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Highlights |
4th Roland International Festival for Digital Accordions, Rome - Italyby Luigi Bruti Roland V-Accordion Division & Marketing Director |
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![]() Even if you cannot be in Rome, you can be there with live video. Video live streaming will now be online for the first round of the competition on Friday starting at 9am Rome time, Friday 15 October. See competitor timetable online at 2010 Rome Festival. Video Live Streaming for Saturday starts at 21:00 Hours Rome Time, 16 October, online at 2010 Rome Festival. Times around the world are: Los Angeles 12:00 hrs, New York 15:00 hrs, London 20:00 hrs, Paris, Frankfurt & Rome 21:00 hours, Finland 22:00 hrs, Moscow 23:00 hrs, Beijing 03:00 hrs +1, Tokyo 04: hrs +1, Sydney 06:00 hrs +1, Auckland 08:00 hrs +1. The event will take place at the prestigious Auditorium Parco della Musica, Sala Sinopoli in Rome. The international finals consists of 14 winners of their national qualifying competitions. The finalists for the 2010 are: Emmanuel De Baets (Belgium), Ricardo Luiz Marcelo (Brazil), Jelena Milojevic (Canada), Hanzhi Wang (China), Katariina Ahjoniemi (Finland), Nicolas Kock (France), Rudik Yakhin (Germany), Masahiro Ogawa (Japan), Julie Langton (Great Britain), Albanian Giorgio (Italy), Chernomordikov Alexey (Russia), Pawel Janas (Poland), Miguel Angel Rumbo Cabezuela (Spain) and Christopher Gorton (US). These finalists will compete in front of a double panel, one panel of journalists and one panel of prominent accordionists. The first three winners will receive cash prizes and the jury of journalists will award the The Ronald Lankford Journalists Award dedicated "to the musician who best exemplifies the spirit and passion of the V-Accordion". This award is named after a very active member of Roland Corporation Ron Lankford who died recently. The presenter for the event will be actress Alessandra Bellini, who stars in a hit Italian TV series. The event will also honor vocalist Linda, winner of the Sanremo Festival in 2004, who will be accompanied by the famous Italian jazz accordonist Renzo Ruggieri, and also the choreographer Alex Rose and ballet dancers who will perform to the accompaniment of Roland V-accordionists. Available in 16 models, the V-Accordion has been successful in the world of youth thanks to international stars of pop music, rock, latin and jazz. In November 2009, Roland achieved 10,000 V-Accordion units sold and celebrated this event, by adding an X (Roman numeral 10) for its new range of luxury models. Roland wants to help expand the image of the V-accordion in the international music scene and this festival is one of Roland Europe's initiatives for this purpose. Read in detail about the upcoming event, the competitors, the Jury at: 2010 Rome Festival. Daily Reports will be online from Friday October 15th. Live streaming video starts at 21:00 Hours Rome Time, 16 October, online at 2010 Rome Festival. |
Daily Reports and Results, Castelfidardo - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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Daily Reports and Competition Results: 2010 Concorso |
90th Anniversary of Kaunas J.Gruodis Conservatory, Kaunas – Lithuaniaby Mindaugas Labanauskas, President, Kaunas Accordion Society |
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![]() The Accordion Department of Kaunas J.Gruodis Conservatory is famous and well-known for its intensive and creative work not only in Kaunas , but in Lithuania and abroad as well. The teachers of the Accordion Department established the Kaunas Accordion Society in 1996. This society unifies accordion teachers from the whole of the Kaunas region. The President of the Kaunas Accordion Society is Gražina Lukošiene, and the Vice-Presidents are Mindaugas Labanauskas and Birute Rušeniene. On September 25th 2010 a concert of the Accordion Department, dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Kaunas Conservatory, was held. It took place in the newly renovated Conservatory concert hall and was a great success. The members of the Kaunas Accordion Society, former and present students – soloists, ensembles and orchestra - took part in the concert performance. For further information email: mindaugas@akordeonas.lt |
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Tito Burns (1921-2010), London – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() In the early 1930s Tito had entered accordion contests, and then played professionally with Felix Mendelssohn and Lou Preager, two well-known names of the time. After war service in the RAF, Tito Burns began pioneering his own style of bebop jazz in London nightclubs, fronting his own sextet. He was a musician with a great flair for jazz, and had lots of ideas for presenting his music. In the 1950s, Burns was voted ‘Best Jazz Instrumentalist’ several times in polls conducted by ‘The Melody Maker’ newspaper. By the late 1950s, Tito Burns had also become a theatrical agent, and as his agency work grew, he gradually withdrew from playing and in the 1960s gave up performing. As an agent, he was very successful indeed - renowned for driving a hard bargain - and handled the affairs of many leading show business names, including Cliff Richard, The Rolling Stones, Simon and Garfunkel, The Springfields, The Searchers, The Zombies, Victor Borge, Woody Allen, Bob Dylan, and Cat Stevens. To accordionists, however, Tito Burns will always be remembered as the man who pioneered jazz accordion in Britain during the 1940s and 50s. Some of his recordings can be found on the CD box set ‘Squeeze Me – The Jazz and Swing Accordion Story’ (Proper Records). He is survived by his wife, the singer Terry Devon, his daughters Linda and Sharon, and his grandchildren Josh and Ethan. |
Mirco Patarini in Seoul - South Koreaby Fausto Fabi |
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Mirco Patarini has just returned from a successful tour of the Seoul area, capital of South Korea. During his visit (September 22nd to 27th) Mirco Patarini played two concerts to packed halls and enthusiastic accordion fans who were witnessing the first visit by an Italian artist, and from one of the main accordion manufacturers (Scandalli & Paolo Soprani) in Castelfidardo. The events were well publicized by the organizers and due to overwhelming demand, Mirco was also asked to hold master classes and workshops during his visit. These covered both playing techniques and the construction processes involved in Scandalli & Paolo Soprani accordion manufacturing. Plans are already under way for another visit (concerts and seminars) to South Korea where the accordion is enjoying increasing popularity. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
‘Øivind Farmen plays Scandinavian Accordion Favourites’, Selbu – Norwayby Rob Howard |
![]() Øivind Farmen has been acknowledged on the international arena as a concert soloist within classical and contemporary music, and he has introduced audiences to his mesmerizing playing from China to the USA. His awards include winning the CMA ‘Trophée Mondial’ (1996) and the ‘Klingenthal International Accordion Competition’ (1993). Alongside his classical career, he has always played folk, varieté, and other accordion related music. Øivind's collaborators include internationally acclaimed performers such as trumpeter Ole Edvard Antonsen, violinist Elise Båtnes and tuba player Øystein Baadsvik, and in the accordion world he has toured as a duo with both Jörgen Sundeqvist and Lars Karlsson. ‘Øivind Farmen plays Scandinavian Accordion Favourites’ is a self-published CD, available directly from Øivind Farmen. For further information email: farmen@farmen.net |
‘Concerto for Classical Accordion’ Available for Performance- UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The concerto's duration is 45 minutes, and it is in 3 movements. It is scored for classical accordion and string quartet (or string orchestra) with a part for musical saw (or flute). There is a computer generated performance of the concerto on digital CD available at the Scottish Music Information Centre, City Halls, Candleriggs, Glasgow, G1 1NQ; T: +44 (0) 141 552 5222 email: info@scottishmusiccentre.com The composer Sally Beamish has said “The concerto is tremendous fun - very exciting - I haven't heard anything quite like it”. Jonathan Rutherford (born 1953) went to the Yehudi Menuhin School. His musical influences are mostly classical, but from 1967 influences such as Rogers and Hammerstein, the Beatles, Mahler, Peter Maxwell Davies and Led Zeppelin deeply affected him. He studied with Jacques Fevrier, Nadia Boulanger, Lennox Berkeley, Richard Rodney Bennett, and had one lesson with Benjamin Britten. After his school life he worked in West End theatre for “Annie” and “the Sound of Music” starring Petula Clark, and was a music director for the Royal Shakespeare Company. His composition “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” has been performed (in different performances) by Patricia Routledge, Colin Baker and Johnny Morris. One of his best works is “An Intake of Breath” which can be found in a beautiful performance recorded on CD at the Scottish Music Centre info@scottishmusiccentre.com Recently, he has become known for his “sensitive and highly accomplished piano recital work”. For further information email: jrutherford1953@btinternet.com |
Benefit Concert by Hungary’s Zoltan Orosz, Ontario - Canadaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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"Accordion Magic and rousing applause" was the quote for Hungarian accordion virtuoso Zoltan Orosz and his Trio to describe their benefit concert in the hall of Newmarket, ontario, organized by the Canadian organization of the Knights of the Malta Cross. All proceeds from the concert were to assist people in disaster areas that have been hit by floods, including especially disadvantaged children. The organizer of the concert was Péter Vincze, head of the Maltese Charity Service in Canada. For further information contact Csirmaz Szilvia: csirmaz@harmonika.hu |
Frank Swindell (1923-2010), Rhyll – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() He frequently visited Castelfidardo, Italy, where he was well known and had many friends. Accordionists Rob Howard and John Jones played at his funeral, which was also attended by Harry and Pat Hussey. |
Future events |
Gorka Hermosa’s Activities, Palencia, Murcia – Spainby Rob Howard |
![]() 23rd - Jury member of the Concours of Juventudes Musicales de España, Murcia 24th – concert, ‘Fantangueando’ (dúo with Silvia Márquez -harpsichord), Murcia Recently Radio 2 of Spanish National Radio broadcast again the concert of Gorka Hermosa with the Symphony Orchestra of Spanish Radio Television (conducted by Franz Paul-Dekker) playing ‘Fairy Tales’, by Vaclav Trojan, It can be heard at: http://www.rtve.es/mediateca/audios/20100305/recordamos-a-antonio-rodriguez-moreno-hay-oir/722627.shtml For further information email: gorka@gorkahermosa.com |
‘Angels & Accordions - The Final Performances’, New York – USAby Rob Howard |
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The final performances of the annual ‘Angels & Accordions’ take place at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday October 9th, 12.30pm and 4pm. In the event of rain, the performances will take place the next day, same times. Meet at Green-Wood Cemetery's main gate, 25th Street and Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn. Please arrive 15 minutes early. Stroll through beautiful Green-Wood Cemetery, hear lyrical melodies of the accordions, and interact with dancers and performers of Brooklyn's Dance Theatre Etcetera. Ideal for New Yorkers of all ages. Choreographed by Martha Bowers. Original score with music by Bob Goldberg and Guy Klucevsek. Visual installation by Alexander Heilner. In advance: $10 individual/$25 for a family (one or two adults with kids). At the door: $15/$30. Tickets available online or call 718.768.7300. For further information email: gklucevsek@si.rr.com |
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Windsor Accordion Club Opens, Berkshire – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Designed in the 19th Century for the Belgian ambassador, Jean Sylvain Van de Weyer, by architect Thomas Talbot Bury, New Lodge now has a Grade II* listing. For further information email: nryskov@gmail.com |
CNIMA J.Mornet Tuition Courses - Franceby Nathalie Boucheix, Director CNIMA J.Mornet |
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CNIMA J.Mornet future tuition courses: 15 - 17 November 2010 13 – 15 December 2010 17 – 19 January 2011 07 – 09 February 2011 14 – 16 March 2011 11 – 13 April 2011 16 – 18 May 2011 Other accordion courses listed on the CNIMA J.Mornet website. |
North Staffs AC 25th Anniversary, Staffordshire – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The venue is the Holditch Miners Club, Chesterton, Staffordshire ST5 7PT. For further information email: accordions@northstaffsaccordionclub.co.uk |
RAM Accordion Department Open Day, London – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Those taking part should be 18 years and under, and all grades may take part. Those who would like to take part should contact Owen Murray, tel: 020 7873 7381 (direct line) or email o.murray@ram.ac.uk either in person or through their parent or teacher. |
CD Reviews |
acCORPUS simulacrumby Joan C. Sommers |
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New and Updated Sites |
Zevy Zions Releases 3 New Arrangementsby Zevy Zions |
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Vladimir Zubitsky Releases 3 New Worksby Vladimir Zubitsky |
Vladimir Zubitsky releases 3 new works, 'The Violinist Who Play and Dance', catalog:zv204, 'Partita, Concertante No.2', catalog:zv205 and 'Impressions', catalog:zv206. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
Gary Dahl updates 3 of his worksby Gary Dahl |
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Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentNEW FEATURE! TRY IT NOW |
Searching for (longtime) "out of print" sheet music:by | Modify | Delete |
- G.F. Fugazza: "Notturno Blu" and "Farruca Gitana"; - V. Melocchi: "Trittico romantico" (a 1950 CIA test piece); - G. Kramer: "6 Temi Swing" and "Serata di Gala"; - W. Beltrami: "Montreal" and "Squadrone Bianco"; - Preissler (publisher): "Solisten Parade 2" (JP 460-2). Thanks for any help, Walter: ego.143y@yahoo.de |
Superior Accordionby | Modify | Delete |
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