Reporting back from the first two days of the festival. Boy, I'm glad I went. Of course, everyone was super friendly and welcoming, even to me who has yet to begin to learn how to play. I think people were amused that I don't play and still attended (I think I was the only one there who didn't play!). This was the first time I experienced concerts of ensembles of accordions, I didn't realize they could all play in unison and sound so wonderful.
Perhaps my favorite part of the festival was Kevin Friedrich's presentation of 20 accordions of different styles, from nearly 200 years old to a modern Titano from the World of Accordions Museum in Superior, Wisconsin. He even brought a 1940's pedestal accordion whose maker was sued by other manufacturers after claiming that traditional accordions would result in a hunch back. After explaining each accordion's history briefly, he proceeded to play a different piece on each one. Even a simple playing of Edelweiss on a 'flutter' accordion from the 1940s took on new life and I was hard pressed not to shed a tear listening. Kevin is from New Zealand where I understand he has an impressive collection of his own, and we were thrilled to have him demonstrate so many wonderful instruments, being a truly accomplished player capable of playing every type of accordion produced in the past 200 years.
I will be following up with some of the great performers as potential instructors in the near future, I found some just under an hour away I look forward to beginning my journey with. Another interesting tidbit, as one of my favorite questions I've asked so many I met, "When did you start to play?" It seems the average age was about 7. Although I met a couple that started at about age 4.5 years. Tomorrow I turn 60. And man, I have some catching up to do!! Those 120 bass buttons on my 75+ year old Excelsior sure look daunting....(gulp!).
