Our January Concert

Our January concert started with myself playing Cruising Down The River Medley which consisted of I Belong To Glasgow, Keep Right On To The End Of The Road and several more well known tunes. I continued with Whispering Hope, Black Mask Waltz, American Patrol and Red White And Blue. Our next player was Ann Parker playing Memories Are Made Of This, Snow Waltz, Frog Chorus and Beautiful Days. It was now time for our guest artist Helen Rich to take to the stage. Helen started her first half with Marcia. Helen then continued with the accordion favourite Bourrasque, followed by Hungarian Dance No4. Helen played the accordion standard Nola which was then followed by Happy Go Lucky Polka. Helen then played to a classical piece with Sonatina op36 no3. Her next pieces were Water of Time, Elsey Waltz, Nancy, Toby, Dancing Fingers, Valse Lyrique. As a break in the first half of her act, Helen changed from accordion to playing the violin, she played Border Spirit, Flowers of Edinburgh, Fanny Power and Merry Blacksmith. Helen then returned to the Accordion to play As Time Goes By, Pipetta, Cubanola, Isle Of Capri and Luci Ombre. After the break we started the second half off with Andrew Baker playing Living Doll, Spanish Eyes, Love Me Tender and Never On A Sunday. Our next player was Graham Driver playing Three Jolly Sheep Skins, Staten Island, Much Wenlock and Stop The Cavalry. We just had one more local player to fit in before the return of the guest artist. Our final local player was Sara Daly who played Emma and Jamie’s Wedding. Helen then returned to the stage with Immer Zunftig, this was followed by Suzette, Black Eyes and Neopolitan Serenade. The music continued with Flashing Fingers and Sonatina in G before Helen changed to her Midi Accordion. She then played a Set of Jigs (play the accordion acoustic only) , then Helen played with the midi and acoustic. She continued with Sicilian Serenade, Fascination, a Frank Morocco Arrangement of Piomce, a Frosini Rhumba by the name of Golden Slippers, Fairy Dance, Soldiers Joy, Two Guitars (a Russian Gypsy Melody) Chanson D’Amour and Gypsy Mood. This had been one great night of entertainment from Helen and such a wide variety of music styles too. We have to have her back again next year for sure.

David Batty

 

This Wednesday

This Wednesday we have our Local Players concert where our own players feature as our artists. This is always a great night of variety, fun and entertainment. If you are a player then please remember to bring your accordion and give us a tune. If you don’t play then we look forward to your support by being an ‘Audience’. I hope you can make it. The doors are open at 7.30 for 8pm. If you see someone you don’t normally talk to then please introduce yourself, you might make a new friend.

Accordion For Sale

Black Farfisa 120 bass Accordion, 6 Bass couplers, 8 Right hand couplers. The Accordion is Heavy but is a good quality model. The accordion comes without straps. This is for sale priced at £100. Contact David 01772 454328 or email david@accordionclub.co.uk

Weaver Valley Accordion Band

A Short Documentary has been created about the Weaver Valley Accordion Band who are based in Frodsham, Cheshire. The Band was established in 1982 by The Musical Director Ken Farran, The Band Practice once a week and perform at events throughout the year. The 7 minute documentary can be seen on Youtube at http://youtu.be/uzHpWg4cgy0

 

5 Accordions Stolen In Hertfordshire

Police are appealing for information after the musical instruments, which belong to an 80 year old man, were pinched from Orchard Drive between 2.30pm and 10.45pm on Wednesday 5th February. Thieves are thought to have broken into a conservatory at the back of the home and left through a side door with the stolen items. Two of the instruments were made by Hohner – a Musette and an Atlantic. One accordion was made by Scarlatti, while another was crafted by Casali Verona and the fifth made by Geraldo. Assistant Investigator Nina Garrard, from the Local Crime Unit in St Albans, said: “This burglary has left an elderly gentleman deprived of his much-loved musical instruments. “I’m keen to speak to anyone who knows anything about it. In particular, I would like to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area at the time, anyone who has seen these accordions since Wednesday or anyone who has been offered them for sale.” Anyone with information should contact police on the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

 

Accordion For Sale

Settimio Soprani Lido model (Black)120 Bass Accordion, 4 Voice Straight Tuned, 6 Bass and 13 Treble Couplers, also with Master wrist and chin coupler. Excellent Condition, Recent full overhaul Tuned and re-wax reed plates etc…Quality Instrument In original leather case. Interesting history of origin from new in 1950s/60s Priced £1,100 Ono Contact: Ann Parker Tel: 01772 864887 or 07740105641 Email: anncordion.parker@btinternet.com

Leyland Brass Band Concert

Leyland Brass Band present “World Class Entertaiment in Brass” starring the world renowned Richard Evans conducting – concert on Thursday 27th March 2014 the venue is St Mary’s Church, Penwortham. The concert starts at 8pm. Tickets can be purchased from the Penwortham Town Council Offices on 01772 750533 priced £7.00 – in aid of Mayor’s Charities Galloway’s and RNLI

Afternoon Music Hall

12th March – King Georges Hall, Blackburn – Alf Wright’s Afternoon Music Hall. Have a nostalgic trip down memory lane back to those good olde days with a Variety show packed with song, music & mirth! Tickets are £3.50 for more information contact King Georges Hall on 01254 582579

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Tuesday 29th April – 7.30pm—Preston Guild Hall Classical Music Goes To The Movies. Strauss’ the opening of Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001: A Space Odyssey), Mozart’s Concerto for Clarinet in A Major K622, second movement (Out of Africa), excerpts from Bizet’s Carmen (Babe, Flashdance, Meet the Parents), Hanson’s Symphony No.2, second movement (Alien), Tchaikovsky’s Waltz from Sleeping Beauty (Sleeping Beauty, A.I.), and Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance No.1, Op.39 (Austin Powers, A Clockwork Orange). Richard Kaufman conductor You know the moment at the cinema when you realise that you’ve heard that tune before – but you can’t quite put your finger on it? Well, tonight, legendary Hollywood maestro Richard Kaufman reveals all, in the sensational sound of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. You might think of the music of Elgar, Mozart, Strauss and Howard Hanson as the soundtracks to Austin Powers, Out of Africa, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Alien – but it all sounds just as fabulous when you hear it for real! Tickets £19 and £26. For More Information and to book tickets telephone 0844 844 7710

 

Silverdale Hoard at The Museum Of Lancashire

Until 7 December 2014: A collection of Viking silver that was buried for over 1,000 years will be on display at the Museum of Lancashire throughout 2014. Known as the Silverdale Hoard, the collection is made up of more than 200 items believed to date from around 900 AD. This makes it the third largest Viking silver hoard that has been found in the country so far. With coins, spectacular arm-rings, ingots and lots of fragments of chopped-up pieces – known as ‘hacksilver’ – the Silverdale Hoard provides a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Vikings in Lancashire. The hoard had been buried in a lead pouch discovered under a field in Silverdale by a local metal detectorist in September 2011. It has been in London for the last two years, going through the official processes required by law but has now returned to Lancashire. This temporary exhibition introduces the extraordinary collection of Viking silver in the state it was found. With generous support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, The Art Fund and the V&A Purchase Grant Fund as well as support from Lancaster City Council, the hoard has been purchased by Lancashire County Council’s Museum Service. The temporary exhibition has been supported by the Art Fund and The Headley Trust. There will be a full programme of events throughout the year linked to this exhibition. The Museum of Lancashire is on Stanley Street, Preston, PR1 4YP for more information telephone 01772 534 075

 

How It’s Made

Tuesday 25th February on Quest (Freeview Channel 38 Sky Channel 167) at 11:30pm. More everyday items are put under the microscope as we discover how they are produced, including accordions, pineapples and artificial joints.

 

Accordionist To Run The London Marathon

Sheffield accordionist Luke Carver Goss is taking part in the London Marathon on April 13 on behalf of South Yorkshire dementia charity Lost Chord. Luke aged 47, is one of the team of musicians who make regular visits to care homes and day centres, playing music to people living with dementia. Luke is a keen jogger and was delighted to be selected to represent Lost Chord and have the chance to boost their funds – he is yet to make a final decision on whether he’ll be running the course with his accordion. In an Interview with The Star Luke said “This will be the first time I have run a race like the marathon and it is hard work training,”