During the middle-end of the last century, musette was a very popular musical instrument in France (woodwind musical instrument, some symplified version of obou), and people used to dance to musette music. After it had been discovered, accordion took over the musette style. Today, musette is very strongly associated with the accordion as a main representative of that style. As it's name implies, "Musette Ensemble" performs in the musette style. It was in 1984 that Vladimir Ushakov and Sergei Likhachov joined in a duet of accordion players. In 1987 the idea of widening the staff prevailed. Bass guitar, guitar and drums appeared. The ensemble often appears on different stages of the city of St. Petersburg and of the country as well. Very often "Musette Ensemble" can be heard in the broadcasting programmes of St. Petersburg radio and TV. The repertoire of the group is varied, it contains popular melodies of Russia, France, Germany, Italy and America. Finally!!! I was so pleasantly surprised to see that Russia finally has an accordion entertainment ensemble of world standard! For a few decades in Russia, the entertainment aspect of the accordion was completely neglected. That style was looked down upon as well as the people playing it. Musette Ensemble is no doubt a group of very talented musicians with two leading accordions. Their performance is very professional and the general sound of the ensemble is very sophisticated. They are also very entertaining to listen to, and surely they are showing the best aspects of the accordion. Superb ensemble and performance !!!!!! |
