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Highlights |
Record Entries for 40th PIF International "Città di Castelfidardo" – ItalyFriedrich Lips’ Autumn Engagements – China, Russia, UKNew CD Valentino è Tango by Renzo Ruggieri - Italy
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Accordionists and Teachers Guild, 75th Anniversary - USAVideo: Part 1. Beautiful Accordion Music at ATG Festival From Russia - USAVideo: Part 2. Beautiful Accordion Music at ATG Festival From Russia - USAInternational Accordion Masterclasses in Luzlawice - PolandVideo: Sergey Osokin Performing 9th August in Tianjin - ChinaA Mahler Symphony Squeezed In A Squeezebox, New York - USAVideo: Klaus Paier and Asja Valcic at the XXX Saint-Petersburg Festival - RussiaStolen Accordion, Chicago – USARebecca Bracewell Performed at Victoria Symphony Splash - CanadaMaurice Jones Radio New Zealand National Radio Interview - New Zealand‘14 Years Ago’: Maori Welcome for German Accordion Orchestra in 2001 - New Zealand
Future events |
Ken and Mary @ Polka Festival, Ohio – USAWhiskey & Women Summer Tour – FranceAccordion/Cello Concert, Krakow - PolandGiuseppe Mancini Concert, Sardinia – ItalyKaren Tweed Gigs, Donegal, Isle of Wight – Irish Republic, UKNihad Hrustanbegovic performs ‘The Four Seasons’, Saint-Ilpize - FranceLindsay Weir SDB @ Blairgowrie Accordion & Fiddle Club, Scotland – UKAly Bain and Phil Cunningham on Tour, Scotland – UKMarcelo Caldi Concert, Rio de Janeiro – BrazilAkkordeon-Orchester Wesseling Concert, Nordrhein-Westfalen - Germany
New and Updated Sites |
Yuri Shishkin: 3 CD's Now Only Available as eTrack mp3 Albums - RussiaNew Arrangement, Clair de Lune Available by Peter Wilk - CanadaCharnwood Publish New Douglas Ward Compositions - UK
CD Reviews |
CD Review: Caleidoscopio by Riccardo Centazzo - ItalyCD Review: Ivano Battiston plays Johann Sebastian Bach - ItalyHelp Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
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  Entries for the 40th PIF International "Città di Castelfidardo" close on the 25th August, and Artistic Director Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi has announced that entries received already exceed 2014.The competitions for accordion soloists and groups will take place from the 17 to 20th September 2015 and a special feature will be, no application fee - it is completely free to celebrate the 40th Anniversary. Download the regulations in: Chinese: 2015cn English: 2015PIF French: 2015fr Italian: 2015it Portuguese: 2015pt Russian: 2015ru The entry boom has meant reviewing the competitions schedule, which Castelfidardo Mayor Mirco Soprani says "is an issue he is very pleased to have" as he looks forward to a very sucessful event. |
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by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions
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 Following successful master classes in Austria at Musikforum Viktring (picture above) and in Italy in Frosinone (picture below), famous Russian accordionist and teacher Friedrich Lips will be travelling next week to a festival in Tianjin, China.Friedrich Lips’ future dates in the autumn include: October 3rd - Piazzolla-Studio in Vologda, Russia October 21st - E. Podgaits, ‘Viva voce’ and tangos with chamber orchestra in Kasan, Russia November 21st - E. Podgaits, ‘Ex-Animo’ with Fine Arts Quartet in London, UK December 13th - M. Bronner, ‘Catuf’ with symphony orchestra in Moscow, Russia December 13th to 20th – 6th International Competition for Bayanists and Accordionists and 27th Festival ‘Bayan and Bayanists’, Moscow, Russia. 27 CD's and/or eTracks albums available online, secure server purchase at: Friedrich Lips For further information email: herbert@accordion-cd.co.at |
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by Harley Jones
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 A new CD titled Valentino è Tango by Renzo Ruggieri has been released. Catalog: rruggieri11Renzo writes: "It's not jazz, tango and not even a play with music. In opera singing, drama/text steal the limelight from the music, hence the need to create a formula that would put the music in the foreground without losing the pathos of the story. The formula adopted is "Jazz Concert with a text comment,". It is structured in five scenes, introduced by a text with improvised music in the background (IG in titles means "Guided Improvisations"), followed by the music itself." For reprocessing of famous tangos, Renzo Ruggieri has followed a procedure, freely improvising variations for each song; and at a later stage, he has selected and assembled the music, while maintaining the spirit of the first improvisation. The CD Valentino è Tango is available online, Catalog: rruggieri11 |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
by Kevin Friedrich
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 The Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) celebrated its 75th Anniversary in Lisle (Chicago) from 22-25 July, 2015, attracting attendees from as far away as China, the United Kingdom, Russia, Austria, Canada and throughout the United States. The festival featured a variety of concerts, competitions, workshops, exhibits, a Gala Banquet and a variety of social functions. Picture left: ATG President Betty Jo Simon and past ATG President Kevin Friedrich, the John Simkus Trio performing at dinner. The featured international guest artist was Yuri Shishkin from Russia. One of the world's most respected concert artists, Yuri received multiple standing ovations for his outstanding performance. Videos after this article. The gala concerts profiled some of the most exciting accordionists on the concert circuit today performing a variety of genres. Artists included American Cory Pesaturo and Canadian Michael Bridge who performed as soloists and also in improvised duo, pooling their vast resources of musicianship, Russian guests 'Una Sinistra', the duo of Yulia Amerikova and Alexander Selivanov (videos after this article) and former ATG Executive officer and current American Accordionists' Association President Mary Tokarski. Jazz artist Frank Petrilli from Los Angeles was joined by guitarist John Chiodini while popular Scottish entertainer Gary Blair took participants through their paces on the dance floor as the event opened with a traditional Scottish Celidh Dance. Milwaukee based concert accordionist, teacher and composer Stas Venglevski presented a variety of his original works including as a soloist and in duo with Joan Cochran Sommers, while Joe Natoli showcased the possibilities of digital technology as it pertains to the accordion. The UMKC Chamber Accordion Ensemble performed with Kansas City based Macedonian violin soloist Filip Lazovski and the Jarosh Accordion Ensemble from Calgary performed a variety of works during their matinee concert. The original music concert featured new works for accordion performed by the UMKC Chamber Accordion Ensemble, Jeff Lisenby, Amy Jo Sawyer and Joe Natoli. Many of the festival attendees joined forces under the direction of Joan Cochran Sommers for the ATG 75th Anniversary Festival Orchestra (picture below) which featured the music of John Williams, the World Premiere of a concerto for accordion and orchestra by Stas Venglevski who was also featured as the soloist, and the magnificent arrangement by ATG Founder Anthony Galla-Rini of Smetana's The Moldau. Festival participants enjoyed a diverse selection of workshops on topics including History of the Accordion by Helmi Harrington, Ph. D; Rhythms and Harmonies of Bulgarian and Macedonian Folk Music by Joan Grauman; Inexpensive Studio Quality Recording at Home by Joe Natoli; Shortcuts for Sounding Great on the Roland V Accordion and Special Effects on Acoustic Accordion by Michael Bridge; Authenticity of Styles by Cory Pesaturo; Improvising Tools for Teachers and Student Enthusiasts by Gordon Kohl and Capabilities of the modern Accordion: Present and Future by Yuri Shishkin. Competitions were held in a number of categories, many offering cash awards and were contested by accordionists including young students to adults from China, Canada and the USA. The well attended festival was a heralded a terrific success, and plans are already well underway for the 76th Competition and Festival to be held in Chicago from July 20-23, 2016. A review of the 75th Anniversary including full competition restults, as well as details on the 2016 festival will be published on the ATG website soon at www.accordions.com/atg Picture below orchestra: Beverly Fess, Joan Grauman and Gary Blair jamming. A Photo Report, Results and More Videos will be published in next weeks news. |
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by Joan & Dan Grauman
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 Video 1: Yuri Shishkin performs ScheherazadeVideo 2: Yuri Shishkin performs Soiree de Vienne Video 3: Yuri Shishkin performs Rhapsody in Blue The 2015 Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) Festival, celebrating the organization’s 75th anniversary, featured wonderful entertainment. Three of the featured guest artists, Yuri Shishkin and the duo “Una Sinistra”, Alexander Selivanov and Yulia Amerikova traveled from Russia for this event. These artists presented exciting and diverse programs, yielding multiple standing ovations from a very appreciative audience. Samples of their performances are presented above and below. Many thanks go to Mike Roche (California) for the professional quality videos, as well as to Bruce Lawrie (Texas), sound engineer and photographer. |
by Joan & Dan Grauman
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| Video 1: Una Sinistra performs Anantango by Gorka Hermosa Video 2: Una Sinistra performs Marche Miniature Video 3: Una Sinistra performs Don Rhapsody by Viatcheslav Semionov Duo “Una Sinistra” of Alexander Selivanov and Yulia Amerikova performing at the 2015 Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International (ATG) Festival, celebrating the organization’s 75th anniversary. Many thanks go to Mike Roche (California) for the professional quality videos, as well as to Bruce Lawrie (Texas), sound engineer and photographer. |
by Harley Jones
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 International accordion masterclasses were held from 16th to 23rd July in the very large new building at Penderecki Music Center in Luzlawice, Poland. More than 40 students attended the masterclasses by tutors: Prof. Xiaoqing Cao (China, Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing), Prof. Geir Drausvoll (Norway, Royal Academie Kopenhagen), Prof. Stefan Hussong (Germany, Musikhochschule Würzburg), Prof. Klaudisz Baran(Poland, Chopin Akademie, Warsaw) Prof. Elbieta Rsinska (Poland) Rafal Grazka (Poland). Picture report at: 2015Luzlawice |
by Harley Jones
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| On the 9th August, Sergey Osokin is performing at the accordion festival in Tianjin. Sergey is an accordion tutor at Schnittke's Moscow State Institute of Music. The video is Sergey Osokin performing in concert 2 years ago, Crystal Ball "Crystal Turandot". Other members of the group are: A. Goroh (guitar), S. Medvedev (bass), D. Butyrov (drums). |
by Rob Howard
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 A review by Tom Huizenga for ‘Deceptive Cadence’: “When Gustav Mahler said a symphony "must be like the world. It must embrace everything," I suppose he meant embracing accordions, too.Gustav Mahler's sprawling Ninth Symphony is a 90-minute journey brimming with the joys of life, haunted by death and with a lot happening along the way. Accordionist William Schimmel has squeezed this immense musical canvas down to just 6 1/2 minutes. That takes some guts. But as it turns out, Schimmel's performance isn't a stunt. The amount of thought and feeling poured into these fleeting minutes reflects Mahler's bipolar musical personality — jubilant one moment, sorrowful the next. With fluttering keys and low end exhalations, Schimmel's instrument — a giant Titano Emperor — sighs like a weary beast burdened with the weight of the world. Yet from it flows Mahler's heart-melting opening theme. Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis steps in, adding his own dose of nostalgia by riffing on patterns Schimmel created from that gorgeous motif. Perhaps with tongue in cheek, Schimmel suddenly twists Mahler into a tango and then zeroes in on the bumptious dance from the symphony's second movement. Marsalis returns to cap the piece with another wistful solo. What would the composer think? Although Mahler never called for an accordion in his symphonies, he did deploy cowbells and mandolins in the service of embracing it all”. Dr William Schimmel’s new CD, ‘Theatre of the Accordion’, released in July by Roven Records, features solo works written and performed by William Schimmel, and featuring guest artist Wynton Marsalis. For further information email: billschimmel@billschimmel.com |
by Harley Jones
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| Klaus Paier and Asja Valcic performing Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla at the XXX International Accordion Festival, Saint-Petersburg, Russia 2015. Published on Apr 24, 2015. |
by Rob Howard
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 A brand new custom 1-row diatonic accordion, made in March 2015, was stolen from the parking lot across the street from Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music at 7.45pm on Thursday July 23rd. It was either taken from the car or when put down while paying at the pay box. The accordion is has a low serial number, and with very few in existence, is virtually one of a kind. The owner is Sean Colledge. The accordion’s make is L'anse Grise, 1-row, D tuning, black, 4 stops, 2 bass couplers, 4 sets of treble reeds, 2 sets pf bass reeds, serial number #26. It was in a Peavey black nylon gig bag (picture left). For further information or to contact the owner, email: sean@colledgeviolins.com |
by Harley Jones
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 On August 2nd, 1 pm - 10 pm, some 40,000 audience came to hear the Victoria Symphony Splash in Victoria's Inner Harbour Legislature grounds. Young accordionist Rebecca Bracewell was featured with the Victoria Symphony conducted by Tania Miller performing "Libertango" and "Oblivion" by Astor Pizzzolla.Performing from a floating stage, the concert grand finale was Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture – with fireworks of course, picture above. Rebecca Bracewell (18 years) recently moved to Victoria to study with Jelena Milojevic who is the artistic director of the Victoria International Accordion Festival. In the last year, Rebecca has won several regional accordion competitions for young people. |
by Heather Masefield
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 Picture and radio interview sound file above, and text below from the Radio New Zealand National Radio website. Additional descriptions in brackets. Piano Accordions - Maurice Jones Maurice Jones is an internationally known piano-accordion entertainer. He has frequently appeared on T.V. and radio in New Zealand and has several international performances to his credit. Maurice is easily New Zealand's most prolific session accordionist - in fact that was him playing accordion on Herbs' 1982 hit French Letter (a big New Zealand pop hit which is the opening music of this radio interview). Not only has he performed extensively all around the world, Maurice is also an importer of very high-quality Italian accordions (Accordion House Importer/Retailer) and an expert in their repair and restoration. He is also the owner of an impressive collection of accordions (picture of one above) at his home and business in the Auckland suburb of Takapuna. Maurice Jones talks to Jesse Mulligan. |
by Rob Howard
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| The Accordions Worldwide news for the week ending August 3rd 2001 included an article telling about an impending visit to New Zealand by the Akkordeon Landesjugendorchester Baden-Wurttemberg, from Germany. Above is a 2015 picture of the orchestra. Overseas visits by accordionists, ensembles and orchestras have become commonplace in recent times, with international sounds of the accordion continually spreading to new places. This tour was reported '14 years ago': Maori Welcome for Accordion Orchestra - New Zealand Contributed by Christine Adams The Akkordeon Landesjugendorchester Baden-Wurttemberg (ALJO) will be treated to a "Maori Welcome" when they arrive in Hamilton, New Zealand, on August 4th. Because of popular demand a second concert has now been organised at Fraser High School in Hamilton. The group will then travel to Rotorua to visit a Maori village and participate in a traditional Maori hangi meal. This will be followed by two workshops and a concert in Taupo (6th), performances in Wellington (7th), Christchurch (9th) and a final concert in Auckland on August 10th. |
Future events |
by Rob Howard
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 Over this weekend, August 7th, 8th and 9th, bierkeller accordionists Ken and Mary perform at the Brats & Crafts Festival, St. James Lutheran Church, 5660 Trabue Rd, Columbus, Ohio. Their playing times are:August 7th, 4pm until 9pm – Ken and Mary full band August 8th, 12noon until 9pm – Ken and Mary full band August 9th, 12noon until 1pm – Ken and Mary duo For further information email: kenandmarymusik@yahoo.com |
by Rob Howard
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 The American trio Whiskey & Women, led by accordionist Renee de la Prade, currently on a summer tour of Europe, are presently performing in France. Their forthcoming gig dates include:August 7th, ?9.48pm - Bar Le Grattoir, Gérardmer, France August 8th, 9pm - Le Lapin Blanc, Réding, Lorraine August 9th, 7.30pm - Café Gîte de la Cascade du Nideck, Oberhaslach August 14th to 16th – Festival du Chant de Marin, Paimol; this is a combined sailing and sea-chanty festival in the northwest of France, and the last show is on a boat. August 14th, 6.15pm until 7.30pm - Cabaret Michel Tonnere August 15th, 5.30pm until 6.30pm - Scene Michel Pinc August 16th, 8pm until 9pm - Bateau Fée de l'Aulne For further information email: squeezeboxgoddess@gmail.com |
by Rob Howard
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| On Saturday August 8th, 7.30pm, cellist Aleksandra Lelek and accordionist Maciej Zimka play music by F. Servais and K. Szymanowski in the courtyard of the historic Wawel Royal Castle, 5 Wawel, Krakow, Poland. Maciej Zimka graduated from Academy of Music in Kraków in the accordion class of Professor Janusz Pater. He won 1st prize in competitions in Gorlice and Vilnius, 3rd prize at the International Accordion Festival in Klingenthal, and 5th prize at the International Accordion Festival in Castelfidardo. He composes works for the accordion, other instruments and chamber music ensembles. |
by Rob Howard
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| On Sunday August 9th, 9.30pm, accordionist Giuseppe Mancini entertains in the piazza at S. Antonio di Galluria, a municipality in the Province of Olbia-Tempio, Sardinia. |
by Rob Howard
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 Accordionist Karen Tweed performs next week, as follows:Sunday August 9th - playing as part of Moya Brennan and Tim Jarvis' Family Band evening at Leo's Tavern, Donegal, Irish Republic Tuesday August 11th, 8.30pm - 10.30pm – with singer/guitarist Mark Hickman, 'Reels, Airs and Songs from the Heart', Pier Street Playhouse, Isle of Wight Wednesday August 12th, 3.30pm - 5pm - Karen Tweed & The Dustbin Corner Ceilidh Band, Sailors and Shipwrecks Fancy Dress Ceilidh, Pier Street Playhouse, Isle of Wight Karen Tweed, born in England but now living in Ireland, is steeped in Irish traditional music and has recorded and performed in this genre for many years. She also performs in other genres, and has featured on over 30 CDs. She won 5 All Ireland titles on piano accordion and melodica in the late 1970s/early 80s, performed with the Poozies, and is the main piano accordion tutor at the World Music Centre, University of Limerick, and a regular tutor for the Bmus Degree in folk and traditional music at Newcastle University and at The Sage, Gateshead. |
by Rob Howard
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 Dutch-based Bosnian accordionist Nihad Hrustanbegovic, performs ‘The Four Seasons’ by Vivaldi music in a concert on Tuesday August 11th, 8.30pm, at the Eglise Sainte-Madeleine, Saint-Ilpize, France. Nihad Hrustanbegovic has recently recorded this work on a CD.Saint-Ilpize is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France. For further information email: info@nihad-accordeon.com |
by Rob Howard
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 Accordionist Lindsay Weir and her Scottish Dance Band are the guests at the Blairgowrie Accordion & Fiddle Club on Tuesday August 11th, 7.45pm. The venue is the Red House Hotel, Station Rd, Coupar Angus, PH13 9AL, Scotland.The Lindsay Weir SDB are based in the Scottish Highlands, and play for Ceilidh, Old Tyme, and Country Dancing. For further information email: blairgowriebandfclub@yahoo.com |
by Rob Howard
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 The ever popular fiddle/accordion duo Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham are on tour, traveling round Scotland. Listed are the dates until the end of August; dates for September will be posted towards the end of this month.Two of the most admired musicians on the present day Scottish traditional folk scene, Aly and Phil have worked as a duo since 1988, and have gathered a large and loyal following. Fiddler Aly Bain was a founding member of the Boys of the Lough, and Phil was the accordionist with Silly Wizard. Their tour dates include: August 12th, 6pm – St Andrew’s Blackadder Church, N. Berwick, EH39 4NU August 13th, 7.30pm – Newton Stewart Cinema, 35 Victoria Street, DG8 6NL August 14th, 7.30pm – Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton, Bankend Road, Dumfries DG1 4TA August 15th, 7.30pm – Motherwell Civic Centre, ML1 1AB August 20th, 8pm – Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Sleat, Isle of Skye, IV44 8RQ August 21st, 7.30pm – Assembly Rooms, Sinclair Terrace, Wick, KW1 5AB August 22nd, 8pm – Carnegie Hall, Clashmore, Dornoch, IV25 3RG August 27th, 8pm – An Lanntair, Kenneth St, Isle of Lewis, Stornoway August 28th, 7.30pm - Albert Hall, Dumbarton Rd, Stirling, FK8 2QL August 29th, 8pm - Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, IV3 5SA August 30th, 8pm – Festival Theatre, Pitlochry, PH16 5DR For further information email: phil@philcunningham.com |
by Rob Howard
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 Accordionist Marcelo Caldi performs in concert on Monday August 17th at 6.30pm at the Instituto Casa do Choro, 38 Rua da Carioca, Rio de Janeiro. |
by Rob Howard
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| The Akkordeon-Orchester Wesseling (Anita Brandtstäter) performs in concert on August 23rd, 5pm, at the Johanneskirche, Brühl, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Entry is free, with charity donations taken. The concert, titled ‘Akkordeonmusik aus aller Welt’ (‘Accordion music from all over the world’), includes the Baroque music by Purcell and Vivaldi, Spanish music by Albéniz, and modern music by Karl Jenkins. The program also includes original music such as the ‘Irish Suite’ - Matyas Seiber, the Brazilian-style samba ‘San Fona’ - Wolfgang Ruß, ‘Dalmatian Dances’ - Adolf Götz, the African ‘Kwela Party’ - Jake Lerole, ‘Oblivion’ and ‘La Muerte Del Angel’ - Astor Piazzolla. There will also be some American film-classics ‘Movie Mix I’ - Wolfgang Ruß, and a jive version of ‘On the street where you live’ from the musical ‘My Fair Lady’. |
New and Updated Sites |
by Harley Jones
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 Famous Russian performer Yuri Shishkin has just written "3 of my CD's are all sold." They remain available as eTracks mp3 albums. Catalog: yshishkin02eT Images Of The Passing Time Catalog: yshishkin03eT Favourites Catalog: yshishkin05eT Pictures at an Exhibition There are three other CD's available now while CD stocks last at: Yuri Shishkin Catalog: yshishkin01 Towards the Sun CD and eTracks album Catalog: yshishkin04 Shishkin Plays Semionov CD and eTracks album Catalog: yshishkin06 Libretto (Bajan on the Russian Opera Stage) CD and eTracks album |
by Peter Wilk
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 Peter Wilk has made available a new arrangement Clair De Lune by Debussy and recorded a video of the arrangement (above). See sample page and to purchase at Catalog: wp507Six other arrangements and compositions are available at Peter Wilk for online purchase. Shopping basket links to the high security eCommerce site run by WorldPay.com, one of the world's largest payment processing system. |
by Anna Bodell of Charnwood Publications
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  Charnwood Publishing have released two new compositions by Douglas Ward titled: Catalog No. DW929 CrabCakes Catalog No. DW930 Seven Over Eight The homepage of Douglas Ward is also updated. Order from Charnwood Music Publishing using the high security eCommerce site provided by Worldpay. |
CD Reviews |
by Alessandro Mugnoz
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 CD Reviews Index for the Review of Caleidoscopio by Riccardo Centazzo in English and Italian languages. Review by Alessandro Mugnoz. |
by Alessandro Mugnoz
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 CD Reviews Index for the Review of Ivano Battiston plays Johann Sebastian Bach, in English and Italian languages. Performer Ivano Battiston, reviewed by Alessandro Mugnoz. |
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