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Highlights |
Fallece Shirley Evans, Florida-USA
“My Images” Nuevo Doble CD de Viatcheslav Semionov-Rusia
Éxito de Angel Luis Castaño con el Ballet Carmen Replay, Madrid - Espana
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Roland V-accordion Festival in Moscow – RussiaInternational Festival of the DOLOMITES -ItalyThe Gary Blair Accordion Tour USA June/July 2010Seleccionados en España los representantes para el Trofeo Mundial 2010, Ourense - Espana
Great Success of the 2010 ‘Accordion Art Festival’, Pineto – ItalyFilming Renault Megane TV Adverts, Lancashire - UKRemscheid 2010 - 25th Year with Hans-Günther Kölz, Remscheid – GermanyJohn Higham’s Memories of Ikaalinen, Cheshire – UK
Future events |
6th Pineto Accordion Jazz Festival, Pineto – ItalySergio Scappini Appears at Accordionaires Club, LA – USAAccordion Radio Show Available on Podcast – Radio France‘Don’t like Opera?!’ AAA Event, New York - USADavid Vernon and Dick Lee @ Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland – UKAccordion and Guitar Seminars, Ozzero – Italy
New and Updated Sites |
Donald E Grzanna releases new musicMusicForAccordion.com releases new musicDonald E Grzanna releases new music
CD Reviews |
Musical SafariHelp Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
International Accordion Festival, Palanga – Lituaniaby Rob Howard |
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 La asociación de Acordeonistas Lituanos y la Academia Lituana de Teatro organizan conjuntamente el International Accordion Festival of Palanga del 1 al 7 de Agosto, el cual incluye seminarios, talleres, clases y diferentes actividades.El festival incluye jóvenes promesas como Nikola Tanaskovic, Miroslav Leliuch, Nerijus Bakkula, Evelina Sasenko, Arnas Mikalkenas, Tomas Razmus, el ensemble lituano “Chillo ut” y “Subtilu-Z” y otros muchos artistas. Durante los seminarios, profesores provenientes de Polonia, Rusia, Bielorusia y la de academia de Música y Teatro de Lituania ofrecerán diversas master clases. Nombres famosos son: Friedrich Lips, Bogdan Dowlasz, Bula Miron, Sviackevicius Raimondas, Gabnys Eduardas y Sviackevicius Ricardas. Para más información: info@laas.It |
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Fallece Shirley Evans, Florida-USAby Rob Howard |
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 Shirley Evans nació en Birkenhead, Merseyside (Reino Unido) en 1932, falleciendo el pasado 12 de Julio a la edad de 78 años. Shirley será recordada por muchos por tocar el acordeón en la película de los Beatles de 1967 “Magical Mystery Tour”. Shirley tiene la distinción de tener un solo de acordeón “Shirley´s Wild Accordion” escrito para ella por John Lennon. Esta pieza fue grabada en Londres pero fue eliminada de la edición final hasta hoy en día, donde sigue sin ver la luz en los baúles de la discográfica EMI.En los años 50, Shirley fue mostrada en “Accordion Times” anunciando acordeones Scandalli. Desde esta época hasta los 80, fue miembro de la Al Podesta Accordion Band. Shirley trabajó como profesional alrededor de todo el mundo. En 1970 formó un duo con el Campeón de la CIA Donald Hulme. Durante los últimos años vivió en Florida donde trabajó como empresaria del sector de entretenimiento. Sus sobrina es la acordeonista Australiana Elizabeth jones, Presidenta de la Asociación Australiana de Acordeón. Detallada Shirley Evans Obituary |
“My Images” Nuevo Doble CD de Viatcheslav Semionov-Rusiaby Yulia Amerikova |
 Un gran músico, uno de los fundadores de la interpretación moderna del acordeón y miembro de la Unión de Compositores de Rusia entre otros meritos, el profesor Viatcheslav Semionov ha grabado un doble CD con sus propias composiciones llamado “My Images”. El trabajo recoge piezas que todavía no habían visto la luz así como nuevas composiciones.“A menudo recibo letras de otros músicos de diferentes partes del mundo los cuales están interesados en mi propia visión de la interpretación y de mi música. Encuentro muy complicado responder todas las preguntas es por esto que he decidido grabar por mí mismo todos estos trabajos para poder responder a todos de una vez. Ahora todo aquel que le interese podrá comparar su interpretación con la mí en mis trabajos” Esta recopilación es una antología de los trabajos de Viatcheslav Semionov con una producción e interpretación excelente. El este doble álbum podemos encontrar: ‘Bulgarian Suite’, ‘Don Rhapsody № 1’, ‘Two Children’s Suites’, ‘Devotion’, ‘Don Rhapsody № 2’, ‘Brahmsiana’, ‘Prophetic Dream’, ‘Two Caprices’, ‘Two Romantic Meditations’, ‘Basqueriad’, ‘In the Land of Dreams’ y ‘Divertimento’. Para más información: semenov_slava@mail.ru |
Éxito de Angel Luis Castaño con el Ballet Carmen Replay, Madrid - Espanaby Raquel Ruiz |
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| El sábado 10 de Julio, el Trio Rejoice! obtuvo un gran éxito con la versión concierto del Ballet Carmen Replay compuesto por el Premio Nacional de Música David del Puerto. Este evento estaba incluido en la programación del III Festival Internacional de Música de Cámara que se celebró en el Coliseo de la Cultura de Villaviciosa de Odón (Madrid). Rejoice! está formado por el acordeonista español Angel Luis Castaño, la soprano Carmen Gurriarán y el guitarrista y compositor David del Puerto. La versión concierto del Ballet Carmen Replay estuvo acompañada de una proyección de imágenes relacionadas con la historia de Carmen que Meilhac y Halevy escribieron para la ópera de Bizet. El estreno del Ballet Carmen Replay se produjo en Mayo de 2010 bajo la producción del Teatro Real de Madrid y la Compañía Nacional de Danza. La versión ballet cuenta con la coreografía de Tony Fabre para la Compañía Nacional de Danza, los videos del artista Lucca Scarzella y la interpretación en directo de Rejoice!. Angel Luis Castaño utiliza para este ballet un acordeón Roland V-Accordion FR7X. Durante esta semana Angel Luis Castaño está ofreciendo un curso de acordeón en Oviedo organizado por la Escuela Internacional de Música de la Fundación Príncipe de Asturias. La conferencia inaugural de los cursos de Verano correrá a cargo del cantante español Victor Manuel y durante el curso se realizarán conciertos de alumnos, profesores, conferencias... en el Auditorio Príncipe de Asturias, el Conservatorio Superior de Música de Oviedo, el centro cultural Cajastur y el Balneario Real Las Caldas. Más información y noticias sobre Angel Luis Castaño email: alcastano@gmail.com |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
by Yulia Amerikova
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 The first Russian Roland V-Accordion festival, the national qualification for the 4th Roland V-Accordion International Festival 2010 in Rome Italy, took place recently in Moscow. The initiator was Alexander Selivanov, winner of international competitions and Professor at the Gnessin Academy of Music, Moscow.The organizers of the competition are the voting member of CIA and CMA, ANO "Creative School Master Class" with the support of the bank ‘Zenith’ and the Roland Company. The contest was held in 3 rounds for 2 categories - Senior (adult performers) and Junior (up to 17 artists and under). The jury includes: People's Artist of Russia, Professor Viatcheslav Semionov (Chairman), Honored Artist of Russia, Professor Yuri Sidorov, winner of the International competitions Alexander Selivanov, winner of the International competitions Sergey Osokin, and Roland representative Ilya Sandalov. The first round – by video – was held from January to May 2010. A lot of musicians from many cities of Russia sent recordings. The finalists of this round were invited to play in Moscow. Interestingly, in the Junior category, all finalists were piano accordion players. The finals for the Junior category was held in the Hall of the House of Cinematography Veterans, Moscow, on June 27th. Participants performed their final program on a digital instrument Roland FR-2. All the contestants showed a high level of performance and good knowledge of digital instrument. The winner – Ivan Ratnikov (Alexin, Tula region) – has received a certificate from the Roland Company and 70,000 rubles (the equivalent value of the instrument FR-1) with the purchase of any product of Roland of this amount. The Senior category, held on June 28th, resulted in 6 participants being selected for the National Finals, which will be held in the Concert Hall of the Central House of Artists, Moscow, on September 7th 2010. The winner of the National Finals will receive a Roland - FR-7x/FR-7xb, as well as qualify for the International Finals to be held in Rome on October 16th and 16th. Participants of the Finals, Senior Category: Eduard Akhanov (Moscow), Fidan Ahmedyanov (Moscow), Vladimir Butusov (Moscow), Alexei Klimov (Saratov), Yuri Medianik (Moscow), Alexey Chernomordikov (Volgograd). Category Junior: Ivan Ratnikov (Alexin, Tula region – 1st), Svetlana Kozina (Tula), Sergey Shchetinin (Kursk), Semen Kuzovchikov (Zheleznogorsk, Kursk region). |
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
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 First appointment in OVARO / 28th July 8.45 pm with ALEXDANDER SELIVANOV in the SS.Trinità Church.Alexander Selivanov was born on January 4, 1979 in Kazan (Russia). He started playing the accordion at the age of 7 years. From 1986 to 1994 he attended Bajan classes with the teacher Natalia Mitenkina at the School of Art Yoshkar - Ola. He then joined the Musical College of Yoshkar - Ola and studied with Maestro Evgeny Anichkin In 1998 he joined the Gnessin's Academy in Moscow where he studied with Maestro Viacheslav Semionov. From 2001 to 2004 he played in the Orchestra of Radio and TV directed by the famous Russian conductor Nickolay Nekrasov performing in various theaters abroad. He currently teaches at the Gnessin's Academy of Music and deputy director of the Master-Class Arts School, which organizes cultural events, festivals and competitions seminars in many cities of Russia. Alexander Selivanov has won numerous international competitions including: Klingenthal 2002 (2nd place), Arrasate Hiria 2002 (2nd place), Klingenthal 2004 (1st place), Castelfidardo 2004 (1st place), Coupe Mondiale 2004 (1st place), Coupe Mondiale 2008 (1 st place, duo a "sinistra"). The festival takes place with 6 events starting on the 28th July and the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 11th of August with the following artists: Frank Marocco (USA), Eugenia Cherkazova (Ukrainia), Peter Soave (USA) and Sergio Scappini and Sebastiano Zorza both from Italy. Artisitc Festival Director: Denis Biasin |
by Rob Howard
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| Gary Blair Snr and Jnr have made a USA tour from 13 to 30 June 2010 which included concerts in Portland, the Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration, Spokane and then returning to Portland at the end of the tour. “Overall, this was one of the best tours to date” according to Gary Blair Snr. Read the full report of the 2010 Gary Blair Tour. |
Seleccionados en España los representantes para el Trofeo Mundial 2010, Ourense - Espanaby Raquel Ruiz |
 El fin de semana del 2 al 4 de Julio de 2010 se celebró en Ourense el 53 Certamen Nacional de Acordeón organizado por la Asociación Galega do Acordeón. Este concurso es además una selección para elegir a los acordeonistas que representarán a España en el 60 Trofeo (Trophée) Mundial de Acordeón que se celebrará en Vigo del 21 al 25 de septiembre de 2010.Los participantes en las diferentes categorías provenían de diferentes provincias españolas como Navarra, Asturias, Madrid, Galicia, Aragón... Los ganadores y seleccionados para el Trofeo (Trophée) Mundial fueron: Cat. Senior Clásica: 1º- Alejandro Martínez (Oviedo), 2º- Xabier Olazábal (Pamplona) y 3º- Adrian López de Munáin (Pamplona). Cat. Junior Clásica: 1º - Helena Sousa (Ourense) Cat. Trofeo (Trophée) Nacional Xacobeo: 1º- Xabier Olazábal, 2º - Adrian López de Munáin y 3º- Joaquín Enríquez (Ferrol) El jurado estuvo compuesto por Anibal Freire (Portugal), Raquel Ruiz (Madrid), Juan Carlos Cárcamo (Bilbao) y Miguel Miguez (Vigo). Más información en email raquelru@gmail.com |
by Rob Howard
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 The 4th ‘Accordion Art Festival, held in the splendid town of Pineto on June 12th and 13th, attracted a record number of competitors and visitors, and has been deemed a great success. Competitors came from China, Poland, Scotland, Lithuania, Russia, Macedonia and, of course, Italy. The festival’s concert highlight was a magnificent performance by Russia’s Vitali Dmitriev on the evening of June 12th.In addition to accordion, there were other sections such as diatonic accordion, keyboard, piano, harmonica, guitar, vocal groups, jazz, etc. The accordion jury included Raymond Bodell, Zorika Karakutovska, Graham Laurie, Vitali Dmitriev, Claudio Azzaro, Danilo Di Paolonicola, Salvatore Cauteruccio, Antonio Spaccarotella, and Gianluca Pica. The results include: Italia Award: Giorgio Albanese (modern accordion), Boyan Volcevski (classical accordion), Marco Pomanti (diatonic accordion), Fabio Di Cesare (classical pianoforte), Christian Corsi (electronic keyboard), Luca Tramontano (modern guitar), Alessio Torrieri (classical guitar), Valeria Villani (modern singing), Alessio Di Sante (electronic accordion), Mario D'Amario (modern composition), Alessandro Di Rocco ( jazz music), Kaunas Ensemble (group) Results of the Italian selection for the CMA Trophée Mondial, held on June 13th, are: Classic Senior - Luca Colantonio, Angelo Miele Variety Junior - Pietro Roffi Variety Senior - Giorgio Albanese, Ferdinando Ciarelli, Simone Mannarino On June 13th the following awards were made: Orpheus Award 2010 – dedicated to the memory of Gorni Kramer (1913-95) Classical music - Cesare Chiacciaretta, G.Bandini, ‘Luminosa Buenos Aires’, Concerto - Claudio Jacomucci, Johann Sebastian Bach, Blowout Records - Quintetto Veneto Di Fisarmoniche, ‘Estro Armonico’, Autoprodotto Jazz Music - Max De Aloe, ‘Aloe’, Abeat - Germano Mazzocchetti Enemble, ‘Testasghemba’, EGEA - Giacomo Rotatori, ‘Amisha’, Autoprodotto - Renzo Ruggieri, ‘Collection’, APA - Paolo Russo (Band Au Neon), ‘Il segreto’, Bro Recording World Music - Pasquale Coviello, ‘Ethnic jazz’, Autoprodotto - Mario D'Amario, ‘Carnevale’, APA - Marco Lo Russo, ‘World Music’, RAI Trade - Cristiano Lui, ‘Buenos Aires Café’, Autoprodotto - Denis Novato, ‘Neskoncnost’, Sazas The Festival President Claudio Azzaro and Artistic Director Renzo Ruggieri announce that the edition of this festival will take place in Pineto during June 2011. |
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by Rob Howard
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  On July 15th and 18th July, Rob Howard (our News Editor) and author of the An A to Z of the Accordion book series, was disguised as a French accordionist, taking part in the filming of some TV adverts for the Renault Megane car in the north Lancashire village of Gisburn. “This was an interesting experience – spells of boredom spent waiting around interspersed with exciting periods of action before the cameras, but also very demanding as the producers wanted me to just improvise French style music. I had been asked beforehand to submit a list of the French music I knew, and most interestingly, everything except the ‘Can Can’, ‘Alouette,’ and ‘Frere Jacques’ was rejected as the film company wanted to avoid international copyright issues. This meant that once the cameras rolled, I was improvising. I had never previously composed anything – something quite new for me – so this was a sort of crash course! I actually enjoyed working my fingers around making up waltzes, javas, tangos, polkas, etc. By the time the filming was finally over, I had improvised enough music to fill a CD!” The first of the two days was in a crowded and noisy pub called The White Bull – done up in French bunting and with French maids serving, and the second outside at a French fete in a local field, which culminated in the Megane used for the filming being raffled, and won by a local woman. The celebrity guest was Dr Linda Papadopoulos, the glamorous psychologist often seen on such UK TV shows as ‘GMTV’ and ‘Big Brother’. The fete looked authentically French, but the event was almost ruined by heavy rain, and filming was done in fits and starts, weather permitting. During the downpour I stood in a marquee, playing into a mike, improvising French music that boomed out around the fete. At other times, I roamed the fete playing, trying my best to inject some ‘Frenchness’ into the proceedings. There was a very long queue for raffle tickets, with everybody getting thoroughly soaked, though the eventual winner probably didn’t mind! It was quite a fun experience!” The adverts will appear on UK television from August 5th. |
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
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 This year, as part of the 36th Training course for the German accordionists of the Accordion Association and NRW Academy of Musical Education in Remscheid celebrated a very special event: during the week after Pentecost: the 25th year in a row that Hans-Günther Kölz has lectured in Remscheid!A really significant happening! If you would like to read more about this extraordinary occasion you will find a detailed report in the German language in the AWW-German news edition…. Photo: Hans-Günther Kölz with the Jubläumskurs and contributor Anita Brandstàtter |
by Rob Howard
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 English accordionist John Higham, who has a Finnish wife Eila and is regular visitor to Finland, tells about his recent trip to the Ikaalinen Festival:On the way from Helsinki to Ikaalinen I met some friends from Ikaalinen at a restaurant in Tampere. When we went in I heard a group of guests on a long table speaking French. I asked the owner to turn off the music, got out my accordion, went across the room to them, and played Piaf’s ‘No Regrets’. They all sang along with me, and then asked if I came from Paris. I said ‘No, I come from Manchester’ which surprised them. I told them I was on the way to Ikaalinen. One of them said:’ So are we, are you playing in the competition?’ A very rare compliment! There is always something going on at the festival. One day outside my hotel a man was playing his accordion. There was a group of young women having there morning coffee, or perhaps something stronger! I asked him to play ‘Yesterday’, and sang my parody to them, which amused them very much. On another occasion I came across a young woman playing her accordion, sitting on a bench in the park. She was surrounded by a group of her friends, and in front of her was a collecting bucket. I was told that she was trying to earn some money for her wedding, as she was getting married in a month. I asked if I played would they put something in the bucket for her. I played and sang ‘Lucky Jim’, and then said that in Finnish it would be something like this, and while someone held up the translation I sang it in Finnish. They were very surprised, and someone said that that would be the first time that an English man had stood up, played his accordion and sung a song in Finnish at the festival! There were always very many places to go in Ikaalinen, and always something different to see and hear. |
Future events |
by Rob Howard
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| The 6th Pineto Accordion Jazz Festival takes place from July 23rd to 25th. The Artistic Director is Renzo Ruggieri. Concerts this year include: July 23rd, 9.45pm - Villa Filiani, featuring The Old Five Swingers, including accordionist Bruno Massetti, and from Bulgaria, the Martin Lubenov Jazzta Prasta July 24th, 9.45pm - Villa Filiani, with Un Incontro Di Jazz July 25th, 9.45pm - Villa Filiani, with accordionist Massimo Tagliata and Quartetto Magritte For further information email: info@pinetoaccordionjazzfestival.com |
by Harley Jones
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 On Thursday September 16th, at 7pm, Sergio Scappini (Italy) will be performing at the Accordionaires Club in Los Angeles. Sergio Scappini teaches accordion at the ‘Giuseppe Verdi’ music academy in Milan and regularly appears at such famous venues as Teatro alia Scala (Milan), Teatro Lirico, Teatro delle Erbe- Foro Bonaparte, Auditorium ‘G. Verdi’, Museo della Scala di Milan, etc. Sergio Scappini has taught master classes in Italy, China, North Korea, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland in the last few years. Accompanying Sergio will be Roland Europe's V-Accordion Product Manager Marco Cinaglia. From the Roland US staff Steve Albini, V-Accordion Specialist for Product and Sales will be also present. For further information email: steven.albini@rolandus.com |
by Rob Howard
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 ‘Des vagues et des lames’, introduced by Pascal Contet, is the title of a show about the accordion in different parts of Europe, broadcast on Radio France on July 18th. The programme can still be heard via Poscast, and the link is: http://sites.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/em/vagues/emission.php?e_id=90000052This programme, one of a weekly series about instrumental and choral musical traditions, features music played by Aitor Furundarena, Didier Laloy, Jacky Molard Quartet, Ricardo Tesi, Filippo Gambetta, Jean Marie Machado, Yves Weih, Marianne Piketty, Roberto di Brasov, Jean François Baez, and David Venituci. The accordion music heard comes from Brittany, Corsica, the Spanish Basque region, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Hungary. The next show, broadcast on July 25th, 6pm, looks at how the accordion and bandoneon developed in Argentina since these instruments arrived there in the 19th Century. For further information email: pascalcontet@wanadoo.fr |
by Rob Howard
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 The American Accordionists' Association (AAA) ‘Master Class & Concert’ series takes place on July 30th, 31st and August 1st at the Tenri Cultural Institute, 43A West 13th St (between 5th and 6th Avenues), New York. Dr. William Schimmel is the moderator of this annual event.This year’s weekend is titled ‘Don’t like Opera?!’, and involves three consecutive days of opera-themed seminars, workshops, lectures, discussions and performances with accordionist-composer-author-philosopher Dr. William Schimmel. Workshop take place each afternoon, 3pm until 5pm, involving up to five performers who wish to receive advice, criticism and tools for improvement from the presenters, the audience, and Dr. Schimmel. There will be a concert each evening at 7pm. For further information email: billschimmel@billschimmel.com |
by Rob Howard
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 David Vernon – accordion and Dick Lee - clarinet are performing several times at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This duo specialise in music from around the world. Performing acoustically, they offer a virtuoso range of music and humour. From the high energy Jewish hora and Gypsy rhythms, to Tango and musette, hot fiery Balkan tunes and light classical, jazz and folk, they intertwine melody and harmony, offering an exciting and varied repertoire.Their concerts are at Valvona & Crolla (venue 67), 19 Elm Row, Edinburgh EH7 4AA, and their dates are: August 10th, 6pm August 11th, 3pm August 16th,6pm August 17th, 3pm August 23rd, 6pm August 24th, 3pm August 25th, 6pm For further information email: dvernon100@aol.com |
by Rob Howard
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  Accordion and Guitar Seminars take place in Cascina Selva, Ozzero, near Milan, August 29th to September 1st, sponsored by the Comune di Ozzero and the Zero Sette accordion company. The accordion teacher will be Francesco Palazzo, and the guitar teacher is Ramon Stillavato. Applications should be received by August 25th.For further information email: info@francescopalazzo.it |
New and Updated Sites |
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 Donald E. Grzanna releases 6 new pieces, 'Swiss Waltz', catalog:grza133, 'Paris Lives', catalog:grza134, 'Princess Waltz', catalog:grza135, 'Moonlight Tango', catalog:grza136,'Bastille Waltz' catalog:grza138 and 'Waltz In C', catalog:grza139. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
by MusicForAccordion.com
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 MusicForAccordion.com site releases 2 new music 'Danube Waves', catalog:mfa8033 and 'Danube Waves (Duet), catalog:mfa8034 . Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
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 Donald E. Grzanna releases 6 new pieces, 'Skaters Waltz (Ensemble/Orchestra)', catalog:grza122, 'Jambouree Polka', catalog:grza124, 'Cinderella Waltz', catalog:grza129, 'The Bell Polka', catalog:grza130, 'Milwaukee River Waltz' catalog:grza131 and 'The Breeze Waltz', catalog:grza132. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
CD Reviews |
by Joan C. Sommers
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 CD Reviews Index for the Review of "Musical Safari" by Joan Cochran Sommers. Performer is Emil Johansen, Soloist. |
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