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http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=05-Apr-2013&lang=es&s=6988
http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=05-Apr-2013&lang=es&s=6988
05-Apr-2013
by Heather Masefield
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 Kevin Friedrich realized his dream of producing the world’s first Kauri (New Zealand native tree) accordion when a joint project between New Zealand and Finland produced an instrument combining a Finnish folk accordion culture instrument with the magnificent giant and ancient Kauri tree of New Zealand.After shipping some of the rare wood to Finland, Artisan Aaro Luukinen (teacher of accordion making at the Ikaalinen College of Crafts and Design - IKATA) handcrafted three stunning instruments dubbed K1 (to be housed in Dargaville, New Zealand), K2 (for Ikaalinen, Finland) and K3 to be housed in New York. Aaro’s wife Henriikka designed the three grills for the instruments which were hand carved by Aaro and named as K1 – Birth, K2 – Departure and K3 – Growth. The unveiling took place on March 24 at a sold out concert at the Lighthouse Function center in Dargaville with the help of the Dargaville Primary School Kapa Haka Group and other musicians, to give the instrument a traditional Maori welcome home. The annual fundraising concert of the Dargaville museum featured Kevin with his many musician friends including acclaimed International vocalist Lionel Reekie as well as the debut performance of the Auckland Accordion Symphonietta under the direction of Lionel Reekie, The Dargaville Tamburitza Orchestra (picture above with Kevin Friedrich), Maiadean and Xena Martin (Violin and Cello), Nolene Osbaldiston (Piano), Pippa Howes and Mat Watson (Flute and Piano), Alexandra Reekie (Accordion), Take 6 Vocal Ensemble, the Ben Emmett Reunion Accordions Ensemble (BEA) and Barbara Adams (Narrator). The concert concluded with the Kaipara Orchestra combining all the instrumentalists and vocalists from the concert. The beautiful two row Kauri instrument, rich in sonority and showcasing the gorgeous blond and precious Kauri wood wowed the audience and will now be proudly featured as the entrance exhibit in the Dargaville Museum which also houses the rare and permanent ‘Accordion Gems’ accordion exhibition. The oldest living Kauri Tree, Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest) is found just north of Dargaville and stands some 2,500 years old! Picture left with Kevin and the Kauri accordion - hard to believe Kevin is over 6 ft tall when you see him pictured with this huge ancient kauri tree! The log from which the Kauri accordion was made, was one from the same forest, and after falling, possibly some hundreds of years ago, ended up washed out to the coast line beach, where it was found by Arthur Miach, who then donated the precious and protected wood to the Kauri accordion project. For more information about the Kauri Accordion project, please visit: www.accordions.com/kevin/n_kauriaccordion.htm |