and attention to detail.
I have had Tony in my life from the age of 15, so you can see how much his passing means to me. He had a lot of influence on me, personally, and for thousands of other accordionists for such a very long time. He really was a truly great musician to whom every accordionist owes a tremendous gratitude.
This is truly the end of a very historical era of the accordion!
May we all be so blessed to have such a long and productive life.
Joan Sommers
Retired
Professor of Accordion
University of Missouri, Kansas City
A full obituary of the life of Maestro Anthony Galla-Rini is on the Memorials Site along with funeral information, Saturday August 12th, including where you can send personal condolences.
El acordeonista finlandés Mika Väyrynen tocará en el famoso festival “Pablo Casals” en Prados, Francia del 7 al 11 de agosto. Este festival, en su 55 edición, es uno de los más apreciados festivales de cámara en Europa, y en esta ocasión es la primera vez que un acordeonista participa en él. Los organizadores cuentan con artistas de primer nivel para tocar en la Abadía de San Miguel de Cuxa y otras iglesias de Prados, en donde el programa es muy variado.
Lógicamente en el Festival hay varias actuaciones de Cello, pero también veladas dedicadas al clarinete, al órgano, y en esta ocasión al acordeón.
La interpretación de Mika podrá ser escuchada los días 7, 9 y 10 , e interpretará obras de Piazzolla, Gubaidulina y Dvorak.
Veronika Todorova en el Festival de Limburgh, Alemania
Veronika Todorova de Elz, Alemania, es la ganadora del „Premio 2006 de Acordeón en Alemania“ y del „5º concurso internacional de Citta de Atri“ en Italia, y dará un concierto con la „Veronika Todorova Band“ en el Festival de música Tradicional de Limburgh, Alemania el 12 de agosto.
Interpretarán música de Astor Piazzzolla, Richard Galliano , Renzo Ruggieri, Vincenzo Abbracciante, Pietro Frosini and Roman Bazhilin con sus propios arreglos.
La joven de 19 años ha sido seleccionada para participar por Alemania en la Copa Mundial 2006 a celebrarse este año en Noruega.
Jukka-Pekka Kuusela performed R. Murray Schafer's piece La testa d'Adriane for mezzo-soprano and accordion with Finnish soprano Mari-Anne Hilander (please see picture). La Testa d'Adriane is a theater piece, written by the Canadian composer, R. Murray Schafer (b. 1933) in 1977. The performance received standing ovations from an enchanted audience in the beautiful Lentua Concert Hall.
"Kuhmo has always been, and will continue to be a place for championing beauty and quality and for being open to new challenges", says the artistic director Vladimir Mendelssohn.
The festival planning has gone without a hitch. "The reality of a musicians' life is a mixture of concentration, creativity, stress, control and respect for music. There is no 'easy' way for any of us, but we are not daunted by the difficulties," is the Artistic Director's view in a nutshell.
The 10th annual Rocky Mountain Accordion Celebration takes place next weekend, August 4th to 6th, in Philipsburg, Montana. Guest performers include Lidia Kaminska, Sammy Thomas, The King Bees of The Bayou, the Smilin Scandinavians and the Awesome Polka Babes. Accordion technique workshops wil be led by Mike and Margie Aman.
The event is described by the organisers as a rousing weekend of dancing and listening to music, steak barbeques and outdoor pancake breakfasts, concerts in the 1892 Opera House and a parade of homemade pies.
Russian accordionist Friedrich Lips visits several other countries in the second half of 2006. Lips itinerary for the remainder of 2006 includes: -
August 10th Gubaidulina evening - Dornach, Switzerland
10th to 17th -Tour of Norway
Autumn-tour in the USA:
September 21st - Concert in the UWM, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
22nd and 23rd - Concerts in the Irish Cultural Center, Milwaukee
24th - Concert in the World of Accordions Museum, Superior, Wisconsin
25th - Concert in Elroy, Wisconsin
29th - Concert in Alabama
October 1st - Concert in San Francisco, California
5th - Concert in Seattle, Washington
October 21st - Gubaidulina: Seven Words for Bajan, Violoncello and chamber orchestra in Vilinius, Lithuania
22nd - S. Gubaidulina: Seven Words for Bajan, Violoncello and chamber orchestra, Minsk, Belarus
24th - S. Gubaidulina: Seven Words for Bajan, Violoncello and chamber orchestra in Moscow, Russia
November 3rd - Solo concert and jury chairman in Tscheljabinsk, Russia
10th - E. Podgaits: Ex-Animo for Bajan and string quartet, Moscow
21st Gubaidulina - festival in Toronto, Canada
December 2nd - Gubaidulina: in croce for Bajan and Violoncello, Moscow
12th - Gubaidulina: Under the sign of the Scorpions, concert for Bajan and symphony orchestra, Moscow
13th to 17th - Festival Bajan and Bajanisten, Moscow
14th - Solo concert in the festival Bajan and Bajanisten, Moscow
16th - E. Podgaits: Ex-Animo for Bajan and string quartet, Moscow
Spanish-born, New York-based accordionist Victor Prieto performs at the following venues:-
August 1st, 7pm Speranto, New York - Daniela W. Trio
2nd, 8pm - Olea, Brooklyn Victor Prieto solo performance
5th, 8pm - Cafe Moto, Brooklyn - solo performance
August 13th - PJ Henlys, Brooklyn - Victor Prieto Trio
14th, 7.30pm - Immigrant Sounds Festival II, New York solo performance
17th, 8pm - La Lanterna, New York Trio Iberico (Victor Prieto - accordion, Brad Shepik guitar, Alexis Cuadrado bass)
On August 19th at 7pm, the Viennese Ensemble visiting from Vienna, Austria, and the Accordion Orchestra of Melbourne share a concert at the Austrian Club, Sheehan's Rd, Heidelberg. Virtuoso accordionist Bernadette Conlon will conduct the Accordion Orchestra of Melbourne, and will also give a solo performance.
Le parc de la Villette, Paris on August 26th and 27th will be the scene for two days of continuous accordion music, including all styles jazz, musette, contemporary, ethnic, etc. Players already booked to appear include Daniel Mille, David Venitucci, Lionel Suarez, Didier Dullieux, Jean-Luc Amestoy, Pascal Contet, Jean-François Baëz, Man Xin, Yves Weyh and Zakarya, sheng player Wu Wei, Jean-Luc Bouffard, Ophélie Gaillard, Marianne Piketty, Bijan Chemirani, Serge Adam, Philippe Botta, Carol Robinson and Tom Mays.
Pascal Contet (pictured), the artistic director of this event, is looking for accordionists from anywhere in the world, of any age, style or experience to participate. All participants are offered food and beverage and entrance for the special cabaret evening in Sauvage on August 26th.
The Orquestra d´Acordions de Sabadell, formed in 1991 under the direction of Miguel Ángel Maestro, accordion teacher of the Professional Conservatory of Music of Sabadell, now has its own website.
The orchestra has won several competitions, most recent of which was the special 2006 Accordions Worldwide Award for the 1st Prize at the International Competition Città di Castelfidardo for Orchestras.
A new site selling a CD titled Classique Senior 1er tour, with sound samples. Music recorded from the La Coupe Mondiale 2004 by Marianne Melodie, of France. Purchase online.
A new site selling a CD titled Classique Senior 2e tour, with sound samples. Music recorded from the La Coupe Mondiale 2004 by Marianne Melodie, of France. Purchase online.
A new site selling a CD titled Classique Senior 3e tour, with sound samples. Music recorded from the La Coupe Mondiale 2004 by Marianne Melodie, of France. Purchase online.