Highlights |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Future events |
CD Reviews |
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Highlights |
Worldwide First Digital Orchestra “Musictech DAO” - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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This MusicTech event marks an important milestone in the story of the accordion. No one has ever united so many big name accordionists such as Giancarlo Caporilli, Vincenzo Abbracciante, Mirko Azzalin, Gianni Mirizzi, Marco Polidori, Vincenzo De Ritis, Gennaro Ruffolo, Massimo Siviero, Heather Smith and Alberto Valguarnera into one orchestra consisting solely of digital accordions, to open a new era in the World of Music and accordion orchestras. The orchestra’s debut concert takes place at the Teatro Astra, Castelfidardo, on October 15th, 9.15pm, during the 33rd Castelfidardo International Accordion Festival. Visit the new MusicTech website or contact us by e-mail: musictech@musictech-midi.com |
Jean Michel Jarre playing the new Roland FR-1, Paris – Franceby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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At the Salon De La Musique in Paris, Jean Michel Jarre meets the new Roland V-Accordion FR-1, and it is love at first sight! "The weight (5.5 kg), small, it looks sexy plus the beautiful Roland sound make it an instrument that must be on the stage of my new World Tour…." These are the elements that led Jean Michel during the Salon De La Musique world release in Paris, to have a close conversation with Luigi Bruti, Marketing Director of Roland Europe and "father" of the V-Accordion to "seize" one of the first prototypes of this new model. This will ensure a "musical baptism" by the "godfather", an exceptional absolute leader in the field of electronic music. Jean Michel Jarre, author and composer of successful songs who has sold over 60 million CD's worldwide, is considered one of the pioneers of electronic music and an innovator in the organisation of live concerts, with games, fireworks, laser beams and a spectacular scenery as a backdrop to his music performed often with futuristic instruments, some of its own conception. This time he has chosen for his songs another futuristic instrument – the.... ACCORDION ... in full compliance with the Roland slogan: "Tradition outside - Future inside". Jean-Michel Jarre says about himself: "I was a teenager – with a lucky chance. At the age of five years I assisted my father who worked on the soundtrack of Doctor Zhivago, directed by David Lean. At ten I studied at the conservatory, and at twenty-six I received the first gold disc for sales of ‘Oxygene’. Some of his most famous albums include: ‘Oxigene’, ‘Equinoxe’, ‘Magnetic Fields’, ‘The Concerts in China’, ‘Zoolook’, ‘Rendez-Vous’, ‘Revolutions’, ‘Waiting for Costeau’, ‘Chronologie’, ‘Metamorphoese’, ‘Téo and Téa’, and who knows if..... the new Roland FR-1 accordion will inspire a new album with worldwide success? Good luck, Jean Michel Jarre! |
Motion Trio in Concert, DHV Annual Meeting, Hof - Germanyby Kevin Friedrich |
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![]() Performing between 60 - 90 concerts per year the Trio has attracted a worldwide following, with their compositions and performances inspiring musicians around the world. The Motion Trio were guests of Akkordeonorchester Hof, Director Günther Zeilinger (picture left), Hofer Symphoniker Music School Accordion Program in Hof, Germany. In addition to the Motion Trio Concert, Hof also hosted the annual general meeting of the Deutscher Harmonika-Verband e. V. (DHV), the German national association. CIA President Kevin Friedrich gave an address to members of the DHV on behalf the CIA and performed on the concert. Full Hof September event report. |
33rd International Festival, Castelfidardo – Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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![]() In the Via del Festival, there will be a medical clinic for competitors and guests who wish to undergo a consultation and make use of specialised medical treatments. This “musical well-being” area has been organised free-of-charge by Professor Joran Kufert – Head of Physio-rehabilitation at Centro di Fisioterapia e Rehabilitation in Pisa, and his staff. The centre is a specialised clinic with 25 years experience in the rehabilitation of specific pathologies relating to musicians, with the aim of relieving muscular symptoms that occasionally trouble accordionists. The Town Council and the Castelfidardo Festival Musical Director Paolo Picchio (picture above right) have finalised the evening shows at The Astra Theatre: October 13th - Piazzale Don Minzoni, 9.15pm – Grand Opening Gala featuring Frank Marocco and Marea, presenting ‘Cammino dritto’, a new CD with original compositions and jazz classics. (In case of bad weather, the evening will take place at the Teatro Astra) October 14th – ‘Music and Poetry Night’, involving actors Davide Bugari and Alessandra Fattorini, and accordionist Christian Riganelli October 15th – World first performance by the MusicTech Digital Accordion Orchestra (see also article in Highlights) and the Jazz Tango trio ‘I Tangheri’ - Vincente Abbracciante - accordion, Antonio Di Lorenzo - drums, and Davide Penta - bass. October 16th – ‘Cabaret Yiddish’, featuring Albert Florian Mihai – accordion, Emilio Vallorani – flute, Janos Hasur – violin, and Luca Garlaschelli - bass October 17th – ‘Balkan Folk’: Martin Lubenov Orchestra, featuring Martin Lubenov - accordion, Petar Yankov - voice, Kasimir Malakov - clarinet, Harald Tantschek - percussion, Aleksandar Aca Stojic - guitar, and Stefan Thaler - bass. October 18th – ‘Jazz…and beyond’, with The Motion Trio – accordionists Janusz Wojtarowicz, Pawel Baranek and Marcin Galazyn - see article above about Motion Trio concert in Hof, Germany. Sunday October 19th, 4.30pm – Prize Giving ceremony and Final Concert, featuring the International Award and Competition winners |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil, Tullamore - Republic of Irelandby Rob Howard |
![]() The Fleadh began with an opening parade and the breaking of World Record Session for Traditional Irish Music, Song and Dance with 2,852 people playing, singing and dancing for 56 minutes. The 170 competitive sections involved 21 different venues in Tullamore, including everything Irish from set dancing to marching bands – a festival of Olympics scale. But, for many the public face of the Fleadh is the music sessions, which take place in every pub, hotel, cafe, doorway, street, and tent throughout the festival. The winner of the Senior All Ireland Piano Accordion title was Edel McLaughlin, and the Senior Button Accordion (diatonic) title was Darren Breslin. The 2008 Fleadh Cheoil accordion results |
New CD ‘Shakey Breaks the Ice’, Cambridge – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The music is a mixture of jazz standards, Klezmer dance numbers, Continental-style music, and original compositions written in a jazz style. The CD opens with ‘Songe d’Automne’, a Django Reinhardt 1940s swing composition that moves along briskly, featuring attractive solo breaks from all four players. This number sets the bar high musically, and is a shop window for what is to come. Other tracks include ‘Under Paris Skies’, which has clarinet and accordion taking turns to lead, in a typically French café jazz arrangement, and ‘Begin the Beguine’, a clarinet led arrangement much in the style of Benny Goodman mode. This is a CD that works on different levels in that it can be easy listening background music, yet also has much to offer the discerning listener. A special mention should go to the sound engineer, who achieved a perfect balance between instruments and an excellent sound quality. For further information email bert@santilly.co.uk |
Future events |
Italian Family Festa, California – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() The popular Italian Family Festa is the oldest and largest event of its kind in California. The Festa is showcase for the folklore of Italy, with its Italian Village atmosphere, food, costumes, art and photo exhibits, games, and musical entertainment. The Festa features performances by legendary accordionist Dick Contino (picture left), San Francisco's retro-Italiano band Bella Ciao, and more. The Festival also includes a grape-stomping contest, children’s games, a Tarantella contest, dancing, and the pony-drawn San Jose Italian Festa Cart, which is covered with paintings and sculpture of San Jose history. |
Flea-market/musical instruments in Linz - Austriaby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
For all musical instruments lovers living in Austria - don't miss the occation of visiting on saturday 20th september the fleamarket in Linz, Hamoderstraße 2 from 9am until 6pm. To be found all kinds of Guitards, Amplifiers, Ukulenen, Violins, E-Pianos, Accordions, Steirische, Trompets, Kornette, Euphonien, Baritons, Posaunen (Alt-, Tenor-, Bass-), Saxophones (Alt-, Tenor-, Sopran-), drums, Cajons, Percussion and all types of accessories. For informaiton contact: 0664/2248722 or e-mail: michael.schahpar@liwest.at |
Matt Van Brink Performs ‘Agak, Agak’, NY, Boston – USAby Rob Howard |
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![]() October 18th, 8pm – with Gamelan Galak Tica & Ensemble Robot, at the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC), Troy, New York October 30th, 7.30pm - with Gamelan Galak Tica & Ensemble Robot, at the David Friend Recital Hall, Berklee College of Music, Boston For further information email: mvanbrin@alumni.indiana.edu |
Lasarte-Oria Accordion Festival, Gipuzkoa - Spainby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: 07ao@zerosette.es |
Marco Lo Russo Concerts – Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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Accordionist Marco Lo Russo is pictured above with Guido Felizzi violin. Marco Lo Russo accordion performs as follows: October 4th, 9pm – Concha Bonita, Teatro Ambra, Jovinelli, Rome 5th, 4.30pm – as above 6th, 5.26pm (solo) and 7.03pm (in Duo Ichnos) - Santa Croce, Gerusalemme, Rome 7th, 3.50pm - Santa Croce, Gerusalemme, Rome Marco Lo Russo is appearing with the show Concha Bonita at the Teatro Ambra, Jovinelli, Rome, from October 7th to 26th – Rome, and from October 28th to November 2nd at the Teatro Delle Palme, Naples. For further information email: fisa@marcolorusso.com |
Veronika Todorova Band on Tour in Bulgariaby Rob Howard |
![]() Now finally the Veronika Todorova Band is to tour Bulgaria. From October 6th until 15th, concerts are scheduled for Trojan, Pleven, Lovech and Plovdiv. They will promote their current CD ‘Rosso’. Following the Bulgarian tour, Todorova has some concerts scheduled in the German state of Hesse underway, beginning on October 17th. For further information email: detlef.goerke@gmx.de |
Deirdre Adamson Concert, Leicestershire – UKby Rob Howard |
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Richard Galliano Concert, London – UKby Rob Howard |
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4th Astor Piazzolla Music Festival, Lanciano – Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() President of the jury - Vladimir Zubitsky (Ukraine - Italy), and the organizing committee includes Cesare Chiachiaretta (Italy) -Competition Manager, Nicola Garganella (Italy) - Administrative Director, Dieter Muller (Germany) - Sales Manager, Sergey Kuznetsov (Russia) – Festival Manager. The guest of honor of the festival and the competition judge is the President of the Fund of Astor Piazzolla - Laura Piazzolla. (Argentina). The competition is open to soloists (piano, violin, violoncello, flute, saxophone, guitar, domra, balalaika, bayan, accordion, bandoneon), and ensembles (2-8 members, of any make-up, and orchestras from 9 persons and more), without any age restrictions. The competition is made up of 3 parts, and there are cash prizes for the top three entries in both solo and ensemble categories. The closing date for applications was September 18th. The founders of these joint festivals are: Fundacion Astor Piazzolla (Argentina), the international association “Libertango”(Germany), the Music Competition Association of Russia, and L’Associazione Gruppo Tradizioni Popolari Lanciano, Italy. For further information email either: cesaremagnum@hotmail.com or v.zubitsky@gmail.com |
CD Reviews |
Hot Club Of Detroitby Joan C. Sommers |
![]() CD Reviews Index. |
New and Updated Sites |
New CD - "Coctab"by Finland recordings |
Finland recodings of Finland selling a CD titled "Coctab" with sound samples. Purchase online. |
New CD - "Terre"by Renzo Ruggieri |
A new site selling a CD titled "Terre" with sound samples. Music performed by Renzo Ruggieri. Purchase online. |
New Updated Site - Fisitaliaby Fisitalia |
Fisitalia – has updated their site with new models. |
New Music - Edition Wurzburgerby Edition Wurzburger |
Edition Wurzburger (music sheets) have CD’s of wellknown Italian artists inserted. |
New Website - Blai Narroneby Blai Narrone |
New Website of Blai Narrone - news collaborator for the AWW-spanish news edition. |
New Events - Museum Stradellaby Museum Stradella |
Museum Stradella has new events online. |
New CD - "Myrsky", "Sin Palabras - Duo Saira Accordion"by Finland recordings |
Finland recodings of Finland selling CDs titled "Myrsky", "Sin Palabras - Duo Saira Accordion" and "Suomalaisen Haitarijazzin Kultaiset Vuodet 1938-1956" with sound samples. Purchase online. |
New music - "Dear Old Girl", "Poet and Peasant"by MusicForAccordion.com |
MusicForAccordion.com site releases 2 new music of 'Dear Old Girl' and 'Poet and Peasant'. Samples of the music are available online. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
New music - "Busy Fingers"by Yehuda Oppenheimer |
Yehuda Oppenheimer release 1 arrangement of 'Busy Fingers'. 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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