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Highlights |
Happy New Yearby Christine Johnstone |
Accordions Worldwide would like to wish all our readers a very Happy New Year. We hope you have enjoyed the news over the last year, and AWW will continue to keep you informed about accordion events wherever they are happening. We are all wishing for a better year ahead. The first news for next year is on Friday January 8th, 2021. We can still receive news of your upcoming concerts over the holiday season at: cjmusic@outlook.co.nz All the best from the team at Accordions Worldwide |
Video: 15th December, Opening Concert, 32nd International Moscow Festival “Bayan and Accordionists” - Russiaby Harley Jones |
Video and performance schedule of concert in English at: 2020Moscow |
Video: 16th December, 32nd International Moscow Festival “Bayan and Accordionists” - Russiaby Harley Jones |
Video and performance schedule of concert in English at: 2020Moscow |
Video: 17th December, 32nd International Moscow Festival “Bayan and Accordionists” - Russiaby Harley Jones |
Video and performance schedule of concert in English at: 2020Moscow |
Video: Radu Ratoi Wins VII International competition in Moscow - Russiaby Harley Jones |
Picture above: 1st Radu Ratoi (Moldova) Video and performance schedule of competition: 2020Moscow Results: 1st prize - Radu Ratoi (Moldova) 2nd Prize - Vladimir Stupnikov (Russia), Alexey Murza (Ukraine) 3rd Prize - Nikita Ukrainsky (Russia), Timur Galinurov (Russia), Junhao Mao (China), Zhang Zhiyuan (China)VII International competition in Moscow II Round Performers VII International Competition of Bayan and Accordion Players in Moscow Round II contestants 1. Flemming Viðar Valmundsson, Denmark 2. Nikita Ukrainskii, Russia 3. Junhao Mao, China 4. Ratoi Radu, Moldova 5. Zhuo Zhang, China 6. Jinghan Lin, China 7. Marija Tursijan, Serbia 8. Dragan Jelacic, Bosnia and Herzegovina 9. Zhang Zhiyuan, China 10. Rodion Shirokov, Russia 11. Robert Rakhimov, Russia 12. Alexey Murza, Ukraine 13. Vladimir Stupnikov, Russia 14. Timur Galinurov, Russia 15. Roman Malyavkin, Russia |
Video: 19th December, 32nd International Moscow Festival “Bayan and Accordionists” - Russiaby Harley Jones |
Video and performance schedule of concert in English at: 2020Moscow |
Video: 20th December Closing Ceremony, 32nd International Moscow Festival “Bayan and Accordionists” - Russiaby Harley Jones |
Video and performance schedule of concert in English at: 2020Moscow |
2021 South Pacific Accordion Championships & Festival – New Zealandby Harley Jones |
The 2021 NZAA South Pacific Accordion Championships & Festival will be held at a venue to be selected June 5th and 6th, 2021. The event, due to Covid travel restrictions, will be open to only New Zealand residents or NZ passport holders. A variety of age group classes for soloists, duos, trios, ensembles and orchestras will be available. Covid restrictions mean that non NZ residents and non NZ passport holders are not allowed to come to New Zealand. Entries close on April 14th, 2021. Download the rules and competition prospectus at: 2021nz_prospectus.pdf For details email: nzaacompsec@gmail.com |
Duo Vilda Nominated for Music Moves Europe Talent Awards, Results Announced in January 2021 - Netherlandsby Christine Johnstone |
Duo Vilda, (picture left) which includes accordionist Viivi Maria Saarenkylä and indigenous Samí singer Hildá Länsman (Finland) is one of 16 nominees for the Music Moves Europe Talent Awards. The Talent Awards are the new European Union Prize for popular and contemporary music. The awards celebrate emerging artists who represent the European sound of today and tomorrow. The Award Ceremony will take place on January 15th, 2021 at Eurosonic Noorderslag 2021 in Groningen, The Netherlands, where winners of the Public Choice Award will also be revealed. Duo Vilda play original music, composed and written by themselves, influenced by the northern nature, traditional Samí joik and Finnish folk, and pop music! Voting is still open. For details email: viivi@saarenkyla.fi |
Accordion Flags for Finland’s National Day, Karlssons Musik - Swedenby Christine Johnstone |
Karlssons Musik of Fjärå, Sweden, celebrated Finland’s National Independence Day this month by creating special national flags made from accordions. They also designed flags for Norway and Denmark using new accordions and shoulder straps in the correct colours. Pictures as follows: Finland Flag - top Denmark flag - left Norway flag - below What a novel idea! |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
AWW Extends Condolences to Kevin Friedrich Upon the Passing of his Mother - New Zealandby Christine Johnstone |
Accordions Worldwide would like to extend their sincere condolences to CIA Past President, Kevin Friedrich following the passing of his mother Valerie Friedrich (87 years) on December 15th, 2020 at their family home in Baylys Beach, Northland, New Zealand after a short (non Covid) illness. Valerie and her late husband Athol were keen supporters of not only Kevin Friedrich's many accordion activities which have made such an important contribution to the accordion world, but also to the many accordion, arts and music activities held in Dargaville over many decades. Despite her illness, Valerie Friedrich attended Kevin’s “Sounds of the Season” Christmas Concert at the Dargaville Museum Lighthouse Function Centre on November 22nd and enjoyed every minute of the concert. A service was held at the Lighthouse Function Centre on December 20th, where her life was celebrated, including with performances by Kevin and long time friend of the family Lionel Reekie (vocals/accordion). We extend our deepest sympathies to Kevin Friedrich and the large extended family of Valerie Friedrich. |
Video: Stas Venglevski Bach Concert and World Premiere of Poetic Rhapsody - USAby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Stas Venglevski concert at the Harrington Arts Center and A World of Accordions Museum on December 6th, 2020. The concert featured the premiere of “Poetic Rhapsody” which was composed by Stas Venglevski and dedicated to Helmi Harrington, curator of A World of Accordions Museum in Superior, Wisconsin, USA. The concert first half presents: J. S. Bach’s music including: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (BWV 565), Invention #2 in C Minor (BWV 788), Inventions #6 in E Major (BWV 777), Prelude and Fugue in D Minor (BWV 875), Prelude in E Minor (BWV 810), Chorale Prelude in F Minor (BWV 659), Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor (BWV 582). The concert second half presents: To honor two composers, whose accordion works are new to our stage: Yehuda Yannay’s Fantasietta with Interruptions on a Theme in F Minor, and William Susman’s Zydeco Madness. The concert will conclude with the world premiere of Stas’ Poetic Rhapsody. Please help support A World of Accordions Museum digital outreach on their GoFundMe page. The Museum relies on generous support from listeners like you to be able to produce these live streamed events. https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-world-of-accordions-digital-outreach |
Newly Available Sheet Music "Poetic Rhapsody" by Stas Venglevski - USAby Megumi Hada |
The newly available sheet music of "Poetic Rhapsody" Catalog: vstas064 is online. Other eSheet Individual Compositions by Stas Venglevski Catalog: vstas051 Meg Tango (solo) with music page sample and sound sample. Catalog: vstas052 Maurisa (solo) with music page sample and sound sample. Catalog: vstas053 A Song (solo) with music page sample and sound sample. Catalog: vstas054 Stas' Tune (solo) with music page sample and sound sample. Catalog: vstas055 Octobler Rondo (solo) with music page sample and sound sample. Catalog: vstas056 Summer Sunshine (solo) with music page sample and sound sample. Catalog: vstas057 Sunshine Return, accordion (solo )with music page sample and sound sample. Catalog: vstas058 In the Garden, accordion (solo) with music page sample and sound sample. Catalog: vstas059 Butterfly Swing, accordion (duet) with music page sample. Catalog: vstas060 K's Musette, accordion (solo) with music page sample. Catalog: vstas061 Shaking Waltz, accordion (solo) with music page sample. Catalog: vstas062 Ice Meadow, accordion (solo) with music page sample. Catalog: vstas063 Twelve Hot Tango Compositions For Accordion (solo) Catalog: vstas064 Poetic Rhapsody for accordion (solo) |
Accordion for Beethoven CD Released - Italyby Patrizia Angeloni |
Accordion for Beethoven is a project led by Patrizia Angeloni (picture above, concert performer and Professor of Accordion at Conservatorio "O. Respighi" in Latina, Italy) including a limited edition CD in addition to a digital audio and a score collection. Accordion for Beethoven is published by Ars Spoletium Music Publishing, supported by Strumenti&Musica Magazine, Nuovo C.D.M.I. (New Italian Music Teaching Center) and IAC (Italian Accordion Culture). Patrizia Angeloni writes: "Just two years had passed since the death of Ludwig van Beethoven, when in Vienna Cyrill Demian registered in 1829 the patent of his Akkordeon, an instrument that matured over time, to configure the modern concert accordion. Almost two centuries later, the accordion offers Beethoven, on the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of his birth, the originality and the sound plasticity of a polyphonic instrument, with its continous sound and its immediate dynamic variability, an instrument synthesis of the expressive modes of keyboards, wind and string instruments. The Accordion for Beethoven collection integrates a transcription repertoire in which the original work is placed in a new reading, sometimes in rewriting operations in which the accordion expresses itself more in its nature as an instrumental ensemble than in that of the modern portable organ, in the sign of the attention to instrumental music and orchestration care of which the Beethoven opera is steeped." Accordion for Beethoven Collection contains: Fünf Stücke für Flötenuhr (2 acc.) transcription by Umberto Turchi Preludio (2 acc.) transcription by Ivano Paterno Sei Variazioni su "Nel cor più non mi sento" (solo acc.) transcription by Ivano Battiston Ich liebe dich (fl. Acc) transcription by Ivano Battiston Variazioni su Schöne Minka (fl. Acc.) transcription by Ivano Battiston Adelaïde (soprano, acc) transcription by Ivano Battiston Piccoli pezzi (solo acc.) transcription by Ivano Battiston Performers include: Patrizia Angeloni, Ivano Battiston, Ivano Paterno, Umberto Turchi, Roberto Fabbriciani (flute), Liana Maeran (soprano). Purchase CD and printed music online at: https://www.arspoletium.com/en/catalogo/cd-music-en/classical-music/accordion-for-beethoven/ |
Video: Santa Claus Talks to NHS Shetland Hospital - Scotlandby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Santa (Peter Wood) plays and talks to NHS Shetland Hospital. |
Andreas Nebl Presents New CD “Scarlatti” – Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
Andreas Nebl has just released his new CD entitled “Scarlatti” which includes 20 sonatas recorded during the 2020 summer. The CD is also part of the CD collection "Akkordeon pur und Musik satt". Ivano Battiston (Professor of accordion at the Conservatorio "Luigi Cherubini" in Florence, Italy) says “Andreas Nebl interprets this collection of sonatas with exemplary naturalness and elegance”. For details email: AndiNebl@gmx.de |
Video: Oleg Lysenko Premiere of "Apocalyps of the XXth Century" - Netherlandsby Harley Jones |
Video 1: Oleg Lysenko performs the World Premiere of the Symphony "Apocalyps of the XXth Century" composed by Aleksandr Nagaev, September 18, 2019. Rotterdam. Ivan Hut, conductor. Video 2: Impressions and interview after the performance with ccomposer Aleksandr Nagaev. Information from the website of Oleg Lysenko: Oleg Lysenko (1974, Ukraine) attended music college in Poltava, where he won a scholarship for the renowned Tchaikovsky National Music Academy in Kiev. After his graduation, in 1999, he published his first CD, ‘Awakening’, and continued his studies in the Netherlands, where he specialised in Argentinian tango and learned to play bandoneon as well. Together with fellow-students he won third price in the International Accordeon Competition (IAC) in Castelfidardo, Italy. Two years later, Oleg entered the competition again as a soloist and won first price with his interpretation of Victor Vlasov’s ‘Five Views on the Land of the Gulag Archipelago’, which has since become the titlepiece of his most recent CD. Some highlights of Oleg’s career include a guest performance with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, together with the Russian bariton Dmitry Hvorostovsky. He appeared in the radio programme Spiegelzaal, broadcast from the ‘hall of mirrors’ of the national Concert Hall in amsterdam by the AVRO on radio 4, as well as in the VPRO television programma Vrije Geluiden. |
Concertino Accordion Band Performs at Commemoration Concert - Moldovaby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Performance of Carmen. The Concertino Accordion Band performed at the recent concert to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Battle of Tutora in Moldova (also known as the Battle of Cecora). The band is a group of professional musicians promoting the accordion in all genres of music. The commemoration event was broadcast on Moldova television. |
Video: Trio Voronezh 2020 PIF Performanceby Christine Johnstone |
Trio Voronezh (USA) which includes Sergei Teleshev (accordion), Val Petrukhin (balalaika) and Vladimir Volokhin (domra) won the 3rd Prize at the International Competition PIF Castelfidardo 2020 - Astor Piazzolla Award. The video above is their live performance at the competition. Enjoy some Argentine tangos by Piazzolla. |
Video: Danilo Jovanović Performance at Sevdalinko Competition in Tuzla - Bosnia and Herzegovina.by Christine Johnstone |
The 12th Sevdalinka Festival was held in December 2020 in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina and featured the 2nd International Accordion Competition Sevdalinko. The winner of this competition was Danilo Jovanovic (Serbia). The video above is of his winning performance. |
Video: We Three Kings - Accordion Duo performed by Karen Tweed and Karen Streetby Christine Johnstone |
Video 1: A lovely arrangement of the well-loved Christmas Carol “We Three Kings” by accordion duo Karen Tweed and Karen Street. The piece was arranged for the duo by Karen Street and the artwork is by Karen Tweed. Video 2: Karen Street and Karen Tweed polkas Picture left: Karen Street and Karen Tweed |
Future events |
Martina Jembrišak Performs at "Hrvatski Dom" Concert Hall Opening - Croatiaby Christine Johnstone |
Video: Duo Artina Martina Jembrišak, recent winner of the prestigious “Ivo Vuljevic” Croatian Musician of the Year 2020 award will perform a concert in Split, Croatia on December 19th. This concert will be held at the opening ceremony of the new concert hall "Hrvatski Dom" (literally Croatian Home), together with the GM Split quintet, which includes Renata Pokupic (mezzo-soprano), Lovorka Begovic (harp), Srdan Bulat (guitar), Gordan Tudor (saxophone) and Martina Jembrišak (accordion). Their program will include the premiere of a new piece written by Blaženko Juracic entitled “Sea Dance”. Martina will perform two further concerts in December as follows: December 21st: Duo Artina concert (with flutist Andrea Jelavic) at the Festival of Classical Music in Pula (see picture left). The duo will present 2 new world premiere pieces. The first is written by Takumi Kawamoto entitled “Wind Ride” and the 2nd by Chris Hung entitled “Lacrimosus”. December 23rd: Martina will perform a Christmas recital at the Croatian Music Institute Concert Hall in Zagreb, together with her friends from different ensembles. All proceeds from this concert will be donated to the Concert Hall restoration project as the hall was damaged in the massive March 2020 earthquake. Their program will be played in collaboration with Marta Stanec and Katarina Kutnar on violin and Bruna Matic (drums) and include pieces by J. Strauss, A. Piazzolla, D. Shostakovich and many more. For details email: jembrisakmartina@gmail.com |
Doug Eunson: "Live to Your Living Room" Concert - UKby Christine Johnstone |
Doug Eunson (accordion) and Sarah Matthews (violin) will give an online concert as part of the “Live to Your Living Room” series on December 19th at 8pm. The duo use their "natural, expressive musicality" to bring you a variety of English folk songs, European dance music and Christmas charm. For details email: cat@livetoyourlivingroom.com |
Rachel Bell Online Winter Cotillion Concert - USAby Christine Johnstone |
Video Rachel Bell (accordion) and Becky Tracy (violin) playing Piquée Double Rachel Bell (accordion) and Becky Tracy (violin) will give an online Winter Cotillion Concert on December 20th, 2020 at 1.30pm UTC+13, hosted by Eloise & Co. Their program will include Celtic, French, Quebecois, and contra dance tunes, including some of their own compositions. There will be French dance demonstrations during their performance so you can join in and dance in your own living room. Attendees can also take part in the comments section during the concert. For details email: rachel@rachelbellmusic.com |
World Café Trio Performs Vivaldi in Cape Town - South Africaby Christine Johnstone |
The World Café Trio will perform a concert of Vivaldi's 4 Seasons & Music of the Gypsies on December 20th (December 21st at 4.30am UTC+13 and December 21st at 8.45am UTC+13) at the Alma Café in Rosebank, Cape Town, South Africa. The trio includes Stanislav Angelov (accordion), Petrus de Beer (violin) and Schalk Joubert (bass guitar). Their program will include the ever popular Vivaldi's 4 Seasons performed in its entirety, plus a selection of swing and Gypsy music. Seating is limited. For details email: bookings@alma.co.za |
Alex Meixner Band Entertain at New Year’s Eve Event - USAby Christine Johnstone |
The Alex Meixner Band (picture left) will entertain at the Palm Beach Kennel Club New Year’s Eve “Thanks for the Memories” Event on December 31st, 2020 in Florida. The event celebrates all the greyhound racing highlights from the past 88 years and will be a full day of special presentations, live entertainment, PBKC fan appreciation activities, giveaways, a greyhound pet adoption celebration, prize drawings and New Year’s toast. The Alex Meixner Band will be strolling the grounds performing from 7pm to midnight with special guest, Jan Lewan. |
Childrens Corner |
Video: Young Accordionists in South Africaby Christine Johnstone |
The “Weltmeister Wednesdays” online concert series began this year during Covid-19 on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm German time. Above is a segment from a recent Weltmeister Wednesday featuring young students of Stanislav Angelov. The first is at the Kroenendal Music Academy of Hout Bay. Athula Dakuse plays with his teacher. This music school is a non-profit organisation and you can donate at: www.kmahoutbay.org Second young student in Stellanbosch, Ian Masson plays with his father on piano. |
New and Updated Sites |
Updated Site: Elsie M. Bennett Composition Winners and Information Online - USAby Harley Jones |
Elsie M. Bennett (picture right) Composition Competition winners since 2009 are now online on the AAA site. http://www.ameraccord.com/bennett.php From 2017, the AAA has added a sample page and sample sound file of the winning music. Also, the contact email of the composer to contact to purchase these new compositions. |
Updated Site: Rob Howardby Harley Jones |
Rob Howard, author, has had several new pictures, text site update all books added to his home page |
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