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Highlights |
World Accordion Day 24 Hours Live Video A Huge Success - InternationalThe National Chamber Music (Accordion) Seminar 2012, Xian - ChinaVideos for the Weekly News Now Operational - InternationalWorld Accordion Day 2012 Promotions - Macedonia
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Breaking News: Results 49th Klingenthal International Accordion Competition - Germany‘Tag der Harmonika’, Perg – AustriaWorld Accordion Day Photos from Hanoi - VietnamMarjan Krajna, Accordion and Art, Zagreb – CroatiaPearl Fawcett-Adriano World Accordion Day Concert, Stockport – UK‘14 Years Ago’ – Nico Carstens and the Accordion - South Africa
Future events |
AAA 18th Master Class and Concert Series, New York – USALouis van Rensburg Concert, Johannesburg - South AfricaRescheduled: First Annual Branson Accordion Festival, Missouri - USAKaren Tweed’s Ladies Accordion Orchestra Concert, Staffordshire- UKMarco Lo Russo Concert, Sermoneta - ItalyVictor Prieto Trio @ Terraza 7, New York – USAIgor Outkine Accompanies 1929 Silent Movie ‘Picadilly’, London – UK‘2012 Academy Festival des Arcs’, Savoie – France31st Annual Conjunto Festival, San Antonio, Texas - USA
New and Updated Sites |
Updated World Accordion Day 2012 site, 24 Hours Live Video - InternationalSilvio De Pra Website Updated with Eulogy
CD Reviews |
BOOK REVIEW - Vintage Accordions by Rob Howard, Reviewed by Peter Ayers - UKHelp Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
by Harley Jones
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| The 2012 World Accordion Day 24 Hours Live Video event directed by Frederic Deschamps, Grayson Masefield and Mike Rossi has been acclaimed a huge success. The whole event is available for viewing in 24 separate hours of archived video coverage. Each 1 hour archived segment is available at: 2012WAD Full event information and videos is at the link: 2012WAD |
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by Guo Jingming
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 The National Chamber Music (Accordion) Works Collecting and Teaching Seminar 2012 was held, 26th to 28th April, was hosted by the Xian Conservatory of Music in Xian.Many leaders attended such as Fan Yongbin (Higher Education Department of Shanxi Provincial Government), Prof Li Cong (picture left, President, Chinese Accordion Association – CAA, part of Chinese Musicians Association), An Ning (Secretary of the Party committee), Sun Weiguo (Vice Secretary of the Party committee, Administrative Vice Principal), Han Lankui (Vice Principal) all attended this occasion. Bai Luping (Vice Principal of Xian Conservatory of Music) presided over the conference and introduced the dignitaries. Prof. Li Cong in his address said that “Xian Conservatory of Music will be remembered not only for it’s huge contribution in the promotion and the development of accordion in China but also as the first conservatory in China to include the accordion as a major”. He added: “I hope this seminar will be a good start to collecting accordion chamber music works. Each art academy needs to drive forward this inheritance to make sure our accordion cause continues to develop and flourish”. The event included a concert of new chamber music works organized by the Xian Conservatory of Music. Professor Cao Xiaoqing from Central Conservatory of Music and Professor Chen Jun from Sichuan Conservatory of Music featuring new accordion chamber music works and the participation by professional scholars of all of the conservatories in China. The event was a very important contribution to the development of accordion chamber music in China. |
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by Harley Jones
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| You can send videos for the accordions.com Weekly News in 7 languages. During the last two weeks, we have tested videos successfully. The article below, "Macedonia Celebrates World Accordion Day 2012" is a good example of a news video. The news video can be with/without text and with/without photos, but generally, text and photos with the video will be the most interesting for readers. Please note, that this is for news videos, and is not for old videos. You can upload the video to us. Just email our news editor Rob Howard and we will send you the upload information. You can also upload to youtube and we can capture it there. For further information email Harley Jones: harleyaccordion@yahoo.com |
by Anica Karakutovska
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 The Macedonian Association of Accordionists ‘Ljubiteli na klasicnata muzika’ Skopje celebrated World Accordion Day with many different activities to elevate the awareness and status of the accordion. See pictures: 2012 MacedoniaAn article with the information about the 4th World Accordion Day, being held on the 183rd birthday of the accordion, was published in all the main newspapers in Macedonia. Our members appeared live on the National TV programs to promote this global event. The main event of our WAD celebration was the concert which was held on May 5th in the foyer of the Macedonian Opera and Ballet, Skopje. The concert, that will be long remembered, started with the welcome speech from our President, Professor Zorica Karakutovska (picture below). The high quality performances in solo, duet, trio, quartet and ensembles with various instrumentation were very well received and regarded by the large audience which indicates that this concert was spectacular, very popular and enhancing the excellent reputation of the accordion in Macedonia. The concert program included two compositions from the Macedonian composer Elizabeta Ilievska-Bete titled: 'Hope, Faith & Love' performed by: Aleksandar Kotevski (violoncello), Professor Zorica Karakutovska (accordion) and Professor Marija Gjosevska (piano), and ‘Separation for voice and accordion'. Like last year, the culmination of the concert were the performances of accordion duos and trio consisting of Professor Zorica Karakutovska and her two colleagues, the winners of the Grand Prix at the 49th National competition for chamber music, Bojan Volcevski and Filip Stamevski (duo Fi-Bo). See pictures: 2012 Macedonia During the month of May, Macedonian Association of Accordionists ‘Ljubiteli na klasicnata muzika’ Skopje will continue with concert activities in other cities in Macedonia and abroad. |
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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
by Accordions Worldwide
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 The results for the 49th Klingenthal International Accordion Competition 2012, May 6th to 13th are:Category I - Soloists up to 12 years 1 Motyka Piotr / Poland 2 Niittyviita Sara / Finland 3 Fischer Sophie / Germany Category II - Soloists up to 15 years 1 Bondar Krzysztof / Poland 2 Chen Dinghua / China 3 Sinoimeri Julia / France Category III - Soloists up to 18 years 1 Zhang Jiahe / China 2 Eliasson Viktor Daniel / Sweden 3 Zhang Qianyu / China Category IV - Soloists of any age 1 Xu Xiaonan / China (picture top right) 2 Iosif Purits / Russia (picture middle right) 3 Torkar Neža / Slowenien Category Va - Accordion duo 1 Jeux d’Anches (Kerkez, Nikola / Sevarlic, Marko) / Serbia 2 Duo “Eurasia” (Shkindzerava, Anastasiya / Fang,Xuan) / Russia/Germany 3 Duo Ivashina, Olga / Listunov, Evgeny) Russia Category Vb - Duo - accordion and other instrument 1 Van Amsterdam Duo van Amsterdam, Vincent / van Amsterdam, Jeanine) Netherlands 2 Duo Baczewski – Vuger Baczewski, Beniamin / Vuger, Stjepan) Poland / Croatia 3 Duo Pascher- Komatina Komatina, Nikola / Pascher, Sarah) Serbia / Austria Category VI - Soloists of any age, virtuoso entertainment music 1 Petronio Matteo / Italy (picture lower right) 2 Cao Ye / China 3 Babaz Bastien / France Category VII - Bandoneon soloists of any age 1 Wu Yung-Lung / Taiwan 2 Gierster Lukas / Germany 3 Hayakawa Jun / Japan Category VIII - Instrumental groups with at least one but no more than two bandoneons, with a total of up to six musicians 1 Solo Tango Orquesta (Talanin, Ivan / Ryazanov, Alexander / Timin, Artem / Il’ya Alpeev) Russia 2 Tango Spleen ( Bruno, Francesco / Marras, Andrea / Ravaglia, Gianluca / Speranza, Mariano) Italy / Argentinia Jury (from left): Prof. Krzysztof Olczak/Poland - Jacques Mornet/France, Sergej Voitenko/Russia - Raimondas Sviackevicius/Lituania - Prof. Xiaoqing Cao/China - Prof. Radomir Tomic/Serbia - Ulf Seifert/Germany - Prof. Gudrun Wall/Germany – Tobias Morgenstern/Germany – Matti Rantanen/Finland (behind) – Prof.Tibor Rácz/Slowakia – Prof. Jürgen Ganzer/Germany (head of Jury) – Jeanette Dyremose/Denmark – Prof. Ivan Koval/Cech Rep – Fritz Dobler/Germany |
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by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions
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 Pictures above: Werner Weibert (HVÖ president) with his vice presidents Dr. Leopold Dercsaly (left) and Dr. Herbert Scheibenreif (right), picture below is Benno Mitterlehner (organizer), Marlies Fürst (winner of the junior classic), Michael Rettig (classicand entertainment). This year’s ‘Tag der Harmonika’ was held from May 4th to 6th in Perg, which is located in the lovely region of Upper Austria. The competition attracted about 300 participants and included categories for accordion soloists, duos, ensembles and orchestras, for harmonica and the ‘Steirische Harmonika’ (Styrian Harmonica, a type of diatonic accordion), which has become very popular recently. Compared to previous competitions it can be said that the interest in the instrument and also the level of performance are constantly growing. The possibility to study the accordion at all major conservatories and universities of music as well as the work of the executive committee of Austrian Confederation of Accordionists HVÖ is showing very positive results. Most impressive performances came from Michael Rettig, who won both the Classic and the Entertainment categories, the ‘Duo akk:zent’ (Paul Schuberth, picture middle right, and Johannes Münzner, picture lower right), and the accordion orchestra ‘Vielharmonie’, from Salzburg. Alexander Pamer (picture top right) obtained first place in the highest category of the Diatonic competition, but there were also excellent performances by diatonic duets and folk music ensembles. Surely they will be going to represent their country at international competitions such as the Coupe Mondiale or the World Diatonic Competition in oncoming years. Gottfried Hubmann, Hermann Schlacher and Christian Höller were awarded the ‘Silver needle’, one of the highest distinctions of the Austrian Confederation. It was a lucky coincidence that the Austrian Day of the Harmonica was organized exactly 183 years after the patent of the accordion was granted to Cyrill Demien in Vienna in 1829. This aspect was also mentioned in the interview with Dr. Herbert Scheibenreif during the 24 hours livestream for World Accordion Day. For further information email: herbert@accordion-cd.co.at |
by Harley Jones
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 These photos of World Accordion Day, 6th May in Hanoi, Vietman have been sent to us by the President of the Vietnam National Academy of Music (VNAM), Prof., Dr., Artist of Merit, Accordionist Luu Quang Minh and by the General Secretary, accordionist Dr. Nguyen Tai Hung.Picture above: at the Hanoi Opera House, 2nd picture at a concert, 3rd at music school. |
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by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
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  On May 9th, in Mimara Museum, Zagreb, Marjan Krajna (picture right) opened an exhibition of the paintings by Rudolf Pater (picture left) with music by Astor Piazzolla and with a dance pair presenting the Tango of Astor Piazzolla.The artist Rudolf Pater modulates with almost musical art occasionally dangerous heterogeneus tones, not allowing them to cross the tonality and aligning a great deal of this recognizable flats and sharps. In collaboration with well known Croatian poet, dramatist and translator Luko Paljetak, he created two books of maps, which he illustrated: ‘Dandruf of the Iguana’ and ‘Whispering to the Lost One’ between the lips. Alongside the painting Pater works in the mediums of sculpture, graphics, murals and stained glass. |
by Rob Howard
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 Pearl Fawcett-Adriano was the guest at Stockport Accordion Club, Cheshire, in NW England, on May 9th. Pearl was on her brilliant best top form throughout both her two sets, and her performance was like a fireworks display, and with a varied program that sustained interest. Pearl spoke about World Accordion Day, and her choice of music was suitably international. Her program included Granada, O Sole Mio, Cubanola (Frosini), Caravan, Hejre Kati, Sleepy Blues, Lambeth Polka, Ciribiribin, Hungarian Dance No 5 (Brahms), Sicilian Serenade (Frosini), Strangers in the Night, Hear My Song, Violetta (two duets with Phil Watson), La Vie Parisienne (Offenbach), Musette Italienne, Carmen Selection (Bizet), and a self composed tarantella, Tinarella. The supporting cast - the Stockport AC Orchestra, Tameside Juniors, Rob Howard, Derek Stubbs on his recently purchased Roland FR7X, Betty Molloy & Chris Green, the SAC Quartet, and Helen Rich - all contributed well to a wonderful evening of entertainment. Pearl sold lots of copies of her super new CD 'Pearl - The Jewel of the Accordion' plus MAP Editions sheet music. For further information email: robaccord5@hotmail.com |
by Rob Howard
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 The Accordions Worldwide news for May 8th 1988 included a brief report about Nico Carstens, a South African accordionist equally well known as a composer. The accordion has a presence in South Africa, aided considerably in recent years by the promotional work of the very active accordionist Sergio Zampolli. ACCORDIONIST NICO CARSTENS - SOUTH AFRICA Contributed by Etienne Ozorak In South Africa, when one thinks accordion, one thinks of jazz artist Nico Carstens. Nico recently recorded with ‘Springbok Nude Girls’ and appears regularly at jazz festivals in South Africa. His CD ‘22 Goue Treffers’ gives a glimpse of his music as recorded through the years. His compositions have been used by Acker Bilk, Bert Kaempfert, The Shadows, James Last, Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer and Geoff Love. |
Future events |
by William Schimmel
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| July 27th, 28th and 29th are the dates for the three days of the 2012 Accordion Master Class and Concert Series, sponsored by the American Accordionists' Association (AAA), and moderated once more by Dr William Schimmel. The venue is again the Tenri Cultural Institute, 43A West St, 13th St, New York. This year’s series is titled, ‘Redemption: The Radar off the Radar’. Dr Schimmel comments, “… you can find Redemption right smack in the middle of the accordion community. If I sound excited, I am – and it's OK to be excited. It's a new kind of Radar!! And Redemption is waiting for you there. Is it Salvation?? No, not exactly – It's Redemption – sort of like the Halleluiah Chorus played by dozens and dozens of Accordionists – sort of like that – but not exactly.” There will be Master Classes in the afternoon at 3pm, and concerts in the evening at 7pm – featuring a distinguished lineup! In the lobby there will be books, CDs, DVDs, etc, on sale. Concert No. 1 on July 27th, 7pm, includes: ‘New Interactive Video’, by Micki Goodman, with Ms. Goodman - video, dance and choreography, music – Dr Schimmel ‘Star Twinkle – Mix’, by Mozart, Cage, Telstar, Doo Wop, and ‘Sonata for Two Pianos’ (accordion and piano) by Mozart, performed by Dr Gugo Goldenzweig and Dr Schimmel ‘St John Coltrane!’, by Mark Birnbaum/WS, performed by Dr Birnbaum, piano, and Dr Schimmel ‘Kensington’, by Art Baily, ‘Romp III’, by Robert Young McMahon, performed by Dr McMahon – Johanna Cho, piano ‘The Minimal Accordion’, by Michael Century ‘Grieg Goes Indie’, by John Foti, ‘Concerto (excerpts), by Howard Hanson, with Mafoka - Dr Schimmel, piano ‘Der Rosenkavalier’, by Richard Strauss, performed by Dr Schimmel ‘Variations on an Easter Hymn’, by Page Long, performed by Ingrid Kvale plus much more……. creative musical performances! Master Class No 2 on July 28th, at 3pm, includes the following: Accordions Occupying Wall Street Song Writing at the Accordion Don’t Just Get Them, But Keep Them (Julio Giulietti) How I Achieved Salvation Through the Accordion Without Playing It A Bellows Pleated World/Full of Ins and Outs The Accordion and Dominion Theology How to play Happy Birthday anywhere Merton/Bhudda/Pussycat (WS) The Reality Chord/Money/Exhibit Fire and Worship Installation in Lobby – Please Don’t Go Away (WS) Music: Gregosphere (WS) These are just some of the programs offered during the seminars. For further information email: billschimmel@billschimmel.com |
by Rob Howard
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 Louis van Rensburg and friends entertain on May 12th, 7pm, at Il Guardino, 44 Stanley Ave, Milpark, Johannesburg, South Africa.The performers are Louis van Rensburg (vocals, guitar, clarinet), Andries van der Heever (accordion), Paul Hanmer (piano), Luke van der Merwe (guitar, oud), Denny Lalouette (bass guitar), Edwin Knobel (drums), Annelie du Plessis-Hoberg (flute), and Leonore Bonnet (contrabass). For further information email: voshaar@yebo.co.za |
by Rita Davidson Barnea
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| The first Annual Branson Accordion Festival, set for May 17th to 20th, has been rescheduled due to damage from a recent tornado. A new date will be announced soon. All deposits and registration fees will be returned in full. For further information email: bransonaccordionfestival@hotmail.com |
by Rob Howard
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 Karen Tweed’s Ladies Accordion Orchestra is appearing in concert at St Edward’s Church, Leek, Staffordshire ST13 6AB, at 7.30pm on Saturday May 19th as part of the Leek Arts Festival. They are an all female group of ten and they play anything from French musette to Irish set dance to tango – from Edelweiss to Stevie Wonder – from Piazzolla to Paris. That’s obviously quite a varied programme with something for everyone and should be very enjoyable. Admission is £8. For further information email: lorraine@differentstrings.co.uk |
by Rob Howard
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| Last week accordionist Marco Lo Russo was awarded the ‘Premio Speciale Cultura Albatros’ (The Culture Special Prize) in Naples. On Sunday May 13th, 6.30pm, Marco performs in a special concert at the Loggia dei Mercanti, Sermoneta, Latina, Italy. For further information email: dina.tomezzoli@alice.it |
by Rob Howard
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| The Victor Prieto Trio continue their residency at Terraza 7, 40-19 Gleane St, Elmhurst, New York, on Thursday May 17th, 9.30pm. The trio perform at Terraza 7 on the third Thursday of each month. Jazz accordionist Victor Prieto will be accompanied by Edward Perez on bass, and Eric Doob on drums. For further information email: victorprieto2001@yahoo.com |
by Rob Howard
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 The 1929 silent film ‘Picadilly’ will be screened on Sunday May 20th at the Hackney Attic, Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, Hackney, London E8 1HE. The film will be accompanied by Russian accordionist Igor Outkine – a one-man LSO (London Silent Orchestra), performing an original self-composed score.Described by Martin Scorsese as “one of the truly great films of the silent era”, the plot of ‘Piccadilly’ involves Valentine Wilmot discovering Shosho, a Chinese dishwasher, dancing on a table in the kitchen of his Soho nightclub. He puts her on the stage and she becomes a bigger star than less exotic dancers like Mabel. When Valentine visits Shosho’s apartment, they are followed by Mabel and the night ends with a murder. But who is the killer? Like a Russian Rick Wakeman of the button accordion, Igor Outkine switches from a conventional instrument to a Midi accordion (a veritable Tardis of an instrument, much more than it appears), from which he coaxes everything from guitar tones and saxophone solos to a James Brown back-up band. He likes to call himself one-man LSO (London Silent Orchestra) and has a unique way of interpreting every nuance of the film, at times it almost feels like actual dialogue. Dinner from select menu and daily specials board. Doors/Food 6.30-7.30pm. Film: 7.45pm. Costs: £9 , £8 Concs, £7 Members, £20 with dinner and wine, £19 concs with dinner and wine, £18 Members with dinner and wine. For further information email:hackney.attic@picturehouses.co.uk |
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
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 The ‘2012 Academy Festival des Arcs’ takes place, July 21st to 31st, in Les Arcs, a ski resort located in Savoie, in the south of France. The event offers tuition on accordion and a wide range of orchestral instruments such as violin, flute, clarinet, harp and piano. Bruno Maurice (picture left) is the accordion teacher.The festival offers an opportunity to combine accordion tuition with a holiday in the French Alps. Full details are now available. For further information email: bmaurice33@gmail.com |
by Rita Davidson Barnea
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 The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is the venue for the 31st Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival in San Antonio, May 15-20 at the Guadalupe Theatre and Rosedale Park. The major radio sponsor KEDA Radio 1540 AM will be running interviews with the musicians performing at the festival. |
New and Updated Sites |
by Harley Jones
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| The World Accordion Day 2012 site has been updated with information and the 24 Hours Live Video. The show directed by Frederic Deschamps, Grayson Masefield and Mike Rossi is available for viewing in 24 separate hours of archived video coverage. Each 1 hour archived segment online. |
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by Harley Jones
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 Silvio De Pra has sadly passed away on 1st May 2012. Eulogy by Heather Masefield is now online. Excerpts about Silvio De Pra from the book, The History of the Accordion in New Zealand (catalog: nzaa1081), also online.Three older albums re-released 3 weeks ago by Silvio De Pra Encore Continental Cabaret Volume 1 Continental Cabaret Volume 2 The beautiful voice and accordion of Silvio De Pra is backed by some of New Zealand's finest musicians. Listen to the sound samples on the site. |
CD Reviews |
by Peter Ayers
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 CD Reviews Index for the Review of the book Vintage Accordions, author Rob Howard, review by Peter Ayers. |
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