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Highlights |
Matth. Hohner AG Announces Improved Results and Growth - Germanyby Harley Jones |
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![]() Began in 1857, the Hohner Group today employs some 340 employees in the German production and development plants as well as in the distribution companies in the USA, France and Switzerland. The Hohner products are distributed to over 85 countries. During the business year, while the global economy and music industry grew by 3%, sales growth of the Hohner Group's international brands posted a 5% increase to 67.2 million euro. As a result of the positive sales improvement as well as effective cost management, the Hohner Group improved its net income performance by 83.2% to 2.7 million euro in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 compared to 1.5 million euro in the prior fiscal year. Specific mention was made in the report about accordion products: For professional musicians playing tejano, norteno and conjunto music in Mexico and the southwestern US, HOHNER introduced the new Anacleto Collection of super-premium accordions .... The Morino accordion has been completely refurbished so that it can become fully customized due to individual musician demands. Download the full English Annual Report at: 2012Report Download the full Germany Report at: 2012de_Report |
Play the Accordion Without Pain by John Bonica - USAby Harley Jones |
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![]() "Over my long career I have had the pleasure of meeting, personally treating and advising many accordion luminaries. Among them, to name just a few, are Anthony Galla-Rini, Viatcheslav Semionov, Myron Floren, Jorgen Sundeqvist, Frank Marocco, Harley Jones and my good friends, Stas Venglevski and John Simkus, plus many more who have emailed, phoned or made the journey to my clinic for help." "What works for one individual may not work as well for others, but the symptoms typically experienced by accordionists will be described in this book and may allow readers to identify the contributing cause of their problem or injury.” John Bonica has also released several CD's during his musical career and is writing this book, to become "The definitive reference for players of all ages, teachers and professionals." This exciting ebook will be published chapter by chapter, at least one chapter per month. There will be a minimum of 24 chapters. You can purchase the whole book as a special introductory offer for only US$22 (or Euro equivalent) and be sent each chapter by email as it is released. Further information is at: John Bonica |
National Award for Talented Young Accordionist - Scotlandby Anna Bodell |
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Thirteen year old accordion player, Alistair Hewitt from Glasgow, a student of The Brian Laurie Paisley Academy, was among 123 outstanding young people to win an award this year from the organisation 'Awards for Young Musicians' (AYM). AYM’s annual Awards Program gives grants of up to £2,000 each year to exceptionally talented young musicians aged between 5 and 17. The funding can be used to support music making in any genre, helping with costs such as buying an instrument, music lessons, course fees and travel. Hester Cockcroft, AYM’s Director said: "Once more we had a very high number of applications for support from young musicians from across the UK, so Alistair should be very proud of his achievement in gaining an award. Music is what defines these young people: it’s central to their life. We’re here to help them progress on their musical journey and give them the best possible chance of fulfilling their potential." |
Accordion Christmas Gift Ideas for Friends and Familyby Harley Jones |
![]() These ideas have been compiled to hopefully attract your Xmas gift money to be spent with accordion artists, composers, arrangers and publishers. Please support accordion artistry and choose from over 2,100 eSheet pieces, 270 CD/DVD’s, 990 eTracks, 1,000 plus printed works and numerous books (text) to choose from. 2012 Xmas Gift Ideas |
The Italians, Rojac, Spaccarotella and Patarini 'Conquer' in Russia!by Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() The first concert in Russia was on November 1st at the Gnessin State Musical College in Moscow, and the same show was repeated the following day. On Saturday the event moved to Kazan City for the final concert, where together with Rojac, Spaccarotella and Patarini, the duo ‘Una Sinistra’ (famous Russian players Alexander Selivanov and Julia Amerikova) also performed. In addition to the show, Corrado Rojac also presented his work (‘1939 La Fisarmonica of Giuseppe Greggianti’) and a prototype of an instrument, which has been recreated based on some important documents of the famous pastor and composer Ostigliese. |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Mental Activity May Keep Older Brains Healthy - USAby Harley Jones |
![]() The study, presented at the 98th scientific assembly and annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago, is the work of Konstantinos Arfanakis (picture left) and colleagues, from Rush University Medical Center and Illinois Institute of Technology. "Reading the newspaper, writing letters, visiting a library, attending a play or playing games, such as chess or checkers, are all simple activities that can contribute to a healthier brain" says Arfanakis. Editor: What could be even better is playing the accordion. You have the extra mental and physical stimulus of playing a different keyboard with each hand (assuming your accordion has standard bass), co-ordinating the bellows and your fingers, so you are also stimulating both brain activity and brain to muscular activity as well, all while you enjoy your music. Therefore, NEVER stop PLAYING the accordion. Play in groups, orchestras or solo. Our older readers might not play like they did many years earlier, but the pleasure of music can still be fully enjoyed plus the benefits of musical practise are becoming recognised as medically ever more important to your brain health. |
Accordion Featured in 2012 Movie Holy Motors - Franceby Harley Jones |
The accordion is featured in this scene from the 2012 movie Holy Motors. Holy Motors is the latest from the eccentric French director, Leos Carax, is a thoroughly unclassifiable film about a man who rides around in a limousine, going from appointment to appointment, assuming a completely different identity at each stop. He starts off the day as a white-haired executive, but that, too, is an act. He applies makeup and becomes a beggar woman; later, he is a freak who lives under the sewer. Ultimately, it seems that some kind of statement about cinema is at play in "Holy Motors." Cinema is full, life is empty. Cinema is easy, life is mysterious. Perhaps that is the Leos Carax message. Whatever it is, he has our attention. |
Foster and Allen TV Series – Republic of Irelandby Rob Howard |
![]() Since the early 1980s Mick Foster (accordion) and Tony Allen (vocals/guitar) have been one of Ireland’s most commercially successful acts, with a string of best selling recordings and DVDs to their name. Mick Foster was previously an All Ireland Accordion Champion. |
Video: Marc Berthoumieux Performs his Composition Amazone Live - Franceby Harley Jones |
The video features Marc Berthoumieux (accordion) performing his Composition Amazone Live at the Petit Journal Montparnasse in November 2012. Performing with Marc Berthoumieux are: Giovanni Mirabassi (piano), Stéphane Huchard (drums), Thiérry Fanfant (bass), Christophe Cravero (violin), Jean Christophe Maillard (sax), Minino Garay, (percussion) and William Lecomte (keyboards). "Amazone" is part of the "Les Couleur D'ici" album which is available on iTunes. |
Viennese Accordion Chamber Ensemble Annual Concert – Austriaby Dr Herbert Scheibenreif Manager of Friedrich Lips Productions |
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The Viennese Accordion Ensemble, directed by Werner Weibert, celebrated its annual festival concert in the well attended concert hall of Perchtoldsdorf Castle, near Vienna, on Friday November 8th. Their program included works by Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Brahms, Würthner, Gershwin, Piazzolla and Strauss. As usual, the concert was closed with some famous songs like ‘That cat is high’, ‘Mackie Messer’, and ‘Gern hobn’, very popular and well acclaimed by the public. For further information email: herbert@accordion-cd.co.at |
Accordion Festival at Royal College of Music, Stockholm - Swedenby Harley Jones |
The Accordion Festival was held, 16th to 18th November at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden. Most of the participants were accordion players at Music College in Stockholm and Malmö - Anita Agnas and Lars Holm with students, guests and friends. The video above is 9 year old Leo Florin Muravjov, performing Indifference (J Columbo and T Murena) and a Russian song arr. V. Kolyganov. |
Orchestra Handharmonica Club (HHC) Nufringen, Celebrates 60th Anniversary - Germanyby Harley Jones |
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![]() The four HHC orchestras of the club (Teenies, Jugend, Junioren, 1. Orchester) offered a mix of entertaining concert and accordion music on a "journey through the history of the accordion literature". The presentation of Günther Stoll put the finishing touches on the concert evening. The smallest hint of the conductor was implemented, and the strong applause of the audience, showed that Günther Stoll and the HHC orchestras had once again, greatly pleased their audience. |
Video: Trio Voronezh Performs Fly With Meby Harley Jones |
New project by Trio Voronezh with Svetlana Medvedeva (Musical Saw). Classically trained at the Conservatory in Voronezh, Russia, the members Valerie Petrukhin (double bass Balalaika), Vladimir Volokhin (National Champion, All-Russian Domra Competition) and Sergei Teleshev (accordion) formed the trio in 1993 in their native working-class city of Voronezh. Since then they have toured extensively to very fine reviews. The trio’s diverse repertoire ranges from the works of Bach, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky to Russian folk songs, gypsy dance music, and popular songs by Gershwin. More recently they have added works by Astor Piazzolla, Alfred Schnittke, and Shostakovich and Strauss. |
‘Accordion Meets The Classics’ Concert, Weissach – Germanyby Rob Howard |
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![]() A special feature of the evening were contributions from Joachim Bänsch, solo horn player with the SWR Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra. The overall conductor was Gunther Stoll, who gave interesting insights into the music and the accordion. Music performed included ‘Prelude and Fugue’ – JS Bach, ‘Die drei Musketiere’, ‘Homage March’ - Edvard Grieg, ‘Nabucco’ – G. Verdi, and ‘Concerto in E’ – WA Mozart. The concert hall was full, and the audience loved the instrumental and vocal combinations, and the performances of all concerned. The next concert, ‘Hits and Evergreens’, takes place on May 4th 2013 in the Strudelbachhalle, Weissach. For further information email: Guenther.Stoll@t-online.de |
Joe Recchia Video and Composition "Castelfidardo" - Italyby Harley Jones |
Published on 20th November and titled "Castelfidardo" is a video by Joe Recchia recorded performing his Roland at the Borsini Accordions home studio in Castelfidardo, Italy. Joe writes that the video: "release of (his composition) "Castelfidardo" is dedicated to all my friends in the music and accordion business and features many of the great accordion players I had an opportunity to meet over my entire accordion career thanks to my Uncle Tony Dannon! including Charles Magnante, Myron Floren, Art Van Damme, Joe Cerrtito, Cory Pesaturo, Joe Natoli, Count Basie, Dick Contino, Carl Fortina, Peter Soave and others such as Aaron Caruso, Lisa Agazzi, Dolores Reyes Aquino, Simone Rodona, Christine Corolla, Edsel Ford, Buddy Valsatro "aka the Cake Boss", the Borsini Brothers and many others, Thank you!!!!" |
NAO North Central Area Accordion Championshipsby Anna Bodell |
![]() This festival, under the helm of NAO Executive officer Harry Hinchcliffe is in its 17th consecutive year and has grown over the years, providing a platform for accordionists to experience the art of competing at there respective level. The adjudicator’s at this years event, included NAO Executive officer and CIA President Raymond Bodell, experienced musicians and composers Ken and Wendy Farran and local musician and lead accordionist with the Craven accordion Orchestra, Graham Waterhouse. Also in attendance at the event was Chairperson of the NAO, Anna Bodell. Thanks goes to Roland for supplying trade stands and providing an insight into the latest technology in keyboards and accordions with expert advice on hand. The festival is part of the NAO Festival Season with further regional festivals to be held in Leicester, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Manchester and Colchester during January and February 2013 and all culminating the NAO UK Championships to be held in Liverpool 26th – 28th April. NAO North Central Area competition results are on the NAO website. |
Video: Semir Hassic in Concertby Harley Jones |
Video: Semir Hassic in Concert recently. |
Jacques Pellarin CD ‘En vous attendant’, Paris – Franceby Rob Howard |
![]() For over 27 years, virtuoso accordionist Jacques Pellarin has brought the sounds of the French countryside to all corners of the globe. With 6 albums and multiple international tours, he has shared his musette-inspired accordion compositions with a world-wide audience. Jacques’ professional career began as part of the internationally acclaimed Baikal Duo and after 18 years of classical performances, Jacques formed a quartet and an acoustic trio in order to pursue a freer interpretation of jazz and world music. In 2011, the Jacques Pellarin Quartet released the critically-acclaimed album ‘Sup Dude’ and today, Jacques continues to compose, perform, and tour but his focus is now on sharing his music with a larger global audience through strategic placements and song licensing deal. "When you need to create an atmosphere of love and romance, when you need to invoke the mood of a smoky Parisian café, when you need to capture the sounds of mystery, journeys, and found and lost loves, turn to the music of accordion virtuoso Jacques Pellarin" - Mike Dias (Music supervisor for ‘Ultimate Ears’). For further information email: jacques.pellarin@wanadoo.fr |
Accordion Festival Radstake 2012 - Netherlandsby Harley Jones |
The Varsseveldse Accordion Association held on 18th November for the first time a festival at Radstake. Throughout the day event, there was some 280 players participating and the video here is video of a large orchestra of about 100 players of the Velpse Accordion Association directed by Feiko van Soest. |
‘14 Years Ago’ – Cajun Music in Denmarkby Rob Howard |
![]() SWINGING CAJUN MUSIC - DENMARK Contributed by Kresten Storgaard On December 3rd the KDN Cajun Band will perform at the ‘Sletten Kro’ (Kro is Danish for inn) in Sletten. The 5 piece band includes accordionist and vocalist Karen Munkholm. They perform stirring Louisiana Cajun rhythms at music spots in and around Copenhagen as well as at festivals such as Toender and Vordingborg. Band members have made several trips to Louisiana, USA, attending work-shops with Cajun musicians in Lafayette. |
Future events |
Master Class for Accordion at Chateaulin (29), 5-7 April - Franceby Nathalie Boucheix, Director CNIMA J.Mornet |
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Master Class for Accordion by Jacques Mornet and Nathalie Boucheix at Chateaulin (29), 5-7 April - France |
Antonio Spaccarotella Concert, Recife – Brazilby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
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Italian accordionist Antonio Spaccarotella performs at the Teatro Santa Isabel, Recife, Brazil, on November 30th, 8pm. This concert rounds off a lot of touring this year, which has seen Antonio Spaccarotella performing in the USA, Russia, and around Europe. His concerts, which have included playing at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane, WA, USA, the Gnessin Institute, Moscow, and an International Accordion Festival in St Petersburg, Russia, have all gone really well. |
Zoltan Orosz and Horvarth Kornel Concert, Gyor – Hungaryby Rob Howard |
![]() Bartók Béla Megyei Muvelodési Központ, G. Czuczor u. u. 17., 9022 Gyor, Hungary, on December 4th, 7pm. For further information email: csirmaz@harmonika.hu Four CD's available online at: Zoltan Orosz |
Karen Street Charity Concerts, Stockport, Oldham - UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Karen Street’s charity concerts for Alzheimer’s Research UK next week are: Thursday December 6th, 7.30pm - Trinity Methodist Church, Massie St, Cheadle, Stockport, Cheshire SK8 1DU. Free admission. Friday December 7th, 7.30pm - Holy Trinity Church, Church St East, Waterhead, Oldham, Lancashire OL4 2JQ. Free admission. For further information email: info@bigshedmusic.co.uk |
Concert Recital and 3 Young Talents, Istanbul – Turkeyby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: ibeka@mynet.com |
Uxbridge Accordion Band Charity Concert, Bucks – UKby Rob Howard |
On Wednesday December 5th, 8pm - 10.30pm, the Uxbridge Accordion Band (MD Angie Lukins) and other local artists perform in concert for charity. Admission is £4 (no charge for children), American Supper, free parking. The venue is Iver Village Junior School, High Street, Iver, Bucks, SL0 9QA. For further information email: david.lukins@btinternet.com |
Duo Expire At Pied à Terre, January 2nd, Norwich - UKby Harley Jones |
![]() The club writes: “Winners of the prestigious Duo Prize at the Chateau d'Ars Festival, Expire (Cédric Martin and Flavien Di-Cintro) bring the electrifying energy of two accordions to our dance floor for the third time. These are some of the best young traditional musicians in France and not to be missed.” Above is a video of this Duo Expire. For further information email: info@piedaterre.me.uk |
‘Singing with Your Accordion Workshop’, California – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: accordionapocalypse@yahoo.com |
Victor Prieto Trio Concerts, New York, Texas – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() With accordionist Victor Prieto for this gig are Edward Perez – bass, and Carlitos Maldonado - percussion. From December 1st to 5th, Victor Prieto will be performing in Austin and San Antonio, Texas, with Cristina Pato and the Migrations Band. For further information email: victorprieto2001@yahoo.com |
Stockport AC Band & Orchestra Charity Concert, Cheshire – UKby Rob Howard |
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The Stockport Accordion Club Band (MD Derek Stubbs) and Orchestra (MD Brian Jenkins) perform in concert on Wednesday December 5th, 8pm, at Woodley Methodist Church, Chapel St, Woodley, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 1NF. There will be additional contributions from some of our members and friends, including spots featuring SAC President Pearl Fawcett-Adriano & Philip Watson, and Vice President Walter Perrie. The proceeds from this concert will go to Alzheimer’s Research UK, helping to fund vital research into this dreadful condition. Admission is £5, and all are welcome. For further information email: robaccord5@hotmail.com |
‘Accordion Babes’ Shows, California – USAby Rob Howard |
The Accordion Babes are back! An Accordion Babes Revue takes place at Rhythmix Cultural Works in Alameda, CA, on Saturday December 1st, 8.30pm. There's also a prix-fixe dinner ticket option. On Friday December 7th, 7-9pm, the Accordion Babes perform at Smythe's Accordion Center in Oakland, CA. For further information email: squeezeboxgoddess@gmail.com |
Karen Tweed & Ivan Miletitch Concert, Stroud – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() For further information email: kstweed@yahoo.co.uk |
CD Reviews |
Stas & Sam - Two Step CD by Stas Venglevskiby Joan C. Sommers |
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New and Updated Sites |
Gary Dahl updates musicby Gary Dahl |
![]() catalog:DH0004 - 'Padam…Padam' and catalog:DH0171 - 'Pigalle' Sample for this music is now available at the Music For Accordion web site. The music is in eSheet format e-mailed directly to your computer. Easy purchase with credit card. |
Tian Jianan release new DVDs and CDs and eTracksby Tian Jianan |
![]() ![]() 'Bach Two Part Inventions and Contest Repertoire, Klingenthal', catalog: tjianan01 'Free Bass Accordion Solo', catalog: tjianan02 and 'Brahms's Smile, Tian Jianan Accordion Pop Instrumental', catalog: tjianan03 with sound samples. Music performed by Tian Jianan. Purchase online. |
Charnwood Publications Composer Sue Coppard Updated Siteby Sue Coppard |
![]() catalog M639 - The Swing of the Kilts, catalog M683 - Lullaby for a Cool Babe in a Hammock, catalog M631 - Cathy's Tune, catalog M662 - Christmas Bells, catalog M681 - If Only..., catalog M665 - Sampling the Cider and catalog M675 - Scots Porridge Oats Sound Samples and PDF Music Samples of the music are available online. Purchase with credit card. |
Tom Collins Memorial Site Updated - USAby Tom Collins |
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New Website for Susan M. Hall, Artist, Kenyaby Harley Jones |
New Website for Susan M. Hall, Artist, Kenya showing her artwork, biography and contact information. |
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