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News from 22nd November 1996


This weeks titles:


INTERNATIONAL AWARD "ASTOR PIAZZOLLA", ITALY

Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

From 8th to 10th November, the Third International Award "Astor Piazzolla" took place in Castelfidardo, dedicated to the music composed by the famous Argentinian maestro and great bandoneon player who died in 1992.

There were soloists and groups with various combinations of players and instruments participating, performing music composed by Piazolla (original scores, free transcriptions and personal improvisations). The 98 talented participants came from Russia, Spain, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Italy and included "Neofonia Ensemble" a group of 12 players from Napoli, Italy, Russian duettists "Duo Balik-Ralo" and "Trio Argentino del Tango" from Spain.

"Adios Nonino" composed by Piazzolla for the death of his father was interpreted by the famous Argentinian pianist Carlos Franzetti as well as by Hector Ulises Passarella on his Bandoneon and both were received with a long standing ovation by a large audience.


NEW ZEALAND ACCORDIONISTS ENTERTAIN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS

Contributed by Lionel Reekie, Music Education Centre

Members of New Zealand's renowned "Air New Zealand Accordion Orchestra" welcomed the festive season in Auckland's annual "Santa Parade". This event is held in Auckland (New Zealand's largest city) and is watched live by around 300,000 people annually. People line the main streets of the city watching many "floats", full of acts and entertainers go by. The event is also covered by several TV stations. The accordion orchestra float has been a musical feature of the parade every year since 1986 and continues to be one of the most popular.

The orchestra, who have recently returned from a highly successful tour of German speaking Europe, entertained the crowds with the smash hit "Lemon Tree", by Fools Garden. Young and old alike applauded as this amateur youth group squeezed their way through the song 17 times! The orchestra's unique sound, blending reeds with voice, percussion, glockenspiel and synthesiser never fails to appeal, and each year the group entertains the crowds with numbers from their extensive repertoire.

Setting up the sound system at 9.00am made it a long day in the hot sun for many of the members, who were still packing instruments away at 5.15pm. Although hard work, they all enjoyed being a part of the Christmas festivities, and look forward to being a part of it next year, playing the instruments they love.


DOROTHY VAN DAMME PASSES AWAY

Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association

The wife of famous jazz accordionist Art Van Damme recently succumbed to a serious illness which hospitalised her for several weeks. Dorothy and Art enjoyed many decades of happy marriage and she accompanied him to three tribute concerts in 1995, the year Van Damme announced his retirement at the age of 75. The tribute concerts were held in Van Damme's native state of Michigan, in California and in New Jersey where the American Accordionists' Association sponsored a gala event.


ROMANKO TOUR OF SWEDEN

Contributed by Tatiana Lanchtchtikova and Victor Romanko

Victor Romanko is a very famous Russian accordionist - Editor

Russian Victor Romanko has won many accordion competitions in Russia and won the International Accordion Competition in Klingenthal in 1983. Since 1994 he has been a Professor at the Ural State Mussorgski Conservatory.

He toured Sweden from 18th to 30th September, giving 30 concerts (all of them in churches) in various cities of Sweden, including Lulea, Umea, Gothenburg and Stockholm. Highlights of his programme included:

  • Concerto "Times of Years" (Vivaldi)
  • Organ Prelude and Fuga a-moll (Bach)
  • Concerto a-moll (Bach/Vivaldi)
  • Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 (Liszt)
  • Campanella (Paganini/Wurthner)
  • Russian and Trepak (Rubinshtein)

Most of the pieces were arranged by Victor himself. One of these was the Concerto "Times of Years", which was recorded by TV in Gothenburg. Wherever he played this, the audience were amazed that this work was being played by a solo accordion!


"WHITE DAY" IN SWITZERLAND

Contributed by Martin Frey, Akkordeon Importe

On Saturday 23rd November the Russian ensemble "White Day" from Moscow will perform on Swiss TV, from 8pm to 9.45pm in the show "HOPP DE BÄSE, EXTRA".

Then on Monday 25th November at 8.00pm a concert with "White Day" will be held in Nesslau, in the "BÜELENSAAL" Hall. Entrance price is Sfr. 15.-- per person. Come and hear one of the great accordion-based groups of the world play tunes from around the world live!


PHOEBE LEGERE AND THE 4 NURSES OF THE APOCALPSE

Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association

Rock accordionist Phoebe Legere is now playing at one of Greenwich Villages (New York City) most sizzling night spots, Coney Island High, where young rockers assemble for the loud and glorious. Phoebe sings and composes the songs for her group in addition to playing up a storm on her MIDI accordion, accompanied by the "4 nurses of the Apocalypse". Her outrageous show puts the accordion center stage in rock music.


MYRON FLOREN'S 29TH CONSECUTIVE WURSTFEST

Contributed by Tom Collins, Montana

The American accordion great, Myron Floren, was featured at the annual Wurstfest in New Braunfels, USA. Coincidently it was his birthday, and the two co-authors of "The Golden Years of the Accordion" (Eddie Chavez and Edwin Davison) formed an accordion duet to serenade him with an inspired version of "Happy Birthday". Hundreds of fans packed the festival ground's marquee to pay homage to the musical virtuoso who has entertained hundreds of thousands of people over three decades at the Wurstfest.


TANGO/BANDONEON RAGE PROVIDES ACCORDION EXPOSURE: TOKYO, CHICAGO, PARIS

Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association

Tango Fantasy, a CD which features German accordionist Stefan Hussong was recently recorded in Tokyo on the Denon label. It contains avant garde Latin rhythms composed by Stravinsky, Albeniz, Piazzola and John Cage.

Daniel Barenbohm, conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, plays piano on the new CD titled Tangos Among Friends, Taldec label. He is accompanied by Rudolfo Mederos on bandoneon and contrabassist Hector Console.

None Such Records has released a CD titled Hommage a Piazzola, featuring violinist Gideon Kremer, on which Fredrick Lips plays one cut. Per Arne Glorvigen performs on bandoneon.


SCHIMMEL IN THEATRICAL EVENT, NEW YORK

Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association

Accordionist-composer William Schimmel will perform in "An Accordion Theatrical Event" with dancer Micki Goodman on November 23 and 24 at the Anahid Sofian Studio in New York City.


PETER SOAVE CONCERTS AND TOURS - RUSSIA, FRANCE, USA

Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association

Concert accordionist Peter Soave recently returned from a very successful three-week concert tour of Russia just in time to perform for yet another standing ovation at the Austin chapter of the Texas Accordion Association on November 13th. He played an exciting program ranging from transcriptions of the classics to Claude Bolling's classical jazz.

Soave will leave shortly for Paris where he is scheduled to play a concert on November 21st and to conduct a week-long accordion seminar at the National Conservatory of Marseille, ending with a concert. He will then spend two weeks on the French island of La Reunion near Madagascar, doing accordion seminars with French accordionist-teacher Andre Thepaz, and presenting concerts at this unique venue.


LIPS IN THE USA

Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association

Famous Russian accordionist and teacher Fredrich Lips has just concluded a very ambitious concert tour in the USA which took him cross country. Audiences who heard his brilliant performances were awed by his masterful technique and sensitive musicianship.


KLEZMER MUSIC FAKE BOOK RELEASE

Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association

Two music books by famous Klezmer accordionist Sy Kushner are now available. Klezmer Fake Book Volume One consists of 20 Klezmer tunes never before published and a compact disc of the original performances. Klezmer Fake Book Volume Two is another collection of 20 Klezmer tunes which have also never been published, and includes a CD of the original recordings featuring Klezmer greats such as Dave Tarras, Naftule Brandwein, Mishka Tsiganoff, Kandel, Abe Schwartz and others. Included are the complete Philadelphia Sher, Fun Tashlikh, Zeydn's Tants and Drohobitsher Khused.

Both books are in the key of C, at $US29.95 each plus worldwide S/H at $US4 for one book and $US3 more for each additional book. They may be ordered from Ernest Deffner Publications, PO Box 608, Mineola, New York 11501 or by faxing +1 516-7467085


DIMITRIEV TO TOUR USA IN MARCH

Contributed by Faithe Deffner, President of the American Accordionists' Association

Alexander Dimitriev, one of Russia's top accordionists, will tour throughout the USA in March of 1997. The American Accordionists' Association as well as several accordion clubs will sponsor his concerts. Some concert dates in the first two weeks of March are still open. To make concert arrangements, phone the AAA office on +1 516-7463101.


AUTUMN ACCORDION FESTIVAL - ENGLAND

Contributed by Harley Jones and Malcolm Gee, The Accordion News

This event, held last week from 14th to 17th November was an overwhelming success. There were guest performers from around Great Britain and special guests, the St Petersburg Musette Ensemble. Organiser Malcolm Gee said everyone had a great time. A full news item on this is expected to come from Malcolm for next week's news.


USA ACCORDION SALES UP

Contributed by Tom Collins, Montana

A recent article in the USA Today newspaper says that accordions are running up the sales charts once more. Larry Linkin of the National Association of Music Merchants says accordion sales in the USA are up 36% in the first quarter of 1996 compared with the same period of 1995.





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