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Highlights |
Roland V-Accordion National Finals, Los Angeles – USA
3rd Accordion Art Festival - Winners of the Orpheus Awards - Italy
Miran Vaupotic Performs at Dubrovnik Festival – Croatia
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
New Accordion School, Texas – USA
Jean Harduin’s 55th CD – France
Future events |
Cumbiaga Concerts, New York – USA
International Accordion Summer Festival, Palanga - Lithuania
Accordion Repairs Course, Wisconsin – USA
Saulieu Cajun & Zydeco Festival, Mesvres – France
Beltango Peformances – Poland, Serbia, Italy, Greece
29th Annual Buffalo Irish Festival, New York - USA
New and Updated Sites |
Accordion USA News for August Online - USA
Charnwood Publications New Accordion Compositions
H S Production New Music Releases
MusicForAccordion.com new eSheet Pieces
Wallace Liggett New Music Releases
H S Production New Music Releases
MusicForAccordion.com new eSheet Pieces
CD Reviews |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
Wolmer Beltrami Commemoration, Sabbioneta - Italyby Pearl Fawcett-Adriano |
 On July 4th I had the pleasure of being a guest at the celebrations to commemorate the life and music of the great Italian accordionist Wolmer Beltrami, who died 10 years ago. This event was organised by the Associazione Pro Loco Sabbioneta and Wolmer's daughter Fiorenza Beltrami, and it took place in Wolmer's birthplace of Sabbioneta (Mantova), Italy.Early evening saw the presentation of Wolmer's biography, written by Alberto Sarzi Madidini, and this took place in the elaborate, Romanesque-style Teatro all'Antica. Tributes were paid to Wolmer, and I was happy to be with two of my friends -- Beniamino Bugiolacchi (former Director of the Accordion Museum, Castelfidardo) who presided over the proceedings, and maestro Peppino Principe. After the book launch, there was an open-air concert of Wolmer's compositions, with Beniamino Bugiolacchi as Master of Ceremonies. The accordionists taking part were virtuoso Marco Valenti, also Pietro Marelli, and Tiziano Chiapelli and his group, and the type of music was very wide-ranging (from waltzes, polkas and virtuosic, to descriptive and swing numbers), demonstrating the remarkable talent of Wolmer as a composer. The music was interspersed with archive film-clips of Wolmer on various Italian TV shows, which gave an added dimension. A very original and attractive feature was the participation of two professional dancers from Rome – Giancarlo Giacomobono and Elena Botti. Without rehearsal, they spontaneously improvised their dances to selected pieces of music that the accordionists were playing, and this contributed to the mood and atmosphere of the evening. The following morning a Mass was held in memory of Wolmer Beltrami, thus concluding the event. I was pleased to have been invited to the celebrations by Wolmer's daughter, Fiorenza, and although I never knew Wolmer personally, my late husband Adrian Dante knew him as a musician and friend. I now feel a strong connection with the great Wolmer through my late husband and also my friendship with Fiorenza and family. |
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Roland V-Accordion National Finals, Los Angeles – USAby Rob Howard |
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| This year’s Roland Corporation's ‘V-Accordion Festival – National Finals’ takes place on Friday September 25th, 6pm, at the Doubletree Commerce Hotel, 5757 Telegraph Road, Commerce, Los Angeles, California. The contest will select a winner who will travel to Rome, Italy, for the Roland V Accordion International Festival in November 2009. The competition gives an opportunity to hear a number of promising players of different ages perform in a wide variety of different musical styles. In addition to hearing the finalists perform and seeing the winners selected, there will also be a featured special guest who will also perform a special ‘mini-concert’ on the V-Accordion. Seating is limited, and tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to attend this special event. For further information email: ron.lankford@yahoo.com |
3rd Accordion Art Festival - Winners of the Orpheus Awards - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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 On August 1st the winners of the Orpheus Award 2009 were announced, which brought the third Accordion Art Festival to its close.The festival, dedicated to the accordion, offered many events with important artists such as the Ensemble Mantici Armoniosi dir. da Paolo Picchio(Italy), Massimiliano Pitocco DUO(Italy), Antonio Spaccarotella(Italy), and Ludovic Beier (France). For the national event a record number of competitors participated, made more interesting with the selection of candidates for the Tropheé Mondiale 2009 CMA. The winners of the Orpheus Award 2009 (best Italian CD 2008) are: Classical Music: Claudio Jacomucci, ‘Wonderlans’, Adatto Records Jazz Music: Luciano Biondini, ‘Prima del Cuore’, Enja Records World Music: Fabio Rossato + Ivan Tibolla, ‘Impressioni Lontane’, Emmerciesse Records Further results can be looked up on the sites: www.accordionartfestival.com www.accordions.com/aaf The jazz accordionist Renzo Ruggieri (picture right Artistic Director), and Claudio Azzaro (President), again focused on bringing innovation to the accordion world on an international basis. The next festival is planned for June 2010. |
Miran Vaupotic Performs at Dubrovnik Festival – Croatiaby Rob Howard |
  On July 30th Croatian bandoneon and accordion virtuoso Miran Vaupotic performed at the famous Dubrovnik Festival with well known guitarist Robert Belinic and the Zagreb Soloists in Rector's Palace Atrium.The Dubrovnik Summer Festival presents a rich program of classical music, theatre, opera and dance on more than 70 open - air venues over 47 days in summer each year. Rector's Palace is a historical cultural museum today and its atrium is one of the most frequently used venues for classical concerts and recitals. The Zagreb Soloists ensemble was founded within the Zagreb Radio and Television studios in 1953, under the artistic leadership of Antonio Janigro, the famed cellist and conductor, with whom they soon became one of the world’s most outstanding ensembles of its kind. Acclaimed as “A genius, a poet, a super-sensitive musician,” by sandiego.com, Croatian guitarist Robert Belinic was the sole winner of the 2001 Young Concert Artists European Auditions in Leipzig, Germany, and in 2002 was the first guitarist ever to win a place on the Young Concert Artists roster in New York. Miran Vaupotic is most prominent Croatian accordion artist, often performing with world's leading chamber and symphony orchestras. He has won the Croatian Accordion Competition two times and has been a laureate of the International Accordion Competition in Pula (1999). In 2003 he won the World Accordion Competition Award in Italy, in 2007 the Grand Prix at the International Golden Trophée Competition in New York and in 2008 he was the winner of the International InterArtia Competition in Volos, Greece. The International Art Society declared him Artist of the Year 2008. In attachment: Photo 1 Belinic (guitar) Vaupotic (bandoneon) Photo 2 Rector's Palace Photo 3 Vaupotic (bandoneon) |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
‘Euphoria’ Perform at Le Festival du Haut Limousin – Franceby Herbert Scheibenreif |
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 On July 26th the duet ‘Euphoria’ Elena Lutz (bayan) and Aidar Gajnullin (bayan, accordina, vocals) performed with great success at the well-known festival Le Festival du Haut Limousin in France. Their program included works by among others J.S.Bach, A.Vivaldi, A. Gainullin, A. Shnitke, and A. Piazzolla. Here you can see Elena and Aidar performing, Aidar playing the accordina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvG2CYHWH2Y |
New Accordion School, Texas – USAby Rob Howard |
 A new accordion school has opened Houston, Texas, called ‘Houston Accordion Performers’. The owners, Sheila Lee and Mark Ropel, are both experienced teachers, and have studied with Willard (Bill) Palmer and Anthony Galla-Rini. Shelia also recently produced an instructional DVD for GCF diatonic button accordion, which is due out in September.The school opened in June and has teachers giving lessons in chromatic, piano, and GCF diatonic button accordion. Sheila and Mark are promoting a “studio environment”, with private, group, and band lessons, emphasizing styles like Tex-Mex, Norteño, Conjunto, Zydeco, and more. In addition to Sheila and Mark, the studio’s staff includes Mario Pedone and Ross Witte. Houston Accordion Performers will hold an all-day celebration on September 12th to celebrate its grand opening. The day will start with the studio’s accordion band appearing in Houston’s Fiestas Patrias International Parade, followed by a concert at the studio. |
Jean Harduin’s 55th CD – Franceby Rob Howard |
 French accordionist Jean Harduin, whose career dates back to the late 1950s, has release his 55th CD, ‘Mes années 70 et 80’. The 16 tracks include 31 tune titles in medleys.Jean Harduin, winner of several competitions early in his career, has performed extensively on radio and television in France, and has composed over 400 titles. For further information email: jean.harduin@aliceadsl.fr |
Future events |
‘Accordion Day’, British Colombia – Canadaby Rob Howard |
 ‘Accordion Day’ takes place on August 8th, 11.30am onwards, at Waterwheel Park, Willow St, Cyprus, Chemainus, BC, Canada.Volunteers with the hosting Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society will welcome various accordionists to the annual event staged at Waterwheel Park. “This year, as well as accordion soloists and groups, we will have another type of toe-tapping - a demonstration by the Cowichan Valley Cloggers at noon and 2.30pm,” organizer Shelagh Armour-Godbolt said. The event features award-winning Chemainus button accordionist Eric Oscar at 11.30am, The Acchords at 12.30pm, Powell River teenage accordionist Steven Cramaro at 1.15pm, and The Nanaimo Accordion Band at 1.45pm. Accordionists will end the afternoon with a jam starting about 3.30pm. |
Cumbiaga Concerts, New York – USAby Rob Howard |
| Cumbiaga perform at Barbes, 376 9th St, Brooklyn, NY, 9.30pm, on August 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st. Cumbiaga play music inspired by the classic sound of 1950s Colombian bands. The line up is Sinuhé El Chino - voice, guitar, percussion; Brian El Michael Knight - percussion; Lázaro El Flash - voice, guitar; Diallo El Diablo - upright bass; Roberto El Parce – accordion, and Hugo ‘Huge-O’ Moreno - trumpet. |
International Accordion Summer Festival, Palanga - Lithuaniaby Rob Howard |
| The International Accordion Summer Festival/Seminar takes place from July 31st to August 6th in Maironio str.8, Palanga, Lithuania. The event includes concerts master classes and seminars. |
Accordion Repairs Course, Wisconsin – USAby Rob Howard |
 Dr Helmi Harringtom will lead a course offering the opportunity to learn "hands-on" about accordions and their repair issues takes place from August 9th to 12th at the ‘World of Accordions Museum’, Superior, WI. The maximum number of participants is ten people.The course includes such topics as assessing condition: determining problems and solutions; disassembly and reassembly procedures in basic maintenance and cleaning procedures; treble keyboard work: pulling the axle, key removal and cleaning, pallets issues; understanding how reeds work, their types and problems; reed-banks and reed-blocks layouts; Stradella (Standard) bass; basic tuning procedures; re-waxing and re-leathering; common bellows issues; preventing problems: care of your instrument, and more. For further information email: accordion@sprynet.com |
Saulieu Cajun & Zydeco Festival, Mesvres – Franceby Rob Howard |
  The Saulieu Cajun & Zydeco Music, Film & Food Festival takes place from August 6th to 9th at 7, Impasse de la Plaine, Mesvres, 71190, France.Guest artistes include Jimmy Thibodeaux (picture below right) & Gumbo Cajun Band (USA), Zydeco Joe (picture top left) & Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler (USA), The Hackney Ramblers (UK), Cajun Roosters (Germany/UK), River Zydeco Band (Netherlands), Des Fais Do Do (NL), Creole Cats (Germany), Ton Ton Gris Gris (France), Bayou Chicot (France), and Blue Bayou (France). Cajun accordion workshops will be led by Daniel Chapy. Films to be screened include ‘Dedans le Sud de la Louisiane’, ‘Portrait of Clifton Chenier’, ‘From La La to Zydeco’, ‘Absolution’, and ‘Portrait of Zydeco Joe’. For further information email: bayouprod@aol.com |
Beltango Peformances – Poland, Serbia, Italy, Greeceby Rob Howard |
 The famous tango quintet Beltango appear as follows: August 28th to 29th – Warsaw Tango Festival, Poland September 4th – Belgrade Tango Festival, Serbia 13th –Tano Tango Festival, Naples, Italy 20th – Santorini Music Festival, Greece Beltango, from Serbia, specialise in tango, and in particular the works of Astor Piazzolla. Their popular performances have taken them to many parts of the world and are fiery and passionate and much admired. In 2008, they released a triple CD pack titled Trilogia. Beltango’s members are: Aleksandar Nikolic - bandoneon/accordion, Ivana Nikolic - piano/vocal, Jovan Bogosavljevic – violin, Bogdan Pejic – electric guitar, Ljubinko Lazic - double bass. For further information email: info@beltango.com |
29th Annual Buffalo Irish Festival, New York - USAby Rob Howard |
 The 29th annual Buffalo Irish Festival takes place at the Hamburg Fairgrounds, Buffalo, NY, from August 28th to 30th. The festival is held in the area behind the Agri-Center, just off South Park. Entetainers performing include Bohola – a duo featuring Chicago’s leading Irish button accordionist Jimmy Keane and the remarkable bouzouki player and vocalist Pat Broaders, Emerald Isle, the Lochside Celtic Band, Sons of the Gaels, and the Dublin City Ramblers. For further information email: BufIrish@aol.com |
New and Updated Sites |
www.Diatonic-News.com 3rd Edition - Internetby Werner Weibert |
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| The 3rd edition of the Diatonic News (www.Diatonic-News.com) is now online. This is a site dedicated to diatonic, concertina, button box, bandoneon type instruments and a new edition is published on the 1st of each month. The Diatonic News site is unique, in that contributions are published in the language there are sent and viewers can use an online translation if they need. Please send news to: Holda Paoletti-Kampl or Werner Weibert email: weibert.werner@tele2.at |
Accordion USA News for August Online - USAby Rita Davidson Barnea |
| The Accordion USA News for August is now online. |
Charnwood Publications New Accordion Compositionsby Charnwood Publishing |
| Charnwood Publications releases 6 new pieces by composer Sue Coppard titled, 'The Wedding, catalog:M637', 'Picnic Time in BavariaThe Village Green, catalog:M638', 'The Swing of Kits, catalog:M639', 'At the Bar Flamingo, catalog:M640', 'Warszawa Mazurka, catalog:M641', 'Forever no More, catalog:M642'. Purchase with credit card. |
H S Production New Music Releasesby H S Productions |
| H S Production releases 4 new pieces, 'Etude, catalog:hs561', 'Etude, catalog:hs564', 'Etude, catalog:hs567' and 'Etude, catalog:hs568'. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
MusicForAccordion.com new eSheet Piecesby MusicForAccordion.com |
| MusicForAccordion.com site releases 5 new pieces - 'Vieni Sul Mar (Oh Come To The Sea), catalog:mfa7065' and 'I Dream Of Jeanie, catalog:mfa7066', 'Cradle Song, catalog:mfa7067', 'Cradle Song (Easy Version), catalog:mfa7068' and 'The Rose Of Tralee, catalog:mfa7070'. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
Wallace Liggett New Music Releasesby Wallace Liggett |
| Wallace Liggett - accordionist, composer, releases 2 new works for accordion available for purchase online. 'Polka For Two, catalog: WL1031' and 'Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra or Accordion, catalog: WL1032'. Samples of this music is available on the site. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
H S Production New Music Releasesby H S Productions |
| H S Production releases 5 new pieces, 'The Smolensk Quadrille, catalog:hs577', 'In The Cherry Garden, catalog:hs580', 'Bjelorussian Polka, catalog:hs581', 'Horsey, catalog:hs582' and 'Turkmen Folk Song, catalog:hs587'. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
MusicForAccordion.com new eSheet Piecesby MusicForAccordion.com |
| MusicForAccordion.com site releases 4 new pieces - 'American, The Beautiful - catalog: mfa7054' and 'Dixie-catalog: mfa7055', 'The Lost Chord - catalog: mfa7059' and 'Country Gardens - catalog: mfa7060. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
CD Reviews |
Keepin' it Reelby Joan C. Sommers |
 CD Reviews Index for the Review of “Keepin' it Reel” by Joan Cochran Sommers. Performer is KODA. |
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