2011 News Archive
WMAS NEWS UPDATE
January 17, 2011
Meeting Notes
Happy New Year! Those who braved the cold on January 9 came away with some good ideas on how to make a song “your own.” Peter DiGiovanni passed out sheet music and led the group through a version of “Frosty the Snowman” that grew more complex by the measure. Grace notes were the embellishment; they were followed by right-hand chords, runs, and arpeggios, and of course bass variations. Peter also distributed and explained his circle of fifths chart, which you can find at Lessons.
Dick Dangel’s workshop came next. Dick demonstrated how he takes a Tin Pan Alley/jazz standard and turns it into something more complex and interesting. In follow-up emails, he explained more:
I had some questions after my presentation about chords. The first two pages of this handout (attached) contain an excellent description of commonly used chords (without getting into the altered chords). Members could get plenty to work with just in the first two pages, which explain seventh, ninth, 11th, and 13th chords. Also note that the circle of fifths (perfect fourths if you go counterclockwise) perfectly illustrates the concept of tritones I was talking about. Each tritone pair can be determined by simply drawing a diameter line connecting the two. So C connects with F#, etc.
The handout will be posted at Lessons.
Next Month
On February 13 WMAS will celebrate its eighth birthday with a Valentine’s Day-themed dance party. Please sign up to play (by replying to this email) and please put the date on your calendar. Tell all your friends and family members, especially those who love to dance.
As usual, we will meet at 4 pm at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church, 3435 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, VA 22044.
Please bring snacks to share. Birthday cake will be provided.
Announcements
Mike Surratt and the Continentals at Blob’s Park January 30, 4-8 pm
Please contact Nancy Leonard by January 25 (301-871-2995, email [email protected] ) if you plan to attend so that she may reserve a table for WMAS.
Sergio Fresco at Cantina Mamma Lucia
Saturday, January 22, 6-9 pm
1350 Dorsey Rd., Rt.176
Hanover, MD 21076
The restaurant is very close to Arundel Mills Mall near BWI.
ISO Accordionist for a Restaurant!
I am attempting to arrange for an accordion player/singer to entertain once a month (strolling) in my very nice restaurant in Annapolis, Md. I want to have an Italian Night-maybe on Sundays -- maybe 5:30-8:30 pm. Playing and singing is preferred but just playing might also work.
Dick Franyo, Owner
Boatyard Bar & Grill
400 Fourth Street
Annapolis, Md. 21403
410-336-8880
[email protected]
www.boatyardbarandgrill.com
ISO Accordionist for a Band
What's the only way more people are going to play the accordion? Exposure, exposure, exposure. Stemming from a strong love for world music, and an overall awe and love of the many genres and instruments that claim the accordion, I have found a way to give the accordion its rightful place in the hearts of the next generation. Curious? Keep reading ...
My bandmates and I are creating a unique take on the "cover band." Essentially, I know most accordionists out there play covers, but to a limited "niche" audience.Therefore, we have created a cover band that takes popular tunes from a more "modern era" (i.e. rock and roll from the 50's to the present day) and spun the genre. For example, we might take the song "American Pie" and do a "Cold War" version that re-imagines it as a Russian folk song; melody intact but instrumentation, beat, and rhythms changed. Or take a Beatles song and make it zydeco.
It is not for the faint of heart, and the toughest element has been finding you, an accordionist. Age is not of importance; willingness to learn and adapt and grow/push yourself musically as a musician is. If there is a genre proposed, it is expected that all members prepare independently pre-practice in terms of listening and brainstorming on their instrument in the new style. We come together for practice and piece it together. Two practices a month, and, we hope, a monthly gig residency (to be determined). Genres rearrange after each gig. No more than one gig per month.
Because our group is not limited by any specific type of genre, it is also imperative that you play an additional instrument, such as piano/keyboards (or something else). Skill level does not need to be tops in it, but this is so that you can still contribute to songs that come from genres that don’t involve the accordion (for ex. Motown/soul). But at this point, we would love anyone who was willing to tackle genres that DID include the accordion. You just might not play on every song.
Are you out there? Does this excite you? We're searching for a needle in a haystack here, but this is your chance to give the amazing accordion its rightful place in the hearts of so many more poor souls who just haven't had the chance to hear it.
Please contact Todd at: [email protected]
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
February 19, 2011
Meeting Notes
About 100 people turned out to celebrate our club’s eighth birthday last Sunday, February 13, and many agreed this was our best party yet. We had lots of good music – and dancers! This time we started with some Israeli circle dances, taught by Joan Grauman, to break the ice and get people out of their chairs. This tactic seemed to work because the floor stayed full, or at least partly full. It probably also helped that ringmaster Ken Kunec threatened to keep playing until people danced.
Thanks to all who contributed by playing, dancing, singing (new member Joan Haberek knows all the old songs), telling jokes, bringing snacks, showing up, setting up, and cleaning up. Oh, and to the Zadnik granddaughters for helping out by picking door prize tickets out of the basket.
For next month’s meeting, please don’t forget that we’ve changed the date to March 6. This will be a 70th birthday tribute to Dale Wise. Dale has been so generous to our club and many of our members individually, with instruction, conducting, emceeing, invitations to his farm, accordion repairs, workshops, the opportunity to perform in his concerts, and friendship. The March 6 meeting will be more than a party, though; Dale will also present a workshop, probably on chord progressions, so please bring your accordions. Afterwards sheet music will be distributed for jamming.
Membership Renewal Time
It’s time to pay up for 2011: $20 for an individual membership or $30 for a family (household). Thanks!
Brats on Board
Here’s something for tomorrow evening – from the Dairy Godmother in Del Ray.
The first of two brat nights will be held February 20th from 6-8 pm. We will be open until our usual hour of 9 pm for custard and all our usual items.
Brat night includes live accordion music featuring Paul Przedpelski, Johnsonville brats, sauerkraut with apples, German potato salad, and just a bunch of Wisconsinites and locals. First come first served!
Buckle on that Championship Belt and celebrate the Green Bay Packers’ Super Bowl victory! Flash that cheesehead! (Note to locals: If you have a low tolerance for this sort of thing you might want to skip this brat night.) The next brat night is March 20th.
The Dairy Godmother
2310 Mount Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22301
703-683-7767
www.TheDairyGodmother.com
WMAS Dinner-Dance
On Saturday, April 16, from 6 – 9 pm, WMAS is hosting an Italian dinner-dance at Marco Polo Restaurant, 245 Maple Avenue W., Vienna, Virginia. The event will feature live Valtaro Musette music by accordionists Dominic Karcic and Ray Oreggia, and a delicious buffet (cash bar). Tickets are $30 for members and $39 for nonmembers, from [email protected]. Please distribute the attached flyer.
More Chords from Dick Dangel
I came across this rather busy-looking chart (email for a copy) which might be helpful for someone looking for a sort of dictionary of chords spelled out in all keys.
I call attention to the chord labeled Cm7b5, which is also more commonly referred to as C half diminished 7th and to my mind belongs between the Cm7 and C+7. You start with a plain ole dominant 7th chord (1, 3, 5, b7), then you flat the 3rd and 5th.
Also added the sus4 chord in C (suspended 4th means they suspended the 3rd in favor of the 4th) to get a fairly dissonant chord.
C11 is another version where the 4th degree of the scale is added on top of the 7th and 9th.
Finally, we have C13, which is a common jazz chord with 7th, 9th and the 6th. Numbers larger than 7 merely indicate that they want the dissonance normally at the top of the chord, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be voiced that way.
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
March 25, 2011
Meeting Notes
About 50 people braved the March coming-in-like-a-lion weather to fete Dale Wise at our March 6 meeting. Dale turned 70 this month, and that’s something to celebrate.
Besides the cake and tributes, the party included a workshop by Dale, his gift to us.
We wish him many, many happy returns.
April with WMAS
On Saturday, April 16, from 6 to 9 pm, WMAS will host an Italian dinner-dance at Marco Polo Restaurant, 245 Maple Avenue W., Vienna, Virginia. The event will feature live Valtaro Musette dance music by accordionists Dominic Karcic and Ray Oreggia, and a delicious buffet (with cash bar). There are only a few tickets left, so buy yours asap – at $30 for members and $39 for nonmembers -- from [email protected].
The next day, Sunday, April 17, at 4 pm, Andre Fry will play a concert at our meeting at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church. Andre is a phenomenon who is going to go places. Don’t miss this meeting!
Nancy Leonard Performance April 1
Nancy Leonard auditioned and was selected to perform six songs at the Talent Show at the Holiday Park Multiservice Senior Center at 3950 Ferrara Drive, Wheaton, MD 20906 on Friday, April 1, at 1:15 pm (until 3:15 pm). Tickets cost only $1.00, but you must purchase them in advance because space is limited. For information and tickets please call Nancy at 301-871-2995 or email a[email protected].
Potomac Ensemble to Perform at Mary Tokarski Tribute in New Jersey on April 2
The Potomac Ensemble has been asked to perform at the MAMTG/AAMS Festival on April 2 during the Lifetime Achievement Award banquet honoring Mary Tokarski. The ensemble, comprising 10 WMAS members under the direction of Joan Grauman, will also play a couple of selections with the Connecticut Accordion. Please join us! For more information, see www.mamtg.org.
Washington Balalaika Society Spring Concert on April 30 and May 1
The Washington Balalaika Society will perform its Spring Concert on Saturday, April 30, at 7:30 pm at the T.C.Williams High School Theater, 3330 King Street, Alexandria VA, and on Sunday, May 1, at 3:00 pm, at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville, MD. This year’s program, titled “The Art of the Balalaika,” features soloists Andrei Saveliev (balalaika) and Olga Orlovskaya (soprano) in a collection of beautiful music. More information is available at http://www.balalaika.org.
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March 25, 2011
Meeting Notes
About 50 people braved the March coming-in-like-a-lion weather to fete Dale Wise at our March 6 meeting. Dale turned 70 this month, and that’s something to celebrate.
Besides the cake and tributes, the party included a workshop by Dale, his gift to us.
We wish him many, many happy returns.
April with WMAS
On Saturday, April 16, from 6 to 9 pm, WMAS will host an Italian dinner-dance at Marco Polo Restaurant, 245 Maple Avenue W., Vienna, Virginia. The event will feature live Valtaro Musette dance music by accordionists Dominic Karcic and Ray Oreggia, and a delicious buffet (with cash bar). There are only a few tickets left, so buy yours asap – at $30 for members and $39 for nonmembers -- from [email protected].
The next day, Sunday, April 17, at 4 pm, Andre Fry will play a concert at our meeting at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church. Andre is a phenomenon who is going to go places. Don’t miss this meeting!
Nancy Leonard Performance April 1
Nancy Leonard auditioned and was selected to perform six songs at the Talent Show at the Holiday Park Multiservice Senior Center at 3950 Ferrara Drive, Wheaton, MD 20906 on Friday, April 1, at 1:15 pm (until 3:15 pm). Tickets cost only $1.00, but you must purchase them in advance because space is limited. For information and tickets please call Nancy at 301-871-2995 or email a[email protected].
Potomac Ensemble to Perform at Mary Tokarski Tribute in New Jersey on April 2
The Potomac Ensemble has been asked to perform at the MAMTG/AAMS Festival on April 2 during the Lifetime Achievement Award banquet honoring Mary Tokarski. The ensemble, comprising 10 WMAS members under the direction of Joan Grauman, will also play a couple of selections with the Connecticut Accordion. Please join us! For more information, see www.mamtg.org.
Washington Balalaika Society Spring Concert on April 30 and May 1
The Washington Balalaika Society will perform its Spring Concert on Saturday, April 30, at 7:30 pm at the T.C.Williams High School Theater, 3330 King Street, Alexandria VA, and on Sunday, May 1, at 3:00 pm, at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville, MD. This year’s program, titled “The Art of the Balalaika,” features soloists Andrei Saveliev (balalaika) and Olga Orlovskaya (soprano) in a collection of beautiful music. More information is available at http://www.balalaika.org.
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
April 21, 2011
Meeting Notes
What a great accordion weekend we had here in the DC area! On Saturday night, April 16, more than 100 people ignored tornado warnings and heavy rain to attend our dinner-dance at Marco Polo Restaurant in Vienna. Although the weather outside was frightful, inside was completely delightful, thanks to the beautiful and lively Valtaro musette dance music by Dominic Karcic and Ray Oreggia, the delicious food, the ample dance floor, and of course the superb company.
The next day was our April meeting, featuring a concert by the extremely talented Andre Fry, accordionist, composer, and arranger. Andre, who is 16 years old and a student of Ron Onda, amazed us all, once again, with his performance. The program, with notes, is included below. By the way, another opportunity to hear Andre is coming up May 21, when he participates in Dale Wise’s Accordion Heroes concert in Catonsville. The notice is below.
Back to last Sunday. Mary Tokarski was in town for the weekend, so she was lucky enough to hear Andre, and we were lucky enough to have her with us. Following Andre’s concert, she played Malaguena by Charles Magnante and Slippery Slope by Michael Bridge. Her final piece was Mexican Carnival by Dan Desiderio, with Joan Grauman on piano. All wonderful.
Next Meeting
Our May 15 meeting will be our annual member concert. Please sign up to play for five minutes by contacting Joan at [email protected]. As usual, refreshments and setup/cleanup help will also be welcome.
The meeting will take place as usual at 4 pm at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church, 3435 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, Virginia.
Washington Balalaika Society Spring Concert on April 30 and May 1The Washington Balalaika Society will perform its Spring Concert on Saturday, April 30, at 7:30 pm at the T.C.Williams High School Theater, 3330 King Street, Alexandria VA, and on Sunday, May 1, at 3:00 pm, at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville, MD. This year’s program, titled “The Art of the Balalaika,” features soloists Andrei Saveliev (balalaika) and Olga Orlovskaya (soprano) in a collection of beautiful music. More information is available at http://www.balalaika.org or from Peter DiGiovanni, [email protected].
Tri-State Accordion Band Clinic
Saturday, May 21, 2011, 2-5 pm
Bloomsbury Community Center Auditorium
106 Bloomsbury Avenue
Catonsville, MD 21228
Fellow Accordionists:
Bring your accordion and music stand, and join the band. There is so much we can learn about ensemble playing, and too, it will be just plain fun. Don’t think twice whether you qualify because the music is written for all levels of expertise. We will prepare and play three selections on concert the evening of the event. Club officials now have this music, and can make it available to you.
Yes, bring a spouse, friends, whomever. After rehearsal we can go to a nearby restaurant together for dinner if you like.
Participating Accordion Clubs include:
Accordion Lovers of Virginia (VA Beach, VA / Sid Sward: 757-497-7917
Accordion Revolution (Williamsburg, VA / Jim Rice: 757-253-9124
Delaware Accordion Club (Joe Oberly: 302-388-0471)
Maryland Accordion Club (Howard Scott: 410-255-7889)
Piedmont Accordion Club (Burr Hill, VA / Dale Wise: 540-854-5209)
Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society (Falls Church, VA / Peter DiGiovanni: 703-242-2244 or Joan Grauman: 301-662-0203)
Conductors:
Cory Pesaturo
Dale Wise
Schedule: 2-5 pm - Full Band Rehearsal + Sectionals
7 pm. - Accordion Heroes Concert
Admission: Free
Host: Maryland Accordion Club
Joe Fertitta, President
1322 Ridge Road / Catonsville, MD 21228
410-744-3352
[email protected]
Andre’s April 17 Program
For those of you who missed Andre’s concert, the program and notes are below (verbatim from his printed program):
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 – J.S. Bach, arr. Andre Fry
From Odyssey Suite (2011) – James Fry (Andre’s father)
II. Frozen Steppe
III. In the Cloister
IV. The Towne of Lilliput
V. Pastoral Landscape
VI. Aeolus’ Cave
VII. Village Scene
I. Perpetual Journey
Variations on Dark Eyes (2011) – Andre Fry
Czardas (2010) – Andre Fry
Waltz Allegro – Charles Magnante
Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor – Felix Mendeelssohn, arr. Carmen Carrozza
I. Presto
Czardas – Vittorio Monti (played as an core)
Program Notes:
Andre Fry’s transcription of Toccata and Fugue in D Minor was inspired and influenced by Italian accordionist Salvatore di Gesualdo and German organist Karl Richter. Both artists are recognized interpreters of the works of J.S. Bach; di Gesualdo was the first accordionist to perform Bach’s Art of the Fugue in its entirety. Andre’s arrangement of this great masterpiece closely follows the original version in order to capture the style and spirit of Baroque organ music.
Odyssey Suite is a musical journey through diverse musical styles—from the Medieval period to the 20th century. Each movement explores a different tone color available on the accordion.
Czardas won first place in the Junior Division of the 2010 Elsie M. Bennett Composition Competition of the American Accordionists’ Association.
* * * * *
Andre’s fascination with the accordion began during the summer of 2009 when he first picked up his grandfather’s bayan (Russian button accordion). Since then he has achieved recognition in several national competitions including first-place honors at the 2010 Roland U.S. V-Accordion Festival, Junior Division. Before taking up the accordion, he studied cello for three years.
Fluent in Russian, Andre has studied Latin, Spanish, French, Esperanto, Mandarin Chinese, and Old Church Slavonic. He has played over 100 tournament chess games, placing at or near the top of his section and winning monetary prizes at the 34th Annual World Open, 2007 Chicago Open, and 35th Eastern Open. Andre was a site administrator for Wikinews and is the primary author of more than 500 news articles. Other interests include writing and editing for Wikipedia, researching Slavic languages, and bicycling with his Dad.
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
May 16, 2011
Meeting Notes
Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday’s spring concert by performing, emceeing, bringing refreshments, setting up the room, cleaning up afterwards, and of course cheering on the performers. It was a splendid concert featuring many different styles of music and many personalities – not to mention much humor.
The program looked like this:
Ken Kunec – Volcano
Michael B. Rubin – Besame Mucho
Yimin Zhuang – Camille Saint-Saens’ Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso
Joan Grauman and JoAnn Pankow - Olive Blossoms (Frosini 1933) and Under Paris Skies (arr. by Frank Marocco)
Bob Juszczyk – Fascination
Peter DiGiovanni – Medley of food-themed songs (I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts; Candy Man; The Eggplant That Ate Chicago; If I Knew You Were Coming I’d Have Baked a Cake; Lemon Tree; Chop Suey)
Joan and Peter – Drigo’s Serenade
Silvia Eberly – Boarischer and yodeling song
Robert Ford – Bach’s Toccata & Fugue
Vic Aijala – Medley of Swedish dances (hambo, waltz, polka)
Ken Kunec – Elvis Presley’s Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Four in Accord (Dale Wise, Tom Fabinski, Andre Fry, James Fry) in their first public performance – Bugler’s Holiday
Dale Wise – Amazing Grace, Five Foot Two
Potomac Ensemble – Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina; Cottage Cheese and Noodles
After the formal portion of the concert, Dale entertained while people sampled the refreshments. A few people even danced.
Next Meeting – June 19, 4 pm, Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church
Joan Grauman will present a workshop on “Playing Ethnic Music More Authentically.” She distributed a few copies of music that she will focus on during the workshop. For those who did not receive the sheet music, please download the attached PDF and reply to this email to request the last song. The two PDFs were too big to send easily in one email; hence the split approach.
Message from Joan: I have selected five pieces (and one “optional” piece from Germany) to work on together at the workshop. All are good examples of each country’s folk music: Mattinata (Italy), Roumanian Hora and Bulgar (Klezmer), The Eavesdropper (Ireland), Jochschwalm Walzer (Austria) and Livet i Finnskogarna (Sweden). Please do not worry if the music seems too difficult. Bring your accordion, the music and a music stand anyway – no pressure, just come and enjoy! I will demonstrate and teach accenting, regional ornamentation, as well as other subtleties specific to each region. I look forward to seeing you on June 19!
WMAS Business
If you haven’t yet renewed for 2011, please contact Peter DiGiovanni at [email protected]. Your dues ($20 for individuals, $30 for household/families) support our programs and activities. Membership benefits include free admission to our guest-artist concerts and access to our member directory.
Members who would like to receive a copy of the member directory should contact [email protected].
Did You Leave Your Tie at Marco Polo Restaurant??
If so, please contact [email protected].
May 21 Concert in Catonsville
Dale Wise and the Maryland Accordion Club are hosting a concert this Saturday evening (May 21) at Bloomsbury Community Center, 106 Bloomsbury Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228. Featured performers: William Cosby, Cory Pesaturo, Ron Onda, Andre Fry, Allen Reed & James Fry, the Bean Soup Project, and the Tri-State Accordion Orchestra (including WMAS members). The concert starts at 7 pm.
AAA
Please let Joan Grauman know if you are planning to play in the 2011 AAA Festival Orchestra, July 13-17, Charleston, SC. This annual orchestra is open to all who would like to participate. This year’s conductor is the celebrated accordionist, conductor and arranger, Joan Cochran Sommers. The sheet music is not online this year. To receive a set, e-mail Joan at [email protected] and she will send your parts in a PDF. For more information about the festival in general, visit: www.accordionusa.com and check out “upcoming events.”
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May 16, 2011
Meeting Notes
Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday’s spring concert by performing, emceeing, bringing refreshments, setting up the room, cleaning up afterwards, and of course cheering on the performers. It was a splendid concert featuring many different styles of music and many personalities – not to mention much humor.
The program looked like this:
Ken Kunec – Volcano
Michael B. Rubin – Besame Mucho
Yimin Zhuang – Camille Saint-Saens’ Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso
Joan Grauman and JoAnn Pankow - Olive Blossoms (Frosini 1933) and Under Paris Skies (arr. by Frank Marocco)
Bob Juszczyk – Fascination
Peter DiGiovanni – Medley of food-themed songs (I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts; Candy Man; The Eggplant That Ate Chicago; If I Knew You Were Coming I’d Have Baked a Cake; Lemon Tree; Chop Suey)
Joan and Peter – Drigo’s Serenade
Silvia Eberly – Boarischer and yodeling song
Robert Ford – Bach’s Toccata & Fugue
Vic Aijala – Medley of Swedish dances (hambo, waltz, polka)
Ken Kunec – Elvis Presley’s Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Four in Accord (Dale Wise, Tom Fabinski, Andre Fry, James Fry) in their first public performance – Bugler’s Holiday
Dale Wise – Amazing Grace, Five Foot Two
Potomac Ensemble – Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina; Cottage Cheese and Noodles
After the formal portion of the concert, Dale entertained while people sampled the refreshments. A few people even danced.
Next Meeting – June 19, 4 pm, Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church
Joan Grauman will present a workshop on “Playing Ethnic Music More Authentically.” She distributed a few copies of music that she will focus on during the workshop. For those who did not receive the sheet music, please download the attached PDF and reply to this email to request the last song. The two PDFs were too big to send easily in one email; hence the split approach.
Message from Joan: I have selected five pieces (and one “optional” piece from Germany) to work on together at the workshop. All are good examples of each country’s folk music: Mattinata (Italy), Roumanian Hora and Bulgar (Klezmer), The Eavesdropper (Ireland), Jochschwalm Walzer (Austria) and Livet i Finnskogarna (Sweden). Please do not worry if the music seems too difficult. Bring your accordion, the music and a music stand anyway – no pressure, just come and enjoy! I will demonstrate and teach accenting, regional ornamentation, as well as other subtleties specific to each region. I look forward to seeing you on June 19!
WMAS Business
If you haven’t yet renewed for 2011, please contact Peter DiGiovanni at [email protected]. Your dues ($20 for individuals, $30 for household/families) support our programs and activities. Membership benefits include free admission to our guest-artist concerts and access to our member directory.
Members who would like to receive a copy of the member directory should contact [email protected].
Did You Leave Your Tie at Marco Polo Restaurant??
If so, please contact [email protected].
May 21 Concert in Catonsville
Dale Wise and the Maryland Accordion Club are hosting a concert this Saturday evening (May 21) at Bloomsbury Community Center, 106 Bloomsbury Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228. Featured performers: William Cosby, Cory Pesaturo, Ron Onda, Andre Fry, Allen Reed & James Fry, the Bean Soup Project, and the Tri-State Accordion Orchestra (including WMAS members). The concert starts at 7 pm.
AAA
Please let Joan Grauman know if you are planning to play in the 2011 AAA Festival Orchestra, July 13-17, Charleston, SC. This annual orchestra is open to all who would like to participate. This year’s conductor is the celebrated accordionist, conductor and arranger, Joan Cochran Sommers. The sheet music is not online this year. To receive a set, e-mail Joan at [email protected] and she will send your parts in a PDF. For more information about the festival in general, visit: www.accordionusa.com and check out “upcoming events.”
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
June 28, 2011
Meeting Notes
For a latecomer, it was amazing to enter the meeting room on Sunday, June 19, and find row upon row of accordion-wearing audience members, their eyes trained on one accordion-wearing presenter in the front of the room. Joan Grauman’s workshop on ethnic music styles was, in the words of one participant, “a fantastic opportunity.” He elaborated: “Her accordion, dance, and choreography background uniquely qualifies her to conduct such a workshop. Joan really brings the accordion to life, and she is obviously an excellent teacher. I am going to work on some of the expression and ornamentation tips that she showed us.”
Another participant, known for his Russian repertoire, declared the workshop inspired him to take up Irish music!
We may want to take another meeting to go into more depth on one or two of the styles, say Irish and Scandinavian.
Joan’s handout for the workshop is included below.
Next Meeting
Sunday, July 10, 4 pm meeting: Our friend Rita Davidson will come from New Jersey to present a concert and workshop on the uplifting, challenging, and truly beautiful music of Eugene Ettore. An honors music education graduate and Ettore protégée, Rita Davidson has presented Ettore’s music and life story in concerts and workshops throughout the United States. She is an amazing musician, and you will not want to miss this performance. We hope to see all of you there!
August – no meeting
Coming Up …Ocotrillo at An Die Musik in Baltimore July 21
An die Musik LIVE!
A Classical, Jazz & World Music Concert Venue
409 N. Charles Street
Baltimore MD 21201
http://www.AndieMusikLIVE.com
Ocotrillo's program contains a variety of music styles including classic jazz and standards, older styles such as Dixieland or New Orleans jazz as well as music from various parts of Brazil including numbers by Tom Jobim, Gilberto Gil, Luiz Gonzaga, and more.
Tickets: $10 at 410-385-2638
Stas Venglevski Concert and Potluck Picnic August 15
Joyce Palmer will be hosting a concert with accordionist/composer Stas Venglevski on Monday, August 15, in her backyard on Capitol Hill. For those who have not experienced Stas’s amazing skills on the Russian bayan -- or his gorgeous music -- you are in for a real treat! Visit his website at http://www.stasv.com. The Capitol Hill Accordion Orchestra Society (CHAOS) will play a few old tunes to start the evening.
WMAS members* and their guests are welcome to attend the concert and a potluck picnic honoring Stas and his wife Rosa.
The price of the 6 pm event is a picnic dish and a lawn chair. Please call Joyce at 202-543-3860 to obtain directions and let her know what dish you will be bringing.
Joyce says: The concert should be a real treat. Space is limited, but I will have a tent set up on the side lawn for additional seating. I hope you will enjoy my home and you are most welcome. Capitol Hill is a lovely venue, but it will be a Monday evening and traffic may be difficult. Street parking should not be a big issue, but you might want to take the Metro. I’m right near the Union Station Metro station.
* If you are not sure of your membership status, please email [email protected].
History & Styles of the Ethnic Music from Ireland, Italy, Germany & Austria, and Scandinavia, and Klezmer Music of Eastern Europe
Prepared by Joan Grauman
This workshop [on June 19, 2011] was designed to familiarize accordionists with the unique characteristics of the music of these chosen regions where the accordion plays a major role.
Irish Folk Music
Irish traditional music was largely meant (to the best of our current knowledge) for dancing at celebrations for weddings, saint’s days or other observances. Tunes are most usually divided into two eight-bar strains which are each played as many times as the performers feel is appropriate; Irish dance music is isometric. (16 measures are known as a "step", with one 8 bar strain for a "right foot" and the second for the "left foot" of the step. Tunes that are not so evenly divided are called "crooked".) This makes for an eminently danceable music, and Irish dance has been widely exported abroad.
Traditional dances and tunes include reels (4/4), hornpipes (4/4 with swung eighth notes), and jigs (double and single jigs are in 6/8 time), as well as imported waltzes, mazurkas, polkas, and highlands or barn dances (a sort of Irish version of the Scottish strathspev). Jigs come in various other forms for dancing — the slip jig and hop jig are commonly written in 9/8 time, the slide in 12/8. (The dance the hop jig is no longer performed under the auspices of An Coimisiun.) The forms of jig danced in hardshoe are known as double or treble jigs (for the doubles/trebles performed with the tip of the hardshoe), and the jigs danced in ghillies/pomps/slippers are known as light jigs.
Polkas are a type of 2/4 tune mostly found in the Sliabh Luachra area, at the border of Cork and Kerry, in the south of Ireland. Another distinctive Munster rhythm is the Slide, like a fast single jig in 12/8 time. The main differences between these types of tunes are in the time signature, tempo, and rhythmic emphasis. It should be noted that, as an aural music form, Irish traditional music is rather artificially confined within time signatures, which are not really capable of conveying the particular emphasis for each type of tune. An easy demonstration of this is any attempt to notate a slow air on the musical stave. Similarly, attempts by classically trained musicians to play traditional music by reading the common transcriptions are almost unrecognizable - the transcriptions exist only as a kind of shorthand.
The concept of 'style' is of large importance to Irish traditional musicians. At the start of the last century, distinct variation in regional styles of performance existed. With increased communications and travel opportunities, regional styles have become more standardised, with soloists aiming now to create their own, unique, distinctive style, often hybrids of whatever other influences the musician has chosen to include within their style.
Due to the importance placed on the melody in Irish music, harmony should be kept simple (although, fitting with the melodic structure of most Irish tunes, this usually does not mean a "basic" I-IV-V chord progression), and instruments are played in strict unison, always following the leading player. True counterpoint is mostly unknown to traditional music, although a form of improvised "countermelody" is often used in the accompaniments of bouzouki and guitar players. Much of the local character of a style comes from the type of decoration that is added to a tune.
The music of Italy ranges across a broad spectrum of opera and instrumental classical music and a body of popular music drawn from both native and imported sources. Music has traditionally been one of the cultural markers of Italian national and ethnic identity and holds an important position in society and in politics. Italian innovation in musical scales, harmony, notation, and theater enabled the development of opera in the late 16th century, and much of modern European classical music, such as the symphony and concerto.
Instrumental and vocal classical music is an iconic part of Italian identity, spanning experimental art music and international fusions to symphonic music and opera. Opera is integral to Italian musical culture, and has become a major segment of popular music. The Neapolitan song, canzone Napoletana, and the cantautori singer-songwriter traditions are also popular domestic styles that form an important part of the Italian music industry, alongside imported genres like jazz, rock and hip hop. Italian folk music is an important part of the country's musical heritage, and spans a diverse array of regional styles, instruments and dances.
At the Austrian Court in Vienna in the late 17th century (1698) ladies were conducted around the room to the tune of a 2 beat measure, which then became the 3/4 of the Nach Tanz (After Dance), upon which couples got into the position for the Weller and waltzed around the room with gliding steps as in an engraving of the Wirtschaft (Inn Festival) given for Peter the Great.
The peasants of Bavaria, Tyrol, and Styria began dancing a dance called Walzer, a dance for couples, around 1750. The Ländler, also known as the Schleifer, a country dance in 3/4 time, was popular in Bohemia, Austria, and Bavaria, and spread from the countryside to the suburbs of the city. While the eighteenth century upper classes continued to dance the minuet, bored noblemen slipped away to the balls of their servants.
Nordic folk dance music consists of various dance rhythms that do not originate in the Nordic countries but once were the fashion dances among the European nobility. With time these dances spread to common people, and in some cases they remained there long after the nobility had exchanged them for new fashionable dances. Many of these rhythms can also be found in other parts of Europe, and some of them have also been used in classical music.
The majority of the tunes are in minor keys. Traditionally, there were many tunes in keys that can not be classified as either minor or major (Modes). Traces of this still exist, but most of that disappeared when the accordion became popular. The majority of the dances that go with this music are partner dances, though exceptions do exist. Such exceptions include the minuets that are common in some parts of Finland and that can also be found in parts of Sweden, the solo-dance halling, generally considered typically Norwegian but also found in parts of Sweden, and the Finnish quadrille danced by several couples in formation. The most common dance rhythm is the polska. It is in 3/4 (three beats to the bar). In the most common polskas, the third beat is accentuated as well as the first. There are many local versions of the polska rhythm, and generally local variations of the accompanying dance correspond to these differences, though many of these local dances have disappeared. The schottische, also known as reinlender, polka and waltz are other common dance rhythms. In addition there are many other more uncommon dance rhythms (e.g. the anglais), despite a small number of surviving tunes.
The most typical instrument is the fiddle. In most cases normal violins are used, but there are exceptions such as the hardingfelle, used in parts of Norway, which has a set of sympathetic strings in addition to the normal four strings. Another unique instrument, the nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle), probably once existed in a large part of Europe, but survived until modern times only in Sweden. Other instruments that were used traditionally were simple clarinets, and later accordions. Contemporary Nordic traditional dance musicians might also use other less traditional instruments, as well as writing new tunes in the old style.
The term klezmer comes from a combination of Hebrew words: kley, meaning "a useful or prepared instrument, tool, or utensil" and zemer, meaning "to make music"; leading to k'li zemer ?????? ?????, literally "vessels of song" = "musical instrument").
Originally, klezmer referred to musical instruments, and was later extended to refer to musicians themselves. It was not until the mid-to-late 20th Century that the word was used to identify a musical genre. Early 20th Century recordings and writings most often refer to the style as "Yiddish" music, although it is also sometimes called Freilech music (Yiddish, literally "Happy music").
Klezmer is easily identifiable by its characteristic expressive melodies, reminiscent of the human voice, complete with laughing and weeping. This is not a coincidence; the style is meant to imitate khazone and paraliturgical singing. A number of dreydlekh (a Yiddish word for musical ornaments), such as krekhts ('sobs') are used to produce this style.
Above all the musical styles which influenced the traditional Klezmer musicians, the Romanian influence seems to be the strongest and most enduring. Traditional Romanian music was heard, adopted and adapted by Klezmer musicians. This fact is reflected in the dance forms found throughout the entire surviving Klezmer music repertoire (e.g., Horas, Doinas, Sirbas and Bulgars, etc.).
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June 28, 2011
Meeting Notes
For a latecomer, it was amazing to enter the meeting room on Sunday, June 19, and find row upon row of accordion-wearing audience members, their eyes trained on one accordion-wearing presenter in the front of the room. Joan Grauman’s workshop on ethnic music styles was, in the words of one participant, “a fantastic opportunity.” He elaborated: “Her accordion, dance, and choreography background uniquely qualifies her to conduct such a workshop. Joan really brings the accordion to life, and she is obviously an excellent teacher. I am going to work on some of the expression and ornamentation tips that she showed us.”
Another participant, known for his Russian repertoire, declared the workshop inspired him to take up Irish music!
We may want to take another meeting to go into more depth on one or two of the styles, say Irish and Scandinavian.
Joan’s handout for the workshop is included below.
Next Meeting
Sunday, July 10, 4 pm meeting: Our friend Rita Davidson will come from New Jersey to present a concert and workshop on the uplifting, challenging, and truly beautiful music of Eugene Ettore. An honors music education graduate and Ettore protégée, Rita Davidson has presented Ettore’s music and life story in concerts and workshops throughout the United States. She is an amazing musician, and you will not want to miss this performance. We hope to see all of you there!
August – no meeting
Coming Up …Ocotrillo at An Die Musik in Baltimore July 21
- Ocotrillo
Gabe Hall-Rodrigues, acccordion and vocals
Sean Brogan, bass
Wes Anderson, drums
An die Musik LIVE!
A Classical, Jazz & World Music Concert Venue
409 N. Charles Street
Baltimore MD 21201
http://www.AndieMusikLIVE.com
Ocotrillo's program contains a variety of music styles including classic jazz and standards, older styles such as Dixieland or New Orleans jazz as well as music from various parts of Brazil including numbers by Tom Jobim, Gilberto Gil, Luiz Gonzaga, and more.
Tickets: $10 at 410-385-2638
Stas Venglevski Concert and Potluck Picnic August 15
Joyce Palmer will be hosting a concert with accordionist/composer Stas Venglevski on Monday, August 15, in her backyard on Capitol Hill. For those who have not experienced Stas’s amazing skills on the Russian bayan -- or his gorgeous music -- you are in for a real treat! Visit his website at http://www.stasv.com. The Capitol Hill Accordion Orchestra Society (CHAOS) will play a few old tunes to start the evening.
WMAS members* and their guests are welcome to attend the concert and a potluck picnic honoring Stas and his wife Rosa.
The price of the 6 pm event is a picnic dish and a lawn chair. Please call Joyce at 202-543-3860 to obtain directions and let her know what dish you will be bringing.
Joyce says: The concert should be a real treat. Space is limited, but I will have a tent set up on the side lawn for additional seating. I hope you will enjoy my home and you are most welcome. Capitol Hill is a lovely venue, but it will be a Monday evening and traffic may be difficult. Street parking should not be a big issue, but you might want to take the Metro. I’m right near the Union Station Metro station.
* If you are not sure of your membership status, please email [email protected].
History & Styles of the Ethnic Music from Ireland, Italy, Germany & Austria, and Scandinavia, and Klezmer Music of Eastern Europe
Prepared by Joan Grauman
This workshop [on June 19, 2011] was designed to familiarize accordionists with the unique characteristics of the music of these chosen regions where the accordion plays a major role.
Irish Folk Music
Irish traditional music was largely meant (to the best of our current knowledge) for dancing at celebrations for weddings, saint’s days or other observances. Tunes are most usually divided into two eight-bar strains which are each played as many times as the performers feel is appropriate; Irish dance music is isometric. (16 measures are known as a "step", with one 8 bar strain for a "right foot" and the second for the "left foot" of the step. Tunes that are not so evenly divided are called "crooked".) This makes for an eminently danceable music, and Irish dance has been widely exported abroad.
Traditional dances and tunes include reels (4/4), hornpipes (4/4 with swung eighth notes), and jigs (double and single jigs are in 6/8 time), as well as imported waltzes, mazurkas, polkas, and highlands or barn dances (a sort of Irish version of the Scottish strathspev). Jigs come in various other forms for dancing — the slip jig and hop jig are commonly written in 9/8 time, the slide in 12/8. (The dance the hop jig is no longer performed under the auspices of An Coimisiun.) The forms of jig danced in hardshoe are known as double or treble jigs (for the doubles/trebles performed with the tip of the hardshoe), and the jigs danced in ghillies/pomps/slippers are known as light jigs.
Polkas are a type of 2/4 tune mostly found in the Sliabh Luachra area, at the border of Cork and Kerry, in the south of Ireland. Another distinctive Munster rhythm is the Slide, like a fast single jig in 12/8 time. The main differences between these types of tunes are in the time signature, tempo, and rhythmic emphasis. It should be noted that, as an aural music form, Irish traditional music is rather artificially confined within time signatures, which are not really capable of conveying the particular emphasis for each type of tune. An easy demonstration of this is any attempt to notate a slow air on the musical stave. Similarly, attempts by classically trained musicians to play traditional music by reading the common transcriptions are almost unrecognizable - the transcriptions exist only as a kind of shorthand.
The concept of 'style' is of large importance to Irish traditional musicians. At the start of the last century, distinct variation in regional styles of performance existed. With increased communications and travel opportunities, regional styles have become more standardised, with soloists aiming now to create their own, unique, distinctive style, often hybrids of whatever other influences the musician has chosen to include within their style.
Due to the importance placed on the melody in Irish music, harmony should be kept simple (although, fitting with the melodic structure of most Irish tunes, this usually does not mean a "basic" I-IV-V chord progression), and instruments are played in strict unison, always following the leading player. True counterpoint is mostly unknown to traditional music, although a form of improvised "countermelody" is often used in the accompaniments of bouzouki and guitar players. Much of the local character of a style comes from the type of decoration that is added to a tune.
- When observing Irish dance, one sees that the dancer’s body is always straight and the steps are in a definite “up and down” movement, versus “side to side”. The music is played with the same feeling: up and down (vertical). The dance is light and happy, but controlled – same with the music.
The music of Italy ranges across a broad spectrum of opera and instrumental classical music and a body of popular music drawn from both native and imported sources. Music has traditionally been one of the cultural markers of Italian national and ethnic identity and holds an important position in society and in politics. Italian innovation in musical scales, harmony, notation, and theater enabled the development of opera in the late 16th century, and much of modern European classical music, such as the symphony and concerto.
Instrumental and vocal classical music is an iconic part of Italian identity, spanning experimental art music and international fusions to symphonic music and opera. Opera is integral to Italian musical culture, and has become a major segment of popular music. The Neapolitan song, canzone Napoletana, and the cantautori singer-songwriter traditions are also popular domestic styles that form an important part of the Italian music industry, alongside imported genres like jazz, rock and hip hop. Italian folk music is an important part of the country's musical heritage, and spans a diverse array of regional styles, instruments and dances.
- Italians stress beauty and emotion in their folk music. Italian music speaks from the heart and is not “real” unless it is played this way. However, when playing “set dance” music, such as the Tarantella, the beat is the most important thing to stress, so emotion is more difficult to express in this form of music.
At the Austrian Court in Vienna in the late 17th century (1698) ladies were conducted around the room to the tune of a 2 beat measure, which then became the 3/4 of the Nach Tanz (After Dance), upon which couples got into the position for the Weller and waltzed around the room with gliding steps as in an engraving of the Wirtschaft (Inn Festival) given for Peter the Great.
The peasants of Bavaria, Tyrol, and Styria began dancing a dance called Walzer, a dance for couples, around 1750. The Ländler, also known as the Schleifer, a country dance in 3/4 time, was popular in Bohemia, Austria, and Bavaria, and spread from the countryside to the suburbs of the city. While the eighteenth century upper classes continued to dance the minuet, bored noblemen slipped away to the balls of their servants.
- The Austrian Ländler is considered a high form of “dancing art” in Austria today. Played in ¾ time, the accents are strong on the first beat and slightly strong on the third beat creating an accented “1 - 3” feeling, or a “held back” effect.
Nordic folk dance music consists of various dance rhythms that do not originate in the Nordic countries but once were the fashion dances among the European nobility. With time these dances spread to common people, and in some cases they remained there long after the nobility had exchanged them for new fashionable dances. Many of these rhythms can also be found in other parts of Europe, and some of them have also been used in classical music.
The majority of the tunes are in minor keys. Traditionally, there were many tunes in keys that can not be classified as either minor or major (Modes). Traces of this still exist, but most of that disappeared when the accordion became popular. The majority of the dances that go with this music are partner dances, though exceptions do exist. Such exceptions include the minuets that are common in some parts of Finland and that can also be found in parts of Sweden, the solo-dance halling, generally considered typically Norwegian but also found in parts of Sweden, and the Finnish quadrille danced by several couples in formation. The most common dance rhythm is the polska. It is in 3/4 (three beats to the bar). In the most common polskas, the third beat is accentuated as well as the first. There are many local versions of the polska rhythm, and generally local variations of the accompanying dance correspond to these differences, though many of these local dances have disappeared. The schottische, also known as reinlender, polka and waltz are other common dance rhythms. In addition there are many other more uncommon dance rhythms (e.g. the anglais), despite a small number of surviving tunes.
The most typical instrument is the fiddle. In most cases normal violins are used, but there are exceptions such as the hardingfelle, used in parts of Norway, which has a set of sympathetic strings in addition to the normal four strings. Another unique instrument, the nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle), probably once existed in a large part of Europe, but survived until modern times only in Sweden. Other instruments that were used traditionally were simple clarinets, and later accordions. Contemporary Nordic traditional dance musicians might also use other less traditional instruments, as well as writing new tunes in the old style.
- Scandinavian waltzes are noticeably heavy on the first beat of each measure. The dancers have a “relaxed” appearance as they glide across the floor in their beautiful, weighty costumes and they dip to accent the first beat. Therefore, the music should be played with this in mind: play the waltzes in a linear, relaxed manor and give a heavy accent to the first beat of three. Also, as this is the “music of the folk”. Therefore, do not play the arpeggios legato or very staccato. Play them “clean” and unlabored.
The term klezmer comes from a combination of Hebrew words: kley, meaning "a useful or prepared instrument, tool, or utensil" and zemer, meaning "to make music"; leading to k'li zemer ?????? ?????, literally "vessels of song" = "musical instrument").
Originally, klezmer referred to musical instruments, and was later extended to refer to musicians themselves. It was not until the mid-to-late 20th Century that the word was used to identify a musical genre. Early 20th Century recordings and writings most often refer to the style as "Yiddish" music, although it is also sometimes called Freilech music (Yiddish, literally "Happy music").
Klezmer is easily identifiable by its characteristic expressive melodies, reminiscent of the human voice, complete with laughing and weeping. This is not a coincidence; the style is meant to imitate khazone and paraliturgical singing. A number of dreydlekh (a Yiddish word for musical ornaments), such as krekhts ('sobs') are used to produce this style.
Above all the musical styles which influenced the traditional Klezmer musicians, the Romanian influence seems to be the strongest and most enduring. Traditional Romanian music was heard, adopted and adapted by Klezmer musicians. This fact is reflected in the dance forms found throughout the entire surviving Klezmer music repertoire (e.g., Horas, Doinas, Sirbas and Bulgars, etc.).
- In the towns of Eastern Europe where Klezmer music was heard everywhere – at weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, and at other celebrations, some musicians were professional and some were self-taught. Musicians would gather for these “gigs” and, since so many could not read musical notation, all were all expected to play in the key of D minor. To this day, most Klezmer tunes are in D minor.
- One should always remember, when playing “music of the folk”, that this music was generally played by self-taught musicians. Therefore, elaborate chords (ex. the diminished chord), and elaborate harmonies and counterpoint are to be avoided. Play as though you are part of the dance itself. Play with your heart.
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
July 30, 2011
Meeting Notes
On July 10, we were lucky enough to have acclaimed accordionist – and friend -- Rita Davidson in the house. Rita drove down from New Jersey to play us a special concert of the music of composer, arranger and conductor Eugene Ettore, her former teacher.
Ettore died 26 years ago in a car accident, at age 64. To mark the 90th anniversary of his birth, and to celebrate his life and his work, Rita has been performing his music all over the country, using the vintage Sano accordion that she played in Ettore’s “Sano Symphony Orchestra” during the 1960s.
Learn more about Eugene Ettore at http://www.accordions.com/memorials/mem/ettore_eugene/
AAA Festival
We scheduled the July meeting to accommodate those who were planning to attend the annual American Accordionists’ Association Festival in Charleston, SC, in mid-July.
The festival was a tremendous success, Attendance was high, the weather cooperated (unlike here at home), the performers were excellent, and WMAS was well represented. Andre Fry took the US Virtuoso Championship and also took first place in the composition competition. Our president, Peter DiGiovanni, took second place in the composition competition.
WMAS members took part in competitions, worked at the registration desk and as room captains, participated in the festival orchestra conducted by Joan Cochran Sommers, and cheered for the many fine accordionists who came from all over the country to perform. Many thanks to all who participated and helped out! You can read more about the event and see photos in the next edition of the online newsletter Accordion USA: www.accordionusa.com. Check for it on or after August 1.
And please mark your calendars for next year’s AAA Festival: July 11 – 15, 2012, in Baltimore. It will take place four blocks from the Inner Harbor and will feature, as guest artist and guest conductor, Stas Venglevski. It should be great! Check the AAA website for periodic updates: www.ameraccord.com.
Coming Up
Please remember that we will not be meeting in August. But Joyce Palmer is hosting WMAS members at a potluck picnic and concert with Stas Venglevski at her Capitol Hill home on August 15. Please call Joyce at 202-543-3860 to obtain directions and let her know what dish you will be bringing.
Our next meeting, September 18, is our annual Oktoberfest, so polish up your polkas and waltzes, and sign up to play.
Our October 16 meeting will be a concert with guest artist Vladimir Mollov. Some of you have enjoyed Vladimir’s music at AAMS and AAA festivals but, if not, check him out at www.myspace.com/vmollov.
Please enjoy your summer, and keep those accordions out of the heat!
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July 30, 2011
Meeting Notes
On July 10, we were lucky enough to have acclaimed accordionist – and friend -- Rita Davidson in the house. Rita drove down from New Jersey to play us a special concert of the music of composer, arranger and conductor Eugene Ettore, her former teacher.
Ettore died 26 years ago in a car accident, at age 64. To mark the 90th anniversary of his birth, and to celebrate his life and his work, Rita has been performing his music all over the country, using the vintage Sano accordion that she played in Ettore’s “Sano Symphony Orchestra” during the 1960s.
Learn more about Eugene Ettore at http://www.accordions.com/memorials/mem/ettore_eugene/
AAA Festival
We scheduled the July meeting to accommodate those who were planning to attend the annual American Accordionists’ Association Festival in Charleston, SC, in mid-July.
The festival was a tremendous success, Attendance was high, the weather cooperated (unlike here at home), the performers were excellent, and WMAS was well represented. Andre Fry took the US Virtuoso Championship and also took first place in the composition competition. Our president, Peter DiGiovanni, took second place in the composition competition.
WMAS members took part in competitions, worked at the registration desk and as room captains, participated in the festival orchestra conducted by Joan Cochran Sommers, and cheered for the many fine accordionists who came from all over the country to perform. Many thanks to all who participated and helped out! You can read more about the event and see photos in the next edition of the online newsletter Accordion USA: www.accordionusa.com. Check for it on or after August 1.
And please mark your calendars for next year’s AAA Festival: July 11 – 15, 2012, in Baltimore. It will take place four blocks from the Inner Harbor and will feature, as guest artist and guest conductor, Stas Venglevski. It should be great! Check the AAA website for periodic updates: www.ameraccord.com.
Coming Up
Please remember that we will not be meeting in August. But Joyce Palmer is hosting WMAS members at a potluck picnic and concert with Stas Venglevski at her Capitol Hill home on August 15. Please call Joyce at 202-543-3860 to obtain directions and let her know what dish you will be bringing.
Our next meeting, September 18, is our annual Oktoberfest, so polish up your polkas and waltzes, and sign up to play.
Our October 16 meeting will be a concert with guest artist Vladimir Mollov. Some of you have enjoyed Vladimir’s music at AAMS and AAA festivals but, if not, check him out at www.myspace.com/vmollov.
Please enjoy your summer, and keep those accordions out of the heat!
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
September 28, 2011
Meeting Notes
Ein prosit! The WMAS Oktoberfest on September 18 was a great success, with close to 100 people enjoying the abundant music, dance, and food.
Special thanks go to dance instructor Herb Fredricksen for making this event extraordinary. Herb is the standard-setter for our area, and he and his dance group, Bairisch and Steierisch – in their beautiful, authentic costumes -- treated us to a set of captivating Bavarian dances. Then Herb taught a few dances that had everyone on their feet.
After a break for bratwurst, sauerkraut, potato salad, and other delicious German-style treats, Joan led the accordionists in a jam session of Austrian laendlers, waltzes, Bavarian schuplattlers, and other Oktoberfest favorites. Again the dancers took to the floor.
During another break, Herb and Joan described the music, dance, and costume traditions on display at the meeting. The large turnout is evidence that these beloved traditions will endure for many years to come.
We have many other people to thank for the successful event: Joan Grauman for organizing, Lee and Ron Paulson for providing decorations, and those who danced and shared music. The members of Bairisch and Steierisch not only performed for us, they also brought food to share, as did many of our members. Thanks, too, to all who offered their help in the kitchen and with setting up and taking down the decorations.
Next Meeting
The October WMAS meeting will take place at 4 pm on October 16 at the usual place: Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church. This will be our guest artist concert and will feature the young and very talented Bulgarian accordionist Vladimir Mollov. Don’t miss this special event!
In addition, Joan will be distributing music for the WMAS Holiday Concert scheduled for December 11. The first rehearsal will be three weeks later: Sunday, November 6, at 4 pm at the church. Please note that date on your calendar, along with the November 20 meeting (which includes a rehearsal in addition to Jim Vandelly's mini-concert) and the December 4 rehearsal, both also at 4 pm.
Nancy Leonard CD
Nancy Leonard has a new CD out: Nancy’s Romantic Mood Music. Please contact her at [email protected].
AAA Festival Coverage
Don’t miss Rita Davidson’s lovely article on the AAA Charleston festival, at http://www.accordionusa.com/default.aspx#art827,
and be sure to click on “link to 2011 photos” to see many more photos of the event.
Young Rhode Island Accordionist on NPR
Seventeen-year-old Danielle Renzi, who won several competitions in Hershey last summer, was featured recently on National Public Radio’s show From the Top. The show, including a video of her amazing performance, is archived at http://www.fromthetop.org/content/show-229-cedar-falls-iowa.
Guest Artists
If you have an idea for a guest artist concert, please contact Joan Grauman at [email protected] before mentioning it to the potential guest artist. We’d like to avoid getting people’s hopes up or wasting their time unnecessarily, as we are often booked more than a year in advance. Meanwhile, please check out our guest artist policy.
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WMAS NEWS UPDATE
November 6, 2011
Meeting Notes - Vladimir Mollov in Concert October 16
Vladimir Mollov could be the best thing yet for the image of the accordion in the United States. The gifted young musician demonstrated his virtuosity and the instrument’s versatility as he enchanted listeners with selections drawn from many countries and many centuries. When Vladimir’s wife, violinist Annie Moger, joined him for a portion of the concert, the effect was spellbinding.
Vladimir was born in Bulgaria in 1983 to a family of self-taught wedding musicians. He took up the accordion as a young child and quickly excelled. At age 13 he placed fourth in an international competition, working up to first place in later, important competitions.
After immigrating to the United States, Vladimir played for four years with the renowned Duquesne University Tamburitzans. Some of us have seen him perform at recent American Accordionists’ Association festivals and other venues. Annie, his frequent duet partner, is also a Tamburitzans alumna.
The October 16 program:
Storm by Richard Galliano (French, born 1950)
Aria by Jean-Baptiste Lully (French, 1632-1687)
Perpetual Motion by Paganini (Italian, 1782-1840)
Fantaisie by Andre Astier (French, born 1923)
Work in Progress by Vladimir Mollov
Omaggio ad Astor Piazzolla by Vladimir Zubitsky (Ukrainian, born 1953)
Waltz for Margaux by Richard Galliano (French, born 1950)
Ruchenitsa (Bulgarian folk dance in 7/16 time) by Vladimir Mollov
Concerto in D minor for Violin, Flute, and Harpsichord by Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678 -1741)
Hejre Kati by Jeno Hubay (Hungarian, 1858 –1937)
Copanitsa (Bulgarian folk dance in 11/8 time)
Variations on Russian tunes by Viktor Gridin (Russian, 1943-1997)
Following the concert proper, Vladimir performed Bulgarian folk dances with his brother on clarinet and a friend on flute. Joan Grauman and her friend Lorna danced to some of the pieces.
If you were unlucky enough to miss this concert, look for Vladimir and Annie on YouTube.
Thanks to Jim Vandelly for these photographs!
Next Month
The November meeting – at 4 pm on the 20th at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church – will feature a concert by our own Jim Vandelly followed by a rehearsal for the Holiday Concert (more below). Please put this date on your calendar and plan to join us. As always, we encourage you to bring refreshments to share, and to volunteer to help set up and clean up.
Holiday Orchestra Update from Joan Grauman
I handed out the music for this season’s Holiday Orchestra at our October WMAS meeting. If you were not at the meeting and would like to participate, please write to me at [email protected] and I will send the music to you. As always, we encourage everyone to participate in the Holiday Orchestra, which will perform in the WMAS Holiday Concert at 4 pm on Sunday, December 11. If the music seems difficult, just play the top notes in the chords. Also, please play only Part 1 of The Lonely Accordion (A and B), as I will be making a few changes to Part 2.
I look forward to seeing you at 4 pm on Sunday, November 6, for our first rehearsal!
iPad Sheet Music Stand for Strolling
If you were at the October 16 meeting, you probably noticed Clay Bobrowski and Dick Dangel’s great new invention. The two – both retired engineers -- have figured out a way to mount an iPad loaded with music directly onto an accordion without harming the instrument.
Dick is the one who came up with the idea. He mentioned it to Clay, and the two spent some time thinking about desirable features, such as music readability, ergonomics, non-destructive mountability, and aesthetics. The first version of the device was constructed from a coat hanger and cardboard. Clay designed the final product: an assembly that holds an iPad and is mounted, using Velcro, on the treble side of the accordion. The iPad is tilted back at a 55-degree angle and extends outward to the right of the grille. This particular combination of angle and position turns out to be very comfortable for viewing the music, according to the inventors. The entire device, including the iPad, weighs two pounds.
Dick had the task of scanning sheet music into the iPad -- more than 1,000 pages -- using basic Adobe software to annotate the music. Other programs can add page turning and scrolling capabilities, he noted.
Many WMAS members who saw the device asked how to buy one; however, they were looking at the only one in existence. Plans for wider distribution are underway, though. (Maybe we should hold a competition to find a catchy name for the device.)
In the left-hand photo below, Dick Dangel reads music from the device. At right, Clay Bobrowski and Dick Dangel outside Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church on October 16.
Accordionist Needed
Singer Robin Phillips is looking for an accordionist to accompany her. One who sings would be even better. Robin worked with Carmelo Pino for years. Please contact her at 703-288-9243.
Accordionists Needed for First Night Raleigh (NC)
I produce First Night Raleigh and am looking to hire some accordion players for our event New Year’s Eve. Let me know if you may be available/interested.
Terri Dollar
Program Director
Artsplosure/First Night® Raleigh/Arts Alive Raleigh
919.832.8699 X 802 (office)
919.832.0890 (fax)
[email protected]
***********************************************************************************************************************
November 6, 2011
Meeting Notes - Vladimir Mollov in Concert October 16
Vladimir Mollov could be the best thing yet for the image of the accordion in the United States. The gifted young musician demonstrated his virtuosity and the instrument’s versatility as he enchanted listeners with selections drawn from many countries and many centuries. When Vladimir’s wife, violinist Annie Moger, joined him for a portion of the concert, the effect was spellbinding.
Vladimir was born in Bulgaria in 1983 to a family of self-taught wedding musicians. He took up the accordion as a young child and quickly excelled. At age 13 he placed fourth in an international competition, working up to first place in later, important competitions.
After immigrating to the United States, Vladimir played for four years with the renowned Duquesne University Tamburitzans. Some of us have seen him perform at recent American Accordionists’ Association festivals and other venues. Annie, his frequent duet partner, is also a Tamburitzans alumna.
The October 16 program:
Storm by Richard Galliano (French, born 1950)
Aria by Jean-Baptiste Lully (French, 1632-1687)
Perpetual Motion by Paganini (Italian, 1782-1840)
Fantaisie by Andre Astier (French, born 1923)
Work in Progress by Vladimir Mollov
Omaggio ad Astor Piazzolla by Vladimir Zubitsky (Ukrainian, born 1953)
Waltz for Margaux by Richard Galliano (French, born 1950)
Ruchenitsa (Bulgarian folk dance in 7/16 time) by Vladimir Mollov
Concerto in D minor for Violin, Flute, and Harpsichord by Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678 -1741)
Hejre Kati by Jeno Hubay (Hungarian, 1858 –1937)
Copanitsa (Bulgarian folk dance in 11/8 time)
Variations on Russian tunes by Viktor Gridin (Russian, 1943-1997)
Following the concert proper, Vladimir performed Bulgarian folk dances with his brother on clarinet and a friend on flute. Joan Grauman and her friend Lorna danced to some of the pieces.
If you were unlucky enough to miss this concert, look for Vladimir and Annie on YouTube.
Thanks to Jim Vandelly for these photographs!
Next Month
The November meeting – at 4 pm on the 20th at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church – will feature a concert by our own Jim Vandelly followed by a rehearsal for the Holiday Concert (more below). Please put this date on your calendar and plan to join us. As always, we encourage you to bring refreshments to share, and to volunteer to help set up and clean up.
Holiday Orchestra Update from Joan Grauman
I handed out the music for this season’s Holiday Orchestra at our October WMAS meeting. If you were not at the meeting and would like to participate, please write to me at [email protected] and I will send the music to you. As always, we encourage everyone to participate in the Holiday Orchestra, which will perform in the WMAS Holiday Concert at 4 pm on Sunday, December 11. If the music seems difficult, just play the top notes in the chords. Also, please play only Part 1 of The Lonely Accordion (A and B), as I will be making a few changes to Part 2.
I look forward to seeing you at 4 pm on Sunday, November 6, for our first rehearsal!
iPad Sheet Music Stand for Strolling
If you were at the October 16 meeting, you probably noticed Clay Bobrowski and Dick Dangel’s great new invention. The two – both retired engineers -- have figured out a way to mount an iPad loaded with music directly onto an accordion without harming the instrument.
Dick is the one who came up with the idea. He mentioned it to Clay, and the two spent some time thinking about desirable features, such as music readability, ergonomics, non-destructive mountability, and aesthetics. The first version of the device was constructed from a coat hanger and cardboard. Clay designed the final product: an assembly that holds an iPad and is mounted, using Velcro, on the treble side of the accordion. The iPad is tilted back at a 55-degree angle and extends outward to the right of the grille. This particular combination of angle and position turns out to be very comfortable for viewing the music, according to the inventors. The entire device, including the iPad, weighs two pounds.
Dick had the task of scanning sheet music into the iPad -- more than 1,000 pages -- using basic Adobe software to annotate the music. Other programs can add page turning and scrolling capabilities, he noted.
Many WMAS members who saw the device asked how to buy one; however, they were looking at the only one in existence. Plans for wider distribution are underway, though. (Maybe we should hold a competition to find a catchy name for the device.)
In the left-hand photo below, Dick Dangel reads music from the device. At right, Clay Bobrowski and Dick Dangel outside Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church on October 16.
Accordionist Needed
Singer Robin Phillips is looking for an accordionist to accompany her. One who sings would be even better. Robin worked with Carmelo Pino for years. Please contact her at 703-288-9243.
Accordionists Needed for First Night Raleigh (NC)
I produce First Night Raleigh and am looking to hire some accordion players for our event New Year’s Eve. Let me know if you may be available/interested.
Terri Dollar
Program Director
Artsplosure/First Night® Raleigh/Arts Alive Raleigh
919.832.8699 X 802 (office)
919.832.0890 (fax)
[email protected]
***********************************************************************************************************************
WMAS NEWS UPDATE
November 30, 2011
Meeting Notes
As has become our custom over the past several years, WMAS celebrated the advent of the holiday season with a concert by Jim Vandelly during our November meeting. We were lucky the church allowed us to use the sanctuary for this event on the 20th, as they had set up a flea market in the community hall. It is always a treat to hear Jim, and he gave us our favorites, including Russian folk songs and his gorgeous medley built around “Amazing Grace.”
Joanna and Stanley Darrow paid us a surprise visit, and this was fitting because Jim has studied with them and usually plays at the festivals they organize most years in the late winter.
Some of Jim’s comments during his concert:
Holiday Concert
Joan Grauman reminded everyone of the holiday concert and potluck on Sunday, December 11, and of the orchestra rehearsal following Jim’s November 20 performance.
Only a few people have signed up so far to play a solo (or duo, etc.) in the holiday concert, so please reply to this email as soon as possible if you would like to participate. [Dec. 1 update: We now have a full program.]
The next orchestra rehearsals are at 4 pm on Sunday, December 4, and at 2 pm on December 11, just before the concert. These rehearsals are obligatory for those who plan to play with the orchestra.
Please also let us know what you plan to bring to the potluck. Main dishes are especially welcome. We will also need help in setting up – and, of course, in cleaning up afterwards.
Nonmembers will be asked for a $7 donation at the door, so if you haven’t renewed or joined, December 11 will be a good time to do that.
Potomac Ensemble Performance December 3
Joan invited everyone to a performance by her Potomac Accordion Ensemble at Dublin Roasters in Frederick between 2 and 4 pm on Saturday, December 3.
News on Merv Conn
Mara announced that she and Jeff Krulik, the author of a film documentary on Merv Conn, had visited Merv at Holy Cross Hospital on November 13 and then at Casey House hospice in Rockville on November 19. Sadly, Merv’s prostate cancer seems to have gotten the better of him, and the doctors are now treating him only for pain. However, he improved after arriving at the hospice and was lucid enough to criticize – quite vehemently -- the music that his visitors attempted to make. He even seemed to be trying to get out of bed and leave the room. Merv’s family had brought a little, old 12-bass accordion to the hospice, and they urged Mara to play it to entertain Merv. Against her better judgment she tried some Christmas songs on it, as the visitors sang along. (The presence in the room of Merv’s son and daughter, one of his friends from the Masons, and another who brought his guitar, plus a hospice volunteer who provided hand massages to any taker, added to the circus atmosphere.) Mara had printed out the words to “You Made Me Love You,” Merv’s theme song, so the group sang that and also “Love Me Tender,” as Jeff called out the words, reading them from his SmartPhone. Ever the teacher, Merv directed the singers to repeat certain lines before he finally declared himself satisfied with the renditions. Good old Merv. We will miss him at this year’s holiday concert.
UPDATE: As of November 30 Merv was in the hospital but expected to be transferred to a nursing home. Watch this space for more information.
Click here for photos of the 90th birthday party WMAS threw for Merv in February 2010.
Accordionist Needed
Singer Robin Phillips is looking for an accordionist to accompany her. One who sings would be even better. Robin worked with Carmelo Pino for years. Please contact her at 703-288-9243.
Accordionists Needed for First Night Raleigh (NC)
I produce First Night Raleigh and am looking to hire some accordion players for our event New Year’s Eve. Let me know if you may be available/interested.
Terri Dollar
Program Director
Artsplosure/First Night® Raleigh/Arts Alive Raleigh
919.832.8699 X 802 (office)
919.832.0890 (fax)
[email protected]
*******************************************************************************************************************
November 30, 2011
Meeting Notes
As has become our custom over the past several years, WMAS celebrated the advent of the holiday season with a concert by Jim Vandelly during our November meeting. We were lucky the church allowed us to use the sanctuary for this event on the 20th, as they had set up a flea market in the community hall. It is always a treat to hear Jim, and he gave us our favorites, including Russian folk songs and his gorgeous medley built around “Amazing Grace.”
Joanna and Stanley Darrow paid us a surprise visit, and this was fitting because Jim has studied with them and usually plays at the festivals they organize most years in the late winter.
Some of Jim’s comments during his concert:
- Play with your accordion and make up songs, starting with a riff and playing variations on that riff.
- Even seasoned performers can always learn something new.
- Resist the urge to play so fast and furiously that people can’t hear what you’re doing. Slow down when you’re playing more complicated runs.
- When you listen to records pay attention to the bass and chord progressions. Then try to imitate them.
- Use the bellows shake not to show off but to enhance a song. For example, Jim uses it to imitate the sound of the balalaika on Russian songs.
Holiday Concert
Joan Grauman reminded everyone of the holiday concert and potluck on Sunday, December 11, and of the orchestra rehearsal following Jim’s November 20 performance.
Only a few people have signed up so far to play a solo (or duo, etc.) in the holiday concert, so please reply to this email as soon as possible if you would like to participate. [Dec. 1 update: We now have a full program.]
The next orchestra rehearsals are at 4 pm on Sunday, December 4, and at 2 pm on December 11, just before the concert. These rehearsals are obligatory for those who plan to play with the orchestra.
Please also let us know what you plan to bring to the potluck. Main dishes are especially welcome. We will also need help in setting up – and, of course, in cleaning up afterwards.
Nonmembers will be asked for a $7 donation at the door, so if you haven’t renewed or joined, December 11 will be a good time to do that.
Potomac Ensemble Performance December 3
Joan invited everyone to a performance by her Potomac Accordion Ensemble at Dublin Roasters in Frederick between 2 and 4 pm on Saturday, December 3.
News on Merv Conn
Mara announced that she and Jeff Krulik, the author of a film documentary on Merv Conn, had visited Merv at Holy Cross Hospital on November 13 and then at Casey House hospice in Rockville on November 19. Sadly, Merv’s prostate cancer seems to have gotten the better of him, and the doctors are now treating him only for pain. However, he improved after arriving at the hospice and was lucid enough to criticize – quite vehemently -- the music that his visitors attempted to make. He even seemed to be trying to get out of bed and leave the room. Merv’s family had brought a little, old 12-bass accordion to the hospice, and they urged Mara to play it to entertain Merv. Against her better judgment she tried some Christmas songs on it, as the visitors sang along. (The presence in the room of Merv’s son and daughter, one of his friends from the Masons, and another who brought his guitar, plus a hospice volunteer who provided hand massages to any taker, added to the circus atmosphere.) Mara had printed out the words to “You Made Me Love You,” Merv’s theme song, so the group sang that and also “Love Me Tender,” as Jeff called out the words, reading them from his SmartPhone. Ever the teacher, Merv directed the singers to repeat certain lines before he finally declared himself satisfied with the renditions. Good old Merv. We will miss him at this year’s holiday concert.
UPDATE: As of November 30 Merv was in the hospital but expected to be transferred to a nursing home. Watch this space for more information.
Click here for photos of the 90th birthday party WMAS threw for Merv in February 2010.
Accordionist Needed
Singer Robin Phillips is looking for an accordionist to accompany her. One who sings would be even better. Robin worked with Carmelo Pino for years. Please contact her at 703-288-9243.
Accordionists Needed for First Night Raleigh (NC)
I produce First Night Raleigh and am looking to hire some accordion players for our event New Year’s Eve. Let me know if you may be available/interested.
Terri Dollar
Program Director
Artsplosure/First Night® Raleigh/Arts Alive Raleigh
919.832.8699 X 802 (office)
919.832.0890 (fax)
[email protected]
*******************************************************************************************************************
WMAS NEWS UPDATE
December 28, 2011
Notes on the Holiday Concert
Experts agree: our 2011 Holiday Concert (on December 11) was our best ever. People commented on the humor, the variety, the warmth, the kids – and, of course, the great music. The buffet tables nearly groaned under the weight of all the platters of food, and after dinner a number of people voted with their feet: they got up and danced. What more could one ask!
Thanks a million to everyone who played, emcee’d, conducted, brought dishes, sat in the audience, sang, danced, and -- especially -- helped out in the kitchen, with the decorations, on the setup and cleanup, at the door, with the program, and with all the other tasks that went into making the event the delight that it was. We are all grateful to you.
January Meeting
Please note: the next WMAS meeting will be January 22 (at 4 pm at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church, as usual). We announced the wrong date at the concert and wanted to make sure you marked your new calendars correctly.
The agenda for the meeting will include approving the slate of officers for 2012. Peter DiGiovanni, Joan Grauman, and Mara Cherkasky are willing to continue for another year as, respectively, president, vice-president, and secretary/treasurer. If you would like to a chance to run for one of these offices, please let us know so we can put out the word, and please be sure to show up at the January 22 meeting for the vote.
After the business portion of the meeting, Joan will present a workshop on playing duets. Please bring your accordions, and please print out the attached music and practice it in preparation for the workshop.
Following the workshop we will have a play-along/jam session of snow and winter songs.
Time to Renew!
The January meeting will be a perfect time to renew your membership for 2012 if you have not already done so. We accept checks and cash: $20 for individual memberships and $30 for family/household memberships. We will not be mailing membership cards, but will have them for you at meetings. Please look for your card in the nametag box.
Merv Conn RIP
As you know, our friend Merv Conn died on Dec. 20. We have created a tribute page on our website, so please send us your thoughts or stories about Merv and we will post them on this site. Thanks! The Washington Post obituary and an article Rita Davidson put together are also posted there.
Accordion Stories on the Radio
If you missed this Jan. 9 NPR story about Italy’s accordion industry, you can listen to it online:
http://www.npr.org/2012/01/09/144809351/italys-accordion-industry-tiny-and-thriving?sc=emaf
And then there was this one on NPR on Jan. 10 about how an accordion saved a family from the Nazis:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2012/01/10/144913391/pianist-alexis-weissenberg-dies-at-82
An Upcoming Radio Show
Dominic Karcic writes: Just wanted to share the information that Ray Oreggia and I will be part of a special radio tribute to accordionist Pete Spagnoli on the “Joe Farda American-Italian Music Hall Radio Hour” (93.5FM) at 2 pm on Sunday, January 22.
For people outside the listening area the show is available on the internet at www.wvipfm.com. There is a possibility that the show might not only be audible but also viewed lived on the site. (Please check out the site ahead of time in order to see if you have the correct software to access the program.)
On the program we will be discussing Pete Spagnoli’s life and career, and listening to several of his recordings with the Valtaro Musette Orchestra and also his own live performances.
Upcoming Events
The Rodger French Trio
Caboose Cafe
Saturday, January 21st; 6:30 - 8:30 PM
2419 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA (in Del Rey)
Nice place, good food, no cover charge. Come by if you can.
* * * * *
Mike Surratt and the Continentals
Saturday, January 14, 8 pm-midnight - Blob's Park - Jessup, MD – www.blobspark.net or 410-799-7130
Sunday, January 29, 4-8 pm - Blob's Park - Jessup, MD – www.blobspark.net or 410-799-7130
* * * * *
Long Island Accordion Alliance
Dominic Karcic writes: If you are ever coming up north to the New York area try to plan your trip for the beginning of the month.
Our accordion club - Long Island Accordion Alliance (LIAA) - usually meets the first Tuesday of every month. We’d love to have all the WMAS members join us!
The next meeting will take place Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at
La Villini Restaurant, 288 Larkfield Road, East Northport, NY 11731, 631-261-6344, http://www.la-villini.com/.
February’s session will feature guest artist Emilio Magnotta. If you missed Emilio’s performance last year, make sure you don’t miss him this time. You will be impressed with his great playing.
If you play the accordion, please bring your instrument and play a “song or two.” This is open to anybody who plays the accordion no matter what your level of capability (beginner, intermediate, amateur, or professional). Everyone is welcome to participate!
Please see a recent article about the alliance at:
http://northport.patch.com/articles/video-east-northports-accordion-revival
People who love to just listen to accordion music are most cordially invited to attend. Come join us! It is a fun evening. Bring your friends.
So, come on down! Have a great meal, enjoy the music and have some fun! Reservations are recommended: 631-261 6344
You can also e-mail your reservation to Frank Catania at: [email protected]
More information at [email protected] .
Happy New Year! See you on January 22!
Accordionist Needed
Singer Robin Phillips is looking for an accordionist to accompany her. One who sings would be even better. Robin worked with Carmelo Pino for years. Please contact her at 703-288-9243.
Accordionists Needed for First Night Raleigh (NC)
I produce First Night Raleigh and am looking to hire some accordion players for our event New Year’s Eve. Let me know if you may be available/interested.
Terri Dollar
Program Director
Artsplosure/First Night® Raleigh/Arts Alive Raleigh
919.832.8699 X 802 (office)
919.832.0890 (fax)
[email protected]
December 28, 2011
Notes on the Holiday Concert
Experts agree: our 2011 Holiday Concert (on December 11) was our best ever. People commented on the humor, the variety, the warmth, the kids – and, of course, the great music. The buffet tables nearly groaned under the weight of all the platters of food, and after dinner a number of people voted with their feet: they got up and danced. What more could one ask!
Thanks a million to everyone who played, emcee’d, conducted, brought dishes, sat in the audience, sang, danced, and -- especially -- helped out in the kitchen, with the decorations, on the setup and cleanup, at the door, with the program, and with all the other tasks that went into making the event the delight that it was. We are all grateful to you.
January Meeting
Please note: the next WMAS meeting will be January 22 (at 4 pm at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church, as usual). We announced the wrong date at the concert and wanted to make sure you marked your new calendars correctly.
The agenda for the meeting will include approving the slate of officers for 2012. Peter DiGiovanni, Joan Grauman, and Mara Cherkasky are willing to continue for another year as, respectively, president, vice-president, and secretary/treasurer. If you would like to a chance to run for one of these offices, please let us know so we can put out the word, and please be sure to show up at the January 22 meeting for the vote.
After the business portion of the meeting, Joan will present a workshop on playing duets. Please bring your accordions, and please print out the attached music and practice it in preparation for the workshop.
Following the workshop we will have a play-along/jam session of snow and winter songs.
Time to Renew!
The January meeting will be a perfect time to renew your membership for 2012 if you have not already done so. We accept checks and cash: $20 for individual memberships and $30 for family/household memberships. We will not be mailing membership cards, but will have them for you at meetings. Please look for your card in the nametag box.
Merv Conn RIP
As you know, our friend Merv Conn died on Dec. 20. We have created a tribute page on our website, so please send us your thoughts or stories about Merv and we will post them on this site. Thanks! The Washington Post obituary and an article Rita Davidson put together are also posted there.
Accordion Stories on the Radio
If you missed this Jan. 9 NPR story about Italy’s accordion industry, you can listen to it online:
http://www.npr.org/2012/01/09/144809351/italys-accordion-industry-tiny-and-thriving?sc=emaf
And then there was this one on NPR on Jan. 10 about how an accordion saved a family from the Nazis:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2012/01/10/144913391/pianist-alexis-weissenberg-dies-at-82
An Upcoming Radio Show
Dominic Karcic writes: Just wanted to share the information that Ray Oreggia and I will be part of a special radio tribute to accordionist Pete Spagnoli on the “Joe Farda American-Italian Music Hall Radio Hour” (93.5FM) at 2 pm on Sunday, January 22.
For people outside the listening area the show is available on the internet at www.wvipfm.com. There is a possibility that the show might not only be audible but also viewed lived on the site. (Please check out the site ahead of time in order to see if you have the correct software to access the program.)
On the program we will be discussing Pete Spagnoli’s life and career, and listening to several of his recordings with the Valtaro Musette Orchestra and also his own live performances.
Upcoming Events
The Rodger French Trio
Caboose Cafe
Saturday, January 21st; 6:30 - 8:30 PM
2419 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA (in Del Rey)
Nice place, good food, no cover charge. Come by if you can.
* * * * *
Mike Surratt and the Continentals
Saturday, January 14, 8 pm-midnight - Blob's Park - Jessup, MD – www.blobspark.net or 410-799-7130
Sunday, January 29, 4-8 pm - Blob's Park - Jessup, MD – www.blobspark.net or 410-799-7130
* * * * *
Long Island Accordion Alliance
Dominic Karcic writes: If you are ever coming up north to the New York area try to plan your trip for the beginning of the month.
Our accordion club - Long Island Accordion Alliance (LIAA) - usually meets the first Tuesday of every month. We’d love to have all the WMAS members join us!
The next meeting will take place Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at
La Villini Restaurant, 288 Larkfield Road, East Northport, NY 11731, 631-261-6344, http://www.la-villini.com/.
February’s session will feature guest artist Emilio Magnotta. If you missed Emilio’s performance last year, make sure you don’t miss him this time. You will be impressed with his great playing.
If you play the accordion, please bring your instrument and play a “song or two.” This is open to anybody who plays the accordion no matter what your level of capability (beginner, intermediate, amateur, or professional). Everyone is welcome to participate!
Please see a recent article about the alliance at:
http://northport.patch.com/articles/video-east-northports-accordion-revival
People who love to just listen to accordion music are most cordially invited to attend. Come join us! It is a fun evening. Bring your friends.
So, come on down! Have a great meal, enjoy the music and have some fun! Reservations are recommended: 631-261 6344
You can also e-mail your reservation to Frank Catania at: [email protected]
More information at [email protected] .
Happy New Year! See you on January 22!
Accordionist Needed
Singer Robin Phillips is looking for an accordionist to accompany her. One who sings would be even better. Robin worked with Carmelo Pino for years. Please contact her at 703-288-9243.
Accordionists Needed for First Night Raleigh (NC)
I produce First Night Raleigh and am looking to hire some accordion players for our event New Year’s Eve. Let me know if you may be available/interested.
Terri Dollar
Program Director
Artsplosure/First Night® Raleigh/Arts Alive Raleigh
919.832.8699 X 802 (office)
919.832.0890 (fax)
[email protected]