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Highlights |
‘World Meeting of Accordion Music’, Valledupar – Colombiaby Rob Howard |
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Accordionist Walter Gialdi (video above performing jazz) from Cordoba, Argentina, has been confirmed as a guest at the 5th ‘World Meeting of Accordion Music’ in Valledupar, Colombia, June 19th to 22nd. The event is organized by the Reyes Y Juglares Vallenatos Foundation. Walter Gialdi represented Argentina at the 2007 International Festival in Castelfidardo, Italy. Also confirmed as a guest are Landazábal Luis Eduardo Cortés, from Colombia, an accordionist renowned for playing Latin American rhythms, especially music from Brazil, Chile and Paraguay, and Sivio Prevale, from Uruguay. The festival will include a tribute to Don Jacob Luque García, the first to import Hohner accordions into Colombia. The festival offers competitions for solo accordionists and ensembles that use accordions, and the closing date for entries and participation in the festival is April 18th 2013. For further information email: eldiariovallenato@gmail.com |
Yoshiya Watanabe (1952-2013), Tokyo – Japanby Rob Howard |
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![]() Picture left in 1968. Brought up in Egypt, then Germany where he attended the International School in Hamburg, and later the International Christian University, Tokyo, where he graduated in biology and organic chemistry, Yoshiya Watanabe was fluent in both German and English. He translated the novel ‘Accordion Crimes’ into Japanese. Employed in the chemical industry with the Mitsui company, Yoshiya also lived in Brazil, where he made many contacts with accordionists. Yoshiya began learning the accordion in Hamburg in 1966, and played both button and piano accordion. A skilled and practical man, in 1985 Yoshiya designed and built what may have been the world’s first MIDI synthesizer accordion. This instrument had bellows sensors, and was exhibited at the International Science Expo ’85 in Tsukuba, Japan. Yoshiya Watanabe was also the author of two books about the accordion. Yoshiya Watanabe was very well liked and respected by all who came into contact with him. He is survived by a wife Kyoko, daughter Sakura and son Taira. |
Mumford & Sons Grammy Success, Los Angeles - USAby Rob Howard |
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![]() Mumford & Sons are an English folk-rock band, whose members include Ben Lovett - vocals, accordion and keyboards. |
Victoria Accordion Festival 2013 Rules Online Now - Canadaby Harley Jones |
![]() ![]() The event is organized by the BC Accordion Society led by President Aleksandar Milojevic assisted by his wife, highly regarded accordionist Jelena Milojevic (picture right). The Victoria Accordion Festival includes the International Competition of Accordion Orchestras as well as international solo categories for 10 years, 14 years, 18 years and under (classical and popular) and a no age restriction (classical and popular) categories. 1st prize for the orchestra category is a new Roland FR-7X V-Accordion, 2nd prize a new Roland FR-3X V- Accordion and 3rd prize a new Roland FR-3X V- Accordion. Download the Rules and Regulations and prize money information for the solo and orchestra categories at: 2013Victoria For further information: E-mail: contact@bcaccordion.ca |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Paul Chamberlain Concert at Dundee Cathedral, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() CD and original music at: Paul Chamberlain |
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Video: Massimo Andreotti on 'Cantando Ballando' Channel Italia 83 - Italyby Harley Jones |
Massimo Andreotti was recently featured on the TV program 'Cantando Ballando' broadcast by Channel Italia 83 playing the Rossini favorite La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie) from his latest CD titled “Genius”. Publisher 2nd February 2013. |
Bob Liddle’s new CD ‘Kale Water’, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The title of the CD, ‘Kale Water’, indicates that the them of the music the Kale Water Valley in the Scottish Borders, and as such, the CD is a ‘musical map’ of the area, which rises in the Cheviots near to the English Border and empties, 20 miles later, into the River Teviot at Kalemouth, with all the tunes named after local landmarks or characters, such as ‘The Sandy Ramage Polka’, ‘Grubbit Brig’, ‘The Beirhope Burn’, and ‘The Falls O’ Chatto Linn’. The CD includes an 8-page booklet with photographs of the area, and the sleeve notes to the tunes adds informative and amusing anecdotes giving an insight into country life, past and present, in this rural area. For further information email: robertliddle939@aol.com |
Video: Accordion Manufacturingby Harley Jones |
A very good explanation of accordion manufacturing published by Ana Gonzalez on December 9th, 2012. |
Chinese New Year 2013 Parade - Hong Kongby Harley Jones |
The Chinese New Year Celebrations are the big celebrations of the year for China and this year was no exception. The celebrations will welcome the Year of the Snake with very large and colorful parades. This video from Day 1 of the Chinese New Year Celebration Parade on the 10th February 2013 features the Accordion Troupe Hong Kong. |
Video: Concerto Grosso - A. Byzov. "Excelsior" Baltic International Accordion Quintetby Harley Jones |
Major 3-part composition, Concerto Grosso by Russian composer Andrey Byzov. performed by the Baltic International Accordion Quintet "Excelsior": Vladimir Ushakov (Russia), Svetlana Stavitskaya (Latvia), Gennady Savkov (Lithuania), Eduardas Gabnis (Gabnys) (Lithuania), Sergei Likhachov (Russia). Published 13th February 2013, filmed in Ikaalinen, Finland, 2007. |
Video: Escapade Plays Irish Musicby Harley Jones |
Two videos of the group Escapade performing Irish music. Pierre Laval (accordion), Lucile Woerren (violin) and Michel Genestin (guitar) published 10th February 2013. |
Video: Sasko Velkov Performsby Harley Jones |
Silhouetten is a contemporary piece containing three movements written for accordion by Jürgen Ganzer. The name of the piece is related to the silhouettes of three composers: J.S.Bach in the 1st movement, B.Bartok in the 2nd, and L.van Beethoven in the 3rd movement. Mia Cojbašic has represented her country (Croatia) at international competitions and is one of the most prominent young classical accordion artists in Croatia. In June 2011, she started her postgraduate studies at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien in Hannover (Germany), where she is studying with prof. Elsbeth Moser. In May 2012., she has been accepted as an exchange student at the Sibelius Academy (Finland, Helsinki), where she will study with the renowned accordion teacher and soloist Mika Väyrynen from September 2012. |
Gorka Hermosa Sanchez Concert, Gipuzkoa – Spainby Rob Howard |
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Video: and "Φως - Rockin 'Zoe" New Album of Zoe Tiganouria - Greeceby Harley Jones |
![]() The eighth (8) personal album of Zoe Tiganouria entitled "Rockin 'Zoe", is released by Zoe Music Ltd., which emerged from her friendship with the author Evanthia Magni. All the lyrics in the album are bound together and form a single story in the text inside the booklet of the album, entitled "Who are you" by Evanthia (a forerunner of her upcoming book). The CD contains thirteen (13) songs in modern sound, in which Zoe Tiganouria orchestrates and combines Rock moods & Tango, Celtic & Oriental sound colors, and also interprets them with her unique way on the accordion. In this production many famous, and also new upcoming artists, participate such as: Kostas Makedonas, Areti Ketime, Aspasia Theofilou, Nikolas Adespotos, Giannis Moraitis, Konstantinos Romanidis, Stelios Generalis.. Next performance by Zoe Tiganouria is on Sunday 24 February, 9:30 pm, Artspace Art "Alexandria". |
Tom Healey Gigs, Cork, Tipperary – Irish Republicby Rob Howard |
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NHAA Meeting, New Hampshire – USAby Rob Howard |
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The next New Hampshire Accordion Association meeting takes place on Saturday February 16th, 12.30 until 4pm, at Accordion Connection LLC, 136 Route 106 Unit 1, Gilmanton, NH 03237. The agenda includes: 12.30pm - informal pre-meeting Jam Session/Warm-up 1pm - Open Mike: all accordionists, including guests, are welcome to play 1.30pm - Business Meeting: Welcome to guest visitors, invitation to join NHAA; News of members’ recent and upcoming activities; Update on ACCORDIONS NOW! 2013, August 9th-11th; Any Other Business 1.45pm - Social Time – Snacks by NHAA, beverages by Accordion Connection LLC 2.15pm - Just-for-Fun (JfF) Music-Making • New music to be distributed for sight-reading • Members’ selections 2.50pm – Non-orchestra members may leave or stay to listen to the rehearsal 3pm – 4pm - Orchestra Rehearsal – Bring your part for ‘Historia de un Amor’ (arr Donna Maria Regis) For further information email: accman@accordionconnection.com |
Delphine Lemoine Dance, Le Mans – Franceby Rob Howard |
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Musette accordionist Delphine Lemoine and her orchestra play for dancing on Sunday February 17th, 2pm, at la salle des fêtes, near Le Mans, France. For further information email: delphine-lemoine@hotmail.fr |
Mesa Accordion Event, Arizona – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The concert will take place on Sunday February 17th, 7 pm. in the West Ballroom of the Arizona Golf Resort, 425 S. Power Road, Mesa, AZ 85206. Admission is $10 with open seating. Dan and Joan Grauman are co-directors of the event. For further information email: mesa.accordion@verizon.net |
Mazaika ‘Defenders of the Fatherland Day’ Concert, London - UKby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: igor.outkine@yahoo.com |
John Kirkpatrick Workshop, Malvern – UKby Rob Howard |
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On March 2nd, 10am – 3.30pm, diatonic accordionist and folk music legend John Kirkpatrick leads a one day workshop for players of any instrument and any standard, organised by ‘Ceiligraphy’. John will look at playing for dancing, matching dances with tunes, and the ins and outs of playing as a group. The venue is The Ale House, St James the Great Church, Mill Lane, Colwall, Near Malvern, Herefordshire, WR13 6HJ. Refreshments and lunch included! For further information email: lindarwebb@yahoo.co.uk |
CD Reviews |
Stas & Sam - Two Step CD by Stas Venglevskiby Joan C. Sommers |
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New and Updated Sites |
Mingyuan Ruan releasing new CDby Mingyuan Ruan |
![]() 'Chinese Accordion Great Performance', catalog: CAGP400 with sound samples. Music performed by Mingyuan Ruan. Purchase online |
Pearl Fawcett-Adriano releasing CDsby Pearl Fawcett-Adriano |
![]() ![]() 'The Jewel Of The Accordion', catalog: pearlcd09, 'The Two Great Pietros', catalog: pearlcd10 and 'Les Melodies Continentales', catalog: pearlcd11 with sound samples. Music performed by Pearl Fawcett-Adriano. Purchase online. |
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Gary Dahl Music eBooks Now Released - USAby Gary Dahl |
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![]() Cat No: DH01 Collection #1 Latin Spectacular - 10 titles, Besame Mucho, Amapola, Tico Tico, Brazil, Beyond the Sea, El Cumbanchero, Adios Muchachos, Spanish Eyes, A Day in the Life of a Fool, Amour, over 26 pages of high quality arrangements for only US$24.95 or Euro equivalent. Cat No: DH02 Collection #2 Favorite French Standards - 10 titles, La Vie en Rose, Les Bicyclettes de Belsize, Moulin Rouge, Clair de Lune, Pigalle, Domino, Michelle, Padam Padam, Under Paris Skies, The River Seine, 32 pages of high quality arrangements for only US$24.95 or Euro equivalent. Cat No: DH02 Collection #3 The American Songbook - 10 titles, Tenderly, Angel Eyes, Misty, September Song, Moon River, Summertime, Sentimental Journey, Crazy, The Godfather, Autumn Leaves, over 32 pages of music for only US$24.95 or Euro equivalent. You can view sample pages of the music online (DH01, DH02, DH03) and order from the shopping basket which links to the high security eCommerce site run by Worldpay.com, one of the world's largest internet payment processing systems. There are nearly 200 arrangements on his MusicForAccordion.com website of Gary Dahl. |
'Play Your Accordion Without Pain', New Chapter Released - USAby Harley Jones |
![]() John Bonica writes: "This book is exclusively for accordionists, written by an accordionist, about accordion related problems and injuries, based on 50 years of professional clinical experience." Further information at: John Bonica |
Accordions TV |
Deschamps Channel, 22 and 23 Feburary 2013by Harley Jones |
![]() ![]() Focus Show dedicated to Didier Ouvrard - Mr Accordion in France. Didier Ouvrard has been for 20 years the director of programming for the very famous TV show presented on French National TV by Pascal Sevran. Deschamps Channel Saturday 23 February 2013 - 20 hours Focus Show about Chile |
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