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Editor's Noteby Rob Howard |
![]() On May 6th 1829 Cyril Damian (also spelt Cyrillius Demien) patented his first accordion design in Vienna, Austria. In recent times the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) has designated May 6th as World Accordion Day, with the intention of encouraging the promotion of accordion events around the world and also enhancing the public’s perception of the accordion. Please let Accordions Worldwide know what accordion events are taking place near you to celebrate World Accordion Day. You do this by Registering your activity on the World Accordion Day website. A new event for 2012 is a live streaming 24 Hour Celebration of the Accordion, similar to the TV coverage of New Years Eve, whereby celebrations are viewed on an ongoing basis as the time zones elapse around the world. The production will be available for viewing live throughout the day with 24 separate hours of archived video coverage which will be available for viewing anytime after the event. For further information email CIA Music Committee member Grayson Masefield. Watch it live from this page on the 6th May. The exact schedule will be finalised and published in a few days on this page. Start Time will be 7am Paris Time (GMT+1). |
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Harbin China Summer International Accordion Art Week - Chinaby Harley Jones |
![]() From August 6th to 10th 2012, some of the finest accordionists around the world will be competing and performing at the Concert Hall of Harbin Normal University. There will be concerts, workshops and a major international accordion competition. The competitions are divided into 9 categories of solo and group sections for all ages. The Harbin 2012 chief organizer is Prof. Wang Hongyu (picture left), Vice-President of Media College of Harbin Normal University. Wang Hongyu is a master tutor and famous accordion player who has been invited to Russia, France and other international accordion competitions as a jury member some 10 times in recent years. Wang Hongyu ran the very successful Harbin 2010 Summer International Accordion Art Week and Competitions which attracted over 500 entrants with some 28 competitors from outside China, from Russia, America, Serbia, England, France, etc. Full information including the rules and the competition entry form is on the website: Harbin 2012 |
Matth. Hohner AG Announces Leadership Change, Trossingen – Germanyby Harley Jones |
![]() Clay Edwards will mutually conduct business with the long- standing member of the Management Board Stefan Althoff and will also serve as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Hohner SA in Semur, France. For the past 6 years, Clay Edwards has been President of Hohner Inc., the company’s US subsidiary located in Glen Allen, Virginia, as well as member of the board of directors of Shanghai Lansheng Hohner Musical Instruments Co. Ltd, a manufacturing operation located in Shanghai, China. A native of Newport News, Virginia, he earned a BS in Finance and an MS in Accounting from the University of Virginia and has an MBA from the College of William & Mary. Clay is 47 years old. Founded in 1857 by Matthias Hohner (1833–1902), Hohner initially produced harmonicas, and from 1903 became a major manufacturer of accordions, with an international reputation. Today, the Hohner Group employs about 350 employees in the German production and development plants of Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG in Trossingen and Sonor GmbH & Co. KG in Bad Berleburg as well as in the distribution companies in the USA, France and Switzerland. In more than 97 countries the Group distributes harmonicas, accordions, recorders, melodicas and guitars under the Hohner brand, ukuleles under the brands Lanikai and Kohala, and drums, percussion instruments under the Sonor brand. |
Contemporary Accordion Festival, Conservatory of S. Cecilia, Rome - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() The Festival, which will include seminars, masterclasses, stands by specialised editors and accordion builders, concerts and an International Competition for accordion soloists with the purpose of promoting contemporary accordion music. Official sponsor is Pigini Accordions. Download the competition information and regulations in English and Italian: 2012Contemporary |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
‘World Music with Aydar Gaynullin’, Moscow – Russiaby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
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On April 15th the series ‘World Music with Aydar Gaynullin’ came to an end with an enchanting concert in Moscow’s ‘House of Music’, consisting of some of the most popular cinema and theater music from different countries. The French charm and pressing simplicity of the music of Yann Tiersen became very well known after the creation of the soundtrack for the film ‘Amélie’. Following the original melodies of American composer James Horner, the composer of the well-known theme from ‘Titanic’, Aydar Gaynullin's arrangements added new shades to a selection of Russian classics by D. Shostakovich and A. Shnitke. As usual, a part of the concert program was devoted to the tango – the genre which has become one of the keys in Gaynullin‘s performing career. Very successfully, he combined the timeless music of Astor Piazzolla and his protégé Richard Galliano, the French accordion player nicknamed ‘The sacred monster of jazz’, with the works of Carlos Gardela, the well-known singer, composer and actor. In the homeland of the tango – in Latin America – until now Gardela is esteemed to be the most outstanding figure in the history of this dance, and one of his most well-known songs ‘Por Una Cabeza’, created in 1935, became a classical soundtrack in several films. In the film ‘Scent of a Woman’ Al Pacino dances a tango with Gabriel Anvar to this melody. These 3 minutes are rated as one of the highlights of the film. In ‘True Lies’, the same tango is danced by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Together with Aydar Gaynullin, Pavel Novikov, performing on the Indian flute called ‘bansuri’, the ensemble ‘Euphoria’ took part in the concert program. For further information email: herbert@accordion-cd.co.at |
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Sylvia Marie Barber (1938-2012), California - USAby Rob Howard |
![]() Her early appearances included Don McNeil's Breakfast Club, two tours with the Horace Heidt Show, Grand Old Oprey Show at Buck Lake Ranch, Indiana, and the Lawrence Welk Show for a summer. Sylvia’s teachers included Jim Dumato, who she described as “a wonderful teacher”, of whom she said, “It took the poor man, half a year of teaching me many difficult selections including ‘Flight of the Bumble Bee’ with ‘Bumble Boogie’ and ‘Carnival of Venice with Variations’, to discover I couldn't read a note of music. He always played it for me first, my ear would pick up most of it, and he'd correct what I didn't hear correctly each week when I brought the song back for lesson. Needless to say, Jim made sure I could read as well as hear the music in short order!”. Sylvia worked as an air stewardess, then married and had a son, Scott. She opened a music studio in the San Francisco Bay area, moved to Los Angeles and began entertaining in a restaurant before working as an accordionist for Disneyland in Florida. Moving back to California, Sylvia continued to perform, appear as a guest at accordion festivals and also to make recordings. Sylvia Marie Barber was held in high regard by fellow accordionists in the USA. She died on April 23rd 2012, and is survived by husband Bob and son Scott. |
Antonio Spaccarotella and Alberto La Neve at Bergamo - Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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The duo of Antonio Spaccarotella and Alberto La Neve (clarinet) performed at the Festival Internazionale Della Cultura of Bergamo to major acclaim from the music critics of this important festival. This international festival includes subjects as cinema, dance, photography, painting, video and music. The duo of Spaccarotella and La Neve will be presenting their latest CD titled Non c’è Tempo on a concert tour in Italy and abroad over the coming weeks. For further information email: antonio.accordion@alice.it |
Grant “Yogi” Martin Rest In Peace (1953 approx. - 2012) – New Zealandby Harley Jones |
![]() Yogi Martin was an accordionist with a huge talent with his own unique style, who had toured within New Zealand as well as to UK, China, Australia and other parts of the world, always to excellent acclaim. Above is a video clip of Yogi. Yogi's interest in the accordion was first aroused when he heard veteran New Zealand accordionist Silvio de Pra play. Silvio's wife Lesley is his aunt. His first teachers were Dot Braithwaite and Dan Whellan and then he studied with Peter Torckler for some time. Several of Yogi's family had played accordion including an aunt, Emily Herewini who played for dances in the Waikato area from about World War II times until the 1970's. As one of Peter Torckler's top students he competed with success at local and national competitions in the 1960's and commenced professional playing about 1970. Even then, Yogi was determined to have a distinctive style and his success meant the accordion became his main source of income throughout his life. Yogi achieved successes overseas, earning second in the finals of the 1979 “New Faces” TV competition in Melbourne, Australia and was the featured artist at the NAO North West Championships in Fleetwood, UK in 2007 as well as numerous successes professionally in China and elsewhere. An unreliable personality, especially in his younger days, prevented Yogi Martin from achieving the fame and success his superb performing skills would have expected, however, his most engaging personality, with a very likeable sense of humor, meant he was well loved by all who knew him. Audiences enjoyed his music immensely and for that reason, we have placed the video clip online. Grant “Yogi” Martin always gave great pleasure to his listeners and his music was a superb advertisement for accordion. Yogi Martin RIP. Picture of Suzie and Yogi Martin attending the 2007 Roland Competition in Rome. |
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Renzo Ruggieri Proud of His Teaching – Italyby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() On April 13th in San Benedetto (Italy) another of my students, Francesca Di Sante, won the award for Best Performance at the Festival of the Adriatic (Alex Baroni Award)”. Renzo also wrote that “at the recent Frankfurt Musikmesse (21-24 March) several accordion companies have chosen students or former students to demonstrate their products: Mario D'Amario (Roland, Ballone Burini), Blue Sorgentone (Roland), Antonio Spaccarotella (Scandalli), Veronika Todorova (Scandalli), Danilo Di Paolonicola (Paolo Soprani, Roland).” |
Kilfenora Ceili Band: New CD, County Clare – Irelandby Rob Howard |
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![]() The 11 tracks include Reels: Down the Broom/Flowing Bowl/Woman of the House; Jigs: ‘Battering Ram/Tierney's Fancy/Munster Buttermilk; Song - Galway Bay; Reels: The Bellharbour/The Dublin Reel/The New Mown Meadow; Military Two-step: Jim's Party Piece; Polkas: Ballykeale Manor/Jerry's Favourite/Frank's Polka; Waltzes: Flatwater Fran/Timmy Connor's; Reels: Devaney's Goat/Tom Ward's Downfall/The Old Blackthorn; Jigs: One-Horned Sheep/Clogher; Song - Come By the Hills; Reels: Feargal O'Gara/O'Rourke's/Lucky In Love; Quadrilles: Micho's Quadrille/Adam & Eve; March: Signal Fire; Reels: Paddy Lynn's Delight/Mary O'Neill's Fancy/Anderson's For further information email: support@allcelticmusic.com |
‘14 Years Ago’ – News from Panamaby Rob Howard |
![]() ACCORDIONISTS PERFORM TO OVER 10,000 PEOPLE - PANAMA Contributed by Carlos Burac On April 18th at the Chorrera International Fair, accordionists Victorio Vergara (picture right), Ulpiano Vergara and Osvaldo Ayala performed to over 10,000 people. Victorio Vergara played his Number 1 hit single on the Panama charts, ‘Bebe’. The accordionists' performance was a ‘mano a mano’, which is like a competition between the performers. In Panamá live accordion music can be heard almost every day because the accordion is one of the principal instruments in ‘musica tipica’, which is one of the most popular music styles in the country. |
Future events |
Boni Mauricio Diatonic Performance Workshop & World Accordion Day Parking Lot Party – USAby Steven Albini, Roland Corporation U.S. |
![]() Boni is one of Corpus Christi's finest and played for the Hometown Boys for a couple of albums years back and is currently singing with them again! He has his own style and it's definitely got some South Texas sentimiento. He puts on a great show. 12.30 to 1.30 - Come early and enjoy an hour to Meet and Greet Boni (Snack Furnished) 1.30 to 3.30 - 2 hour workshop featuring the Roland FR18 Diatonic Digital Accordion. World Accordion Day Parking Lot Party 4pm to 7pm - Heritage will be hosting their Annual Cinco de Mayo / World Accordion Day Parking Lot Party. Bring your instrument and join in - Boni is going to stick around and play a little! Boni Mauricio has a long history as a studio musician and member of several well know groups such as The Hometown Boys and Mingo Saldivar. He was inducted into the "Tejano Roots Hall of Fame" and performs throughout the U.S. and Mexico. For further information email: steven.albini@rolandus.com |
Claudio Jacomucci Events and CD Release, Amsterdam – Netherlandsby Rob Howard |
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![]() On April 23rd/24th a master class by Claudio Jacomucci (accordion) and Kathleen Delaney (Alexander Technique) took place at the Italian Cultural Institute. On April 28th, at the Vondelkerk, the premiere takes place of Claudio Jacomucci's new work ‘Tensegrity’ for 8 accordion and 4 dancers. The work is based on interdependency of musicians and dancers: 8 accordionists surround the scenic space and are literally "played" by dancers, who activates sound reactions in the musicians. According to movement in the space they may change and modify the sound material and depending on parameters such as distance, speed and movement quality. The program includes also an accordion-cello duet playing J.S.Bach ‘Sonata III’, with the well-know italian cellist Francesco Dillon; other transcriptions of Charles Ives ‘Unanswered Question’; Gyorgy Ligeti – ‘Couleé’; Claudio Jacomucci-Kathleen Delaney's ‘Aracne’, a work inspired by Rita of Tarantula, homage to the Ethnographer Ernesto De Martino; a work by Dillon/Jacomucci – ‘Pisces’, who will bring to the scene the original costumes by Sonia Biacchi. Performing are the dancers Francesca Arcuri, Ivelice Brown, Kathleen Delaney, Matteo Graziano, Raquel Gualtero, coming from Italy, Spain, Venezuela and the Netherlands. The event will be repeated in Urbino (Sala Raffaello), Italy, on June 3rd 2012. On Sunday April 29th, 8 pm, Professor Luigi Volta and Claudio Jacomucci will present the new solo CD ‘Beyond’ (Blowout Records 2012, works by Gismonti, Pascoal, Jacomucci, Marzocchi, Melis, Fassone, Taktakishvili) at the Italian Cultural Institute. At 8.30pm the musicians of the Italian Accordion Academy Dennis Allegaert, Marco Ambrosio, Barbara Ardenois, Rik Cornelissen, Luca Pignata, Luca Piovesan, Belma Sarancic, Yvo Staudt, Marco Valenti, Jutta Winter will perform a concert with works by Hosokawa, Norgaard, Perocco, Paganini, Scarlatti, Mozart, Gismonti, Bach, Davis, Purcell, Mussorgsky, Banschikov, Runchak, Angelis, Semionov. For further information email: info@claudiojacomucci.com |
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Bernadette Conlon Zabawa, Bellows and Beyond Concert - USAby Harley Jones |
![]() Australian born blind accordionist, Bernadette has a solo program which includes the US premiere of Michael Easton’s ‘Concerto for Bernadette’, as well as a chamber arrangement of Albin Repnikov’s ‘Capriccio’, which was arranged especially for Bernadette. In addition, works for the unique Argentinean style of accordion (bandoneon) as well as classical transcriptions improvisations will be featured. Bernadette will also accompany Timothy Borden with arrangements created especially for this concert. Full information about Bernadette and information about her 10 CD recordings are online at: Bernadette Conlon |
Accordion Cruise Festival, Italy – Mediterraneanby Rob Howard |
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![]() The ship, sails from Naples, visiting Palermo, Tunis, Navigaion, Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, and returning to Naples. Prices include full board, participation in all festival and MSC events, port taxes, insurance and mandatory charge, travel cancellation insurance; excluding beverages, service charge (7 euro per person per day payable only on board) and flight. For further information email: info@fisabook.net |
Paulo Jorge Ferreira and Ana Ester Neves Concert, Lisbon – Portugalby Rob Howard |
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Accordionist Paulo Jorge Ferreira and the soprano Ana Ester Neves are in concert on April 28th, 10pm, at the Sala Fernando Pessoa, Belém Cultural Centre, Lisbon. Their program includes songs and music by José Vianna da Motta (Portugal), Manuel de Falla (Spain), Heitor Villa-Lobos and Jayme Ovalle (Brazil), and Astor Piazzolla (Argentina). All arrangements for voice and accordion are by Paulo Jorge Ferreira. For further information email: pjorgef@hotmail.com |
Wazemmes L'Accordéon 2012, Lille - Franceby Harley Jones |
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The Wazemmes L'Accordéon 2012 Festival runs from 15 to 27 May in Lille and is organized by the Association Culture & Flonflons Flandres Accordion featured concerts include: 15 May, "Accordéons nous avec Mathilde Braure" + Filochards 20h 16 May, Gamero & Barcelona, Rencontre du Flamenco & de l'Accordéon 20h30 17 May, The Mamys & The Papys (avec Les Nuits Secrètes) 15h 17 May, Pad Brapad + DJ Vlad Fishescü 20h30 18 May, L'Accordéon, Moi j'aime ! 19h 19 May, La Grande Java Transfrontalière 20h 19 May, 11 Bars / 11 Groupes + OFF, Bars de Wazemmes 20h 20 May, La Caravane Vanne (10ème) 9h 22 May, "Ô Brigitte" des Musiques à Ouïr (Chansons de Brigitte Fontaine) 20h30 23 May, Lecture de textes de Panaït Istrati (Loïc Lantoine, Sarah Lecarpentier, Attacafa) 20h30 24 May, Wroclawski Quartet (Master Class + Concert) 20h 25 May, Contraccordiano + Hanoï Swing Trio 20h30 25 May, Freddy'Loco & his Gordo's Ska Band + Mafiasko Taxi + DJ Vlad Fishescü 20h 26 May, LE VILLAGE W (Grand Bal Balkan) (Balkan Banquets, Radio Martiko, Mafiasko Taxi, La Bande à Paulo, Asa i Viata...) 19h à 2h 27 May, LE VILLAGE W (Balkans et Gitans) (Besh o DroM, Nada Gypsy Band, Le Temps des Gitans, Arnaud Van Lancker Quartet, Martin Lubenov Orkestar, Tshirikly, Jazza Prasta...) de 12h à 0h Many events are gratis and where there is a charge, presales at: FNAC - TICKENET - DigiTick – Lille Tourist Office Further information at email Jérôme Brunel at: communication@flonflons.eu |
Chris Ryback and Santiago Jimenez Jr Workshops, Texas – USAby Steven Albini, Roland Corporation U.S. |
![]() 1.30 to 3.30 - Performance Workshop - open to Keyboard & Button accordionists 3.30 to 5.30 - Roland-USA V-Accordion Demonstration, upgrades installed, "Learn your Menus & Sets"!!!! and much more.... Chris Rybak - one of the most popular piano accordion entertainers in Texas - can be found performing all across the state throughout the year. Combining his love of music, strong Czech Heritage, and arousing charisma, this accordion cowboy has what it takes to entertain audiences through his showmanship and fresh enthusiastic musical style. Santiago Jimenez, Jr, a three-time Grammy nominee, is best known for remaining in the tradition of his father. That is, the instrumentation which he utilizes, the repertoire which he performs, the style of his compositions and, above all, his style of playing the diatonic button-accordion remain in the century-old tradition of south Texas accordionists. For further information email: steven.albini@rolandus.com |
‘Homage to Piazzolla’ Concert, Quinto Vicentino – Italyby Rob Howard |
‘Homage to Piazzolla’ is a recital of works by Astor Piazzolla given by Mirko Satto (bandoneon), Lia Tiso (violin), Luca Paccagnella (cello), Giulia Mandruzzato (piano), and Carlo Meneghini (vocals). This takes place on April 28th, 9pm, at Villa “Thiene”, Piazza IV Novembre, Quinto Vicentino, Veneto, Italy. |
Stanislav Angelov Concert, Cape Town – South Africaby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: info@goodmusic.co.za |
Accordionist Li Li Invitation Performance, Parliament House, Sydney – Australiaby Harley Jones |
![]() Li Li will be performing a piece of her choice, along with other former scholarship instrumentalist and vocalist winners and the winner of the Centenary Composer Competition. It should be a wonderful and historical musical event, which will include an accordionist for the very first time at such a prominent event and venue. Accordionists are invited to attend this event and support Li Li and also the book launch of the “Centenary Pictorial History of the MTA”. Li Li is a former open solo and duet champion at the ASA and AATA competitions (picture right with teacher Zeljko Bedic) in Australia and has been awarded the AMusA Diploma for both Accordion and Piano. She is also a fully qualified pharmacist and is currently in her third year of medical studies at the University of Sydney. |
9th Bristol Cajun & Zydeco Festival, England - UKby Harley Jones |
![]() 2012 features visitors from Holland as well as top UK bands playing a mixture of traditional and modern Cajun and Zydeco: Fri evening: R Cajun & The Zydeco Brothers Sat afternoon: Chanky-Chank Sat evening: The Zydeco Diamonds Sun afternoon: Creole Brothers Sun evening: Downtown Cajun Band (Holland) We also have the Whiskey River Boys at the bar on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, dance workshops by Kay Anderson (cajun) and Carol Wilson (beginners zydeco), DJs and MCs Carole (Lil' Queenie) and Nigel (Flying Home) of Swamp Rock Club, London; jamming and a licensed bar and cafe - in short, a "A whole weekend of Louisiana-style music, dance, food, drink and meeting people!" Also, The Clifton Hotels, a group of four hotels within an easy reach of the Folk House are offering a special discounted rate to the festival goers! For further information email: bristol_cajun@yahoo.com |
Accordion Recital Benefit for Nursing Home - Antiguaby Harley Jones |
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CD Reviews |
Naoko Takeuchi (harmonica) and Andreas Nebl (accordion)by Alessandro Mugnoz |
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New and Updated Sites |
Las Vegas International Accordion Convention Site Update - USAby Paul Pasquali Event Organizer |
![]() Some of the stars (alphabetical order): Pete Barbutti, Gina Brannelli, Dick Contino, Liz Finch, Gordon Kohl, Jeff Lisenby, Mario Pedone, The Accordion Kings, Amy Jo Sawyer, Peter and Mady Soave, Mary Tokarski, Stas Venglevski. Joan Sommers is festival orchestra director. |
eTracks MP3 Albums by Silvio De Pra Now Online – Internationalby Silvio De Pra |
![]() New Albums this week are: Three albums by Silvio De Pra Encore Continental Cabaret Volume 1 Continental Cabaret Volume 2 The beautiful voice and accordion of Silvio De Pra is backed by some of New Zealand's finest musicians. Listen to the sound samples on the site. |
World Accordion Project eTracks Site Updatedby Sammy Pizzata and Nunzio Mondia |
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eTracks MP3 Albums by Peter Piccini Now Online – Internationalby Peter Piccini |
![]() ![]() New Albums this week are: 5 albums by Peter Piccini Accordion Fantasy Echoes of Europe Cool Change Sounds Italian Accordion Powerhouse |
eTracks MP3 Albums by Franco Cambareri Now Online – Internationalby Franco Cambareri |
![]() New Albums this week are: 3 albums by Franco Cambareri Mystique A La Francois Cafe Arabesque |
Accordions TV |
World Accordion Day, 6th May 2012 - Internationalby Grayson Masefield |
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Watch World Accordion Day here on this page on Sunday 6th May. Start Time will be 7am Paris Time (GMT+1). The show will be available for viewing live throughout the day with 24 separate hours of archived video coverage. Each 1 hour archived segment will also be linked on this page. The schedule will be published here on Friday evening. You can also visit the World Accordion Day Video Broadcast and Schedule page: http://www.accordions.com/cia/cia_wad_directory_2012.htm and Facebook: www.facebook.com/worldaccordionday for further information. |
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