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Enjoyable accordion duets (2 accordions only)

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TomBR

TomBR

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Inspired by Alans recent thread asking about accordion duet sheet music I thought it would be nice to have a thread for enjoyable recordings and videos of two accordions, preferably with no other instruments, midi fine.

I like this one of Christa Behnke and Pino do Modugno, for the music itself, for the obvious shared enjoyment, and for the contrast with most of her videos, (big glitzy venues, hundreds of people clapping along) - nice to see her enjoying a different sort of music making
 
Ive enjoyed Christa Behnke for quite a while! This video was made after she was a bit older and like all of us, started to slow down those flying fingers of hers and yet even at this stage, she shows flashes of speed here and there. :)

My contribution comes from a wonderful duet from Pauls part of the world (Netherlands). Toeac consist of two ladies on two Pigini instruments big enough to be Bayans (but I believe they have the standard bass converter note placement).

 
Accordion Duets were always popular in the 60s here in the US -- a nice lively one ---


And ---



Their both playing Pancordions with a dry musette that was always preferred here.

Jo Ann is still performing, but Myron has left us.
 
Great idea.

I was trying to find something I remembered - none of the combos from when I used to go to concerts at the royal academy seem to be on YouTube - so heres Andrea Aloisi and Simona Cenfi - its simple dance music which they go round playing professionally with a keyboard player and for me this is perfect in its own way: a mazurka, Zi Pirola.
 
Thanks, enjoyed the above links.
Very different (and diatonics but hey)
Belgian duo Naragonia
 
I enjoy the music of Accordeon Melancolique, an accordion duo from the Netherlands. Ive ordered a couple of their books, as well as CDs. They have a great selection of world music--all accordion duets:
http://www.acmel.nl/am/accordion/ame.htm (then click on Sheet Music link).
 
I have enjoyed everything posted so far and one small sign of a good thread is when you can get a few new people with low post counts to pop up out of nowhere and add their 2 cents to it! :)

A bit of very enjoyable baltic flavor was shown in this video.

 
Oh my goodness! I hadn't thought about Jo Ann Castle for years and Googled her after seeing Jim D's post. Wow. One of the first articles that comes up is quite unflattering. 300 pounds. Alcoholic. Walks with a cane and in relationships with men that are very scary criminals. There are a few pictures that corroborate the story but who really knows. It could be somebody with a bone to pick.

Hopefully it's not all true. She was just an incredible accordionist and then they moved her to piano on the show as Myron Floren took over most accordion duties.

She definitely is/was a talent.
 
How sad for Jo Ann Castle, it seems that she was destined to lead a troubled life. Myron Floren, on the other hand, he seems to have been able to keep both feet firmly planted and lived the american dream to about as well as anyone ever has.
 
JerryPH said:
Myron Floren, on the other hand, he seems to have been able to keep both feet firmly planted and lived the american dream to about as well as anyone ever has.
Click to expand...

I admire Myron Floren for his playing ability of course (dont we all?), but maybe even more so for the fact that he remained, by all accounts, a kind and down-to-earth guy throughout his career.

Like many celebrities, he would autograph and hand out small photo cards to fans. Only he had them made with the optimists creed printed on the back. That tells you something right there. (I bought one on eBay years ago, in fact!)
 
Let me add a few suggestions to the already long list:
The Sib duo has several videos on YouTube, e.g.
(They both play on Jupiter bayan.)
Then there is the Duo Jupiter with several videos, e.g.
(They both play on Jupiter bayan, but one is B system and one is C system.)
The Kyiv Duo:
(Also both on Jupiter bayan.)
And another Bayan duo...
And another...
And another... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHoaZFxC7gY
There are many of those.
Some mixed (1 accordion and 1 bayan): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6gwy86rsds

My wife and I have occasionally also played together, but we have only one recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4Lpt07wbmQ which is obviously not on par with all the professional duos.
 
JerryPH said:
...
My contribution comes from a wonderful duet from Pauls part of the world (Netherlands). Toeac consist of two ladies on two Pigini instruments big enough to be Bayans (but I believe they have the standard bass converter note placement)...
Click to expand...
Indeed, Toeac are very good. Initially one actually played the PA (Borsini) but then (just after finishing her study) switched to CBA. The other one used to play CBA on a Bugari instrument. They now both play on Pigini accordions that are C system (bass side is then also C system). These are real Pigini accordions, meaning with Italian reeds. Some Russian players use Pigini bodies with russian reeds (large multi-reed plates) in them.
 
The Myron Floren cards are available on amazon if anyone is interested. :)
https://www.amazon.com/Autographed-Optimist-Featured-Accordionist-Original/dp/B00PCO061M

debra said:
Indeed, Toeac are very good. Initially one actually played the PA (Borsini) but then (just after finishing her study) switched to CBA. The other one used to play CBA on a Bugari instrument. They now both play on Pigini accordions that are C system (bass side is then also C system). These are real Pigini accordions, meaning with Italian reeds. Some Russian players use Pigini bodies with russian reeds (large multi-reed plates) in them.
Click to expand...

All nice to know information. :)
Have you ever had the chance to meet or see them perform in person? They have many very good YouTube videos.
 
debra said:
My wife and I have occasionally also played together, but we have only one recording: which is obviously not on par with all the professional duos.
Click to expand...


Nice one Paul. Very enjoyable :tup:
 
I am waiting for someone to soon make a thread where we all play our own... I know I'd find it challenging, but who knows, I might convince myself... LOL!
 
JerryPH said:
...
debra said:
Indeed, Toeac are very good. ...
Click to expand...

All nice to know information. :)
Have you ever had the chance to meet or see them perform in person? They have many very good YouTube videos.
Click to expand...
I did indeed meet Toeac a number of times. We were scheduled to play music from Bachs Mattheus Passion together (with a large orchestra and choir and actors) two years ago. But Pieternel (the one who always played CBA) was ill so there was a stand-in. Renee Bekkers was there.
Some pictures at http://wwwis.win.tue.nl/~debra/photos/mattheus-passion/
Here is one that clearly shows me as well:
http://wwwis.win.tue.nl/~debra/photos/mattheus-passion/slides/P3290325.jpg>P3290325.jpg
 
Jerry we do have the "I did that" section of the forum. Looking forward to you contribution :). It is a section severely under used in my opinion (mea culpa).
 
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