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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
November 25, 2007
Meeting Notes
Jim Vandelly treated the group to a gem of a short bayan set Sunday, November 18. The music was all the more welcome because we had scheduled only a brief workshop by Joan Grauman for the evening. Frank Busso’s and SqueezinArt’s sales tables, as well as the WMAS shirt/CD/Merv Conn DVD table, also contributed to the meeting’s festiveness.
We expect to have the same sales tables back, plus one manned by Accordion Plus (Dale and DeAnn Wise) at the December 16 holiday concert, so don’t forget your checkbooks.
After Jim’s concert and Q&A about the bayan, Joan led the group through “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” as an exercise in how to follow a conductor and play with an orchestra. The group then used its new-found skills to rehearse for December 16.
Reminder: The next rehearsal for the concert is Sunday, December 2, at 7 pm at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church. If you plan to play in the orchestra, please do your best to make this rehearsal. The 2 pm rehearsal on December 16 is MANDATORY.
Also, please don’t forget to sign up for potluck dishes and setup/cleanup tasks. Obviously orchestra members will be tied up with the rehearsal, so we need other hardy souls to take on these chores. Thank you!!
A concert flyer is attached. Please print it out and hang it up in music stores, community centers, or other places where it might catch people’s eyes. Or mail it to family and friends. Again, thank you!
Lineup for the concert:
Master of Ceremonies: Dale E. Wise, M.M.E.
Conductor: Joan Grauman
Orchestra: "We Three Kings of Orient Are" by John H. Hopkins,
Jr., 1857
"Angels We Have Heard On High," old French carol, arr. for 2
accordions
by Joan Grauman, 2007
Nancy Leonard - "Marina" and "Oh Marie Polka" by Frank
Yankovic
JoAnn Pankow - "Santa Baby"
Michael B. Rubin & Donato Sorrano (vocalist) - TBD
Potomac Ensemble: "Ding-Dong Merrily on High," traditional,
arr. for 4 accordions
by Peter DiGiovanni, 2007
Silvia Eberly and students - German Christmas Medley
Orchestra: "Christmas in Killarney" by Redmond, Cavanaugh, &
Weldon, 1950
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" by Gillespie & Coots, arr.
for 2 accordions
by Frank Gaviani, 1952
Justin Zhou -- "Jingle Bells" & "Join the Fun"
Clare Cherkasky, Mara Cherkasky, & Leone Monticone - "Joy to
the World" by Handel and "The Chipmunk Song"
Ken Kunec -- "What Child is This" and "Feliz Navidad"
Potomac Ensemble: "Once In Royal David's City" by Henry J. Gauntlett,
arr. for 2 accordions
by Joan Grauman, 2007
Elise Malouf - "Anniversary Waltz
Vic Aijala - "Winter Nights Waltz" and "Christmas Memories
from Finland"
Jim Vandelly - Russian tunes on the bayan
Orchestra: "Away In a Manger," 15th Century German carol
"We Wish You a Merry Christmas," traditional English
Dinner Entertainment will be provided by:
The duet team of Stella Allison & Joan Grauman
Karen Malan-Uribe
Phil Fox
Peter DiGiovanni
POTLUCK SIGNUP
Dinner setup:
Teri Fox
Teddy Kunec
Cleanup: ?
Main dishes:
Nancy Leonard – Pasta
Mara
Juliette - tofu quiche
Mary Smith - Kentucky Fried Chicken
Vegetable/side dishes:
Juliette
Mary Smith - California veggie medley
Salads:
JoAnn Pankow – 3-bean
Graumans - tossed salad with pecans, pears, and gorgonzola cheese
Beverages:
Jim Vandelly - bottled water
Desserts:
Teddy Kunec- Baklava
Teri Fox
Mary Smith - Hanukah cookies
ACCORDION CONCERT
December 19 (Wednesday), 2007, 8:00 P.M.
Oakton United Methodist Church
Rte. 123 & Hunter Mill Road
Oakton, VA 22124
featuring Jim Rice and “The Wiseguys”
with new singing sensation Greg Marlow
and child prodigy June Kim, pianist
The Potomac Ensemble / Teachers’ Choice / Students
Accordions for Kids/U.S.A.
Community Singing
sponsored by
Accordion Plus
P.O. Box 53
Burr Hill, VA 22433
Accordionplus@aol.com
Accordionplus.com
540-854-5209
free admission
Newly Released Piano Accordion CD -- A TRUE MASTERPIECE!
"Carmelo, Celebrating the Accordion"
Reviewed by Joan Grauman
Four years in the making, this magnificent compilation celebrates not only a technically and musically flawless accordion performance, it also showcases the amazing composing and arranging skills of this accomplished and acclaimed accordionist, Dr. Carmelo Pino.
The album features twenty-one musicians considered by Carmelo to be among the finest, and includes his award-winning composition, "Concertino for Accordion and Strings", which has been performed by several symphony orchestras. There are a number of beautifully arranged jazz pieces featuring the accordion with solos by the well-known trombonist Dave Steinmayer, plus Carmelo's celebrated medley of Gershwin tunes, "Gershwiniana", and David Diamond's "Night Music," a composition for accordion and string quartet commissioned by the American Accordionists' Association.
The CD also includes three very lovely and uniquely different Italian dance tunes, which were composed by Carmelo for the Italian film "54 Roses." Accordion great Peter Soave is featured in Carmelo's jazz arrangement of J.S. Bach's "Two Part Invention in A Minor." This piece is just wonderful. The entire CD is truly a gem. It flows seamlessly from one mood and musical style to another. Dr. Carmelo Pino has taken our beloved instrument to a new level. His new CD is a real masterpiece. BRAVO!
Joan Grauman is on the governing board of the American Accordionists' Association, is vice president of the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society, and performs nationally with accordion duet partner Stella Allison.
To obtain a CD, please contact Carmelo by phone (202) 342-0669, or by
mail at:
1066 Papermill Ct., NW
Washington, DC 20007
CDs are $20 each, plus $2 shipping (within the US)