Accordionist.Net

Stockport A/C Newsletter May/June 2010
Dec., 4, 2010

Rob Howard

Club Night Concert, May 19th

Rosemary Wright

Virtuoso accordionist

On Wednesday May 19th, 8pm, we have Rosemary Wright making a welcome return as our guest. Rosemary, who last played for us in 2005, is one of Britain’s finest and most accomplished accordionists. She was Principal of the British College of Accordionists, Leader of the BCA Orchestra, an All Britain Junior Champion (the first competitor to win using a free bass accordion), composes and arranges music, and teaches the accordion and several other instruments. These days Rosemary performs using two instruments, a Hohner Gola and a Brandoni musette accordion, considerably broadening her repertoire and style. Her most recent CD, Accordion Safari, amply demonstrates the point: A Swingin’ Safari; Accordeon Samba; Accordion Theme; Dancing Fingers; Elizabethan Serenade; Preludio; Jacqueline Waltz; Bourrasque; Chanson D’Amour; Tarantella Napoletana; Marcha Espanola; Tango-Etude No. 3; Maigret; Comet Valse; Ritual Fire Dance; The 6.20 Two-Step; Au Sommet Du Cervin; Sequidilla; Take Five; March, Strathspey & Reel; The Flying Scotsman. Admission is £5, and we are at Woodley Methodist Church, Chapel Street/A560 Hyde Road, Woodley, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 1ND (J25/M60). The SAC Band will do a short supporting spot..

David Vernon, from Edinburgh, made his SAC debut last month, and what a night it was – music and laughter in equal measures, and a real tonic! David’s pieces were interspersed with funny quips and jokes, and humour was also cleverly interwoven into his music, resulting in a most entertaining evening. David’s varied programme included Romagna Bella, Scottish/Irish Jigs/Reels, Firefly Waltz, El Capitain, Roulette Wheel, The Godfather Selection, Terminal 3, Jacqueline Waltz, Cuckoo Waltz, Jewish Set, Excelsior, The Dark Island, Americana, The Flying Scotsman, and as an encore, The Mason’s Apron/Boys of Bluehill/Harvest Home. His encore set was especially remarkable for the way in which he frequently switched the melody from treble to bass sides, back and forth, and with bewildering speed. Also contributing to the concert were the Stockport AC Band (MD Derek Stubbs), Betty Molloy/Chris Green, John Higham, Ray Peacock, and Brennan Wilson.

This year’s NAO UK Championships took place, April 23rd/25th, at The Metropole Hotel, Blackpool. Local entrants included the Tameside Junior Orchestra, now led by SAC members Rachel White & Sarah Hodge, who came 3rd in the Preparatory Orchestra section, and the Rainbow Northwest Group, who came 1st in the Preparatory Group section. Recent SAC recruit Tricia Marlborough entered the Elementary Solo, and though not placed, did very well considering it was her first attempt, and received encouraging remarks from the judges.

The festival ‘Accordions International 2010’ (“A total indulgence in accordions” - Malcolm Gee) takes place at Seacroft Holiday Village, Hemsby, Norfolk, November 12th/15th. The guest artistes include Pearl Fawcett-Adriano, Gianni Mirizzi (Italy), Gennaro Ruffolo (Italy), David Vernon & Dick Lee (Scotland), All Scotland Champion Wayne Robertson, Giancarlo Caporilli (Italy), Harry Hussey, Peter Ayers, Bert Santilly, and the accordion quintet Norvic Concordia. There’s concerts, workshops, dancing, a trade show, and much else. The organiser is Heather Smith (tel: 01482 805 387); email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it To book, telephone 01780 782 093 (Sceptre Productions, office hours). There’s always quite a few of us from SAC there, so if you’ve never been to a festival, you’ll be among friends!

An A to Z of the Accordion, Volume 4, presenting yet another galaxy of articles and biographies, was published one year ago, on May 6th, completing the series. Volume 4 costs £15 (UK, post free), from me at 42 Avondale Road, Edgeley, Stockport, Cheshire SK3 9NY. Special offer: the complete set, vols 1, 2, 3 & 4, for only £39. The 4 volumes have a combined total of 900+ articles/biographies and 700+ pictures – and that’s a lot of reading!!!!

Toralf Tollefsen - A 78s Compilation is the title of two modestly priced new CDs of recordings made in the 1930s, 40s and 50s by the legendary Toralf Tollefsen. Tommy Scruton has digitally re-mastered some old 78s, restoring them to their original sound quality. Tollefsen (1914-94), born in Norway, was one of the most revered accordionists of his era, especially in Britain, where he lived for many years. He performed regularly in variety theatres and on BBC radio in the 1930s, and as a pioneer of the free bass accordion later also performed as a classical soloist. His arrangements were regarded as the benchmark of progress for a generation of aspiring accordionists. In 1986 Tollefsen returned to England as chief guest artiste at the first Caister Accordion Festival, organised by Malcolm Gee. His final UK appearance was in 1988, in Huddersfield, and many of us from Stockport AC went to that memorable concert.

The CD tracks are: Volume One: Concert Waltz, Dizzy Accordion, Elvira, The Moose March, Hot Fingers, Playful Polka, Cuckoo Waltz, Black Mask Waltz, El Relicario, Invitation to the Waltz, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2; Volume Two: Jealousy, Accordion Impromptu, Fiddle Faddle, Shooting Star, Dance of the Comedians, Dance of the Hours, Hejra Kati, Promenade Rhythm, Carnival of Venice, Poet & Peasant Overture, Pizzicato Waltz, Tommerhugger Dance. A third Tollefsen 78s CD is in preparation. These CDs are available for a modest £8 + £1p/p each; from 21 Leamington Rd, Winton, Eccles, Manchester M30 8NE; tel (0161) 789 3799; email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

For sale: Galanti Super Dominator, musette tuned, cassotto, 15 treble, 6 bass couplers, good condition, £1395, tel John Curvis (0161) 442 6754, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

For sale: Allodi piano accordion - 72 bass, 5 treble couplers and 2 bass couplers (Rob: “I can email you a picture of this fine looking instrument”: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ); in excellent condition, completely overhauled 3 years ago; comes with a hard case plus a gig bag. Sell for £1,200 (negotiable). Tel Eva Kahan (0161) 720 6425; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

For sale: 2 accordions. 96 bass Baile Cavalier, colour - black, 7 treble, 2 bass couplers, with hard case; Gallotta, Ideal, colour – red, 72 bass, 5 treble, 3 bass couplers, with hard case; £250 for each; contact Kevin Munster (0161) 789 6152; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Looking for a first class professional photographer? I can recommend ‘Pixies in the Cellar’; tel Peter on (O161) 338 8150; website: www.pixiesinthecellar.co.uk

Accordion teachers: Tony Marchell (also guitar) - tel 0161 434 1933; Tommy Scruton - tel 0161 789 3799; Craig Bradley – 5-row button, piano accordion or piano, tel 0161 972 0248.

For all piano or button accordion/melodeon/concertina repairs (acoustic or electronic), restorations, tunings, MIDI conversions, etc, contact (Allostock, near Knutsford, Cheshire-based) Roy Whiteley on 01565 723 080; website: www.accordionmagic.com

I am playing the accordion for another version of Allo Allo, this time at the Hyde Festival Theatre, Corporation Street, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 1AB, May 13th/14th/15th, 7.30pm. If you want tickets, let me know ASAP.

Future 2010 SAC Club Night concerts for your calendars/diaries include The Kyiv Duo (July 14th), Jovan Rjnak (September 8th), and Deirdre Adamson (October 6th).

Okay, that’s about it for the moment. Have a good time till next time…

Rob Howard (0161) 480 8858; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it