Sponsors
Books (Text)
eSheet (pdf file)
eTracks sound files
Sponsors
Free Services
Books (Text)
Statistics
Sponsors
Highlights |
Breaking News: Peppino Principe Dies at the Age of 91 years, 9th March - ItalyEditorial
Nouveau site web de l’American Accordionists' Association (AAA) - USA
Tournée de Renzo Ruggieri en Autriche, du 2 au 9 Mars, dont le Festival d’accordéon de Vienne - Autriche
Joey Miskulin en vedette du World Accordion Day au Musée du monde de l’accordéon de Superior, WI - USA
5ème Festival et Masterclasses Internationaux de Mons - Belgique
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Video: 2018 XX Kokkola Daily ReportsYuri Shishkin Three Concerts and Masterclass - SwitzerlandVideo: 2018 XX Kokkola Daily ReportsWomen in the AAA through the Decades - Beverly Roberts Curnow
Future events |
Bartosz Glowacki Concert, Watford – UKRenee de la Prade’s Gig Diary – USA, DubaiHommage a Andre Verchuren Concert, Porcieu-Amblagnieu - FranceNeapolitan Concert, Dinner & Dance, Michigan – USASir Jimmy Shand Story, Belfast – UKLadom Ensemble Atlantic Tour, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland – CanadaMazaika’s ‘Women’s Day’ Concert, London - UKGemeinschaftkonzert 2018, Essen – GermanyAkkordeon grenzenlos Festival & 2nd International Open Accordion Contest - GermanySeacroft Spring Accordion Festival 2018, Norfolk – UK
New and Updated Sites |
CD Reviews |
Book Review: The Art of Arranging Classical Music for Accordion by Friedrich Lips - GermanyHelp Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Random video 4UWatch the video |
Highlights |
by Accordions Worldwide
|
 Video above by Italia 135 titled Il Volo del CalabroneBiography: Peppino Principe, born in Monte Sant'Angelo (Foggia) in 1927, but Milanese by adoption, studied music and accordion with his father, Michele, a much appreciated teacher in the Gargano area. In 1940 he moved to the North with his brother Leonardo, a famous jazz clarinetist, and made his debut at only 13 years old, in the summer of the first year of war, as a classical accordion soloist in the famous Caffè Pedrocchi of Padua. From 1943 to 1946 he collaborated with the allied commands for musical performances dedicated to the troupe, initially in Bari and later in Milan, always together with his brother Leonardo. In 1946 he made the first series of jazz recordings with the record company "Parlophone Odeon". The maestro's performances at the Milan jazz clubs, including the Capolinea, are historic. Always in 1946, in Milan, he was the winner of the jazz referendum as "Best Jazz Accordionist". In 1959, together with Cino Tortorella, founder of the historical transmission of Rai's "Tv dei ragazzi", "Lo Zecchino d'Oro". At the first two editions of Milan he collaborates as director, arranger and accordionist, as well as author of the initials-marcetta on text by M. Panzieri. In Pavia in 1961 he received the "World Oscars of Accordion", the highest international recognition. In 1964, in Milan, he received the "Ambrogino d'Oro" prize. Semper in 1964, he is at the "Teatro Ariston" of Sanremo, as director and accordionist with Mike Bongiorno and Domenico Modugno, winner with "God as I love you". Peppino Principe performed in the many major theaters around the world: Moscow Conservatory, "Carnegie Hall" in New York, "Festival Hall" in London, "Sala Lisinsky" in Zagreb, "Gass Hall" in Tokyo, "Colon" in Buenos Aires, "Opera House" in Cairo, "Sala Playe" in Paris, as well as in the most important Italian theaters, including the "Teatro alla Scala" in Milan, and many others. Peppino Principe has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and many of the albums are still available today in CD and DVD and online formats. View the extensive recording list at: PrincipeCatalog.pdf Peppino Principe also received a dozen honorary citizenships, including that of the City of Castelfidardo. Pierpaolo d'Arienzo, Mayor of Monte Sant'Angelo announced that the city auditorium will be dedicated to Maestro Peppino Principe who "brought our city into the world and has never forgotten his origins. The city will always be grateful to him." |
Share
Editorialby Rob Howard |
 Salutations depuis Stockport, Royaume-Uni, gelé et sous la neige et qui ressemble plutôt à la Sibérie à cause d’un vent glacial mordant.Je suis resté à couvert la plus grande partie de la semaine, ne m’aventurant dehors qu’en cas d’absolue nécessité. Aucun signe de réchauffement de la planète ici ce soir ! Rob Howard |
Nouveau site web de l’American Accordionists' Association (AAA) - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
 |
 Le site web de l’AAA est une importante source d’information pour les membres de l’association et de nombreux visiteurs intéressés par l’accordéon.Une rénovation du design du site vient d’être achevée, afin d’obtenir un site clean, clair et contemporain pour présenter très professionnellement au monde entier l’AAA et l’Accordéon. Le site offre les tous derniers standards de codage et design responsive adaptés à tous les types de mobiles, tablettes et grand écrans. La navigation a été repensée et simplifiée pour une meilleure vision et promotion des événements et projets de l’AAA. Une fonction Recherche a été ajoutée à chaque page du site permettant au visiteur de trouver des infos à l’aide de mots-clés. Toutes les pages du site ont été revues et la fière histoire de l’AAA est développée dans la présentation du festival des 80 ans en juillet prochain. Voyez les dernières infos sur le prochain festival des 80 ans (affiche de droite) et sur la série 2018 des concerts et masterclasses sur le nouveau site. L’AAA aimerait remercier sa seconde présidente Linda Soley Reed, l’historiennne de l’AAA Joan Grauman, Dan Grauman, et le fondateur d’AWW Harley Jones pour leur travail vers l’accomplissement de ce projet majeur. Pour plus d’information, email SVP au bureau de l’AAA : ameraccord1938@gmail.com |
Tournée de Renzo Ruggieri en Autriche, du 2 au 9 Mars, dont le Festival d’accordéon de Vienne - Autricheby Herbert Scheibenreif |
 L’accordéoniste de jazz italien Renzo Ruggieri sera en tournée en Autriche du 2 au 9 mars . Le programme de sa tournée comprend des concerts dans les villes de St. Paul, Völkermarkt, Graz, Baumgartenberg, Neunkirchen, Baden et pour finir Vienne dans le cadre du festival d’accordéon. Renzo Ruggieri s’est produit dans le monde entier et il est le fondateur de la première école italienne d’accordéon jazz. Il a publié de nombreuses compositions, ouvrages didactiques, et écrits pour divers journaux. Il a écrit la musique de 10 productions théatrales dont une au Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. Son "Solo Accordion Project" est destiné à mettre en lumière les émotions variées de l’artiste à travers ses plus célèbres compositions et improvisations. L’intensité de sa prestation et de son repertoire sera accentuée encore par un usage pointu de l’éléctronique (boucles, effets numériques, fonds sonores, etc.). Les titres comprennent entre autres ceux inclus dans la collection (VAP 2009), à laquelle les critiques ont décerné le prix Orpheus de la meilleure production italienne d’accordéon jazz. |
Joey Miskulin en vedette du World Accordion Day au Musée du monde de l’accordéon de Superior, WI - USAby Kevin Friedrich VP - A World of Accordions Museum |
 Le Musée du monde de l’accordéon de Superior, WI, est heureux d’annoncer que le célébre accordéoniste Joseph (Joey) M. Miskulin (photo de droite) de Nashville, TN, sera en vedette le week end du festival annuel Dr. Willard A. Palmer et du World Accordion Day, qui se tiendra au musée les 5 et 6 mai 2018.Pour souligner l’importance des évènements de ce week-end, le Maire de Superior Jim Paine proclame le 5 mai jour du Dr. Willard A. Palmer et le 6 mai jour du World Accordion Day. Joey est le premier accordéoniste accueilli dans le panthéon de la country music. Son introduction du 14 avril dans les '"Nashville Cats” est le plus grand signe d’estime donné à un nombre restreint de musiciens de studio. La cérémonie de remise du prix soulignait les centaines d’albums enregistrés avec les plus grands noms de la musique avec pour résultat plus de 100 millions de ventes. Joey est connu nationalement comme accordéoniste, arrangeur, improvisateur, musicien de studio, pédagogue, avec une carrière de plus de quatre décades. Joey a collaboré avec un panel d’artistes dont Paul McCartney, John Denver, Ricky Skaggs, Andy Williams, Ricky Van Shelton, Emmylou Harris, Frankie Yankovic, Garth Brooks et de nombreux autres. Le responsable du Musée Helmi Harrington, Ph. D. relate dans une note personnelle : “Je connais Joey depuis plus de 25 ans et je le considère comme l’un des plus talentueux et charmants gentlemen du monde de l’accordéon”. Aux côtés de Joey, la manifestation Palmer et World Accordion Day montrera les talents et le soutien de Carolyn Carver, Kevin Friedrich, Tracey Gibbens, Dee Langley, Dr. Michael Middleton, Willard A. Palmer III, John Scaffeo et Stas Venglevski. Le Musée du monde de l’accordéon diffusera en streaming des moments du World Accordion Day le 6 mai 2018 dont la réputée conférence sur l’histoire de l’accordéon présentée par Helmi Harrington, Ph. D. Vous pourrez accéder à ces images via la page World Accordion Day du site de la CIA. Pour toutes autres informations, visitez http://www.worldofaccordions.org |
5ème Festival et Masterclasses Internationaux de Mons - Belgiqueby Rob Howard |
 Accordéons-Nous organise le 5ème Festival et Masterclasses Internationaux au Conservatoire Royal de Mons, Belgique, du 22 au 24 août 2018.Il s’agit d’un festival et de masterclasses sur les thèmes tels que jazz, improvisation, varieté, classique, avec 6 professors de renommée internationale (ordre alphabetique) : Franck Angelis (France), Alexander Dmitriev (Russie), Olivier Douyez (Belgique), Domi Emorine (France), Anibal Freire (Portugal) and Roman Jbanov (Russie/France). Téléchargez le PDF d’information et le formulaire d’inscription en anglais et français : 2018Mons.pdf |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
by Harley Jones
|
 |
 Video: Concert opener Copacabana composed by Barry Manilow, Jack Feldman and Bruce Sussman.The Guardia Nueva Concert, Musical Director Raimo Vertainen (picture right) had a large film crew present from the important Finland TV station ALFA who filmed the concert live for later broadcast. Some 5 large cameras and camera operators plus a full staff for lighting and sound equipment and directors recorded an excellent concert by Guardia Nueva. Other videos and photos of Guardia Nueva Concert can be viewed at: 2018KokkolaReports (17th February). |
by Martin Frey, Schweizer Generalvertretung für Pigini und Excelsior Akkordeons
|
 |
 Last week, Yuri Shishkin was presented in three concerts organised by Martin Frey, General Importer for Pigini and Excelsior Accordions, Switzerland.The concerts were in: 23 February, Concert at Urnäsch – Church Evangelis / Switzerland 24 February, Concert at Yverdon les Bains / Switzerland / Club of 100 (picture above) 25 February, Concert at Château de Coudrée / France / Amis de l‘Accordéon du Chablais 26 February, Masterclass/Seminar in Lausanne for the Conservatoire l'HEMU de Lausanne class of Stéphane Chapuis. The audiences greatly enjoyed the artistry of Yuri Shishkin and gave standing ovations at each concert. Because of the success, there will be a follow-up series of concerts for the outstanding Yuri Shishkin in the coming months. For further information email: info@pigini.ch Picture below: Yuri Shishkin, Irene Niederberger and Martin Frey. |
 |
by Harley Jones
|
|
| Video: Johanna Juhola & Immaginary Friends. Johanna Juhola welcomes the audience to an experimental concert in which she played accordion together with fantasy friends who pop up here and there on the stage on the two large video screens around her. This video above shows the start of the concert/show with a video and then the entry of Johanna Juhola and her first performance of the concert. The video design and compilation took place over some 14 months and an enormous of hours to complete. The results are a unique concert experience featuring Johanna and her accordion music. Other videos and photos of the Johanna Juhola Concert can be viewed at: 2018KokkolaReports (16th February). |
by Joan Grauman Morse, AAA Historian
|
 Rita Barnea, Editor USA News: This is the third article in the series by AAA Historian Joan Grauman (picture right) in cooperation with the USA News, to help promote the 80th AAA Anniversary Celebration. An article is planned each month containing a segment of the history of the AAA, from its creation on March 9th, 1938 through to 2018. Thank you very much to Joan Grauman for these articles.February 2018 Article: "Joseph Biviano and Charles Magnante – A Lifetime Commitment to the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA)" at: Biviano-Magnante January 2018 Article "What Events Led to the Formation of the American Accordionists' Association?" at: AAA-Formation.htm ------------------------------------------------ March 2018 Article: Women in the AAA through the Decades Beverly Roberts Curnow – Accordion Queen and World Accordion Champion still bringing joy with her beloved instrument! by Joan Grauman During the first few decades of the AAA, it was still very much “a man’s world” in society. Yet, and very fortunately for the rise of the accordion in the USA, the AAA welcomed several women no longer with us but never forgotten, who were respected leaders, teachers, composers, performers and music publishers. These women remained dedicated to the AAA their entire lives: Maddalena Belfiore Greco, Addie Cere, Theresa Costello, Elsie Bennett and Faithe Deffner. I will be featuring these extraordinary women as part of the AAA archival exhibit at our 80th anniversary festival this coming July in Alexandria, Virginia. Hope to see all of you there!! Read the full article by Joan Grauman at: Beverly Roberts Curnow |
 |
Future events |
by Rob Howard
|
 Polish accordionist Bartosz Glowacki performs in concert on Sunday March 4th, 4pm, at The Clarendon Muse, Watford Grammar School for Boys, 70 Rickmansworth Rd, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 7JA.The programme of this concert, organised by the Octagon Music Society, includes: Domenico Scarlatti – ‘Sonata A major K.208’, ‘Sonata E minor K.98’; Vaclav Trojan – ‘Destroyed Cathedral’; Petri Makkonen – ‘Flight Beyond the Time’; Astor Piazzolla – ‘Libertango’; Luciano Berio – ‘Sequenza XIII’; Selection of short Polish compositions: Wojciech Kilar – ‘Waltz’, Krzysztof Komeda – ‘Lullaby’, Wladyslaw Szpilman – ‘In The Small Cinema’; J.S. Bach – ‘Oboe Concerto in D minor BWV 974’; Victor Vlasov – ‘Archipelago Gulag’; Arvo Part – ‘Pari Intervallo’; Sofia Gubaidulina – ‘De Profundis’. Doors open at 3pm, Concert starts at 4pm. Ticket Price: £15 available on-line at www.ticketsource.co.uk/ Bartosz Glowacki is a former winner of the Polish Young Musician of the Year and now, studied at the Royal Academy of Music in based in London, and has established himself as one of the excellent new generation of classical accordionists. His programme includes transcriptions of classical works together with many original pieces, some from his native Poland. |
by Rob Howard
|
 |
| Diatonic accordionist Renee de la Prade performs this month, as follows: March 4th, 6 to 9pm - weekly traditional Irish music session, Heritage Bar & Restaurant, Yonkers, New York March 9th to 11th – three shows per day at the Sonora Celtic Faire with Culann's Hounds, Sonora, California March 17th, 7.30pm – St Patrick’s Day @ The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, featuring Culann's Hounds, Lucia Comnes, One Grass Two Grass, Mike Kelleher March 22nd to 25th - JBR Festival in Dubai, United Arab Emirates For further information email: renee@squeezeboxgoddess.com |
by Rob Howard
|
 On Sunday March 4th, from 12noon until 8pm, a Grand Gala dedicated to the memory of the late, great Andre Verchuren takes place at the Salles les Mariniers, Porcieu-Amblagnieu (38), France. Accordionists performing include Jerome Richard, Isabelle Lepinay, Phil Bouvier, Virginie & Cyril Danrey, Dimitri Saussard, and more. The event includes dinner.The event is dedicated to the memory of Andre Verchuren (1920-2013), one of France’s most popular and prolific accordionists, whose career began in the 1930s and continued throughout the rest of his life. Verchuren sold over 70 million albums, and has hugely admired in France and beyond. |
by Rob Howard
|
 On Sunday March 4th, from 3.30pm, a ‘Voices of Spring Neapolitan Concert, Dinner & Dance’ event takes place at Villa Penna, 43985 Hayes Rd, Sterling Heights, Michigan. The afternoon’s Italian entertainment includes various singers and musicians, including accordionists Dave Passalacqua and Joe Recchia. |
by Rob Howard
|
 On Wednesday March 7th, 7.30pm, the ‘Sir Jimmy Shand Story’ takes place at the Grand Opera House, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Narration of Sir Jimmy Shand’s life is by accordionist Ian Cruickshanks, and the music is played by Brandon McPhee and his band.The show is a celebration of the life and music of the late Sir Jimmy Shand (1908-2000), accordionist, band leader, prolific composer, and legend of Scottish Dance Music, whose tunes continue to feature in the repertoire of many Scottish and Irish accordionists and dance bands. His extraordinary recording career began in 1933 and continued into the mid-1990s. Jimmy was born in Fife in 1908 before his family moved to Auchtermuchty, where a larger than life size statue of him stands. He was awarded an MBE in 1962 and became Sir Jimmy Shand in 1999. Brandon McPhee, from the north of Scotland, plays a Hohner Shand Morino button accordion – the instrument designed by and for Jimmy Shand in the 1930s – and is an All Scotland Champion and one of Scotland’s finest up-and-coming accordionists. |
by Rob Howard
|
 |
| The Ladom Ensemble, featuring accordionist Michael Bridge, is on a tour of eastern Canada during March, as follows: March 9th, 7.30pm - First Church of the Nazerene, Moncton, New Brunswick March 10th, 7.30pm - Lilian Piercy Concert Hall, Conservatory of Music, Halifax, Nova Scotia March 11th, 4.30pm - Cecilia’s Retreat, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia March 15th, 8pm - Lawrence O’Brien Arts Centre, Happy Valley-Goose, Bay, Newfoundland March 17th, 8pm - Immaculata Hall, St.FX Antigonish, Nova Scotia March 18th, 7pm - deCoste Centre, Pictou, Nova Scotia Ladom Ensemble combines piano, cello, accordion, and percussion in a unique blend of acoustic chamber and world music. Their all-original repertoire incorporates influences from Argentinean tango, Serbian folk and dance traditions, Persian classical repertoire, as well as music from the classical (Bach, Prokofiev), and even progressive rock worlds (Radiohead). For further information email: Bookings@michaelbridgemusic.com |
by Rob Howard
|
 The highly accomplished duo Mazaika – Igor Outkine (accordion, vocals) and Elizabeth Harrison (violin) – perform a mixture of Russian, French, Italian, Latin and English songs and music for Women’s Day function on Thursday March 8th, 9.30pm, at The Exhibitionist Hotel, 8-10 Queensbury Place, London SW7 2EA - 2 minutes’ walk from South Kensington tube station. Tickets: £15 at the door.For further information email: info@mazaika-music.com |
by Rob Howard
|
 On Saturday March 10th, 6pm, the Erste Essener Akkordeon Orchester (MD Peter Lohmar) performs in a concert titled ‘Gemeinschaftkonzert 2018’, alongside other bands, at the Reformationskirche, Julienstrasse 39, 45130, Essen, Germany. The Erste Essener Akkordeon Orchester, founded in 1952, has performed in the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Finland, Denmark, England and Brazil. |
by Rob Howard
|
  The International Open Accordion Contest will take place from April 3rd to 7th at the Hohner Konservatorium in Trossingen. There are five sections, for solo and band entries, each section with several categories for different ages. There are cash prizes for the first three placed competitors in each section, and all participants will receive a certificate. Entries and all competition information at: 2018IOAC.pdf The closing date for competition entries is: 1st March 2018. The Akkordeon grenzenlos Festival offers a wide range of concerts, workshops and forums. Full details at: 2018grenzenlos.pdf |
by Rob Howard
|
 The Seacroft Spring Accordion Festival 2018 is from Monday-Friday, April 23rd to 27th, at the newly refurbished Richardson’s Seacroft Holiday Village, Hemsby, Norfolk. The chief guests are Oivind Farmen (Norway) & Lars Karlsson (Sweden). Other guests include Jovan Rnjak, Amaryllis (Tracey Middleton & David Garwood), and Bert & Helen Santilly. The organizer is Heather Smith, and to book, call Sceptre Promotions on 01780 782093.For further information email: heather@accordions.karoo.co.uk |
New and Updated Sites |
Anniversaire des 100 ans de la mort de Paolo Soprani - Italieby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
 |
| En présence de la nièce de Paolo Soprani, Mrs. Elena Soprani, d’importantes célébrations on eu lieu à Castelfidardo le 20 février à l’auditorium San Fransesco. La Mairie de Castelfidardo avec le concours du Circolo Culturale Filatelico Numismatico “F.Matassoli” et de son compère Pigini accueillait un événement unique pour honorer le citoyen de Castelfidardo le plus important historiquement, Paolo Soprani, l’homme qui a donné naissance à la production des accordéons dans la petite ville de Castelfidardo. Toutes les autorités de Castelfidardo étaient présentes et chacune était accueillie chaleureusement par le Maire Roberto Ascani et le directeur du Museum Castelfidardo, Christian Riganelli. Historien de Castelfidardo Beniamino Bugiolacchi (Chronology of Italian Accordions et nombreuses autres publications), donnait une point de vue intéressant sur l’histoire et la vie de cette personnalité inoubliable, pas seulement à Castelfidardo mais dans tout le monde de l’accordéon. A cet occasion un timbre personnalisé était mis en circulation par l’office des postes du Luxembourg (image ci-dessus). Les étudiants de l’école de musique locale Paolo Soprani ont animé l’évènement de leur musique. Pour terminer cette journée du souvenir, un concert en soirée avait lieu au Theatre Astra avec Luigi Presta, qui avait donné ce concert pendant le PIF 2017 et Manuel Marchegiani, vainqueur en Varieté du PIF 2017, et élève de Renzo Ruggieri, directeur artsistique du PIF 2018. Voir un reportage détaillé en photos à : Paolo_Soprani_100 |
 |
CD Reviews |
by Willoughby Walshe
|
 Currently, music schools and conservatories do not teach how to structure, design or implement arrangements of original compositions for other instruments. Friedrich Lips, bayan-accordion virtuoso and professor at the prominent Gnesin Russian Academy of Music in Moscow, fills that gap with what could be used as course material with his book The Art of Arranging Classical Music for Accordion. First published in Russian and then German, it is now available in an updated and expanded form in English.Although the book was written primarily with classical music in mind, the findings, declarations and descriptions are made by the author in generally understandable and simple words. Therefore, they apply or can be transferred to all areas of music, including virtuoso light music, folk music, traditional music, etc. Similarly, while explanations focus on the concert bayan-accordion with converter bass, they are equally applicable to related instruments such as the Bandoneon, Concertina, Diatonic Accordion, Melodeon Player, etc. This is an essential book for composers, professional players, musicologists and active amateurs who want to understand and create arrangements of music as well as interpret and perform them. They will find a discussion of the basic principles of creating arrangements. These are followed by countless tips and numerous examples in musical notations for using the characteristics of the selected instrument to the best advantage. Descriptions include the accordion’s tonal range, use of registers to provide natural dynamics, bellows techniques explained in detail to enhance certain passages, types of articulation to be considered and methods of artistic presentation. One chapter is devoted to arranging organ music, which is written on three staffs (two for the keyboards and one for the foot pedal), where there are certain analogies between organ and accordion tone generation. Another chapter concentrates on arranging piano and cembalo music and explains how to overcome the differences between the percussive and bellows instruments. Extensive and detailed registers with names, terms, literature and titles of music examples included in the text provide the reader with significant source material. The excellent content of the book corresponds to the outward appearance of the book: typographically lavish with finest Italian paper, thread-stitching, laminated softcover with double flap and exclusive design – worthwhile, treasured. 232 pages · 150 sheet music samples · Format: 17 x 24 cm · ISBN 978-3-925572-17-3 Purchase at Catalog No: kslips03 The Art of Arranging Classical Music for Accordion |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
Generated in 7.3651625 / 0.0015495 / 0