If anyone is heading to Cornwall for holidays we meet every first Saturday of each month except January, from 2pm - 5/5.30pm. We meet at the Guides HQ in the grounds of Liskeard Community School and College which is situated next door to the police station and behind the Vetinary Surgery at Liskeard.
The next Club Meeting will take place on Saturday 5th August at 2pm prompt in the Guide Hall, Liskeard School and Community College Grounds.
The afternoon programme will be:
1. AGM
2. Playing together (bring along the music given at the July meeting)
3. Play-a-round 1
4. Refreshments and Raffle
5. Play-a-round 2 – Something Russian
6 Playing together – new music for this meeting to be placed in your folder.
Alexander Korbakov In Cornwall (SE Cornwall Accordion Club) - Jim McMullin
Alexander Korbakov, the virtuoso accordionist from St Petersburg, Russia began his 2006 UK tour by visiting our club for a Master Class and Concert.
He arrived in typical Cornish weather, blue skies and warm sunshine and at the meeting was greeted by a club member, Albert Ridgeley, who gave a welcome in Russian. Jim McMullin, the Club Chairman, then presented Alexander with a book of Cornish Folk Tunes called Racca 2 from the Club and also gave him a copy of his own composition “Korbakov In Cornwall”, a mixture of Cornish and Russian tunes. Jim then played it to everyone and Alexander seemed delighted.
Members of the Master class were from the SE Cornwall Accordion Club, the Kernow Kordions and the Atlantic Accordionaires. The music selected was “Pizzicato Polka” by Johanne Strauss II. Everyone had the music well in advance of the class so had almost “cracked it” by the time Alexander began. He spent his time showing us how to phrase the music, how to handle the dynamics and generally how to make the notes sound like music from Vienna.
After a buffet tea supplied by club members, Alexander began his hour-long concert. He devoted the first half entirely to classical pieces played on his new “professional” accordion. Everyone was spellbound. His pieces include Prelude and Fugue (G min) by J.S. Bach; Trisch Trasch Polka by J. Strauss; Ave Maria by G. Caccini; Winter from the Four Seasons by A. Vivaldi and The Sabre Dance by A Khachaturian.
After the classical pieces Alexander changed into his Russian costume and began with a stunning performance on his vintage Saratov concertina. All the pieces were pure Russian Folk tunes. He then went back to his Russian built “Jupiter” accordion and played, among others, The Steppe is All Around by V. Belov; Fiddle Faddle by L. Anderson; and Kalinka, a folk tune.
After a standing ovation he gave us his usual encore – The Flight of the Bumble Bee and we all left the meeting feeling really happy!
In the evening some of us went to a pub for a meal with Alexander and Mr & Mrs Sherman. Alexander likes Real Ale by the way! We waved them on their way at about 8.30pm and wished them well for the rest of their UK tour. – Jim.
John Leslies Folk/Accordion Week – St Audries Bay, Somerset
Saturday 2nd – Sat 9th September – This is an opportunity to have excellent, concentrated tuition at all levels of playing by John Leslie (Accordions of London) and his team with the option of playing folk and/or accordion music as you wish during the day and enjoy listening to Harry Hussey in the bar area or doing your own entertainment during the evening. The cost for this week is: Half board including tuition £255/week or £37/day; Self-catering from £270/week (excluding tuition fee); touring pitch just £17/day. Details: Mary Randle Tel: 01984 632515.
Eastbourne Autumn Accordion Festival and Winter Accordion Festival
I have been forwarded details of a relatively new Accordion Festival that takes place twice a year at Eastbourne. Fri 13th – Mon 16th October 2006 and Fri 16th – Mon 19th Feb 2007. Cost for each festival is £189 per person with a deposit of £69 pp. I have been informed that this is a very good accordion festival with plenty to do throughout the day and evening. Please see attached flyer for information.
OUR NEW BABY – Jim Clarke
After celebrating our 50th.Wedding Anniversary on Jan.28th. 2006 with a trip to Tenerife, we decided that we would like to have another baby in the house.
The conventional way could be out of the question, but of course there is always I.V.F. where it seems - according to the National Newspapers - possible at almost any age!
Anyway, we decided to adopt a baby, and the one we chose was born on 12th.Feb.2006. She was welcomed into our home when she was 8 weeks old.
Our new baby has beautiful brown eyes and a dark complexion ranging from light brown to very dark brown. Her origins lie in the Bradford district of Yorkshire in the valley of Aire, where her ancestors were hunters of most anything that run on four legs - especially otters.
Of course that’s all in the past, but I hope she has inherited strong swimming genes as it may come in useful living at Westward Ho! If I can train her she may be O.K. for the 2012 Olympics!
Like all youngsters she likes playing with her toys, and at present her favourite seems to be a small lamb with a squeak inside.
She’s quite musical too as she howls and wags her tail when Pat plays the accordion and hides when I get the trombone out.
Touch wood we have not had one bad night with her but we are quite knack………(whoops).. tired by the evenings!
Oh! I nearly forgot - we call her Molly -- Molly Clarke.
What do you do on a dull, drizzly Saturday in May? – Jim McMullin
Well, you go to Brixham and play your accordion in the Fish Market!
Some time ago Mark and I were invited to join the Cober Valley Accordion Band on their long journey to play at the Brixham Heritage Festival on Saturday 27th May.
The coach picked up Mark at Bodmin (an hour late due to the Bank Holiday traffic) and Barbara and I were picked up at the B&Q car park, Coypool at 11.45am.
We arrived in a damp and quite cool Brixham at 1 o’clock and by the time chairs were found and everyone set up we began playing at 1.45. Soon a large crowd gathered to hear, for the first time, an accordion band. They applauded everything and were left wanting more at 2.45 when we ended our first ‘spot’.
Mark, Barbara and I then had time to ‘do the town’ and get lunch. We found, on the recommendation of one of the spectators, a fish and chip restaurant run by a Pakistani family and so we went there. Our fish and chips were excellent, eaten overlooking the huge marina. When we had finished we were entertained by a team of Morris dancers from Oxford whose accordion players said they were itching to play in with us!
At 4.30 we were due to play the second half of our programme. We had to follow a very, very loud Rock Band and I think a sigh of relief went up when we started again.
The band was so popular that they have been invited to play next year and Mark and I have been asked to join them again!
The journey home was much easier as the fog had lifted and the holidaymakers must have completed their journeys. We were home by 7.30pm, but those from Helston still had another 3 hours to go. It was a long day for them as they left at 8am. - Jim
Insurance for Accordion – Brenda WebsterHave you got your accordion insured or thinking about it? I’ve always had my accordions insured under our Household Insurance as separate, named items, which worked out fine until I bought my Giulietti. When Chris telephoned the insurance company, (Abbey National General Insurance) to add it to the policy, he was told by a young lady after speaking to various underwriters in the company that we must be professionals to have musical instruments of this value. You all know new accordions don’t cost pennies. Anyway they decided there and then over the phone to not only not cover my new Giulietti but also cancel within 7 days the other accordions covered on the policy. Being a little shocked at their reaction and wondering what to do, I phoned a friend who is a professional musician with his own band etc. He told me not to worry and put me in touch with Brass Band Insurance Services (BBIS). The cost of insurance is just £1.05 per £100 cover and applies to any type of instrument except electronic or “pop” group instruments used in dance bands or “pop” groups of which a separate policy is available. This worked out a lot cheaper than what I had been paying, and covers my accordions for loss or damage by any accident or misfortune and the company will schedule the cost of (i) repair if an item is partially damaged or (ii) replacement as new if an item is totally lost or destroyed. This is covered anywhere in or in transit between the British Isles, Europe, Madeira, Canary Islands, Mediterranean Islands, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Turkey. It goes without saying that our previous insurers lost a long standing customer, their attitude made us look elsewhere for all insurance covers and guess what – we’ve saved ourselves some money as well! I know a couple of club members have asked for details of insurance for accordions and are now also covered by BBIS. The details if you are interested are:
Brass Band Insurance Services, Bryan James & Co. Ltd., 312 High Street, Harlington, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 5BT. Tel: 020-8759 0825.
Diary of Coming Events 200615th-22nd July Accordion Week, St Audries Bay, Somerset. Contact: Mary Randle, Tel: 01984 632515
5th Aug Club Meeting and AGM
2nd Sept Club Meeting
2nd-9th Sept John Leslie’s Accordion & Folk Autumn Break, St Audries Bay, Somerset -Contact: Mary Randle, Tel: 01984 632515 (incl. Tuition groups from absolute beginners to advance except for Folk Section).
7th Oct Club Meeting
Fri 13th – Mon 16th October 2006 – Eastbourne Autumn Accordion Festival
28th Oct – Club Social Evening at Pelynt with Harry Hussey
4th Nov Club Meeting
2nd – 6th Nov Accordion International Festival, Caister
2nd Dec Club Meeting Christmas Party
FOR SALE
WEST TONE THUNDER II BASS GUITAR
Excellent condition £200 or nearest offer
For more details contact:
Marianne Willcocks Tel: 01579 343538
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