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SEPTEMBER
2003
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Joe Soprani to make 4th Appearnce iwth Pavarotti | |
Pavarotti will sing selections of Scarlatti, Mascagni, Leoncavallo, Puccini and many other classics. Also on the program is soprano, Cynthia Lawrence who will share the spotlight with Pavarotti in solos and duets from La Boheme and L'Amico Fritz. This concert may very well be Pavarotti's last performance in Philadelphia before he retires. You don't want to miss this one or any concert of his that may be scheduled in your area. |
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$1,000.00 First Prize at Addison Oktoberfest Competition | |
Offering Prize Money of: 1st Prize - $1000.00, 2nd Prize - $500.00, 3rd Prize - $100.00, 4th Prize - $50.00, 5th Prize - $25.00. Registration forms are available at the
information booth at the event, and contest rules are available by visiting
the TAA website at www.accordions.com/taa. |
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Jérôme Richard to Make USA Debut in 2004 | |
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Jérôme's appearance will
be in the Ballroom of the ATG Festival Headquarters which is the Best
Western Milwaukee Airport Hotel. |
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![]() Art, a legendary American jazz musician has given the Accordion a whole new unique sound that is internationally recognized. He has combined the Accordion with Guitar and Vibes, and a rhythm section of Bass and Drums, thus creating a unique sound, and with the harmonic melodies and jazz rhythms they produce, truly separated them from any other musical group. In 1944, Art made his first recording on the Music Craft label. He joined the NBC staff in Chicago in 1945, and spent 15 years doing Radio and TV Shows. Art with his Quintet worked with many top entertainers such as Dave Garraway, Hugh Downs, Ranson Sherman, Howard Miller, Bob and Kay, and Dennis James. The Quintet did a number of spots for top singers and instrumentalist, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Buddy De Franco, and Dizzy Gillespie. Art has recorded 42 Albums plus a number of Singles on 45-RPM and 78-RPM records. His recordings were on various labels such as Capital, Columbia, and MPS of West Germany. Some of the top artists that recorded with Art were Johnny Smith, Joe Pass, Joe Stafford, Francis Bergman, the Dinning Sisters, and Harry James. In an effort to create a new sound for the Accordion, Art recorded several Albums where he combined the Accordion with Strings, Brass, Flutes, and with the vocal group, Singers Unlimited. Art has made 37 trips to Europe and Australia, where he did live concerts, and appeared as a guest performer on Radio and TV. He has also appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, the Mike Douglas Show, the Lawrence Welk Show, and the Dinah Shore Show. His nightclub work included the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, Sahara in LakeTahoe, Beneventure Hotel in Montreal, Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver, Harrah's in Reno, and Disney World in Florida. Besides having the group in the top ten instrumental categories for many years in Billboard, Metroname, and Playboy Magazine Polls, Art Van Damme was voted Top Jazz Accordionist in Downbeat Magazine's Polls for ten consecutive years. He was also voted Top Accordionist in Contemporary Keyboard Magazine from 1976 to 1980. The five-year dominance of C.K. Polls has put Art in the " Gallery of Greats". Plus, the Quintet made more transcriptions than any other small group, including 139 individual quarter-hour shows for RCA Thesaurus and also many commercial spots. Art Van Damme is undoubtedly one of the finest virtuosos of the instrument. He is to the Accordion what Benny Goodman is to the Clarinet. His precise control of the bellows that has allowed him to accent every note on the instrument along with his stunning technique he extracts, gives him such a unique sound that it is hard to believe your hearing an Accordion. He has done more in helping to recognize the Accordion as a jazz instrument than any other performer. Many of us truly believe, he is the World's Greatest Jazz Accordionist. For more information on these two outstanding artists, including sound clips from their respective CD's, updated festival information and details on the Best Western Hotel Milwaukee Airport, please visit www.accordions.com/atg |
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ATG President with Doc Severinsen | |
![]() ![]() Stas, a most talented accordionist and entertaining personality, who has performed with Doc and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in the past, will be one of the featured artists. With Doc and Stas - you can expect the unexpected!!! Doc’s Tribute to Wisconsin will be: Friday, September 19 at 8:00 PM Sat, September 20 at 8:00 PM Sun, September 21 at 7:30 PM Featuring: ![]() Megumi Kanda, trombone Kim Scholes, cello Stas Venglevski, accordion The event is sponsored by A.O. Smith Foundation. For additional information see www.milwaukeesymphony.org |
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3,000 at 13th Annual Cotati Festival in California | |
"The Great Morgani" entertained with accordion favorites such as "I Can't Give You Anything But Love Baby" and "Theme From The Godfather" in a full black "Accordion-Man" suit complete with black gloves. A feat even in comfortable weather, but even more so in 90 degree F temperatures! Jazz accordionist Jimmy Hillman & Friends played a program of standards including Duke Ellington's "Take The A Train", Angel Eyes, All Of Me, and a Bossa Nova "Watch What Happens".
In addition there were plenty of used accordions for sale plus music, recordings, cases/gig-bags, and all types of accessories. Steve Balich Polka Band & Friends entertained daily in the Polka Tent which had a huge wooden dance floor and Al Rapone's Zydeco Express performed both days in the Cotati Community Center for the "Cajun/Zydeco Dance Party". |
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Accordionist Presents Lecture/Recital at University | |
Doktorski also played five musical examples, including pieces by Brahms (Hungarian Dance No. 5), Dvoraky/Paul (Clarinet Polka), Handel (Suite for a Musical Clock), Guido Deiro (Tango Tosino) and Astor Piazzolla (Oblivion). Class instructor, Dr. Owen
Cantor, said, "I was thrilled with Henry's lecture/performance and
so were the students. We all learned a lot about the accordion and discovered
a side of it which is unfortunately unknown by most people. In the hands
of an artist, it can make some really beautiful and moving music. After
class, I overheard many students speaking about his presentation in excited
and glowing words." |
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Bad Renaissance People Seminar in New York | |
"Bad Renaissance People" are people
who are bad for good reason, people who are possessed by more than one
vision, charmingly unfocused people who like to "see in the dark,"
people whose journeys are dictated by the whims of the accordion, constantly
reinventing the wheel and themselves, to be there for the show, yet to
be seen at the same time, serious people, party people, healthy minds,
sick souls, burned out bodies yet still moving on, moving on in every
unpromising direction, loving every excruciating moment. |
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Kansas City Irish Festival | |
![]() A native of New Zealand, Brett provides virtuoso performances on both button and piano accordions, having competed against and trained New Zealand national champions on that instrument. ![]() A while ago, Brett had a conversation with a number of Kansas City musicians who expressed an interest in a Celtic Fusion group. As it turned out, they also had an interest in excellence, and he has been fortunate enough to pull them all together for something quite distinct to the local music scene. Depending on which member of the group we're talking about, their musical influences range from Natalie McMaster to Bach. The current lineup of Residence Rules includes accordion, fiddle, flutes and whistles, bodhran, drums, conga, bass and guitar with bagpipes and harp being added for special performances. For information, please contact: ResidenceRules@att.net or visit them on the Internet at: residencerules.home.att.net |
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15th Carrefour Mondiale de L'accordeon in Canada | |
With the goal of promoting cultural diversity and the discovery of many different musical styles, the Carrefour Mondiale de l'accordéon offers a unique opportunity to enjoy folk, classic, rock, jazz and popular repertoires. Since 1989, recognized accordionists, from
all over the world, have graced the Carrefour's stages with their presence.
In doing so, they have help in creating an international an multicultural
event. In addition to the accordion's reputation for bringing people together,
this event also highlights an important part of our cultural heritage,
while at the same time opening the door to the discovery of world music! On the final day a "Goodbye Brunch" was be held at Nicole Pavilion, which will give both artists and festival-goers the opportunity to come together one last time. For details on upcoming festivals, please e-mail: accordeon@montmagny.com |
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Sommerfest Day of Music in Minneapolis | |
![]() This event is internationally recognized
as a summer music festival that features a variety of orchestral and chamber
music concerts as well a 24-hour music marathon which features classical,
folk, pop, rock, jazz, and gospel performances. The Minnesota Accordion
Orchestra was a favorite among the 2,000+ audience that enjoyed their
vibrant and heartfelt eclectic program featuring everything from Classical
to Cajun music. |
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TAA Announces Honorary Members | |
The Texas
Accordion Association has announced its lifetime "Honorary Member"
2003 recipients.
The Honorary Member position is awarded
by the Texas Accordion Association (TAA) Board of Directors only to those
it deems to have made significant contributions to the Texas Accordion
Association in addition to contributions on the national and international
level. Recipients include:
Other Honorary members include the late Dr. Willard Palmer and the late Bill Hughes. |
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Cajun Accordion Playing Tutorial | |
![]() This lesson set is intended to provide some starting instruction for those interested in picking up the Cajun accordion and included are some tips on how to amplify the Cajun Accordion for live performance as well as what to look for when buying an accordion. Lessons are presented in
both video (Microsoft Media files) and audio format. If you need the Windows
Media player, it can be downloaded for free at Microsoft's homepage.
Big Nick & the Cydecos
write and perform what they term as "Cydeco" music, which is
similar to, but not the same as "Zydeco" music. The
genre is a development from the cross cultural mixing of Louisiana's Zydeco
and Cajun music, with the Midwest's R&B feeling. The point is that there
are truly are not many musical borders on the planet any longer. Tom Nickel
(Big Nick) understands all this and has done his homework very well. He
started Big Nick and Cydecos in 1995 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with veteran
drummer Cy Costabile (whose name inspired the deliberate misspelling of
the band's moniker) after picking up a used accordion at a Goodwill store.
He began to explore the instrument's history and possibilities beyond
his indigenous knowledge, polka music, and very quickly discovered and
fell in love with the spicy, good time fun of Cajun and zydeco music.
He then gathered adventurous local talent around him and became the area's
top proponent of Louisiana roots music. |
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Dimitar Gueorguiev offers Bulgarian Music Seminars | |
Bulgarian accordionist Dimitar
Gueorguiev who recently performed at Kramarczuk's in Minneapolis is giving
coaching sessions on Bulgarian rhythms and ornamentation for the next two
weeks only before he leaves to go home.
He is an experienced and devoted teacher/clinician and willing to work with the most elementary rudiments of Bulgarian music or most intricate of advanced ornamentation with any student or professional. This is a great opportunity to have a native expert show you some of the "tricks" of odd metered music. Recommended for either professional, semiprofessional,
student or enthusiasts, this is a rare opportunity to arrange a private
tuition. |
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World Premiere of "There's Got to Be A Pony" | |
"There's
Got to be a Pony," is based on a story by Arem Roder about two siblings
who discover a magic saddle. The entire story will be acted out on horseback
by world known equestrian performers, with story tellers, singers, and the
Pueblo Symphony, under the direction of Dr. Jacob Chi, providing live music.
Stas Venglevski
will join the symphony on bayan. A HORSE AND SYMPHONY MUSIC EVENT DÉBUT AT RIVER CITY ROUNDUP River City Roundup will proudly host the world premier of "There's Got to Be A Pony," Sunday, September 28, 2003 at 2:00 PM at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska. This hour and a half event is a musical equitation program of extreme culture based on a story by Arem Roder. The unique family show will depict the story of a young boy and girl who discover a magic saddle. The performance will be narrated as the characters come to life through both professional and local horse riders performing to the Pueblo, Colorado symphony orchestra. "There's Got to Be A Pony" is a great opportunity for families and children of all ages to enjoy the excitement of watching live horses perform. Ticket prices are $15 for adults at $12 for children. Members of the audience will be amazed by the transformation of the arena and the showmanship and skill of the performers as they maneuver to the choreographed patterns. The show will feature two acts with several pieces performed in each by over 30 riders including many from the local area. Dressed in authentic costuming, the characters will capture imaginations and transport the audience into their magical story. For a complete schedule of events or more information on River City Roundup Fair and Festival visit www.rivercityroundup.org. River City Roundup Fair and Festival is a family celebration of agricultural and western heritage. Its mission is to educate and benefit families. The event is managed by the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation whose mission is "to build a more prosperous heartland, where communities can flourish and every child can succeed."
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Cleveland Chamber Symphony Concert | |
![]() Ervin Schulhoff (1894-1942), a twentieth-century Czech composer, came from a Prague Jewish-German family. Even though his parents were not musical themselves, they wholeheartedly supported and encouraged their son's talent. He commenced his musical studies at the Prague Conservatory of Music, continued them in Vienna and Leipzig (where his composition teacher was Max Reger) and completed them successfully in Cologne. In the early days of his career, Schulhoff's most favorite composers included Reger, Strauss, Debussy and to same extent Scriabin. But the promising start of his career as a composer and pianist was interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War, a period which Schulhoff spent as a soldier mostly on the eastern front. His wartime experiences completely changed his vision of the world and of art. During his stay in postwar Germany (1919-1923), Schulhoff joined the ranks of the left-wing avant-garde, while helping to shape its views as a composer. He was particularly attracted by the Berlin Dadaism of painters Grosz and Dix, to whose art Schulhoff responded by utilizing jazz as an instrument for increasing that provocative distance that divided the avant-garde on the one hand and the power elite and its culture on the other. "Picturesques for Piano" (1919), dedicated to Grosz, was his first jazz cycle, which was eventually followed by a number of other compositions for various instruments up to the jazz oratorio "H. M. S. Royal Oak" (1930). In his cantata "Manifesto" (1932) Schulhoff still considered using a nontraditional form, but in his subsequent symphonies (from the Third to the Sixth between 1935 and 1942) he completely espoused and adopted the conservative doctrine of socialist art, which eventually brought him into conflict with his own talent. After that, Schulhoff never found his way out of his artistic predicament. Following the tragic events of the 1938-39 period he thought of settling down in the Soviet Union, even obtaining Soviet citizenship, but he could not make up his mind quickly enough. After Germany s attack on the Soviet Union in World War II, he was arrested and imprisoned first in Prague and later in the Wulzburg camp, where he died of tuberculosis after about a one-year of imprisonment. At the time his death Schulhoff was sketching his Eighth Symphony. Ruth Sieber provided a translation of a synopsis -- of the forty-minute oratorio -- by Josef Beck (Erwin Schulhoff, Leben und Werk): "H.M.S. Royal Oaks is a tragicomic glorification of jazz which influences all people, without regard to the color of their skin, by the hypnotic power and clears the Philistines representing the Old World, out of the way. The content of the subject (supposedly inspired by a real incident) is as follows: An admiral forbids jazz music on board of a British Navy ship, the crew revolts, the leaders of the revolt are put in chains but they do not stop to sing a song about the colored people in Panama. Her Majesty's Government puts an end to this injustice by court-martialing the admiral and relieving him of his office." H.M.S. Royal Oaks is orchestrated for an orchestra consisting of strings, brass, percussion, 2 banjos, 3 saxophones and 2 accordions. Doktorski and Natoli will perform the piece with authentic 1930 period instruments with beautiful rhinestone designs and curved keyboards kindly loaned to them by Jack and Kathy White, curators of the Cleveland Accordion Museum.
Natoli was the first student
ever to be accepted at the University of Toronto using free bass accordion
as an applied major instrument, studying with renowned Canadian accordionist
Joseph Macerollo. While at the University of Toronto, Joe participated
in the first International Accordion Symposium as a performer and composer,
for which his Eclat for 5 accordions was commissioned. In 1978 and 1979,
Joe also received 2 substantial Ohio Arts Council grants to write and
record Prism/Rebirth for free bass accordion, flute, clarinet, violin,
viola, and a large constituent of percussion. |
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Diatonic Tunes Anyone Can Play | |
So you got a button accordion as a birthday present two years ago (or you bought a cheap concertina on E-Bay) and still haven't figured out how to play a polka? Here's your chance to dust off that squeezebox and put it to good use - take it out of the closet and learn to play a simple tune. Entertain at parties! Impress your family and friends! Drive your coworkers wild with envy! Launch your musical career! Rid your house of vermin! On Sunday September 21 from 1.00 PM to 3.00 PM, Wendy conducts a workshop for beginning diatonic button box and concertina players, "Diatonic Tunes Anyone Can Play", House of Musical Traditions, 7040 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912 (just outside Washington DC.) The workshop
is designed for those who have figured out where the notes are on the
keyboard, but would like some help putting the music together. Please
bring a tape recorder, pencil, notebook, and a music stand. (Inexpensive
music stands will be available for sale, as well as instructional material).
The following topics will be covered:
Space is limited, please
sign up early. When you sign up, please include information about your
instrument: brand name, number of rows, what keys, etc. |
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Klezcentricity Concert | |
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Accordion Classroom Video - Advanced Beginner | |
The Accordion Classroom
- Advanced Beginner video provides over 40 private lessons. That's nearly
one year of one-on-one individual instruction sessions! In conjunction
with the Palmer-Hughes Accordion Coursebooks 2 and 3, Ken gives you practical
guidance throughout each His demonstrative, step by step approach will show you how each technique should be played properly, with ease and natural progression. This video is not only the hub for preparing you to play a wide variety of music, but it will help you to develop your own unique style! After this video, there will be no bounds of what you can do. The Accordion Classroom
video in combination with the Palmer-Hughes Coursebooks 2 and 3, will
help you learn more about the treble and bass keyboards, review of the
right and left hand, treble study, the grand staff, alternating the basses,
C chords, seventh and eighth note introductions, key signatures, major
scales, quarter notes, minor chord introductions and much much more! |
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Looking for E-pals in USA | |
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WMAS Fall Activities | |
![]() Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to seeing Those Darn Accordions September 1 at IOTA in Clarendon, and am hoping that some of you will join me. Various WMAS members are playing around town, so be sure to check the calendar on the Web site. Dale Wise's accordion repair workshop has been set for November 15-16 at Dale's farm in Burr Hill, Virginia, near Fredericksburg. The workshop will run from 10 am until 4 PM on Saturday, and then from 1 to 5:30 PM on Sunday. I have secured a group rate of $69 at the Holiday Inn Select in Fredericksburg for the night of the 15th (the rate applies if we use 10 rooms; otherwise it will be $89). Please make your own reservation, using the code WMA, by calling 1-800-682-1049. The mission of WMAS (pronounced Wah-mass) is to bring together accordionists and promote accordion music in the national capital region. They meet on the second Tuesday every month at 7:30 PM at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church in Falls Church, Virginia. To cover the cost of renting the church, we ask everyone to bring a donation of $2.00 to every meeting. For questions about the WMAS organization, contact the president: Karen Denice (703) 671-5395 or e-mail: mexico1968@aol.com or visit: www.washingtonaccordions.org |
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Tango Workshop in MD | |
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Gloria Estefan Band purchases Accordion | |
Having a website paid off
for Accordions and Keyboards owner John Gaunt who just sold a 3/5 Reed
amplified Imperial accordion to the Gloria Estefan Band in Miami. |
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3rd Annual Accordion Rally is November 1st in Maine | |
Saturday November 1, 2003 will see the 3rd
Annual Accordion Rally in Maine which will take place at the Trenton Grange
Hall, Trenton Maine from 10.00 AM until 5.00 PM with an evening concert
at 7:00 PM. There is a $10.00 registration fee (lunch not included) with
the option to purchase an evening only concert ticket for $5.00. For More information: call Joe at (207)
667 0260 or e-mail josephn@acadia.net |
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September Dates at a Glance | |
For important dates in September, please refer to the Future Events page located on this site, by selecting from the menu to the left, or by clicking here. | |
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Note: In order to provide as much information as possible for the United States National Accordion News stories, many different sources are often researched to gather additional information and pictures to complement what has been submitted. This information is then correlated to provide the news on www.accordionusa.com in the spirit of which it is intended, which is to provide a free news service to the Accordion Community, specifically in the United Sates. If you feel any copyright has been violated please advise www.accordionusa.com and the article will be removed immediately. | |
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