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http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=01-Mar-2013&s=6836
http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=01-Mar-2013&s=6836
01-Mar-2013
World’s First Kauri Accordion produced in Finlandby Kevin Friedrich |
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 Picture above: Kauri Accordion Team: Kimmo Mattila (Project Manager in Finland), Kevin Friedrich, Aaro Luukinen (Artisian and teacher at IKATA), the late Jarmo Salin (Teacher of the IKATA Department of Design), Joni Liukkonen (Director of Ikaalinen College of Crafts and Design - IKATA) and Tapio Nysten (Head teacher of the IKATA accordion department).As part of an International venture between New Zealand and Finland, a local craftsman in Finland has constructed the world's first accordions made from the prized native New Zealand 'Kauri' tree. This project has been the dream of Kevin Friedrich, born in Dargaville, New Zealand, (near where the giant Kauri trees grow). Kevin Friedrich is a regular visitor to Ikaalinen, Finland, the home to a rare accordion making school, where trainees are taught the art of constructing accordions in the traditional Finnish folk style. This project combines the rich and rare tradition of Finland's accordion making culture with the stunning timber of the New Zealand Kauri tree. Under the hands of master Finnish craftsman Aaro Luukinen, the dream of a Kauri instrument has now become a reality. Three magnificent instruments K1, K2 and K3, all to be officially named at a later date, have been crafted. The first of the instruments K1, will be housed at the Dargaville Museum, which already features extensive displays on the history of the Kauri trade in the Dargaville area. This instrument crafted from Kauri timber from Dargaville, will be used for performances in the region to showcase this unique and beautiful instrument, the world's first made from the Kauri timber. K2 will be housed in Ikaalinen, Finland and will be the showcase instrument of the craftsman and accordion making facility, while K3 will become the personal instrument for Kevin Friedrich to keep in New York and use for personal performances in North America. The instruments were completed and officially unveiled on 30 January 2013 in Ikaalinen, Finland at an International Press Conference, with the debut performance scheduled for March 24th, 2013 in Dargaville. For more information and pictures of these unique instruments being crafted, please visit: www.accordions.com/kevin/n_kauriaccordion.htm |