Hello ! classical accordionist here :)

ivsverko · March 01, 2012, 12:21:00 AM

Hi ! I am new on this forum. I stumbled upon in while googling for classical music content and this webiste looks like a very nice and vivid classical music community.

I play a concert-accordion (I do not know for how many that sintagm is an oxymoron but it depends from country to country), and currently I am doing my postgraduation studies at Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.

Although many people relate accordion to exclusively polkas and entertaiment music in general, accordion as a classical instrument has been developing for almost a decade know. It is taught at many big conservatories and musical academies in Europe (also Asia and United States), and many contemporary composers are writting for it.

If anybody knows about it and likes it, I have just made my webpage and first Youtube video with a work from a Russian composer. Next, I include to put transcriptions by Bach, Messiaen, Liszt as well as some more contemporary works from western composing tradition.

On my web page there is a short essay named "The Instrument", in case anyone is interested.

My dream is to make as many as possible people to recognize the value of concert accordion as a fully-featured classical instrument.

My first Youtube link :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Cqo7T725U

Thanks for Your time, and have a nice day

www.ivansverko.com

mc ukrneal · March 04, 2012, 10:22:00 AM

Somehow you slipped through! Welcome!

North Star · March 04, 2012, 01:05:24 PM

Welcome to the forum, Ivan!
The accordion certainly is neglected in classical music. Your playing is excellent in the video, keep up the good work.
(psst, you should get some/one of the forum member composers (karlhenning, madaboutmahler, Luke, Greg) to compose you a piece)

Szykneij · March 04, 2012, 06:24:45 PM

Welcome, Ivan!

The only thing that impresses me more than someone who can play a diatonic accordion is someone who can play a 5-row chromatic. Nice job!

SonicMan46 · March 05, 2012, 07:33:01 AM

Hi Ivan - welcome to the GMG Forum and hope to see you contributing -

As a teenager, I took piano accordion lessons for 3-4 yrs - just played non-classical music (and not that well); continued playing for myself and friends into my 20s but now 40 yrs later no longer even have an instrument! My wife is the musician/singer in the family and she is quite good.

BTW, please visit the Old Musical Instruments thread and add a post or two on historic accordions - I would certainly be interested - thanks!

Karl Henning · March 05, 2012, 07:54:26 AM

Tervetuola, Ivan!

North Star · March 05, 2012, 10:34:11 AM

Quote from: karlhenning on March 05, 2012, 07:54:26 AM
Tervetuola, Ivan!

He seems to be Russian, despite of studying in Finland.

I am curious, though, if you know more Finnish in addition to that and poju

ivsverko · March 07, 2012, 07:15:27 AM

Actually, minä olen kroatialainen

Thanks for the warm welcome. I will sure try to post more about accordion and music in general. This site looks like a very nice musicians safehouse

Karl Henning · March 07, 2012, 07:21:15 AM

Quote from: ivsverko on Today at 12:15:27 PM

Actually, minä olen kroatialainen

Hah! Welcome afresh!

North Star · March 07, 2012, 10:27:07 AM

Quote from: ivsverko on March 07, 2012, 07:15:27 AM
Actually, minä olen kroatialainen

OK, I just named the biggest Slavic country that happens to be next to us. Didn't think of your surname at all, though.

Hollywood · March 07, 2012, 10:46:30 PM

Hi there Ivan. Greetings from an ex accordion player in Vienna, Austria. Welcome to the forum.

TheGSMoeller · March 08, 2012, 05:33:28 AM

WoW! Great performance!!!

Nice to meet you, and welcome to the forum. Thanks for sharing the video, well done.
The accordion is my favorite instrument, I've bought two and just stare at them $:-\$

I have a disc of an accordion duo (can't recall name) playing Pictures at an Exhibition/Petrushka...and a new one from Viviane Chassot performing Rameau keyboard music.

I really look forward to chatting with you and hopefully watching more performances.

ivsverko · March 19, 2012, 04:01:07 AM

Could've not recall my password for quite many days

Pictures at an Exhibition are quite common repertoire for accordion duos, although there are even some cases when a soloist play it, directly from the piano score. It is quite a feat though.
I could post some things when I finally record them : I plan to put two organ pieces (Franck : Choral no.2 in B-minor, Messiaen : Dieu Parmi Nous, from the Le Nativite de Seigneur cycle) and quite many pieces written originally for the concert accordion by the contemporary composers (Gubaidulina, Lindberg among others.)

Thanks for the interest, have a nice day !

springrite · March 19, 2012, 04:03:59 AM

About time to commission Herr Henning to compose a Concerto for Classical Accordion and Chamber Orchestra...

Karl Henning · March 19, 2012, 04:04:26 AM

At the ready.

Karl Henning · March 19, 2012, 04:05:06 AM

It would have to be music that our dear Kimi should wish to dance to . . . .