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Highlights |
33rd China Harbin Summer Music Festival International Accordion Art Week - China2016 Fleadh Cheoil, Ennis – Republic of IrelandRichard Galliano Concerts – Slovakia, Portugal, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
China Daily Times: Grand Accordion Art Festival in Tacheng - ChinaYuri Shishkin Superb Concert, Harbin Music Hall - ChinaTheft from The Accordion Shop, Berkshire - UKCody McSherry Wins Lancaster's Got Talent, Pennsylvania – USAPeter Logue’s ‘Hands up for trad’ Services to Charity Award, Scotland – UKNatasha Enquist’s debut album ‘MNE’, Berlin - GermanyMemories of “Mama Stella” Allison, Maryland - USAVideo: Uwe Steiger Bandoneon Sound - Germany
Future events |
Zoltan Orosz Concert, Mezotur – HungarySimone Zanchini Performances – Italy, SloveniaMiloš Milivojević Concerts - England, Poland, SwitzerlandBrandon McPhee Concert @ Pitlochry, Scotland – UKDavid Vernon and Dick Lee @ Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland – UKJulien Labro Concerts – South Korea, Jordan, USAScandalli Days Brazil will be a Musical Days! - Brazil
New and Updated Sites |
New Release: Silver Fern March for Accordion Orchestra - New ZealandUpdated Site: Franco Cambareri Two New Works Released - AustraliaHelp Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
by Rob Howard
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 The 33rd China Harbin Summer Music Festival International Accordion Art Week was a successful festival with large competition entries, 98 page printed program, excellent concerts, workshops and fine performances by competition winners. The Accordion Art Week is a part of the internationally famous 33rd China Harbin Summer Festival and the organisers are to be commended for their positive promotion of accordion to all the concert going public of the Harbin region. Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) President Raymond Bodell was a guest at the Official Opening of the 33rd China Harbin Summer Festival attended by many important Chinese Officials including Lu Hao, Governor of Heilongjiang Province. Raymond Bodell met the Governor (picture below) and it was gratifying to see accordion and the Harbin Accordion Art Week, receiving important promotion for accordion as part of the 33rd China Harbin Summer Music Festival. The Harbin 2016 China Summer International Accordion Art Week and international competitions is organized by the The Ministry of Culture of China, the Harbin Municipal People's Government, the Department of Education of Heilongjiang Province; Organizer Harbin Normal University. Sincere congratulations to the organisers, led by Accordion Art Week Executive Director Prof. Wang Hongyu (picture right), President of Music College of Harbin Normal University. Now online is the color printed program of nearly 100 pages for the 33rd China Harbin Summer Music Festival International Accordion Art Week. Download pdf or view with browser at: 2016HarbinProgram Competition results are online at: 2016HarbinResults Video and pictures of the prize winners will be online by Saturday at: 2016HarbinPrize Completed report of the event, pictures, video and competition results will be online by Sunday at: 2016Harbin |
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by Harley Jones
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 The 2016 All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil, organized by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE), takes place in the town of Ennis in County Clare, from August 14th to 22nd.The Fleadh Cheoil – the All Ireland Festival - is a huge competitive festival of Irish music, song and dance, with approximately 10,000 competitors and performers, including sections involving large numbers of accordionists, melodeon, concertina and harmonica players, as well as many ceili bands, accordion and marching bands. Over 400,000 people from around the world are expected to attend this annual feast of Irish music, song and dance. Guest performers involving accordionists include Cherish the Ladies, The Kilfenora Ceili Band, Jackie Daly, Billy McComiskey, Noel Hill & Tony Linnane, Kila and Manran, Stockton’s Wing, and Bofin to Burren. Playing for dancing during the festival are the Tulla Céilí Band, Johnny Reidy Céilí Band, Mountain Road Céilí Band, Five Counties Céilí Band, Sean Norman Céilí Band, Four Courts Céilí Band, Swallow’s Tail Céilí Band, Fodhla Céilí Band, Striolán Céilí Band, Star of Munster Céilí Band, Abbey Céilí Band, and the Matt Cunningham Céilí Band. Making their first appearance are the Toyota Céilí Band, from Japan. The first half of the festival is taken up by Scoil Éigse - tuition classes (for all ages and abilities in traditional Irish music) for piano accordion, diatonic button accordion, Anglo concertina, and many other instruments used in Irish traditional music. The American all-female band Cherish the Ladies will perform the closing concert on Monday August 22nd, 8pm, at the Shannon Aerodome, located at the Tim Smythe Park in Ennis. Also on the bill are Noel Hill & Tony Linnane, Mary Bergin, Liz & Yvonne Kane, Don Stiffe, Maura O'Connell, Donnchadh Gough, Billy McComiskey, Dylan Foley, Molly O'Riordan, PJ Murrihy, Nollaig Casey, Nathan Pilatzke, and Declan McHale. For further information email: info@fleadhcheoil.ie |
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by Rob Howard
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 Accordionist Richard Galliano performs this month around Europe, as follows:August 12th – Richard Galliano Sextet, Viva Musica Festival, Slovakia August 13th – with Sylvain Luc, ‘Homage to Piaf’ concert, Cascais, Portugal August 17th – with Didier Lockwood and Philip Catherine, Ile de Re, France August 20th – New Musette Quartet concert, Vevey, Switzerland August 24th – with Massa and the Carrara Orchestra, Dolomites, Italy August 25th - with Massa and the Carrara Orchestra, Cuneo, Italy August 26th – with the Camerata Ducale, Stresa, Italy August 27th – solo concert, Sommerton Festival, Germany Richard Galliano has long been one of worlds most famous accordionists, teacher, prolific composer, and recording artist. After meeting Astor Piazzolla and being impressed by his Tango Nuevo, Galliano was inspired to create the genre known as New Musette, which he has performed all over the world. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
by Harley Jones
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 China Daily Times (English edition) published:Grand Accordion Art Festival to be Held in Tacheng The first Xinjiang Tacheng Accordion Art Festival will be staged in Tacheng city from August 18 to 20, to further pass forward the distinctive accordion culture of Tacheng in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and promote the cultural exchanges among the countries along the "Silk Road Economic Belt". Picture above: Performers play accordions together in Tacheng prefecture, Picture left: An accordion player practices at home. According to its online press release, the art festival will hold professional competitions, masters' lectures, seminars, activities aimed at setting new Guinness World Record, accordion world champion concert among others. A total of 1,500 participants will play accordion ensemble, in an effort to break the Guinness World Record of 1,361 people co-playing accordion together in Shenzhen of Guangdong in 2013. Shan Xiaomei, chief of publicity department of Tacheng city, said that the accordion art festival this time is in a large scale with a high level, as the number of performers is likely to pass 1,600, gathering people from all walks of life from 17 ethnic groups. Tacheng, located at the border of China and Kazakhstan, is a trans-cultural city, which has been greatly influenced by Russian culture. Dubbed as "city of accordion", Tacheng has a rich history and legacy of accordion. The accordion is akin to a symbol of the city, and out of every 10 people there will be two or three who can play the accordion. Another article 30th May 2016 in the China Daily Times English Edition: Accordion Museum Born of Man's Love for its Music by By Bi Nan For people living in Tacheng, singing and dancing to the music of the accordion is an indispensable part of life. The accordion is akin to a symbol of the city, and out of every 10 people there will be two or three who can play the accordion. The Tacheng Accordion Museum, which opened in December, is the only accordion museum in Xinjiang and the only one of its kind in the country. So far, the collection includes 330 accordions from 10 countries, such as China, Russia, Germany, Italy and Ukraine, and the oldest is 103 years old. The museum was set up by Dawran·Dosanhan with the support of local government. He started to set up the museum in 2014 after spending six years collecting accordions from around the world. Pictures below: Different kinds of accordions are on display at the Tacheng Accordion Museum. |
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by Harley Jones
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  Famous soloist Yuri Shishkin was a featured concert artist of the 33rd China Harbin Summer Music Festival. Video above: The Young Prince and The Young Princess from the Suite "Sheherazade" Op 35 by Rimsky-Korsakov.The Shishkin concert was a featured page in the general festival program (picture right) as well as featured in the Accordion Art Week Program. The concert was held in the new Harbin Music Hall. This very beautiful and stunning hall of 1200 capacity features excellent acoustics with the concert by Yuri Shishkin being a most memorable performance with Shishkin being called back to the stage for encores and ovations. The picture and video report including the program will be online by Sunday at: 2016HarbinShishkin |
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by Rob Howard
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| Last weekend The Accordion Shop, Verve House, London Road (A30), Sunningdale (near Ascot), Berkshire SL5 0DJ, was burgled overnight, and at least 20 new accordions were stolen along with the shop’s computers, which store the company’s business records. The accordions include Cooperativa, Paolo Soprani and Excelsior models. If anyone has information about this substantial theft please telephone (+44) 01344 873717. |
by Joan Grauman Morse
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 13-year old accordionist, Cody McSherry, decided to enter the first ever Lancaster's Got Talent competition, which was held by Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Online. Many entries were received, and after review by the Lancaster Online staff, 20 semi-finalists were selected. Their videos were placed online for the public to vote, and 10 finalists were determined based on over 4,000 votes. The 10 finalists included NINE vocalists and Cody, the lone accordionist. All but one of the competitors were older than Cody. The final competition took place last night in front of three judges and a live audience. The competition was also streamed online, and we watched. Some very fine and seasoned singers performed, but when it was all over, Cody McSherry was declared the winner by the judges! |
by Rob Howard
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 On Saturday August 6th at the Ashton Bar, Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, accordionist Peter Logue was presented with the ‘Hands up for trad’ Services to Charity Award by the concertina player Simon Thoumire. Peter Logue, who is blind and suffering with cancer, frequently raises money for good causes busking in the streets of Helensburgh. |
by Rob Howard
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 Berlin-based Canadian accordionist Miss Natasha Enquist's debut album, ‘MNE’, is the semi-autobiographical story of her journey of self-discovery told through the voice of a adventure-hungry Star Captain, who leaves her home planet to discover a new world, and the struggles she faces while there.Weaving in lines of poetry from various German poets such as Ingeborg Bachmann, Karin Boye, and Rainer Maria Rilke, the narrative of the album touches on themes of kindred spirits, love, passion, loneliness and the resolution that comes from connecting to the indomitable spirit within. Each song on ‘MNE’, which was recorded and produced by Kollo Agency, on MNE Records, in Berlin, Germany, and the sound of the album experiments with sound design of the accordion through sampling, distortion, and effects as well as noticeable melody lines. Miss Natasha Enquist’s intention is to treat the accordion as a human-powered synthesizer, by utilizing the instrument in both traditional and innovative ways, resulting in a very textural, cinematic and atmospheric album. ‘MNE’ is available for direct download and other online sites. For further information email: info@natashaenquist.com |
by Joan Grauman Morse
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Click to play:
 On Monday, August 8, my former duet partner and dear friend Stella Allison passed away after a lengthy illness. For all who knew Stella (and if you were ever in her presence, you knew and loved her!), she will be remembered for her joyous laugh, her great jazz renditions, and her total love for being with her friends in the accordion world. Stella Werner Allison was born in 1929 in Maryland and remained a loyal resident of the state her entire 87 years. She began studying the accordion as a child with the celebrated Washington, DC accordion teacher, Sylvia Kaplowitz, and was the youngest girl to be invited to perform in Sylvia’s all girl band at the age of 12 (she is pictured with this band, third girl from the left, at age 13 in 1942). In their gowns, these young girls performed constantly during World War II to raise money for War Bonds. After graduating with a degree in music education from American University in Washington, DC, Stella took a 40-year break from the accordion to raise a family of four, and to serve in many political, community and church organizations. In her early 60s, Stella dusted off her old accordion, studied with Dr. Carmelo Pino and began soloing, mostly on the west coast, where her son Tom lives, for over ten years. Picture lower left: Stella and Joan Grauman with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them. Then, Stella met me. I was “retired” from playing for close to twenty years in a Balkan/Gypsy band and was basically not playing the accordion anymore. Someone put an accordion on me at a party and Stella listened. “I like the way you play and I want you to be my duet partner”, said the forceful, lovable Stella. I hemmed and hawed, Stella’s husband Roy put some sheet music in front of me, and Stella said, “Stop that FRITZIN’ AROUND, and let’s play!!” From that moment on, our lives were never the same, and I feel very blessed! We toured the country together for 4 ½ wonderful years, playing our duets and making the audiences laugh at accordion camps, festivals, for the Northern Virginia Ragtime Society and many other venues and private parties. Actually, Stella made everyone laugh, as her sense of humor was totally delightful!! When Maddalena Belfiore and Linda Reed asked the two of us to play at the 2005 AAA Luncheon Concert in Dearborn, Michigan, we worked very, very hard to do our best at this event. Even at that time, Stella’s physical health was declining, so we decided to do a live concert CD while we were “at the top of our game”. In November 2005, we taped our concert live and the CD from that fun-filled evening sold out within months. We two “mediocre accordion ladies” were thrilled! This CD was recently re-released and can be obtained by contacting me at: joangrauman@verizon.net. Stella had to put down her accordion by the end of 2008. We stayed close until the end, and enjoyed reminiscing about our magical years together making wonderful friends from all over the country and Canada. I must add that the beautiful duet compositions by Stas Venglevski, to which Stella introduced me, were what motivated us to work for hours weekly during our first couple of years together. Picture below: Stella Allison with duet partner Joan Grauman. |
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by Harley Jones
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| Published on Jul 8, 2016 by Paolo Principi. Uwe Steiger performs a short video playing his Bugari Evo Digital Accordion with the PSound Bandoneon virtual instrument by Paolo Prinicipi. |
Future events |
by Rob Howard
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| Accordionist Zoltan Orosz perform in concert on Saturday August 13th, 7.30pm, at Varosi Galeria, Mezotur, Hungary. Zoltan Orosz studied the accordion and the organ at the Bela Bartok Conservatory in Budapest, and later at the Franz Liszt College, Budapest. He has since pursued a very successful international career as an accordionist, with several recordings to his credit. For further information email: info@harmonika.hu |
by Rob Howard
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 Italian accordionist Simone Zanchini performs this month, as follows:August 13th – accompanying Buster Keaton silent movie, Camerino (MC), Italy August 15th to 20th - Jazzinty Workshop (jazz accordion class) and final day concert, Lokal patriot school, Novo Mesto, Slovenia A graduate with honours in classical accordion at the "G. Rossini" Conservatory in Pesaro, with Professor Sergio Scappini, Simone Zanchini has become well known for his innovative approach to music. He performs jazz, contemporary music, using both acoustic and electronic accordion voicings. Zanchini has performed at festivals in France, Austria, Germany, England, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Spain, Norway, Russia, Tunisia, Lebanon, India, Venezuela, and Japan. For further information email: info@simonezanchini.com |
by Rob Howard
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 August 15th, 7pm – with Kosmos Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Arts, DorsetAugust 16th, 6pm – Milos solo recital, Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Arts, Dorset August 16th, 7pm – with Tina May, David Juritz, Yuri Zhislin and David Gordon, Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Arts, Dorset August 18th, 7pm - Tango evening with Festival Players, Burton Bradstock Festival August 19th, 8pm - Orchestral Finale - John Webb – ‘Concerto for Accordion, Clarinet and Strings’ with Anna Hashimoto and Festival Players, Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Arts August 20th, 7.30pm - Concert at Birdfair 2016 with Craig Ogden and Gary Ryan, Oakham, Leicestershire September 22nd, 7.30pm - Milos solo recital and chamber music with violinist Maria Oldak, Opole Music Festival, Poland September 23rd, 7.30pm - recital with violinist Lizzie Ball, Music at Malling, Kent September 29th, 7.30pm - solo recital and chamber music with cellist Linda Lin,Giez Music Festival, Giez Castle, Switzerland Serbian born Miloš Milivojevic has just received a new specially made Pigini accordion from Italy. He is a first prize winner at international competitions in Germany, France, Italy and Denmark. In Serbia he studied with Vojin Vasovic, and with Owen Murray at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he graduated and was awarded with Dip RAM. In 2007 he became the first accordionist ever to win the RAM Club Prize at the Academy and in the 2008 was the Winner of the prestigious Derek Butler London Prize at the Wigmore Hall, London. Kosmos are Harriet Mackenzie – violin, Meg Hamilton – Viola, and Miloš Milivojevic – accordion. For further information email: milosmusic@hotmail.com |
by Rob Howard
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 All Scotland Champion Brandon McPhee performs in concert on Wednesday August 17th, 8pm, at the Town Hall, Pitlochry, Scotland. In support is the comedian Eddie Rose.Brandon McPhee’s most recent CD, ‘Scottish Champion’, has just been released on DVD. The tracks include: Edwin Flaws of Wire; Miss Elspeth Campbell/Brandon Mcphee of Castletown; The Stone Outside Dan Murphy’s Door/If You Ever Go To Ireland/Shoe The Donkey/Doonaree; Tekeli/The Devil in Dublin/The Reel of May/Nora Crionna; Anne’s Reel/The Apple Tree/Peerie Hoose Ahint The Burn/The Plough And The Stars; Shannon’s Smile; Bill Black of Stanley/Arlene Bowrie/Jim Money; Petter Pratt’s Polka/Jimmy O The Bus Polka; The Cuckoo Waltz; The Thief of Lochaber/Alan Macpherson of Moss Park/Paddy’s Leather Breeches/The Curlew; Miss Rowan Davies; The 79th Farewewll To Gibralter/Captain Norman Orr Ewing; The Osstkaa Waltz; Happy Hours; Bengullion/Macleod of Mull; John Crawford’s Waltz; John Carmichaels Farewell To Scotland/Ian Powrie’s Farewell To Scotland; The Dark Island; McGuire’s Welcome To Fermanagh/Billy McGuire’s Reel/Wing Commander Donald Mackenzie’s Reel/Roberta’s Reel Bonus feature - Robert Lovie Invites Brandon To Fyvie Castle (Interview) For further information email: www.irishmusic.co.uk@mail.vresp.com |
by Rob Howard
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| Accordion/clarinet duo David Vernon and Dick Lee perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this month on August 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd and 24th, 7.45pm each evening. The concerts take place at Valvona and Crolla (venue 67), 19 Elm Row, Edinburgh. The duo’s music ranges from the high energy Jewish hora and Gypsy rhythms, to tango and musette waltzes, hot fiery Balkan melodies and light classical, jazz and traditional music. For further information email: dvernon100@aol.com |
by Rob Howard
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 Accordion virtuoso Julien Labro performs in August and September, as follows:August 18th to 20th - with Frank Vignola and guests, Crested Butte Music Festival, Colorado, USA August 22nd – with the Liz Lee Trio, Daejeon Chamber Music Festival, Seoul, South Korea September 21st – with Marcel Khalife, Jordan Music Festival, Aaman, Jordan September 24th – with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA French-born Julien Labro graduated from the Marseille Conservatory, and then began winning international awards, taking ?rst prize in the CIA Coupe Mondiale in 1996 and the Castel?dardo International Festival in 1997. After sweeping ?rst place in the Marcel Azzola, Jo Privat and Medard Ferrero competitions in 1995 and 1998, respectively, Julien Labro moved to the USA, where he has further pursued his musical ambitions. |
by Sarah Albuquerque
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| Meetings for all people who love the accordion. This month, Brazil gives welcome to "Scandalli Day Brazil", a big event where you'll know everything and much more about the accordion. Three regions from Brazil (Southeast, Northeast and South) were choosen to host the concerts and lectures that will be held by Scandalli's artists, and also the company's president, Mr. Mirco Patarini. The public will know the principal issues as accordion’s history, production process, materials used, differences of each model etc. During the lecture, the public can interact and are welcome to ask questions. The goal is to inform those attending about the accordion. Listed at each concert are the many superb performers. In the city of Porto Alegre - RS, the event will be held in partnership with "Casa da Gaita Ponto", to promote the "Acordeon Solidário", a social project which will collect food to be donated to a charity. São Paulo - SP: Date: 17/08/16 14:00 to 16:00 - Lecture 20:00 - Concerts: Mirco Patarini, Oswaldinho do Acordeon and Bruno Moritz. Address: Auditório OMB (Ordem dos Músicos do Brasil) Av. Ipiranga, 318 - 6º andar, Centro - São Paulo - SP João Pessoa - PB: Date: 21/08/16 20:00 - Concerts: Mahatma Costa, Mirco Patarini, Oswaldinho do Acordeon, Luizinho Calixto , Helinho Medeiros Address: Sala de concerto Maestro José Siqueira FUNESC R$ 10 + 1kg of non-perishable food dontation for "Casa Menino Jesus de Praga" Date: 22/08/16 10:00 - Lecture Address: Auditório 1 - Mezanino 2 FUNESC Rua Abdias gomes de almeida - tambauzinho - João Pessoa PB Porto Alegre - RS: Date: 24/08/16 10:00 - Lecture Address: Casa da Gaita Ponto - Av. Ipiranga, 8856 20:00 - Concerts: Renato Borghetti, Mirco Patarini, Oswaldinho do Acordeon, Bruno Moritz. Albino Manique, Luciano Maia, Orlando Rocha Address:: 35 CTG - Av. Ipiranga, 5.300 For further information: https://www.facebook.com/scandallibrasiloficial/ |
New and Updated Sites |
by Gary Daverne
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 Silver Fern March composed by Gary Daverne was premiered at the 2014 Australian International Accordion Championships by the Australian Accordion Teachers Association (AATA) 20th Anniversary Celebration Orchestra of about 50 players, conducted by Lionel Reekie. It has since been used for various New Zealand concerts and is now available for public release. Sample pages online for viewing. ED0045A_D Silver Fern March Accordion Orchestra Score ED0045B_D Silver Fern March Accordion Orchestra Parts and percussion Purchase online with secure server credit card capture by Paypal, the worlds largest online payments system. |
by Franco Cambareri
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 Franco Cambareri has released two new compositions:cfranco210 - Ballade Pour Lucia Ballade Pour Lucia is a sweet melody with a Romantic Feeling. cfranco211 - Ballade de Don Florencio Ballade de Don Florencio is a Happy Latin Disco These works are eSheet (pdf file, able to be emailed to you) and can be purchased online with secure server credit card. |
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