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Highlights |
2022 AAA Festival Competition Goes Virtual - USA
Accordion Masterclass with Paulo Jorge Ferreira – Portugal
Gator by the Bay Crawfish Festival - USA
Concertina Accordion Band Performs at Palace Hall - Moldova
London Accordion Orchestra “Bellows Across Borders” Concert – UK
2022 South Pacific Accordion Championships & Festival – New Zealand
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Buy Last Stock before Price Increase from Euro 29 to Euro 34 - Germany
Online: Dr. William Schimmel Accordion Seminars - USA
Meeting of Accordionists in Nymburk – Czech Republic
Budapest Cafe Orchestra 2022 Tour of Scotland
Video: Sibelius Academy Accordion Festival, Minna Ristamäki Concert - Finland
Future events |
Maciej Frąckiewicz Accordion Masterclass & Concert – Germany
Concert to Commemorate Örvar Kristjánsson - Iceland
Nürnberger Akkordeonorchester Willi Münch e. V. Opera Concert – Germany
Dominique Paats Guest Performer - Netherlands
Dannong Wu Concert for Swiss Foundation for Young Musicians – Switzerland
Diatonic Accordion Manufacturing Course - France
North Staffs Accordion Club Charity Concert - UK
Duo Paris Moscou Perform at Marcel Azzola Tribute Concert - France
Cajun Accordion Festival & Competition – USA
Childrens Corner |
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Site: Mike Middleton - USA
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
What are you doing for World Accordion Day? 6th May - Internationalby Harley Jones |
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 The Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) is pleased to welcome you to World Accordion Day (WAD) on 6th May or nearby days.With the relaxing in many countries of Covid-19 rules that had been affecting accordion rehearsals, concerts and competitions, there is expected to be more World Accordion Day (WAD) events for 2022. The WAD site will report those events that are able to happen. For groups and individuals around the world: What are you doing for World Accordion Day to promote the accordion in your country? World Accordion day is on May 6th, which is the day the accordion was patented in 1829. World Accordion Day was started in 2009 by the CIA and has been very successful, generating a lot of positive publicity for the accordion. A key part of this event is the World Accordion Day website to register your event and with background information for the media. Every association, group, orchestra, performer and teacher is asked to actively support WAD by encouraging national and local accordion activities to happen in their country on this day or the weekend either side of Accordion Day if that should be more convenient. Everyone can register their WAD activity on the WAD website and send a report of their event after, for that website. No event is too big or too small. ALL accordion events celebrating accordion are welcome. This is a CIA promotion for the accordion in which every accordion enthusiast can participate and help bring our accordion world together as well as strongly promote the accordion. |
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2022 AAA Festival Competition Goes Virtual - USAby Harley Jones |
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 Download the virtual competition Rules, Categories and Required Composition List at: 2022Rules&Entry.pdfEntry Forms Due Date is August 1, 2022. Video Submissions Due Date is August 15, 2022. For any enquiries, please contact Frank Busso Jr. contest chairperson (picture right), at frank@bussomusic.com. AAA President Dr. Joseph A. Ciccone writes: "Due to the AAA’s commitment to the health and safety of our many loyal attendees and guest artists, and to help support our nation’s efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19, our AAA Governing Board had to make a difficult decision. The 2022 AAA Festival has been postponed and will be rescheduled, along with the AAA Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner in honor of Frank Busso Sr. for the summer of 2023. Festival 2022 Competition Categories will therefore be virtual this year." |
Accordion Masterclass with Paulo Jorge Ferreira – Portugalby Rob Howard |
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| The Conservatório De Música Olhão (Conservatory of Music of Olhão) in Portugal will hold an accordion masterclass with Paulo Jorge Ferreira in the Municipal Auditorium of Olhão on May 21st and 22nd, 2022, supported by the Municipality of Olhão. The masterclass is for all students of accordion conservatories, academies, professional Schools, music superiors, universities, private, among others, from initiation to higher education. The program will include: • Presentation • Framing of the accordion in the current music scene • Fundamental principles in the study of music • Correct positioning of the instrument / body-instrument relationship (body posture) • Exercises together: technique, joint, bellows, bellows shake, ricochet techniques • Rhythmic games; improvisation • Effects on the instrument (gliss, cluster, tremolo, percussion, untempered gliss) • Stylistic and interpretative framing of the works • Mental and emotional posture as an interpreter • Professional / artistic attitude as a musician • Individual hearing of students • Reading piece(s) together Download further information: 2022Ferreira.pdf |
Gator by the Bay Crawfish Festival - USAby Christine Johnstone |
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  Gator By The Bay is the West Coast's premier annual Zydeco, Blues & Crawfish Festival, full of Louisiana themed music, dance, food & fun! This year’s event will be held in Spanish Landing Park, San Diego, USA from May 5th to 8th, 2022 (Mother’s Day Weekend).Accordion performers and groups include Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express (picture below), Geno Delafose (picture left), Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, Los Fabulocos, Theo & the Zydeco Patrol, Billy Lee & The Swamp Critters (picture above right), Fontenot, Pappion & Plauché (includes accordionist (Joe Fontenot) and Ass Pocket Whiskey Fellas. For details email: gator@gatorbythebay.com |
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Concertina Accordion Band Performs at Palace Hall - Moldovaby Christine Johnstone |
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| The Concertina Accordion Band will perform at the Palace Hall in Chisinau, Moldova on May 5th, 2022 at 7pm. The concert, organised by the "Serghei Lunchevici" National Philharmonic will feature the Concertina Band accompanying well known Romanian musician, actor and poet, Tudor Gheorghe. For details email: info@concertino.md |
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London Accordion Orchestra “Bellows Across Borders” Concert – UKby Christine Johnstone |
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 The London Accordion Orchestra (picture below) will present a “Bellows Across Borders” concert at the Sacred Heart Church in Wimbledon, England on April 18th, 2022 at 5pm (Easter Monday).Special guests the Swiss Youth Accordion Orchestra (picture left) will perform also. Their program will include a variety of music “from Bach to Benny Goodman, as well as original pieces written for the orchestras". London Accordion Orchestra conductor and composer, Ian Watson has also written a new piece for this event. For further details email: mail@londonao.co.uk |
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2022 South Pacific Accordion Championships & Festival – New Zealandby Heather Masefield Secretary, New Zealand Accordion Association |
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| The 2022 NZAA South Pacific Accordion Championships & Festival will be held at a venue to be selected June 4th and 5th, 2022. The event, due to current New Zealand Government Covid travel restrictions, will only be open to New Zealand residents or NZ passport holders and Australian passport holders. A variety of age group classes for soloists, duos, trios, ensembles and orchestras will be available. Entries close on April 14th, 2022. Download the rules and competition prospectus at: 2022nz_prospectus.pdf For further details email NZAA Competitions Secretary Renee Jeffries at: nzaacompsec@gmail.com |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
National Accordion Convention 2022 – A Special Anniversaryby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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 Less than two weeks ago the National Accordion Association (NAA) Convention ended. It was a special anniversary: 35 + 1 year of the NAA. Yes, 2021 would have been the 35th anniversary, but we all know what came in the way. So, we celebrated this year the 35 + 1 anniversary. Norman Seaton (President) and Sharon Seaton (Board member) have been recognized on stage during the Saturday evening concert with an engraved plaque for their work and dedication. This was not the only thing “special” about the Convention. Due to ongoing pandemic we had to make a few changes to the setup. Photo Up: NAA Youth Orchestra Photo Down: Friday evening - Shelia Lee Memorial Dance Band Photo Right: Saturday evening: Fun Band Breakfast and lunch was paid and served buffet style in the main Ballroom. We also opted for some healthier options for lunch with a changing soup and salad bar. We had setup all sessions with double space to allow for social distancing. Different to previous years we gave our youth a dominant spot with their performance during lunch on Saturday to give them a bigger exposure. They were great. Thanks to Dick Albreski who managed and conducted the youth orchestra and Elena Fainshtein for sending in so many talented students. We had scheduled 4 evening events which had been a full success. From the welcome reception on Wednesday, where Markus Baggio played a game of “Roast the Host”. The audience spun a wheel and whatever genre showed, Markus had to play this. Thursday was mainly an open mike session, but with a spin: We had three rooms dedicated to different regions of the world, so conventioneers could play anything from French Musette, Vienna Waltzes, Balkan Polkas to Country and Latin Music. The Friday Dance Party was opened by the Sheila Lee Memorial Dance Band, conducted by Dee Langley, followed by Jim Rommel, Gordon Kohl, and Mike Middleton. The dance floor was packed. Saturday evening, we had our traditional banquet, but instead of having a conga line as in previous years, we organized an Accordion Flash Mob in the Hotel Lobby. What a blast! Finally, the culmination was our Saturday evening concert. The Fun Band opened with some good tunes, followed by Michael Soloway. His performance was a homage to the movies from Doctor Zhivago to Schindler’s list. Everybody was touched and he got standing ovations. There was much more: Tris Gour and John Simkiss played several duets with Tris singing with his smooth voice. A surprise guest was Elijah Clements, this fine young man took the audience by storm. Richard Noel followed with some swinging songs, getting even dancers on the floor. Jim Rommel played some Rock & Roll tunes. The concerted ended with Paul Betken playing some good old-fashioned swing and jazz songs. The last performer of the night was Eddie Monteiro, closing out with a French Musette, some jazz tunes and the ‘One-note-Samba’. On a personal note: Norman Seaton, my wife Sabine and I spend months on planning and scheduling, emails, phone calls. Between Wednesday and Sunday, I walked more than 35 miles, just in the hotel. Did everything run smoothly? Well, most of the time, there were some hiccups, but we managed, improvised, and got it resolved. In total we had more than 40 sessions and more than a hundred conventioneers joining us. We also like to thank all attendees to make this a success. Thanks to all presenters, vendors and helpers: Dick Albreski, Bob Donovan, Tris Gour, Mike Middleton, Eddie Monteiro, Gene Neyer, Richard Noel, Paul Betken, Jim Rommel, Sharon Seaton, Michael Soloway, Hank Thunander, Dee Langley, Gordon Kohl, Jerry Jacoby, Craig Funderberg, Nick Ballarini Sr and Jr., Joe Petosa, Randy McPeck, Clara Trahan. Thanks also to the Hilton Hotel staff for all their hard work. If you haven’t done it join the NAA Facebook group to see tons of photos and videos. See you in 2023. We are schedule for March 15 - 19, 2023. So save the date! |
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Buy Last Stock before Price Increase from Euro 29 to Euro 34 - Germanyby Harley Jones |
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 The price from publisher is being increased from Euro 29 to Euro 34 on 1st April. We have books in stock so as long as our shopping basket shows the price Euro 29 you can still purchase at the old price. We expect to run out of stock within a few days so order now to get the special price.Catalog: kslips00 This high quality reprint "must have" book that every teacher, enthusiast and student will cherish is now released. The Art of Accordion Playing by Prof. Friedrich Lips is one of the most popular educational books for accordion with its focus being: Technique, Interpretation and Performance of Playing the Accordion Artistically. The high-quality content now corresponds to the outward appearance of the book: four color printing on high quality hard cover in exclusive design with lamination and paper binding with long lasting thread-stitching. Printed on chlorine-free, bleached, acid-free, stable and age resistant, high quality, matte, non-reflective paper for fatigue-free reading uses a high quality paper made in Germany. The major technical difference of the new print run comparing to the old one is the cover, paper quality and the binding: high quality hard cover with lamination now instead of plain softcover previously and thread-stitching instead of simple glueing. The book is great value at Euro 29, Catalog kslips00 the same price as the older lower quality print version. |
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Online: Dr. William Schimmel Accordion Seminars - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
 Dr. William Schimmel online accordion seminars are scheduled for July 29th, 30th and 31st, 2022, presented by The Accordion Global Association.The Theme is: “Too Much Information, Too Little Time, But We Do It Anyway!” The event will include Master Classes from 3pm to 4pm and concerts from 4pm to 5pm. The distinguished list of participants include Micki Goodman, Paul Stein, Dr. Robert Young McMahan, Will Holshouser, Godfrey Nelson, Lorraine Nelson Wolf, Dr. Denise Koncelik, The Main Squeeze Orchestra, Doug Makofka, Jeanne Velonis, Sari Kalin, Brian Dewan, Erica Marie Mancini, Mary Spencer Knapp, Benjamin Ickies, Dan Cooper, Peter Flint, William Komaiko, Dr. Hugo Goldenzweig, Gene Pritsker, Peter Jarvis, Bachtopus, Mayumi Mayoaka, Robert Duncan, David First, Bob Goldberg, Carl Riehl, Rachel Quirbach, Melissa Elledge, Dave Soldier and more to follow. Topics that will be presented incude In your face, Out of your face, The New Professional, The Vague Panther - dealing with navigation of rough waters, The technique of ideas, The technique of chops, Ideas and chops, The Accordion as Homing Pigeon, Accordi yoga, Zen Phrasing revisited, Accordio meditation, De stressing with your accordion, Fun with a purpose, Hard work - with payoff (instant gratification), Hard work with delayed payoff (the art of patience), Contraction and release, Aught Culture and Reverse Irony, New works, Old works - new angles, Nothing new, but how we look at it, The Accordion as Smile - La – Phone, Morality and the Accordion and much more. Dr. William Schimmel’s versatility is evident by the many musical projects that he is involved in. He has devoted his life to musicianship particularly utilizing the accordion. For further details email: accordionbill@gmail.com |
Meeting of Accordionists in Nymburk – Czech Republicby Christine Johnstone |
 Jan Cajan (picture right) invites accordionists to a meeting at the Nymburk Cultural Center, Nymburk Kokos Municipal House (Small Hall) in Nymburk, Czech Republic on July 23rd, 2022 at 2pm.Accordionists are welcome to perform at this event, have fun and make new friends. To register your interest please email: info@cajansluzby.eu |
Budapest Cafe Orchestra 2022 Tour of Scotlandby Rob Howard |
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| Video: Budapest Café Orchestra performing Ketshpelek from Ashkhabad of Turkmenistan. The Budapest Cafe Orchestra will tour Scotland from May 10th to 28th, 2022 giving concerts in Whithorn, Dalswinton, Stobo, Drumnadrochit, Portmahomack, Lyth, Wick, Rosehall, Lochinver, Achiltibuie, Gairloch, Torridon, Waternish, Portree, Arisaig, Oban and St Andrews. The group, includes Eddie Hession (accordion), who won 2nd prize at the Coupe Mondiale in the USA in 1981. Other group players are Christian Garrick (violin & darabuka), Kelvin Cantlon (double bass) and Adrian Zolotuhin (saz, guitar, balalaika & domra) play a variety of traditional Balkan, Russian, Hungarian and Romanian gypsy and folk music. |
Video: Sibelius Academy Accordion Festival, Minna Ristamäki Concert - Finlandby Christine Johnstone |
| Video: Minna Ristamäki: Master recital "From the Shadows” Program: Kasper Rofelt: Nightsong 2 (with Essi Höglund, violin) Sofia Gubaidulina: De profundis Martin Lohse: 6 Preludes Harri Vuori: The Hour of the Wolf J. S. Bach: Fantasy and Fugue in A Minor BWV 904 Paavo Korpijaakko: Peer Gynt Fantasy The four-day Sibelius Academy Accordion Festival, held from March 23rd to 26th, 2022, showcases the endless possibilities the accordion presents in all genres of music. |
Future events |
CNIMA Free Teachers/Students Concert – Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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 The CNIMA directed by Nathalie Boucheix (picture left) will give a concert featuring teachers and students at Poulailler in Saint-Pierre-Roche, France on April 7th, 2022 at 8.30pm.Entrance is free. For details email: cnima@orange.fr |
Maciej Frąckiewicz Accordion Masterclass & Concert – Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
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| Maciej Frackiewicz will give a multimedia concert “See you in a Dreamland. Portrait of a lover” at the Chamber Music Hall of the Essen-Werden Campus, Folkwang University of Arts on April 8th, 2022 at 7.30pm. This will be followed by an Accordion Masterclass at the same venue on April 9th and 10th from 11am to 6pm with students from Mie Miki’s class at the Folkwang University. The course is made possible by the support of the Dr. Josef and Brigitte Pauli Foundation and is open to interested public members. Entry is free of charge. For details email: karten@folkwang-uni.de |
Concert to Commemorate Örvar Kristjánsson - Icelandby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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| A concert to Commemorate Örvar Kristjánsson, one of the nation's most beloved accordionists, will be held at The Hall in Kópavogur, Iceland on April 8th, 2022. During his 60-year career, Örvar released 13 albums that were very popular and these concerts are held on a regular basis to commemorate Örvar and his contribution to Icelandic music history. Performers include accordionists Jón Þorsteinn Reynisson and Margrét Arnardóttir who will play some of Örvar's best-known songs. See poster for details. |
Nürnberger Akkordeonorchester Willi Münch e. V. Opera Concert – Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
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| The Nürnberger Akkordeonorchester Willi Münch e. V. will perform at the Nürnberger Orpheum in Nurnberg, Germany on April 10th, 2022 at 7pm. “Orchestra conductor Stefan Hippe invites you to a short journey through opera and operette, host Barbara Schofer expertly teaches us the way and sopranist Isabel Blechschmidt excites us with her extraordinary voice”. Their program includes works by Bizet, Lehár and Verdi. For details phone: 0911/53 03 888 |
Dominique Paats Guest Performer - Netherlandsby Christine Johnstone |
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| Accordionist Dominique Paats has been invited as a guest performer on the "Paulus Schäfer invites" show. He will join musicians Jelle van Tongeren (violin) and Matheus Nicolaiwelsky (double bass) at a concert at the Café de Stam in Gerwen, Netherlands on April 11th, 2022 at 8pm. Paulus Schäfer is a guitarist, composer, and arranger from the Netherlands and his regular show "Paulus Schäfer invites" features a variety of guest musicians. For details email: christien@sintimusic.nl |
Dannong Wu Concert for Swiss Foundation for Young Musicians – Switzerlandby Christine Johnstone |
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| Accordionist Dannong Wu (China) will perform a concert at Spalenvorstadt 25, Basel, Switzerland on April 14th, 2022 at 12.30pm organised by the Swiss Foundation for Young Musicians. His program will include Bach’s Partita 2 and excerpts from French Suite 5. Entrance is free of charge. For details email: info@foryoungmusicians.ch |
Diatonic Accordion Manufacturing Course - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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| Ewen d'Aviau will run a 10-day diatonic accordion making course from April 20th to 30th, 2022 in Corrèze, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. Course participants will be able to make and assemble their own diatonic accordion during the course as well as experience evening concerts and share their talents as the last half-day will be devoted to a musical practice on the accordion with an outside speaker. A second course is planned in St Nazaire in August this year. For details email: ewen.daviau@gmail.com |
North Staffs Accordion Club Charity Concert - UKby Rob Howard |
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| The North Staffs Accordion Club have organised a Charity Concert to be held at the Kidsgrove Town Hall in Kidsgrove, England on April 22nd, 2022 at 7.30pm. Performers include the North Staffs Accordion Band and Stefan Andrusychyn who will accompany vocalist Denise Leigh. See poster for details. |
Duo Paris Moscou Perform at Marcel Azzola Tribute Concert - Franceby Rob Howard |
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| Duo Paris Moscou which includes accordionists Roman Jbanov and Domi Emorine will perform at a Marcel Azzola (10 July 1927 – 21 January 2019) tribute concert on May 1st, 2022 at 5pm. “Marcel Azzola's name was associated with all the faces of the accordion, from the musette ball to the original creation and jazz.” The event will be held at the Chatel-Guyon Theatre in Châtelguyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. See poster for details. |
Cajun Accordion Festival & Competition – USAby Christine Johnstone |
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  Video: Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys Quartet performing at the Rhythm and Roots Festival 2021The Cajun Accordion Festival & Competition will be held at Vermilionville in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA on May 14th, 2022, organised by Steve Riley Productions. The event will include performances by the Pineleaf Boys (picture above left), Savoy Family Cajun Band (picture above right) and Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. Registrations close on May 11th, 2022. See poster for details. |
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Childrens Corner |
Video: Eight Year old Performs with Los Garcia Brothersby Christine Johnstone |
| Video: Eight year old Hector was invited on to the stage in Texas, USA to play Conjunto Tejano music with the Los Garcia Brothers. |
New and Updated Sites |
Online: British College of Accordionists 2022 Anniversary Festival – UKby Rob Howard |
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 The British College of Accordionists (BCA), Principal Raymond Bodell, will host their 2022 Anniversary Festival online this year in May.The event will include a National Graded solo competition for each of the 12 examination grades, and an International Competition for soloists of all ages as well as junior and senior ensembles. The closing date for video entries is April 15th, 2022. Competition videos will then be forwarded to the jury members. The videos will be judged by National and International jury using the BCA’s marking criteria giving each performance a mark out of 100. Each jury member will submit their marks to the BCA and the result calculated & published for all categories on Sunday 15th May 2022. For further details visit the British College of Accordionists (BCA) website or email: ray.annabodell@gmail.com |
Updated Site: Mike Middleton - USAby Harley Jones |
 Updated Site: Texas accordionist Mike Middleton site has been updated with new information, future events and new pictures. |
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