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The November News edition will be posted on November 3rd.
 
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Why Study Music?

NEW Squeegees in Concert
NEW Henry Doktorski in Strauss Performances
Florida Accordion Association Born
New Club forming in Kansas
TAA Recruiting Accordion Tour Members
New Material from Gary Dahl
"'K" Trio Keeping Busy Concert Schedule
Accordion featured on Mark Anthony CD
Robert Baska Updates Sonata
UMKC to Perform University Fundraiser
Accordion Awareness Promotion
Carolina Accordionists Association News
Stas Venglevski in Concert
World Button Accordion Association Concert
Which piece of music did this come from?
Accordion of the Month
Just for fun...
 














 
Squeegees in Free Concert
California based "The Squeegees" will perform a free concert at the Jupiter Brewery on October 10th from 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM. The Jupiter Brewery is located at 2181 Shattuck, Berkeley, CA. For further information, please contact: Tom by e-mail: tom@ladyofspain.com or phone: 415 440 0800.

If you miss this concert, you can check http://www.ladyofspain.com for upcoming events out in the California area.
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Henry Doktorski to perform with Pianist and String Quartet
American concert accordionist Henry Doktorski will perform with pianist Igor Kraevsky and a string quintet consisting of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra members and Duquesne University faculty members in a performance of waltzes from Johann Strauss' "Roses from the South" on October 11 at the Duquesne Club in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The event is a fundraiser for the Pittsburgh Opera.

Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) was an Austrian composer of Viennese waltzes; known as "The Waltz King." His almost 500 dance pieces are his crowning achievement, while his Die Fledermaus considered is the epitome of operetta. Rosen aus dem Sden was from his operetta titled Das Spitzentuch der Knigin (1880). Strauss himself arranged the most popular waltzes from the operetta for symphony orchestra with harmonium. The ensemble director (and pianist), Igor Kraevsky, in turn, arranged it for piano, accordion & string quintet.
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Florida Accordion Association is Born
Born in September 2000, the Florida Accordion Association is dedicated to the promotion of the accordion through all music genres and all variations of accordion instruments. Membership is open to all accordionists, as well as accordion music lovers!

Some of the goals of the Florida Accordion Association include: promoting public interest in the accordion through public awareness, holding of meetings, workshops, conventions, concerts and other activities throughout the state of Florida, acting as a resource to provide referrals in accordion instruction, repair, sales and/or trade, sheet music, accessories, etc... and network with fellow associations throughout the United States, in an effort to provide unity within the accordion world.

For information on joining the Florida Accordion Association, please contact:
Karen Adam, President
2244 Musket Drive Navarre, FL 32566 USA
Phone: (850) 936-8722
E-mail: ibqueen@bellsouth.net
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New Club Forming in Kansas
John Thompson writes: "After attending my first ATG festival this year in Chicago, I have been inspired to start an accordion club in Lawrence Kansas. We will have our first meeting on Monday, October 9 from 7:30 - 9:00 PM in the Theatre Room at the old Union Pacific depot in Lawrence, Kansas."

For more information please contact John Thompson at 785-841-1740. E-mail writer: cthompso@falcon.cc.ukans.edu
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TAA Recruiting Tour Members for 'World Accordion Orchestra'

The Texas Accordion Association is putting together an exciting enhancement for its 2001 Festival.

All accordionists are invited to join the "World Accordion Orchestra" to be directed by Gary Daverne, from Auckland, New Zealand, and....
Follow That Dream... Texas Style!

The orchestra will meet on Saturday March, 3rd, and give its first performance the very next day at the North Texas Irish Festival, which attracts in excess of 10,000 people at any one time in front of the concert stage!

The group will then perform three concerts while on the road in the state of Texas, arriving in the Dallas area to join the Texas Accordion Association Annual Convention in Plano, where they will perform three additional concerts.

Final pricing details are being formulated, and full details will be able to be found at www.accordions.com/taa very soon. Meanwhile, all interested parties should contact TAA President Norman Seaton for details.

2001 Tentative Tour Schedule
Saturday, March 3 Meet/Practice
1:00 - 4:00 PM
Sunday, March 4 Rehearsal
Performance at North Texas Irish Festival
Day
4:00 PM
Monday, March 5 Practice at first tour stop
Performance in Austin/San Antonio area
2:00 PM
7:30 PM
Tuesday, March 6 Practice at second tour stop
Performance in Corpus Christi
2:00 PM
7:30 PM
Wednesday, March 7 Practice at third tour stop
Performance in Houston area
2:00 PM
7:30 PM
Thursday, March 8 Meet with TAA Convention Only players 7:00 PM
Friday, March 9 Performance at TAA Convention 8:00 PM
Saturday, March 10 Performance at TAA Convention 8:00 PM
Sunday, March 11 Formal Concert in Dallas 2:00 PM

Texas Facts and Figures

Texas became the 28th state to join the United States on December 29, 1845.
The capital city of Texas is Austin, named for the Father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin. The Texas State Capitol is 313-feet tall and is made of pink granite. It was built in 1888.

Texas is the second-largest state in the United States with 261,914 square miles. Population 20.1 million.

Principal products Manufactured goods include chemical and allied products, petroleum and coal products, food and kindred products and transportation equipment. Farm products include cattle, grain sorghums, cotton lint and seed, wheat, rice and dairy products. Minerals include petroleum, natural gas and natural gas liquids.

The financial industry includes 877 banks with deposits totaling $168.2 billion; 37 savings and loan companies with assets totaling $54.4 billion; and savings banks with assets totaling $7.8 billion. The agriculture industry includes 205,000 farms with a total of 127,100,000 acres.

You can experience all of this first hand, as you 'Follow That Dream, Texas Style', and perform in the World Accordion Orchestra, under the direction of Gary Daverne. Stay tuned for further details.

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Gary Dahl keeps Publications rolling out!

Gary Dahl, a former commercial pilot and flight instructor, is currently active as an accordionist, composer, arranger, recording artist and educator residing in Puyallup, Washington. He is certified by the American Accordionist's Association and received a BA degree from the University of Washington with a minor in music theory and harmony. Mr. Dahl's students have been consistent winners in National/State competitions and many have achieved professional status.

Gary's publications include: Jazz Accordion Solos, Clifton Chenier The King of Zydeco, French Tangos for Accordion, Tex-Mex Conjunto Classics for Accordion, German Favorites, Polka Favorites, Ragtime Favorites, Divine Hymns and Italian Favorites for Accordion.

In addition, his HARMONY AND CHORD APPLICATIONS COURSE is a 59 page tutorial course that will guide chord memorization using logical sequences.

This is the only effective chord memorization course ever written that uses etudes and practice tunes as it introduces each type of chord. Graduates will enjoy the ability to read a lead sheet, compose their own arrangements and improvise effectively. The average student will become proficient in 6 to 12 months and will experience a dramatic improvement in all areas of musicianship.

For more information, we invite you to visit Gary on-line at www.accordions.com/garydahl where you read reviews by well-known jazz legends Frank Marocco and Art Van Damme, listen to sound files and find information on ordering.
.

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K Trio News

On Saturday, August 26th, The "K" Trio performed the World premiere of Dr. William Schimmel's "Kosovo: Land of Broken Dreams" at the Tenri Cultural Institute, 575 Broadway, Soho, New York. Attending the premiere was the composer, who has been a life-long friend and colleague of the trio's members. He introduced the performers as he remembered them as youngsters . . . Mary Joan Kasprzyk, Julie Ann Kasprzyk, and Walter Kasprzyk . . . and . . . as they are known today . . . The "K" Trio.

The selection was written expressly for The "K" Trio, and was received with great enthusiasm by all in attendance. The number will be included on the group's next CD, and with an added art-form, will be performed again in New York and Connecticut some time in 2001. Micki Goodman, a world-renowned choreographer/dancer will be the featured dance impressionist.

The trio recently returned home from guest artist appearances in Washington, DC for the American Accordionists' Association Festival, and from Chicago for the Accordionists and Teachers Guild Festival, and will be appearing at the Paramount Theater in Peekskill, New York on October 15th.

The group will be making guest appearances for the 2000-2001 concert season in Australia, New Zealand, Texas, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. For more information on The "K" Trio's local appearances, CD releases, or booking information, check their website at www.ktrio.com , or contact Mary Tokarski at 203-239-2232.

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Mark Anthony CD

Bass phenomenon Tom T-Bone Wolk is known by many fans as the bass player on Saturday Night Live. He has performed with such greats as Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Anita Baker. He has recorded with Roy Orbison, Elvis Costello, Billy Joel, Carly Simon and many more. Currently he is the bass player for Hall & Oats.

In constant demand, he has performed with Carley Simon on: Good Morning America, David Letterman, Rosie O'Donnell and The View.

On many of his recordings and projects, T-bone Wolk also performs on accordion, and listeners can enjoy this on a recent chart topper by Marc Anthony called "You Sang To Me".

CD Title: "Marc Anthony", produced by Sony Music Entertainment Inc. available at all record stores.

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Robert Baska Sonata Updates

Due to a series of mishaps, my Accordion Sonata, commissioned by the American Accordion Association, was published before I had a chance to hear it performed.

After hearing it in concert I decided to make some changes as I usually do after hearing a work for the first time. I will be happy to replace any the old version with the revised version free of charge for anyone who will send me the old version along with a SASE to:

Robert Baksa
P.O.Box 424
Kinderhook, NY 12106
USA

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UMKC Accordion Orchestra begins 40th Anniversary Countdown

 

The University of Missouri - Kansas City Accordion Orchestra, under the direction of Joan Cochran Sommers will perform at an important fundraiser on October 7, raising money for the Scholarship funds at the University.

To be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, this is the second time the orchestra has been invited to perform at this event.

The orchestra will also be performing Annual American Family Christmas Concert (celebrating its 25th Anniversary) and of course the 40th Anniversary Concert to be held on April 29th, 2001.

Last week, the UMKC Accordion Orchestra performed the Commissioned Piece "Out of Crooked Timber..." for Accordion Orchestra and Solo by Paul Rudy at a composers showcase concert.

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Accordion Awareness
Dear accordion enthusiast:

The San Francisco airport places revolving exhibitions in various parts of the airport for people to view as they go from/to planes on those electric sidewalks. These airport "art galleries" are very unique and get thousands of people passing by them daily. In other words, great exposure for any installation.

Last April, I contacted the San Francisco Airport Commission about placing a "history of the accordion in San Francisco" exhibit at the airport as part of the National Accordion Awareness celebration. I figured we would have old accordions, photos, mementos, kitchy stuff, etc.

The airport commission told me there was a two-year wait for getting an exhibition placed at the airport. Wow. Tomorrow, I am going to try again. You never know, there could be a cancellation for next June.

The reason I am writing, is to see if other accordion clubs/individuals would like to head up a similar effort in their town. If so, I would be happy to support and promote the effort. Then, next June when the media call and say, "Wassuuuuuuup?" I can say accordion installations at, for example, 25 airports across the country.

The other benefit, in addition to all the travelers seeing your exhibition on a daily basis, is come June 1 you have the unveiling of the exhibition. You invite TV, radio and print, get a bunch of accordion players, yada, yada, I don't need to tell you.

Even though National Accordion Awareness Month is still nine months away, it's never too early to promote the accordion.

For further information or ideas, please contact:
Tom Torriglia bellows@ladyofspain.com
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Nothing Could be Finer.... than to Squeeze in Carolina!
Calling all accordionists!

Carolina Accordionists Association, Lenoir, North Carolina.

We are currently searching for people who want to help organize an association for and about accordionists and their accordions. This organization would provide social, technical and artistic outlets for its members and be a source of education about the accordion and accordion music for the general public.

Eventually we would like to sponsor competitions, workshops and concerts and provide organizational support and venues for accordion bands. If you are interested in having fun with other accordion enthusiasts while growing as a musician and helping to establish an Accordion Network in the Carolinas, please contact me ASAP. I look forward to hearing from you!

contact person: Seth Hickel e-mail: information@caacentral.com
phone number: (704) 655-6033

Plan to attend an Accordion Festival Saturday, November 4.
http://: www.caacentral.com
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Stas Venglevski in Concert

Milwaukee based accordionist Stas Venglevski will tour the western United States in November giving concerts in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle from November 5th - 14th, 2000.

His keyboard artistry, dazzling technical command, and sensitivity have brought 'Stas' Venglevski, a native of the Republic of Moldova, part of the former Soviet Union, increasing acclaim as a virtuoso of the bayan. A two-time first prize winner of bayan competition in the Republic of Moldova, Stas is a graduate of the Russian Academy of Music in Moscow where he received his masters Degree in Music under the tutelage of the famed Russian bayanist, Friedrich Lips. In 1992 he emigrated to the United States.

Stas' repertoire is an astonishing collection of virtuoso works by Bach, Weber, Liszt, Schubert, Rachmaninoff, as well as contemporary and ethnic music. He has toured extensively throughout the former soviet Union, Europe, and the United States. He also performs frequently in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his home in America, and is a regular participant in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's Arts in Community education program (ACE) and in Milwaukee theater productions.

The brilliant artistry and musical virtuosity of Stas afford an expanded dimension in music and an innovative musical adventure to the audience.

For information his upcoming concerts, please refer to the November Calendar, or for information about scheduling performances or lessons you can contact Stas at:

Stas Venglevski
2955 South 93rd Street
West Allis, WI 53227 USA
Phone: (414) 961-9803 or (414) 543-7714
E-mail: stas.venglevski@gte.net or you can
contact Joe Petosa at petacc@aol.com

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World Button Accordion Association Sponsors Concert
The World Button Accordion Association, Inc. Presents a Performing Arts Concert Featuring Featuring Mario Tacca at the Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 South Main Street, Grapevine, Texas, 76051.

The concert will be held November 3, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $7 for adults $3 for Children & Seniors.
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What piece does this excerpt come from?

Can you identify where this excerpt comes from? If so, name the piece and composer.

All correct entries will go into a drawing and the winner will receive a beautiful accordion doll from Russia, hollow on the inside, waiting for your favorite bottle of after dinner drink.

To submit your answer, please click on 'Submit Form' heading (located under the Clubs/Associations section on the left hand index) to submit your entry. Please don't forget to include your name, address and e-mail address, and tell us which piece of music you think this came from.

Good Luck!

Congratulations go to Eldon Tichenor, from Tigard, Oregon who was drawn from all those entries which correctly identified the mystery excerpt, as being from Trieste Overture, by Pietro Deiro.

Ernie has won a "Grab Bag" of music, which should keep him busy through the holiday season!

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Accordion of the Month

 


This is the ''Kravtzov'' keyboard accordion.

This system intends to give the piano keyboard player, some similarities to the chromatic (button) accordion. The keyboard allows a larger octave stretch, some alternate fingering etc...

The shape of the keys allows you to play new types of glissando. You can have 10 sounds out of 12 instead of the usual 7 out of 12. Below is a diagram of the keyboard.

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Just for fun...

Just my luck to get a snake that only likes Polka music!!!
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