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Following the very
successful inaugural World Accordion Orchestra debut performance
at the Coupe Mondiale 2007 under the Musical Direction of Joan C.
Sommers, the magnificent staging of the CIA World Accordion Orchestra
II in Scotland in 2008 and the WAO III in Auckland, New Zealand,
we are delighted to announce that the 'CIA World Accordion Orchestra
IV' is to be held during the 2010 Coupe Mondiale in Varadin,
Croatia.
We would like to welcome you to this exciting International accordion
event and encourage your participation in this historic 'World Accordion
Orchestra IV'!
The members of the 'CIA World Accordion Orchestra IV' will again
include musicians from many different countries some of whom
are members of organized accordion orchestras invited to perform
during the schedule of the Coupe Mondiale. Other members are invited
professional individuals from throughout the world. Many of these
players hold offices in the Confédération Internationale
des Accordéonistes or serve in a great variety of positions
in the accordion organizations of their own countries as well as
delegates to the CIA World Congress held during the Coupe Mondiale.
Following CIA tradition, the President of the CIA will serve as
Concert Master, so the World Accordion Orchestra IV welcomes the
new CIA President Raymond Bodell to this position.
For more information about performing in the World Accordion Orchestra,
please fill in the submit form below, or contact:
Joan C. Sommers - e-mail: joansommers@kc.rr.com
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Participants are
required to attend two mandatory rehearsals in preparation for the
performance at the Gala Concert Closing Ceremony. Rehearsals held
at the Central High School Hall in Varadin are as follows:
- Mandatory Rehearsal: Friday, 22 October 2010 - 16:00
-18:00
- Mandatory Rehearsal: Saturday, 23 October 2010 - 13:00
-15:00
- Performance: Saturday, 23 October 2010 - Concert begins at
20:00
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- Iconosphere
(World Premiere Performance) by John Franceschina (10:41)
1. Prologue
2. Parados
3. Parabasis
4. Agon
5. Syzygy
6. Cordax
(Performed without pause)
Conductor: Joan Cochran Sommers
- Werziade
I by Fritz Dobler (6:26)
- Wither,
Wither Violet by Josip Matanoviæ and Saa Bastalec
(3:00)
An arrangement based on a Croatian Folk Song
Conductor: Slavko
Magdić
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Joan
C. Sommers
(USA)
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Slavko
Magdic
(Croatia)
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Joan C. Sommers (Founder - CIA World Accordion Orchestra)
was awarded the title of Professor Emerita upon her retirement from
the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music
(USA), where she established and taught the accordion degree programme
for forty years. She has arranged innumerable works for the accordion
orchestra over many years, often for the UMKC Accordion Orchestra
which, under her direction, competed in and won more First Prizes
in Virtuoso Accordion Orchestra Competitions than any other similar
American group.
In both 1955 and 1956 she earned the right to represent the USA
in the Coupe Mondiale and, although she didnt win, it was
those experiences which opened her eyes to the tremendous opportunities
available to accordionists; perhaps it also fixed her life-long
interest in worldwide accordion activities. She has held positions
in several music organisations, including the Accordionists &
Teachers Guild International (ATG) and the Confédération
Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA IMC-UNESCO).
Professor Sommers continues to adjudicate, coach soloists, prepare
accordion orchestra arrangements, and conduct accordion orchestras
regularly.
Slavko
Magdić (Slovenia, Croatia) graduated in accordion and
conducting from the Gnessin Music Academy in Moscow. He took part
in several competitions for accordion and conducting and distinguished
himself with extraordinary results by winning the National Accordion
Competition in 1970, the Gnessin Conducting Competition in 1979
and the National Conducting Competition in 1983.
As a conductor of Symphony Orchestras, he has conducted some of
the best national symphony orchestras including The Zagreb Philharmonic,
The Belgrade Philharmonic and The Symphony Orchestra of RTV Zagreb.
He has also worked as a teacher and guest conductor of different
accordion orchestras thereby working with many accordion students
in Slovenia and Croatia, helping to develop their accordion skills.
His students have received numberous prizes in National and International
competitions. He has served as a member of the International Jury
at the competitions in Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, England, and as
President of the Artistic Committee at the International competition
in Pula (Croatia) for several years. In addition to making many
transcriptions for solo accordion and accordion orchestras, he has
also worked to help commission new pieces for accordion and accordion
orchestras. In recognition of his pedagogical work in Slovenia,
he was awarded with the "Fran Gerbic" and "Dr. Roman
Klasinc" Awards. |
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Iconosphere
by John Franceschina
ICONOSPHERE is a six movement piece by John Franceschina. It is
composed for the World Accordion Orchestra IV and dedicated to
Joan Sommers who will conduct the World Premiere Performance on
the Grand Finale Concert of the Coupe Mondiale in Veradin,
Croatia on October 23, 2010. The American composer, John Franceschina,
is known throughout the world and has a long list of successful
compositions for both accordion solo and accordion orchestra.
Among his compositions for accordion solo are: Scaramouche (the
1976 Coupe Mondiale Test Piece). County Fair, Ainsi Suite, Conestoga.
The list of accordion orchestra compositions includes: A Mass
for Accordion Orchestra and Choir for the Vatican, Vathek (a suite
for accordion orchestra), Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra,
Passacaglia and Fugue, Kynaston, Oroonoko, The Time Machine, Macbeth
Fantasy, Caad Zan, and most recently, Journey to the Center
of the Earth, a 3 part music theatre play.
As written by the composer regarding ICONOSPHERE: the movements
are intended to be performed in order without pause (as occasionally
the end of one movement begins the next). The work is based on
the Thesmaphoriazusae of Aristophanes, an Old Comedy play that
suggested the structure of the music:
1. Prologue - sets out the dramatic (here, musical) ideas that
are to be developed;
2. Parados (or Parade) - announcing the entrance of the chorus
who bear witness to the ideas being developed;
3. Parabasisa - kind of scherzo allowing the author (composer)
the opportunity of ridiculing the ideas;
4. Agona - life-or-death moment of the dramatic idea;
5. Syzygy - the playing out of the dramatic idea (a musical
development section);
6. Cordax - the celebratory dance that ended every Greek Old
Comedy.
John Franceschina is not only a composer, arranger, musical director
and conductor but is also a well-known published author and playwright,
having a long list of successful books and plays. His symphonic
works have been heard at Carnegie Hall and performed by major
symphony orchestras around the world. He has composed for the
musical theatre in NY and on tour. His musical adaptations of
Spoon River Anthology and Puddnhead Wilson toured the United
States under the auspices of the National Shakespeare Company
following extended runs in NYC. He has collaborated with several
librettists and won numerous awards. His translations and adaptations
have been performed many times. John Franceschina has written
incidental music for several theatrical productions throughout
the USA . As a pianist/arranger, he has accompanied many of the
best known performers in the world. He has also served as conductor
and arranger for a number of off-Broadway shows.
His books have been widely published by various publishers, including
Oxford University Press, Hollowbrook, Garland, Greenwood, McFarland,
Routledge, and iUniverse.
Werziade
I by Fritz Dobler
Werziade I, although the World Premiere was in 1972, the history
of this piece already had its beginnings in 1961 at an International
Competition in Stuttgart, Germany. The youth accordion-orchestra
"Solitude" from Stuttgart-Weilimdorf with conductor
Heinz Oettinger competed in the category 'Excellence' and attained
1st Prize. The President of the Jury was Fritz Dobler.
As is the common procedure, the jury gives recommendations and
comments on the performance, so conductor Heinz Oettinger and
a member of the orchestra "Herbert Werz" came to the
jury desk and discussed the performance with Fritz Dobler. Mr.
Dobler gave some comments on the well performed parts of the performed
piece and as well some hints where they could strive to make it
better. At the end of the conversation Dobler asked Mr. Werz about
his motivation to come to the event and what his daily profession
was. Werz answered, that he was a hairdresser, and that in fact
he could do Dobler's haircut in a more advance professional way.
On the very same day he gave Fritz Dobler a haircut.
Since that time Fritz Dobler has been a regular customer at the
hair Salon Herbert WERZ. Both families (Dobler and Werz) became
friends and went out for dinner, played chess, made cycling tours
and even took big overseas journeys together such as to Kenya.
They had much fun sharing their common adventures.
During the 60's one of Dobler's comments to his wife was: "I've
decided to write a composition about this crazy hairdresser."
However, this was a task that entailed a lot of work. So in the
end, Dobler was not very comfortable with his promise and it only
ended up that year after year Herbert Werz would ask how the progress
was on his new composition, but without any result.
Years later, one day, Mrs. Dobler called Herbert Werz and told
him: "I believe the composition is going to be finished,
now we need a name for it." Dobler meant: "This
piece is only written for you, Mr.Werz. There is WERZ in it and
WERZ must be in the title." After endless propositions about
the name of the piece, the final decision came to WERZIADE. It
was the first of a series from four compositions (Werziade II
- 1982, Werziade III - 1987 and Werziade IV - 1990).
Fritz Dobler (born 1927), the current DHV President (German National
Accordion Organization) was the 8th CIA Coupe Mondale World Accordion
Championships Winner in 1954, and went on to distinguish himself
as one of the foremost accordion orchestra composers and conductors
in the world.
"Wither,
Wither Violet arranged by Josip Matanoviæ and
Saa Bastalec (right).
Wither, Wither Violet is a Croatian Folk Song from the Meðimurje
Region just north of Varadin. This piece for the World Accordion
Orchestra IV is arranged by Josip Matanoviæ and Saa
Bastalec.
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Important
details for all participants in the CIA World Accordion Orchestra
IV
On behalf of the Croatian Accordion Teachers Association (CATA)
(Hrvatsko Drutvo Harmonikakih Pedagoga - HDHP), the
sponsor of the 2010 Coupe Mondiale under the auspices of the Confédération
Internationale des Accordéonistes, we would like to welcome
you to this exciting international accordion event. Thank you
for your participation in the World Accordion Orchestra IV. This
is now the fourth time such an accordion orchestra representing
so many different countries has been organized at the Coupe Mondiale.
We are very proud to have you take part in it and we feel it will
be one of the most enjoyable experiences in your musical life.
The CIA World Accordion Orchestra IV will be conducted by two
renowned international conductors, Professors Joan C. Sommers
(USA) and Slavko Magdić (Croatia). They have written and
arranged music for accordion orchestras and both have served as
conductors of accordion orchestras over a long period of time.
It is a fortunate opportunity to have such experienced conductors
for the world orchestra.
The orchestra will perform three pieces: the World Premiere Performance
of "Iconosphere" by the American composer, John Franceschina,
"Werziade I" by the German composer, Fritz Dobler, and
Wither, Wither Violet, a Croatian Folk Song from the Meðimurje
Region just north of Varadin and arranged by Josip Matanoviæ
and Saa Bastalec.
These pieces have been selected very carefully. It will be possible
for this large orchestra to perform them well, both musically
and technically, providing each individual player prepares his
parts in a professional manner. This will allow the rehearsals
to be devoted to overall performance matters regarding balance
and interpretation details without spending needless minutes on
measures that should have been mastered long before these crucial
full rehearsals.
The two mandatory rehearsals will be held in the Central High
School Hall in Varadin and will probably begin at 3 p.m.
(set up) on Friday, 22 October and Saturday, 23 October. They
will last 2 hours each until 5 p.m. Any changes will be announced
and posted online as necessary.
The performance will take place on Saturday evening, October 23,
as part of the Grand Finale Concert. Any announcements regarding
rehearsal and performance times will be posted here on the WAO
IV information page.
Members are requested to be in their proper chair and ready to
play at those times. Seating charts will be available on which
you may find your name and placement. All members of the orchestra
must provide their own individual music and music stand. Please
put your name on all music, your accordion and your accordion
case; this will avert any misplacement or loss. Ladies, please
do not bring purses onstage during the performance; leave them
with a friend while you perform. Everyone, please see that your
mobile phones are turned off during both rehearsals and performance!
The concert dress will be black shoes, black trousers or skirts,
and black or white shirts or blouses. Gentlemen, please wear a
tie and black socks. Coats will not be required. There will be
photographs taken and much publicity surrounding this concert;
therefore, we will want the CIA World Accordion Orchestra IV to
look as professional as possible.
Your orchestra part is important whether it is numbered 1 or 7
and all players are equally responsible for the success of the
performance. You may practice with the suggested metronome markings
in mind but please remember that conductors may not always conduct
exactly like a metronome; players must always watch the conductor
and listen to all other players. Please use the correct switches/registers
as printed on the music; never use a lower octave than is indicated.
If you have a musette tuning or a particularly brightly tuned
instrument, please do not use a register or switch which emphasizes
that sound; try to blend your sound with those around you. The
musette sound will not be appropriate in any of the selections
being performed by the orchestra.
Some parts may have a divisi marking. If you have such a part
and have not been told whether to play upper or lower, please
check with your neighbor in the orchestra and decide between the
two of you which one will play upper and which will play lower.
Correct attention to dynamics and musical expression will be expected
of this professional group of invited musicians, but you should
bring a pencil to the rehearsal just in case you will need to
make notes.
If,
for any reason, you have been assigned a part but will not be
performing with the orchestra, you are urged to notify Joan Sommers
(joansommers@kc.rr.com)
or the director of your organized group if you are a member of
one. Obviously, there is a need for balance within the parts and
for the seating arrangements. If you have questions about the
music, the rehearsal or the concert, please do not hesitate to
speak with your conductor, or contact Joan Sommers at any time.
Professor Sommers has agreed to serve as the contact person representing
the Confédération.
Again,
thank you for making participation in the CIA World Accordion
Orchestra IV an important part of your musical life and of your
trip to Varadin, Croatia for the 2010 Coupe Mondiale. Remember
to stay informed about all events by checking this Coupe Mondiale
website.
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