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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Future events |
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Highlights |
Editor's Noteby Rob Howard |
![]() One of the more recent additions is the banner that says “Help Desk, Information needed, Readers Comments" located below the Weekly News. This offers readers the interactive facility to put their comments directly into the pages of the accordions.com Weekly News. Another recent feature is the Diatonic News website (button left side) which focuses on the various diatonic instruments and their players. Rob Howard |
Frankfurt Musikmesse Live-Report - Gemanyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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See all about the Frankfurt_Musikmesse_2011_Accordion_Live_Report by Holda Paoletti-Kampl - Reports from each day of the Musikmesse Fair, live. New Products, artists, producers and enthusiasts meeting on the international fairground....check out the every day Frankfurt_Musikmesse_2011_Accordion_Live_Report ! |
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Tony Dannon Passes Away (1937-2011), Michigan - USAby Rob Howard |
![]() Born in Italy but raised in Detroit, Michigan, Tony Dannon began playing the accordion at the age of three, and was initially taught by his father. practising 5 or 6 hours each day. This all helped Tony develop into a very fine and versatile player, with a penchant for jazz. In the early 1950s Tony taught for the famous Gus Zoppi, then opened the much acclaimed Modern Accordion Studio school with Ollie Petrini. The Modern Accordion Studio built up to 1,000 students a week, winning numerous important awards, and was active until 1982. One of Tony’s most famous pupils was CIA and CMA World Champion Peter Soave. Tony originally performed in and around Detroit, and from the 1950s also on radio and TV. He made many recordings, including some with the DeMara Sisters trio, who included his wife, Lillian. One of Tony’s finest recordings, made in 2001, was ‘Jam Session’, as a duo with fellow jazz accordionist Joe Cerrito. He performed at Carnegie Hall, which he considered the highlight of his playing career, in the Accordion Artist Series. Tony also composed and arranged music, and wrote two jazz books with Art Van Damme, containing a series of jazz arrangements. Further information and a full obituary article is online on the Accordion USA News. |
39th National Accordion Competition, Ikaalinen – Finlandby Minna Plihtari |
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![]() ![]() The 39th National Accordion Competition for children and youth, held at the Oma Tupa, Ikaalinen, Finland, proved to be very enjoyable and successful. There were 112 participants in 6 categories, aged from 5 to 18 years, and playing standards were high. The event was organized by the Accordion Teachers' Association in Finland and the Finnish Accordion Association (SHL). The winner of the Under 18, Category A, is Hermanni Morander, who will represent Finland in the CIA Coupe Mondiale in Shanghai, China, in October 2011. For further information email: minna.plihtari@harmonikkaliitto.net Finland recordings published by the Finnish Accordion Institute and Finland eSheet Music. |
Big Squeeze Accordion Contest Semi-Finalists Announced, Houston – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() The semi-finals take place in Austin on Saturday April 30th, 2.30pm, at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, and will open Austin Latino Music Month. Up to four finalists will be selected to compete at the Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre, 22nd annual Accordion Kings & Queens Festival, on June 4th. The afternoon will be filled with music, headlined by accordionist Debra Peters & The Love Saints. Also performing will be Keyun and the Zydeco Masters, featuring Keyun Dickson, last year’s Big Squeeze winner. Rounding out the afternoon’s program will be Conjunto Rio Jordan with Esteban Jr. & Ricardo Jordan, continuing their father Esteben ‘Steve’ Jordan’s legacy, often referred to as “the Jimi Hendrix of the accordion” as well as ‘accordion wizard’. The Big Squeeze contest, organized by Texas Folklife, is open to Texas accordionists, 21 years of age and younger, and open to all genres of accordion-based music, including Cajun; German, Czech, Polish, Tejano, Conjunto, and Norteño, Western, and Zydeco. The Big Squeeze 2011 grand-prize-winner will receive a prize package valued at $4500, including a $1,000 cash prize, a brand new Hohner accordion and recording time at the historic Hacienda Records in Corpus Christi, as well as promotional support from SugarHill Records, Hohner, Inc., Hacienda Records and Texas Folklife, and other professional opportunities. For further information email Cristina Balli, Program Director: cballi@texasfolklife.org |
Peter Soave Music Academy, Sauris – Italyby Harley Jones |
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The Peter Soave Music Academy is up and running! Courses will be held at the Morgenleit Hotel, Sauris, Italy, and the first dates are: July 24th to 31st July 31st to August 1st August 28th to September 4th PSMA welcomes accordionists and music lovers of all levels, all ages, all styles of music including jazz, classical, and folk. Participants will be immersed in a healthy environment of nature and learning for a week of seminars, lectures, group playing and private lessons. The PSMA staff includes: Peter Soave - accordion, bandoneon Mady Soave - accordion, ensembles Professor Dennis Tini - jazz, piano, musicianship Ralf Bethke - repairs, acoustic / MIDI and much more! For further information, contact: madysoave@hotmail.com |
Reykjavik Accordion Festival 2011 - Icelandby Harley Jones |
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The Reykjavik Accordion Festival 2011 will be held on July 23rd and 24th at the Reykjavik City Museum. This year’s festival will include appearances by many of Iceland's best known accordionists, including Karl Jonatansson, at the Sunday afternoon concert at the Reykjavik City Museum. Smaller accordion events will be held around Reykjavik on Saturday 23rd. This festival is designed to provide an opportunity for accordion enthusiasts to meet their colleagues and present the accordion and accordion music to the public. Another goal is to offer as varied a program as possible so that people can see and hear this instrument played in as many different ways as possible. The accordion has been played in Iceland for generations and is an important part of the musical heritage of the nation. In recent years, the instrument’s popularity has increased as more people are learning to play and the instrument is used in contemporary and traditional music. For further information email: jonatank@internet.is |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Accordionist Lionel Reekie featured on Top Rating Radio Show – New Zealandby Harley Jones |
![]() Promoting his new vocal album ‘From Russia With Love’, Lionel also spoke extensively about the accordion, and several tracks were played from some of Lionel’s previously released accordion recordings together with both the North Shore Accordion Orchestra (conducted by Lionel) and the Air New Zealand Accordion Orchestra (ANZAO), of which Lionel was a member. The show opened with the ANZAO’s ‘William Tell Overture’, and also featured tracks like Lionel’s recording of Frosini’s ‘Cubanola’, and Gary Daverne accordion orchestra arrangement of the ‘Invercargill March’, from the recent NSAO CD release ‘A Musical Party’. Lionel was the lead vocalist with the Air New Zealand Accordion Orchestra on three of their International Goodwill Concert tours, and has also sung with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra. For this latest CD of songs from stage and screen, he recorded with the Siberian Festival Orchestra, in Novosibirsk, Russia earlier this year. Lionel Reekie’s ‘From Russia with Love’ is available worldwide on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/from-russia-with-love/id426897376 |
Dick Black ‘Come To The Barn Dance’ Re-released on CD, Perth – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The tracks include: 1) Britannia Two Step: ‘The Bugle Boy’ 2) Gay Gordons: ‘Leaving the Field’/ ‘Sam Cleland’/‘P/M Bob Martin’ 3) St.Bernard's Waltz: ‘Bonnie Navar Bay’ 4) Palais Glide: ‘Kerrera Polka’ 5) ‘Swedish Masquerade’ 6) Lomond Waltz: ‘The Oslo Waltz’ 7) Canadian Barn Dance: ‘The Northlands’ 8) Boston Two Step: ‘Inveraray Inn’/‘The Banjo Breakdown’ 9) Party Polka: ‘The Royal Scots Polka’ 10) La-Va: ‘Willie Smith’ 11) Hesitation Waltz: ‘Bonnie Jeannie Shaw’ 12) Eva Three Step: ‘The Fair Maid of Mull’/’Triumph Street Pipe Band’ 13) Continental Waltz: ‘Springtime in Switzerland’ 14) Two Step: ‘Imperial Echoes’ For further information email: tommynewcomen@hotmail.com |
‘14 Years Ago’ – Readers’ Comments - the first enquiry…by Rob Howard |
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Last week, in this spot, we published David Kemp’s suggestion, from April 11th 1997, that Accordions Worldwide publish a readers’ comments section. On April 18th 1997 the news included the first letter received, a plea for assistance in learning the accordion, and we are wondering if Tim persevered – perhaps if he’s reading this he would let us know? LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Subject: Please answer my question Hi I have an accordion (a gift) and I have no idea how to use it. I got the piano keyboard part but what are all the buttons on the left side? Is there a chart on your site you can refer me to? I know some music but cannot figure it out. Thank you Tim We don't have a chart on Accordions Worldwide, as there are many different "systems" or arrangements of these notes. Does it have a piano keyboard? If it does, you probably have a stradella bass system. We eventually want to have a layout of all the systems on the site, but this could be a while away. The problem is that I don't want to miss one out and offend someone. I suggest that you find a teacher in your area and get some help from them. The best place to begin is by going to "teachers" on the accordion yellow pages Database on the Index page of Accordions Worldwide. I hope you find the site of benefit. If you have any further questions, or can't find a teacher in your area, please let me know so I can help you further. Congratulations on wanting to take up the accordion! Best wishes, Wayne Knights |
Future events |
World Accordion Day Website Updatedby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
![]() World Accordion Day is on the 6th May. There is no cost to Register and Registration enables media to see the full range of activities. “This event is co-ordinated under the auspices of the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) and is a unified global effort to celebrate and promote the accordion, internationally.” says CIA President Raymond Bodell. “World Accordion Day was initiated in 2009 and is growing each year including events in China for 2011, where later in the year the Coupe Mondiale in being hosted. No event is too big or too small, so even if you have not organized something for 2011, we hope you will think about organizing an World Accordion Day promotional event to promote accordion in your country, for 2012.” |
Gianni Mirizzi’s ‘Serata Danzante’, Rome - Italyby Rob Howard |
![]() Gianni Mirizzi began his musical studies at age of 8 years, driven by a family tradition, and was inspired by maestro Pino Di Modugno. Taught by Giancarlo Caporilli, Gianni Mirizzi is a highly accomplished accordionist whose many appearances include the International Festival of Accordion in Castelfidardo, Italy, the Musikmesse in Frankfurt, Germany, and Accordions International at Seacroft, UK. For further information email: giannimirizzi@libero.it Sheet music by Gianni Mirizzi is available from Wurzburger-Musikverlag Germany |
CCE Festivals in April/May 2011 – Irelandby Rob Howard |
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Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE), founded in 1951, a non-profit cultural movement that seeks to promote Irish traditional music, song and dance. Although based in Dublin, CCE is an international organisation, holding competitions and sponsoring tours and educational activities in several countries. Each year CCE holds local competitive festivals in Ireland, Britain and the USA, leading to the All Ireland Festival (Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann) – a large scale festival attracting many thousands of competitors and visitors. This year’s All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil takes place in Cavan Town, County Cavan in the Irish Republic from August 13th to 22nd. The button and piano accordion is a common feature of all CCE festivals, both as a solo instrument and in ensembles. There are several local CCE festivals in Ireland scheduled for April and May, as follows: April 14th to 17th - Féile Patrick Byrne 2011, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan April 15th to 17th - Clifden Traditional Music Festival, County Galway April 15th to 16th - Clogher Valley, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland May 6th to 8th - Cork Fleadh 2011, Dunmanway, Co. Cork April 21st to 22nd - Fleadh Cheoil Chill Dara 2011, Clane, Co. Kildare April 26th to 29th - Kerry Fleadh 2011, Community College, Causeway, Co. Kerry For further information email: eolas@comhaltas.ie |
Pascal Contet Concerts – Switzerland, Franceby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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![]() April 17th, 12noon to 4pm – with sheng player Wu Wei, Musée du Dauphinois, Festival Les Détours de Babel, Grenoble, Switzerland April 27th, 7pm – broadcast on Radio France May 6th and 7th – Limoges Opera May 10th, 8.30pm - Buenos AIres, Ville Imaginaire - Ars Nova ensemble (Argentinean tango), l'Athanor, Saint Nazaire May 12th, 12noon - with sheng player Wu Wei, Le Mans Europa Jazz, Collégiale Saint Pierre May 13th – duo with Maguelone Vidal, Carcassonne May 17th to 21st - Concerto Karl Koop Konzert de Bernard Cavanna, with l'orchestre de Limoges, Limoges May 26th - Festival La voix est libre - duo with Maguelone Vidal, Theatre des Bouffes du Nord, Paris May 27th, 8.30pm - duo with violinist Marianne Pik, Scène Nationale, Quimper May 29th, 8.30pm - Buenos AIres, Ville Imaginaire - Ars Nova ensemble (Argentinean tango), Salle du Moulin, Arleux For further information email: pascalcontet@wanadoo.fr |
Caroline Philippe and Diane Marlaud Recitals, Scotland - UKby Rob Howard |
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![]() April 20th, 7.30pm, at Holy Trinity Church, Fullarton Street, Ayr KA7 1UB April 21st, 8pm - Wellington Church, 77 Southpark Avenue, Glasgow G12 8LE April 22nd, 8pm - Lindisfarne Room, St Cuthbert Church, 5 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH1 2EP April 23rd, 7.30pm - Allan Park South Church, Dumbarton Road, Stirling FK8 2LQ Caroline Philippe and Diane Marlaud perform interpretations of Belgian, Russian, Italian and German works by Franck, Rachmaninov, Cavallini, Bach (father and son), amongst others. For further information email: lahd.management@hotmail.fr |
‘Nuit De L'Accordéon’, La Bourboule – Franceby Harley Jones |
![]() For further information email: cnima@wanadoo.fr |
Dancing to Accordions, Mazara Del Vallo – Sicilyby Harley Jones |
On Wednesday, May 25th, 9pm, there will be dancing to the music of Salvatore Camilleri and Ignazio Sugamiele, and their orchestra at the Tropikana Dance (Le Caprice), Mazara Del Vallo, West Sicily. |
‘From Beethoven to Piazzolla’ Concert, Bergen – Norwayby Rob Howard |
![]() Almir Meskovic, from Bosnia, is one of the finest accordionists of his generation in the former Yugoslavia republics. He is the winner of many international competitions in Italy, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Portugal, Bosnia, Croatia, Rumania and Germany. He is currently finishing his studies in the class of Professor Zoran Rakic, and has been invited to continue his Master studies at the Norwegian State Academy of Music from September 2011. He has recorded several CDs, including one with Sonja Radojkovic. He will also record two more CDs in 2011. For further information email: booking@musicanord.no |
New and Updated Sites |
Charnwood Publications releases 4 new piecesby Charnwood Publishing |
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Franco Cambareri releases 3 new compositionsby Franco Cambareri |
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Mario Tacca release 1 new pieceby Mario Tacca |
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Charnwood Publications releases 4 new piecesby Charnwood Publishing |
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Franck Angelis release 1 new workby Franck Angelis |
![]() This wonderful composition has been used extensively around the world in solo format by 2009 Coupe Mondiale winner Grayson Masefield (New Zealand). You can hear it being performed on Video at the 2010 Trophee Mondial in Spain by Grayson Masefield which he won. This will be a real audience favorite and great for competitions too. High quality video, right click to download. Video: Hommage A Paco (37MB) |
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Peter Piccini releases 3 new worksby Peter Piccini |
Peter Piccini - accordionist, composer, arranger, performer, releases 3 new works for accordion, 'Romantic Waltz', catalog:pp287, 'Golden Waltz', catalog:pp288, 'Swingin Note's', catalog:pp289. Samples of the music are available online. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
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Gary Dahl updated 4 music and release 1 new muiscby Gary Dahl |
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Sebastiano Cali release 1 new workby Sebastiano Cali |
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Franco Cambareri releases 4 new compositionsby Franco Cambareri |
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Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentNEW FEATURE! TRY IT NOW |
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