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Highlights |
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All
XXXV International Festival "Bayan and Bayanists", Moscow - Russia
Ian Watson accordionist prominent in new Wonka 2023 movie - UK
Sell Out: Aotango Concert and Milonga Live At the Museum - New Zealand
Stas Venglevski Performs at Houston Accordion Orchestra “Gamers Music Galore” Concerts - USA
CNIMA January 2024 Workshop and Masterclass – France
Sharon Shannon 2024 Tour - Australia
Free Postage Worldwide, Super Value Christmas Gifts Books - France
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Sylvia Pagni Performs Christmas Song: "Il mio cuore è per te" (My Heart is for you) - Italy
Latest Article on AAA Commissioned Series, Prelude and Caprice by Joel Brickman - USA
“Black Pencil” Performs with Suburbia Theatre Group – Netherlands
Gianni Ventola Danese New Album “Milodiya” - Italy
Future events |
Brandon McPhee Christmas and New Year Bonanza on SKY TV Faith Channel - UK
Vardos Trio at Open Studio – Australia
Roma Jazz Ensemble 2023 Show - Canada
2024 Festival Montagnes, Masterclass with Roman Jbanov & Jean-Louis Noton - France
“Kirkophany” Entertain at “Knees Up Cecil Sharp Ceilidh” - England
Ian Lowthian: TV and Film Music – Scotland
“Good Habits” Perform at 2024 Festivals in Australia
Sergey Osokin & Eduard Akhanov Repeat "World Hits" Concert - Russia
Flogging Molly “Road to Rebellion” Tour 2024 – USA
Spiers & Boden 2024 Tour – England and Wales
Links to Previous News Still Current |
New and Updated Sites |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
Stefano Mengascini Passed Away, 29 December 2023 - Italyby Harley Jones |
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 Stefano Mengascini, Director of Mengascini Accordions Italy, manufacturers, has passed away at only 62 years of age.Born 15 December 1961 in Castelfidardo, died 29 December 2023 in Ancona. Information of the family and Stefano Mengascini is in the "Know the People" Interview published in 2017 at: 2017MN-Interview Translation of newspaper article by il Resto del Carlino Ancona: A life making accordions. Farewell to Mengascini, he was 62 years old The Mengascini family gave a lifetime to the development of handicrafts and the accordion in Castelfidardo. On December 29th 2023, 62-year-old Stefano Mengascini, owner of the company, passed away. Grieved by his wife and daughters Lucia and Chiara. Castelfidardo owes a lot to his family, one of those who gave a lifetime to the development of craftsmanship and the production of the accordion, the beating heart of the town. In fact, Mengascini is a company founded in 1978 that bears the surname of its founder, Nello, and Stefano was now one of the company owners. A great professional, always with a smile, husband and family man whose passing leaves many in despair. He was always proud of his work and family. His wife Elisabetta and daughters Lucia and Chiara were deeply saddened. The funeral was set for the 30 December 2023 at 5 pm in the Collegiate Church in the city centre. Accordions Worldwide send their sincere condolences to the Mengascini family for their very sad loss. |
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Allby AWW |
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| Accordions Worldwide would like to wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and 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 having a three week holiday, so the first news for next year will be on Friday January 19th, 2024. 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 |
XXXV International Festival "Bayan and Bayanists", Moscow - Russiaby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
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2023 Program
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Poster 13 December
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Poster 14 December
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Poster 15 December
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Poster 16 December
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Poster 17 December
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 A full report of the XXXV International Festival with video of 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 December concerts at: 2023MoscowThe 2023 XXXV International Festival "Bayan and Accordionists" was held at the Concert Hall of the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music (RAM) in Moscow, Russia, from December 13th to 17th, 2023. Friedrich Lips is the Artistic Director of the festival and Alexander Gataullin is the Festival Director. Friedrich Lips recently released a new book titled "It Seems Like Yesterday" Cat: 9951-1-3 See a full report of the event at: 2023Moscow with video and pictures from the 5 major concerts. |
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Ian Watson accordionist prominent in new Wonka 2023 movie - UKby Alison Worthington |
  The new Warner Brothers 'Wonka 2023' movie has been released on 15 December in many countries. In a world of pure imagination, take a listen and you will hear the accordion from the start of this movie and prominent throughout. The featured accordionist is Ian Watson (picture right), Music Director of the London Accordion Orchestra. Ian Watson wrote: "I loved working on this film so much, for over 2 years on and off, and the end product is sublime. The World Premiere last week at the Royal Festival Hall London was so much fun. My good friend (and boss) Neil Hannon has written the perfect set of songs for the film and they're knitted together by the stunning score of another good friend, Joby Talbot. Both total geniuses and I'll be forever grateful that they asked me to play on this wonderful film." Wonka is a 2023 musical fantasy film directed by Paul King, who co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby, based on a story by King. It tells the origin story of Willy Wonka, a character in the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, featuring his early days as a chocolatier. Not only can Ian Watson be heard on the big screen this month - you can also see him on stage in Hansel and Gretel at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London from 16 December to 7 January. If you can be in London on those dates, it promises to be a real fun show to enjoy. |
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Sell Out: Aotango Concert and Milonga Live At the Museum - New Zealandby Harley Jones |
Stunning venue, sell out audience with Brontasaurus skelton in the background.
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Aotango Quintet concert.
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Milonga with many dancers.
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Aotango Quintet and dancers.
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 Aotango Quintets sold out Concert & Milonga celebrating International Tango Day was held on December 11th, 2023. The evening was in two parts, starting with a concert program of tango and world music and concluding with a milonga, open for dancers to dance a tanda (a set of tangos) or a waltz in the stunning setting of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Aotango features Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) Concertmaster and violinist Andrew Beer, NZTrio pianist Somi Kim, APO Principal Bassist Gordon Hill, renowned jazz guitarist Sam Swindells and world champion accordionist Grayson Masefield. Pictures and videos of the evening at: https://www.aotango.com/tangoday |
Stas Venglevski Performs at Houston Accordion Orchestra “Gamers Music Galore” Concerts - USAby Christine Johnstone |
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| Stas Venglevski will perform at the 2024 Houston Accordion Orchestra “Gamers Music Galore” concerts held in the USA in January as follows: • January 13th, 2024 at 2.30pm: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas. • January 14th, 2024 at 2.30pm: Lambert Hall in Houston, Texas. The orchestra is excited to welcome guest conductor, Joan Cochran Sommers, who will celebrate her 90th birthday at the event. Their program will feature music from video games, as well as premiering six original compositions written by young members of the orchestra! See poster for details. |
CNIMA January 2024 Workshop and Masterclass – Franceby Christine Johnstone |
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  The CNIMA directed by Nathalie Boucheix will hold the following workshop and masterclass in January 2024:• January 15th to 19th - Swing Musette accordion workshop with Eric Bouvelle (picture left). The workshop will cover work on repertoire, arrangements and composition. Master the basics and play one or several musette-swing pieces. Understand how to play this style. Arrange and harmonize. Compose. Learn about this wide repertoire. For all ages, average to advanced level. • January 16th to 18th - Masterclass: Rhythmical accompaniment with Ludovic Beier (picture above right). Get the harmony and rhythmic tools to be able to accompany in any style: traditional, pop, jazz, latin, chanson. Make the chords ring, play bass lines, learn rhythmic patterns. For all instruments and all levels For further details email: contact@cnima.com |
Sharon Shannon 2024 Tour - Australiaby Rob Howard |
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 Sharon Shannon (picture left) will begin her 2024 Australian Tour with two performances at the Port Fairy Folk Festival in Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia on March 8th and 9th, 2024.The tour will finish with a performance at the St Patrick’s Festival in St Kilda, Melbourne on March 17th. See poster above for details. |
Free Postage Worldwide, Super Value Christmas Gifts Books - Franceby Harley Jones |
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 Free Postage Worldwide Special: The Ins and Outs of the Accordion by Thierry Benetoux (catalog benetouxen00). A quality book about accordion repairs, tuning etc. that is very popular indeed. In English Free Postage Special: In French. Comprendre et Reparer Votre Accordeon (catalog benetouxfr00). Free Postage Special: Sounding Out The Accordion by Thierry Benetoux (catalog bthierryen). A very quality book that cares of the sounding and tuning up your accordion. In English. Free Postage Special: In French. L’Accordeon & SA Diversite Sonore (catalog bthierryfr). |
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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
2024 NZAA South Pacific Accordion Championships - New Zealandby Harley Jones |
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  The 2024 NZAA South Pacific Accordion Championships & Festival will be held at the superb Raye Freedman Arts Centre (picture below), Silver Rd, Epsom, Auckland. The excellent acoustics and lighting present every performer at their best.NZAA President Sonja Palinich welcomes everyone to the event which is open to competitors and festival performers worldwide and has a variety of age group classes for soloists, duos, trios, ensembles and orchestras. The rules for the international solo categories closely follow the rules of the Coupe Mondiale. The South Pacific international concert music category has exactly the same rules as the Coupe Mondiale Masters category and the South Pacific entertainment category has exactly the same rules as the Coupe Mondiale Virtuoso Entertainment category. Similarly (under 18 years) Junior South Pacific entertainment category. The South Pacific Junior solo concert category has the same rules as the first round of the Coupe Mondiale Junior category. Entries close on April 19th, 2024. Download the rules and competition prospectus at: 2024nz_prospectus.pdf For further details email NZAA Competitions Secretary Renee Jeffries at: nzaacompsec@gmail.com |
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Sylvia Pagni Performs Christmas Song: "Il mio cuore è per te" (My Heart is for you) - Italyby AWW |
 "Il mio cuore è per te" (My Heart is for You), the Christmas song by Sylvia Pagni and Piero Mazzocchetti (Abruzzo, Italy) will be released on December 22nd, 2023.The video clip of the new single will be premiered exclusively at "Mattino 5", and broadcast on Canale 5 on Thursday December 28th, 2023. |
Latest Article on AAA Commissioned Series, Prelude and Caprice by Joel Brickman - USAby Dr. Robert Young McMahan Chair of AAA Composers Commissioning Committee |
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 The latest upgraded and expanded article to be published this month in easy-to-read web page format unveils the first composer from the "Baby Boomer" generation (commonly defined as a member of the generation born between the end of World War II and the mid-1960s) to be commissioned by Elsie Bennett and the AAA to write a contemporary work for accordion. He is Joel Brickman, born squarely on that sociologically proclaimed initial year after World War II of 1946. His first contact with Bennett occurred completely by chance 26 years later, soon after Brickman had earned a master’s degree in Composition from the Manhattan School of Music and makes a wonderfully interesting and fun story to read in its own right. (So now you must read the article to learn more!) http://www.ameraccord.com/aaacommissions19.php Picture left: Joel Brickman, Carmen Carrozza, and Elsie Bennett discussing a draft of the Prelude and Caprice, June 21, 1972. The outcome of this fortuitous engagement was a highly idiomatic and challenging atonal accordion solo, Prelude and Caprice. Published in 1973 by Pietro Deiro Publications, it represents the first of a string of AAA-commissioned Boomer and later generation composers that followed over the next fifty years, including Roger Davidson, José Halac, George Katehis, Dave Soldier, Timothy Thompson, and accordionist/composers John Franceschina, Karen Fremar, Will Holshouser, Guy Klucevsek, Joseph Natoli, William Schimmel, and myself, all conservatory - or university-trained professional composers. Supplementing this expanded version of the original 2018 article is an excellent recording of the Prelude and Caprice by Mary Tokarski which may be heard on the AAA site webpage at: http://www.ameraccord.com/aaacommissions.php |
“Black Pencil” Performs with Suburbia Theatre Group – Netherlandsby Christine Johnstone |
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| “Black Pencil” (picture below) have announced their new collaboration with the Suburbia Theatre Group and will tour the Netherlands from March 1st to April 14th, 2024, performing “Lady+Lord MacBeth” (picture above). Black Pencil have composed the music for the production and will perform live. Lady+Lord MacBeth, (directed by Olivier Diepenhorst and written by Tom Lanoye), is a compelling adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth, a beautiful performance about bottomless love and blind ambitions, and about the pain - the loss of what should never be. |
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Gianni Ventola Danese New Album “Milodiya” - Italyby Christine Johnstone |
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| Gianni Ventola Danese has just released his new album “Milodiya” with the Academy Records label in Italy. The album features different musical styles such as folk, classical music and jazz, with popular vocalist Ekaterina Barinova. The project includes a 24-page booklet with the detailed history of each song and the text of the lyrics. For details email: info@organetto.info |
Future events |
Zoe Tiganouria "Senso Nuevo Tango" Concert - Greeceby Christine Johnstone |
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| Zoe Tiganouria will perform at a concert entitled "Senso Nuevo Tango" held at the Music Stage, Major Seven in Athens, Greece on December 22nd, 2023. “Zoe Tiganouria (accordion) & Michalis Sourvinos (guitar), two popular music composers & virtuosos, meet on stage to take us on a journey through the magic of Tango and beyond. They masterfully unite the sounds of their musical instruments in a program based on Argentine Nuevo Tango, by well known composers from Europe and America, (Astor Piazzolla, Carlos Gardel, Richard Galliano, Nikos Skalkotas, Dmitri Shostakovich, Isaak Albeniz, Ariel Ramirez, Mariano Mores, Manos Hatzidakis, Mikis Theodorakis & Mimis Plessas).” |
Brandon McPhee Christmas and New Year Bonanza on SKY TV Faith Channel - UKby Christine Johnstone |
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| Video: Brandon McPhee playing the Johnny Cash hit tune "Ring of Fire". The song was filmed in Aberdeen’s beautiful Tivoli Theatre. Brandon McPhee will appear on the SKY TV Faith Channel for a Christmas Day bonanza and New Year’s Day concert at 4pm. See poster for details. |
Vardos Trio at Open Studio – Australiaby Christine Johnstone |
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| The Vardos Trio will entertain at the Open Studio Bar and Crêperie in Northcote, Victoria, Australia on December 29th, 2023 from 6.30pm. The group, which includes accordionist Sophia Chapman will perform folk and Romany music from Hungary and Romania. For details email: vardos@vardos.com.au |
Roma Jazz Ensemble 2023 Show - Canadaby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| The Roma Jazz Ensemble will perform their final 2023 Show at the Seven Tyrants Theatre Society in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on December 29th, 2023, The evening will feature “high energy of Roma Jazz, dancing and Balkan Rhythms”. The ensemble includes two accordionists: Bob Kozak and Ben Meti, along with dancers from the Parno Drom Roma (Gypsy) group and special guest vocalist Laura Crema. For details email: TyrantVancouver@gmail.com |
2024 Festival Montagnes, Masterclass with Roman Jbanov & Jean-Louis Noton - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
Workshop Information
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Montagnes Information
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| Roman Jbanov & Jean-Louis Noton will hold their first 2024 Masterclass at the Chalet des Roches in La Bresse, France from January 13th to 16th, 2024. Roman Jbanov will cover the acoustic accordion and Jean-Louis Noton will cover digital accordion. To register, email: duopm@sfr.fr Festival Accords Des Montagnes January 2024 program information above. |
“Kirkophany” Entertain at “Knees Up Cecil Sharp Ceilidh” - Englandby Christine Johnstone |
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| “Kirkophany” will entertain at a “Knees Up Cecil Sharp Ceilidh”, held at the Kennedy Hall, Cecil Sharp House in London, England on January 19th, 2024. The group features John Kirkpatrick (calling the dances, button accordion & anglo concertina), and his four sons: Jobie (bass guitar), Benji (guitars, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki), George (melodeons, percussion) and Fergus (drums). The “Knees Up Cecil Sharp Ceilidhs” provide interesting and energetic evenings of folk dancing. They present a mixture of established and up-and-coming bands mostly playing in the English ceilidh style. For details email: info@kneesupcecilsharp.co.uk |
Ian Lowthian: TV and Film Music – Scotlandby Christine Johnstone |
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 Ian Lowthian (picture left) will hold a TV and Film Music weekend in Ettrickbridge, Scottish Borders, Scotland on January 27th and 28th, 2024.This will be a live event for accordionists, but you can also join by Zoom. Ian says, "A lot of accordionists request arrangements of popular TV and Film themes, so here's your chance." For details email: ianlowthian@yahoo.co.uk |
“Good Habits” Perform at 2024 Festivals in Australiaby Christine Johnstone |
  The “Good Habits” duo will perform at two festivals in Australia during January 2024 as follows:• January 12th, 2024: Cygnet Folk Festival in Tasmania. • January 25th, 2024: Newstead Live Festival in Newstead, Victoria. The duo features Pete Shaw (accordion) and Bonnie Schwarz (cello & vocals). For details email: hello@goodhabitsband.com |
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Sergey Osokin & Eduard Akhanov Repeat "World Hits" Concert - Russiaby Christine Johnstone |
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| Due to popular demand, Sergey Osokin & Eduard Akhanov will perform their "World Hits" Concert at the House-museum A. N. Scrabina in Moscow, Russia on January 27th, 2024 at 7pm. The first concert was held at the Theater A. P. Chekhova in Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, Russia, on November 27th, 2023. Their program will include Astor Piazzolla's "Libertango", Vittorio Monti's "Csárdás" (Czardas), "Under Paris Skies" by Jubert Giro, "Englishman in New York" by Sting and many others. See previous news item at: http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=24-Nov-2023&lang=en#art20691 |
Flogging Molly “Road to Rebellion” Tour 2024 – USAby Christine Johnstone |
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| Seven piece Celtic punk band “Flogging Molly” will begin their “Road to Rebellion” 2024 tour on February16th in Mashantucket, CT. A further 22 concerts will be held during the tour, with the final two concerts at the Shamrock Rebellion Festival in Silverado, California on March 16th and the Las Vegas, Nevada Shamrock Rebellion Festival on March 17th. The group includes Matt Hensley (accordion, concertina, vocals) along with players of a variety of instruments such as guitar, bodhran, violin, tin whistle, bass guitar, mandolin, banjo, drums, percussion and vocalists. For details email: floggingmolly@5bam.com |
Spiers & Boden 2024 Tour – England and Walesby Christine Johnstone |
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| Spiers & Boden, John Spiers (melodeon) & Jon Boden (violin) will tour England and Wales in Spring 2024. Their tour will begin on February 28th, 2024 in Settle, North Yorkshire, England and finish on April 16th, 2024 in Hertford, England. See poster above for details. |
Links to Previous News Still Current |
Past News List of Linksby AWW |
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2023 Coupe Mondiale Daily Reports 2023 Coupe Mondiale Daily Reports, Video |
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Information 2023 World Accordion Day, 6th May each year |
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Articles Index page |
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PIF Castelfidardo 2023 2023 PIF Castelfidardo Daily Reports, Video |
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2023 AAA Festival Daily Reports 2023 AAA Festival Daily Reports |
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Interviews Index page |
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2023 ATG Competition and Festival Photo Report 2023 ATG Competition and Festival Photo Report |
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2022 XXXIV International Festival, Moscow Daily Reports |
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2023 Accordion Cruise, Finland Information, News article |
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Accordion Reed Production Article Link |
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Chronology of Production of Italian Accordions Article Link News article about Beniamino Bugiolacchi Article Link |
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Serenellini Know the People Interview News Link |
New and Updated Sites |
Susanne Kujala, Complete Recording of J. S. Bach’s Wohltemperiertes Klavier I and II, Helsinki - Finlandby Harley Jones |
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  Das Wohltemperierte Klavier I (2 CDs) Catalog: DWKI, €22.00 or US$ equivalent plus postage performed by Susanne Kujala.Das Wohltemperierte Klavier II (2 CDs) Catalog: DWKII, €22.00 or US$ equivalent plus postage. The complete recording of J. S. Bach’s Wohltemperiertes Klavier I + II (Well-Tempered Clavier) is now released. Susanne Kujala writes: "Finally, it is accomplished! The first complete recording on concert accordion of both parts of Bach’s Das Wohltemperierte Klavier is recorded and published as 4 CDs by BellowsArt." The first part of the Wohltemperierte Klavier has been published on 21 December, 2021. The Release Concert of the complete recording was held on 26 November 2023 at Kamppi Chapel, Narinkka Square, Helsinki. Susanne Kujala is a German organist and concert accordionist living in Finland. She studied accordion, teaching, and organ at the HfM "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin and at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and graduated with a Doctor of Music Degree from the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts, Helsinki in 2013. For full information about the 4 CD's of J. S. Bach Preludes and Fugues, information about the tuning of the accordion, sound samples of the music and a biography of S Kujala, is online at: Susanne Kujala |
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