Leyland Accordion Club - 14th July 1999
Hello, it's me again. No you have not just missed the club night it is this Wednesday, this newsletter being a bit early might have worried you but fear not, I have posted it out to arrive for weekend to remind you about the picnic on Sunday, this is only three days before the club night and I thought it better to post the newsletter a few days early to arrive before both of these. Firstly, last month's concert. Our July meeting started with Rebecca Postlewhite playing Indifference, Rebecca continued with Somewhere My Love and Bourrasque. Aileen Hindley followed Rebecca playing a selection of medleys including Take Me Back, Scotland the Brave, The Lass of Bon Accord, Ye Banks and Braes, I'll Be Your Sweetheart, Irish Eyes, After the Ball, Muckin' o' Geordies Byre, Irish Washer Woman, Donnybrook Bay and Rory O' More. This was Aileen Hindley's first visit to the club and I hope we can get her back again so we can enjoy some more of her playing. I was next, I started with one of my favourites Whispering Hope, building up to a crescendo with American Patrol and finishing with my new one Can't Help Falling In Love, sorry about the middle bit there, I was just building my part up in this write up. Linda Grant was our last player before our guest artist's first spot, Linda started with Corinne by Charles Camilera a famous Maltese Accordionist and composer, then she played an alpine polka called Pauline before finishing with March Strathspey o' Reel.
Tom Alexander
It was now time to welcome our guest artist Tom Alexander making his welcome return to the club. Tom opened with Happy Hours, continuing with Shetland Reels. Tom then explained that his next piece Oslo Waltz was inspired after hearing it the last time he was at Leyland when he heard me playing it, he was being nice to me because the reason he remembers it is because he was telling me where I was going wrong with it last year because I play a triplet with one finger going 19 to the dozen when I should play it with two fingers, I still have not corrected that since last year but don't tell him. Tom continued with two well known accordion pieces Monti's Czardas and Whistling Rufus. A change of pace followed with Morning has Broken which was followed by The Oilrigger, Tom said he was playing this for me because it was the tune that knocked me to second place in last years accordion competition. I then waved at him to tell him that the lad who beat me playing it was in the audience, Tom got Robert Thorne to stand up and take some applause. Robert did well with this tune, he bought a copy of Tom's 'Celebration' brochure the last time Tom was at Leyland and learned the tune in time for the competition and first prize. Tom continued with The March Hare, Highland Cathedral, the Under The Double Eagle. He finished his first half with Skye At Last and a Spanish Gypsy Dance Medley. After the break we started with Rebecca playing Triste Sourire which means Sad Smile followed by 12th Street Rag. I had arranged with Tom during the break to put Robert Thorne on next, Robert did not have an accordion with him but at Tom's suggestion Robert borrowed his Gola to play The Oilrigger which was mentioned earlier. The straps were far to big for Robert and they could not be altered because the accordion would be back in use shortly when Tom started his second half, I held the straps tight behind Roberts back while he played The Oilrigger on Toms Hohner Gola. Robert played well and was rewarded with a large cheer from the audience. I did find out later from Roberts father that, when they got home, Robert's mum was fast asleep in bed, but not for long! Once Robert had finished, we gave the Gola back to Tom to prepare for his second half while I played. Tom said keep them entertained until I am ready, I got through Goodbye Mursheen Durkin, Tavern in the Town and Now is the Hour, he still had not turned up so I played Sally. I was about to start another when Tom appeared and so I spared you all and announced Tom's second half. This started with a Scottish selection featuring his own compositions Bowies Boat - Pat McCann MD and Kilwaughter House. A popular piece last time as was Le Manege which Tom also wrote himself. Next was Dolannes Melody followed by the piece I have been working on, Pistonette, this is a very hard piece to play but I wanted something very difficult to aim for, the tune is easy but the technique required is something else. I recorded Tom playing this and I am learning this from the tape but don't hold your breath. I was then dragged up to play the bell and spoon for The Flying Scotsman with the instructions 'when I nod my head - you hit it' this was followed by a slow one in the form of Danny Boy. Tom's version of a Jimmy Shand Favourite Bluebell Polka was followed by Jacqueline Waltz. The next piece Snowtrain Shuffle sounded good on the night but since then I have been listening to the tape and I think it's brilliant, but there is too much going on in it for me to attempt to play it by ear, this is one I will be looking for the music for in the future. Tom then finished with Cuckoo Waltz but, after being informed that the exit was the other side of the audience to him he agreed to play another piece American Savoy Medley. It had been a great night and I received this comment from Tom via email a few days later. "The general standard of playing in the Club is improving all the time and I was particularly impressed with young Robert Thorne with his rendition of the Oilrigger! His father must be very proud of him and I'm sure he'll go far in any Championship he wants to enter. I really enjoyed playing at Leyland because I was playing the Gola in public for the first time and secondly because the audience were even more responsive than last year if that was possible!, Tom." I look forward to seeing you at the picnic this weekend and at the club night this Wednesday 11th August when we have yet again another great concert of accordion music. Why not treat your friends and family to some great entertainment and some great people by introducing them to us. See you there.
David Batty
Our Internet Website
Our Internet website has had 15036 visitors as at 4th August 1999, that's 666 visitors since last month. The reason for the low number is that it is only 22 days since I wrote the last newsletter on 12th July. I am writing this newsletter a week earlier than normal because of the picnic this weekend, I normally use the Sunday to get the newsletter started ready for posting on the Monday afternoon. I never spend more than one day on the newsletter otherwise I will start thinking about it and changing things, it gets done quickly because I just think of the next thing to write about and start typing without any idea how the piece is going to end. On the internet I found an interesting site for searching for (mainly) French produced or performed music (www.universelles.com), the site belongs to a french music seller who has scanned the first page of each of the pieces of music they are selling so you can download and print out the first page to see if you like the music. They have also put a recording of the piece being played along with the first page, you simply click on the music and the recording of it comes out of your speakers while the first page of the music you downloaded and printed out is in your hand, If you like the sound of the piece and the music looks playable then you can order the rest of it on the website. Try before you buy is a good way to buy music rather than simply ordering a piece from the title, this means that you can browse through the pieces listening to them being played until you find one you like, you then print off the first page of the music and, after learning the first page, you can go back on the website and order the full score. I hope this type of system is expanded in future, if so then this is one good reason to learn to read music. When Perth Accordion Club take photographs of their meeting they send the film off for developing, the developer then posts the finished prints back to the club. The developer also sends an email to the club telling them their unique ID reference for that roll of film, they then email this number to me, and using this, John in Australia and myself can view the prints over the Internet before they are posted to the club, they can then order any reprints or enlargements before getting the prints back. How we lived without the Internet I don't know.
80th Birthday Celebrations
I was asked to entertain for an 80th Birthday at a nursing home near Burnley. They asked me to play for half an hour because any longer would be too long for the audience. I went along for a 2pm start and did not finish after half an hour because they would not let me, I decided that after 55 minutes it was time to finish before I started repeating tunes. One person asked if the lady could have another birthday tomorrow so I could come back again. I promised them I will return next month to give them another concert. It was nice to share my playing with such an attentive audience and it is an experience I would advise others to try. You also get a cup of tea and if you are lucky a biscuit as well. Don't be put off if one of them starts crying though, it can happen and it is not a bad reflection on your playing. If you first provide your services free then whenever there is a birthday you could be called up and get paid £5 or £10 for turning up and playing. Homes like these have an entertainment budget and use it for such things, it can pay for some new music and the experience will do you a lot of good. Because you are not playing to a bunch of fellow players who can spot every mistake, you will probably find it easier to play at a nursing home than at the club. Make sure you know lots of tunes that they will know though, the best response comes from titles like Sally, I'll Be Your Sweetheart, Bull and Bush and other well known singalong tunes.
Accordion Rave
We are holding a picnic/accordion club event on Sunday 8th August 1999 in the orchard at Hollins Lane Farm, Hollins Lane, Leyland starting at 2pm. Directions from The Highfield are shown below. As a backup, I have arranged with The Highfield that if the weather is bad on the day we can have the use of the far end of the downstairs of the Pub. The start time is 2pm but there is no set finishing time, some people are staying in caravans overnight so there may be music quite late for some of us. I will not be calling the players out like I do on the club nights but instead I will leave it up to people to just get up and play when someone has finished. In order that the players get heard around the orchard I was going to provide a microphone and amplifier for the main player but came up with a better suggestion, I will be broadcasting the main player on FM so each one of you can tune your car radio or a portable in and adjust the volume in your area to your liking. I have not heard of this being done before at any event and I look forward to hearing the result. In tests to prove that this will work the sound quality was comparable with a FM radio station so I am quietly confident of it working well, I will tell you the frequency on the day. If you have anything accordion related for sale such as music, accordions, stands or anything else then bring it along and sell it, Ring me on my mobile number 07803 665403 if you get lost.
You can see it is easy to find though. See you there.
Thought for the day.
Q. How can you tell whether the accordionists seat is level?
A. He's dribbling out of both sides of his mouth.
Sheet Music Collection
One of our members George Griffiths from Cumbria has a large collection of sheet music from the wartime period. George is offering to help any members who have a requirement for a particular number from that period. If you need any music from this period and are struggling to find it ring George on 01539 625417 and mention Leyland Accordion Club
Leyland Accordion Club to Visit Wyre Club
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On Wednesday 18th August the Wyre accordion club have their monthly concert, this is always 1 week after the Leyland Concert. If you would like to visit the Wyre Accordion Club as a player or a listener then let me know and either we will travel in convoy on the 18th or I can give you directions if you want to find your own way there. The club is frequented by players you know such as Basil Berry, Chick Stephen, George Hicks and Myself. Why not join us on the 18th. David Batty |