Leyland Accordion Club, Leyland, Lancashire, England.

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Leyland Accordion Club - 17th September 2003

 

Our September Concert

Our September concert started with Colin Ensor playing More than you know, Getting Sentimental Over You and The Maigret Theme. Eddie Iddon was next to play with Man I Love and Return To Sorrento. After Gypsy Romance from John Higham, it was time for our guest artist Walter Perrie. Walter usually plays with Tom Cowing or Bruce, but this time he was playing solo. After a great warm up from our local players, Walter took to the stage and opened with a selection of Marches, My Homeland, I see Mull and Green Hills of Tyrol. After a short welcome from Walter, he continued the music with a set of Jigs which he called his Bonny Dundee selection. A set of Gaelic Walzes followed which included Leaving Barra, Auchterard and Fhear a’ Bhata. The Marches continued with Hens’ March to the Midden and Athole Highlanders. The style changed a bit with the next two pieces, these were the Ukrainian songs Beautiful Dark Eyes and Nut Brown Maiden, these tunes were arranged by Walter from an LP record of Soviet Army Ensemble which he found at a car boot sale. It was now time to move on to a few French pieces, starting with the French waltz Carte Postale and continuing with Fleur de Paris, La Mer, Sous les Ponts de Paris, the Piaf piece La Vie en Rose, Milord, Les Mots d’Amour and La Foule. Leading up to the break we moved back to the Scottish pieces next, starting with a March, Strathspey and Reel set in the form of Balachyle, Mackenzie Hay and The Brolum. To speed things up Walter then played a set of Reels: Circassian Circle, Bottom of the Punchbowl and Flowers of Edinburgh. To finish the first half we ended with My Love she’s but a Lassie Yet. After the break I played Can't Help Falling In Love, Sailors Hornpipe Medley and Whispering Hope. John Baranek then moved things more up market with his version of Blue Bells Of Scotland with Variations (I am good at variations, I don't always know what they are going to be but when they arrive they are a nice surprise for me as well as my audience!), Siboney and another piece which I missed the title of. Walter then returned to the stage for the second half of his perfomance. We had a fast start with a selection of Jigs including Hot Punch, Blackthorn Stick and Tam’s Hunting Horn. Things slowed down with a few waltzes - Westering Home, Leaving Lismore, Wild Mountain Thyme and My Mother. Walter then asked me to join him on the stage where we played Triste Sourire. I did notice that after I set the tempo to something sensible at the start, it wasn't long before we were racing along at a jaunty speed while I did my best to hang on! Walter then returned to the Traditional Scottish Reels next before slowing down a bit for Jaqueline Waltz. After playing a couple of pieces with John Higham, Walter continued with the Frosini accordion standard Bel Viso, Princess Valse, and the Frosini piece Coquette. After many requests during the break, his next piece was Figaro’s Aria by Rossiani which included a good amount of bellows shake. After listening to Walter Bellows shaking in Figaro’s Aria, his next set of reels seemed to be a way to unwind as he went through them with ease. Things slowed down quite considerably next with a set of slow air/march/reels:- Highland Cradle Song, Balmoral Highlanders, St. Annes, New High Level and Archie Menzies. After a rousing applause from the crowd, who had enjoyed a great variety of music and styles from Walter, he took to the stage once more to play us out with the Long Long Trail Medley. As is usual whenever Walter plays for us, he was inundated with people telling him how they enjoyed the performance. It had been a great night and one which will be repeated in a year or so when I get chance to book Walter again. Although some have to leave at 11pm, we finally closed the club and left about 11.45pm wishing we had half Walter's talent. David Batty

This Wednesday

This Wednesday we have a local players concert featuring a wealth of talent giving it their all during their ten minutes of fame. Accordionists please make sure that you don't forget your accordions. If you don't normally play at the club then why not give us a treat this month, you only have two local players nights before it's 2004! Those who don't play can also do their usual great job of supporting our players. Doors open at 7.30pm if you want to make sure that you get a good seat, the concert starts at 8pm and finishes at 11pm. I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday. David Batty

 

Our Website

Our internet website has had 61478 60859 visitors as at the 13th of October 2003, that’s 619 visitors since last month. The numbers should start rising now that the cold weather is starting to arrive. I have just made a major upgrade to our website this week but I don't have space to write about it here, look out for details in next months newsletter when it will be fully operational and helping us to promote the club and the accordion.

 

Norman Branelli

Norman Branelli, the husband of Gina Branelli who runs the Marsh Mill accordion shop Music World, died this week. Norman became ill on Thursday while he was in Italy with Gina at an accordion event. After purchasing tickets to return to England, they travelled back to Lancashire but Norman died in the car on the return journey. Norman and Gina have played at Leyland before (see picture below).
I recently asked Gina if they could play again but due to her NAO and foreign accordion committments, she was unable to give me a date when they could return for another guest artist spot. The funeral is at 12 noon on Thursday at Carlton Crematorium, Carlton, near Blackpool. Although some people will be at Bridlington Accordion Festival at that time, I am sure that their best wishes go to Gina and her family even if they can't make it to the funeral.

 

Norman Branelli

The next meeting of the Wyre Accordion Club will be on Wednesday the 22nd of October 2003, at Cleveleys. Telephone 01253 852648 for further details or directions. The club normally starts at 8pm, some people go home about 10pm but many of us stay to 11pm.

 

Pakefield Accordion Festival

The 3rd Pakefield International Accordion Festival, which took place from September 12th to 16th, was a great success with over 300 accordion enthusiasts attending the event. In the short time since this event first took place, it is now rapidly growing into a major accordion event in the UK. Presented by Accordion Profile magazine, the festival is organized by Co-Editor Heather Smith, who this year welcomed international artists Duo Paris-Moscou (France), Claude Thomain (France) and Giancarlo Caporilli (Italy) to perform there. Each received standing ovations after their performances, from the appreciative and enthusiastic audience. The appearance of Claude Thomain (France) was especially historic, as this was the first time he had ever performed in a foreign country. His compositions are very popular in England and to hear them played so beautifully by the composer was a rare experience for everyone. UK Artists who performed were Norvic Concordia, Charlie Watkins, David Lukins, Peter Ayers, Gary Blair, Bert Santilly, John Nixon and Heather Smith. Workshops took place during each day including Scottish Orchestra (Gary Blair), Jazz Group (Bert Santilly), Buskers Group (Johnny Coleclough), Elementary Orchestra (Peter Whiteley), Intermediate Orchestra (Brian Jenkins), Vintage Accordions (Heather Smith) and Big Band (John Nixon). Special workshops were presented by David Lukins (Latin American), MIDI (Peter Whiteley). In addition, daily “Free & Easy” sessions were organized by Adrienne Sharpe, as was the ‘Songs of Praise’.
The auction of accordions etc was presented by Frank Swindell and Johnny Coleclough. A masterclass was given by Domi & Roman (Duo Paris-Moscou), dance music was played by Adrienne Sharpe and Peter Whiteley and Scottish dance music was played by Gary Blair. After each concert (which took place in the Princes Showbar), late night jazz was played each evening in the Queen Vic bar, by David Lukins.
Excellent trade displays were presented by WEM (Charlie & June Watkins) and The Accordion Shop (Bev & Val Lovell). The weather was hot and sunny, which gave the people who weren’t participating in the workshops time to relax during the day in the lovely surroundings. Accordion music could be heard all around the holiday centre, with people playing outdoors or in their chalets with the doors wide open.
Next year’s event will take place from September 24th to 28th. For details email: heather@accordions.karoo.co.uk

Charity Concert

I was going to publicise a charity concert being held at Sheffield by Ray Burgeon but when the information arrived it was too late for our last newsletter. Unfortunately, the concert happened earlier this month, too early for this newsletter. I can however report that the concert MC was Johnny Coleclough, the show featured Harry Hussey, Justin Ryan, David Toulin, The Thameside Juniors, Ray Jones, George Syrett, The Burton Ensemble, Rachel and Andrew Heselwood, Rodney McNamarra, James Marshall and Jack Athey.

 

Jack Emblow and Tony Compton

This pair will be performing at Stockport Accordion Club on Tuesday October the 21st. The venue is The St. John Ambulance HQ, Edgeley Road, Cheadle Heath, Stockport. There is no room for supporting spots by local players, all the entertainment will be provided by Jack and Tony. The admission is £5 payable on the door.

 

Scottish Traditional Music Awards - Scotland

The first Scots Traditional Music Awards were held recently at the Queens Hall in Edinburgh to a packed audience. Special guests included Frank McAveety, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. The event included a variety of entertainment including Simon Thoumire (concertina) and Hands Up Fort Trad. Many awards were presented including: Best Scottish Dance Band (sponsored by the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs): Alasdair MacCuish and the Black Rose Ceilidh Band Best Club (sponsored by Foot Stompin’ Celtic Music): Shetland Accordion Club

 

The Bellows Buttons and Keys Club


I have checked that the next meeting of The Bellows Buttons And Keys Club is going ahead as normal on Tuesday, the 4th of November 2003, at The Royal British Legion, opposite the bus terminal at Cleveleys. The club starts at 8pm and continues until 11pm. Telephone 01253 822046 for further details.

 

Bridlington Accordion Festival


I have had a lot of concerned phone calls recently from our own and other club members because they have booked for the Bridlington Festival, but have not heard anything since posting their cheque in the post despite trying to get something for weeks. I reassured them that they should get a confirmation form in the post along with a map of Bridlington and details of their hotel etc. Last week I contacted the organiser Loretta Rolston to see why with only ten days to go, nobody seemed to have had any contact or confirmation from her. A few days ago she telephoned me to say that she was not sending anything out, instead she was ringing people telling them to just turn up at Bridington, find the Spa Complex and get their details from there. Some people ringing her for booking forms have not received them despite multiple requests. Emails sent asking for confirmation of bookings have not been receiving replies, one person reported to me that the phone was cut off about five times on different occasions when she did get through to the organiser. One person, frustrated at the difficulty of getting through on the phone, sent a recorded delivery letter asking for confirmation of her booking, the letter was returned unopened marked as 'not collected'. Many people have said to me that they are switching their support to Pakefield Festival next year so I have included a review of this years Pakefield festival in this newsletter.

 

Chester Accordion Club

The next meeting of Chester Accordion Club is on Tuesday the 28th of October at The Castrol Club, Chester Road, Whitby, Ellesmere Port. The guest artist for that night is Heather Smith who organises the Pakefield Accordion Festival. The night starts at 7.30pm, admission is £3. Telephone Lyn on 0151 339 9850.

 

Le Squeezebox programme

On Tuesday the 23rd September 2003 at 1.30pm, BBC Radio 4 are broadcasting a programme called Le Squeezebox. The aim of the programme is to show that although the vast majority of great accordion players are male, this is not always the case. The programme seeks to find some great women accordionists of our time.

 

Leyland Organ Club

Leyland Organ club are having guest player Nicholas Martin appearing on the 22nd of September, the concert starts at 7.45 at the Leyland And Farington Social Club, Derby Street, Leyland.

 

Chester Accordion Club

The next meeting of Chester Accordion Club is on Tuesday the 30th of September at The Castrol Club, Chester Road, Whitby, Ellesmere Port. The night starts at 7.30pm, admission is £2.50.
Telephone Lyn on 0151 339 9850 for further details.

 

 

 

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