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http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=21-Aug-2009&lang=es&s=1270
http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=21-Aug-2009&lang=es&s=1270
21-Aug-2009
by Rene Mairis
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 My first experience of this annual orchestral course was all I had hoped for, and much more. Only two of us were new to the course but we were made very welcome and soon settled into the daily routine of practise, practise and yet more practise. The packed programme had warned that there was serious work to be done with ten rehearsals and a concert.The ‘Harwich Week’ is led by accordionists Ian Watson and Julie North, who have been responsible for the course since 1995. It is their dedication and hard work that ensures players return year after year. Ian directed the orchestra. He was gentle and patient, always encouraging and subtly passing on many insights into the music as well as helpful points concerning technique. To keep this up for over twenty five hours of rehearsal is beyond belief. Julie is the orchestral leader and manages to play first accordion plus the solos, and at the same time she reads the full score so she can assist with tricky passages in the other sections. I swear she has an extra hand hidden somewhere! As well as this she took sectional rehearsals and organised everything else with calm efficiency. The programme was well chosen and contained a good variety of pieces such as ‘Dovercourt Lights’ (G. Romani) and ‘Passacaglia a Cinque’, and arrangements including Borodin’s ‘Polovetsian Dances’ and Weill’s ‘Threepenny Opera Suite’. My favourite was ‘Tanti Anni Prima’ by Piazzolla. This has a solo violin part and the guest soloist, Sarah Crisp, played beautifully. Sarah also played the solo part in ‘Schindler’s List’ and joined Ian and Julie for ‘Fiddle Faddle’, by Leroy Anderson. Ian and Julie wowed everyone with a duet performance of a ‘Slavonic Dance’ by Dvorák, and the finale was a sparking display of virtuosity from Julie as soloist in ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, by Gershwin. By this time we were well exhausted but found some energy to party afterwards with food, drink and dancing. On Friday morning the orchestra had a relaxed play along followed by a short informal concert. All too soon it was time to bid goodbye to new friends and look forward to meeting again next year. In 2010 the course is moving to the Ariel Centre, Ilfracombe, in North Devon and will be held from May 30th to June 2nd. The area is fabulous so it is worth considering a few extra days to explore and enjoy the coast, Exmoor, the cream teas etc. For further information email: renemairis@btinternet.com |