October 2013

MASSACHUSETTS ACCORDION Volume 7, Issue 8 October 2013 ASSOCIATION The MAAA is a group of accordion enthusiasts that Nils Flacke, Swedish accordion king, welcomes players of all skill reigns at MAAA September meeting levels and accordion types, Many thanks to as well as interested non- Donna Maria players. Regis of the New Hampshire Join us! Open to the public! Accordion 4th Sunday of every month Association for helping MAAA 1:30-4:00 p.m. arrange this exciting Ciociaro Social Club opportunity to 144 Bridge Street hear a master of Newton, Massachusetts the instrument and champion of the Next meeting Nils Flacke, one of Sweden’s kings accordion’s history. October 27, 2013 of accordion, performed at the MAAA meeting on September The meeting began with the best kind of open mike session, Mark your calendar 22. A master of old types of accordions, Flacke is dedicated which featured professionals and November 17, 2013 accordion student debuts. December 15, 2013 to sustaining the tradition of Scandinavian folk music. His concert included many traditional Stay connected works, Sibelius’ Finlandia, his www.MAAccordion.org own “Memories from the Silent Movies,” and many others. Like Nils was one of the founders of Share the Jularbo Museum in Avesta, Post Sweden in 1984 and has donated www.facebook.com/ dozens of rare antique accordions Photos: Tony Marini MAAccordion to the museum’s collection as well as posters, photos, and other After his performance, Nils Flacke and members of the Central Please email your news memorabilia. Massachusetts Accordion Club and items of interest to the Nils’ performance was a fitting (CMAC)--some of whom are newsletter editor: catherine. inauguration for MAAA’s new also MAAA members--played [email protected] Bose sound system, which did Scandinavian dance music. justice to the magnificent music that was performed. More about CMAC on page 4. MASSACHUSETTS ACCORDION ASSOCIATION 2 Honoring Bob Guenther My Accordion Life MAAA’s President, Bob Guenther, by Bob Guenther passed away April 22, 2013 at the When asked by Lenny to write age of 57. “We respected Bob and a little about myself, I found his dedication so much that the it difficult to start. Being the MAAA Board decided not to fill newsletter editor for the MA the Presidency until the October Accordion Association for almost meeting,” said Jim Avedisian, 4 years, it’s always easier to write MAAA Vice President. about someone else. In remembrance of Bob and Back in the early 60’s, my mom his many contributions to the and dad thought it would be good involved with. My schedule did Association and the people if I learned an instrument (they not allow me to take the long trips who knew him, we reproduce also thought it was good for me to practice with them on a regular here an article that he wrote for to learn ballet, but that’s another basis, but it was an experience Lenny Feldmann’s Cordeen Man story for another time). I wanted I will remember forever. Kind newsletter. Thank you to Dave to learn a “cool” instrument back of turned things around for me Magliozzi for providing link to the then, like the guitar or trumpet, with my developing my playing of article. but instead, one day dad came songs from the Sound of Music MAAA Board elections home with an accordion. My and some rag time songs, like heart sank when I saw that box Hello My Baby. and bylaw changes instrument. Mom enrolled me Then college came. It was not The Massachusetts Accordion with my first instructor in Linden, “cool” to play an accordion in Association is a volunteer-run NJ. college in the early 70’s. I did not nonprofit organization. Elections It was a struggle to learn and I play again until my mid 20’s when will place at the October seemed to learn a lot slower than I met my second wife. Her mom meeting. The following slate of the others taking lessons at the was probably the first person that officers has been nominated: time. Mom would keep on me I met, other than my parents, who President: Tony Marini to practice every day and, the really liked the accordion. I began Vice president: Jim Avedisian strict Irish Catholic disciplinarian playing again and would perform Secretary/Treasurer: Patty that she was, I did. After awhile, at Christmas time in her hair salon Simmons I would start playing some songs for her customers. I was truly and then the embarrassment enjoying playing the accordion Board of Directors would start – playing in front of for the first time in my life, but I Al Bacchiocchi others, especially relatives. was stagnant with no new music Jan Borelli other than my earlier high school So, my early years with the Carmen D’Angelo repertoire. accordion were a struggle. Gary Morin Eventually I began to enjoy playing Tragedy struck in 1986 when the Ed Wawrzynowicz as I continued trying to play. In flooding of our home in Billerica, high school I met a friend who MA destroyed my accordion. We More information is available was also an accordion player and lived on a hill, so my practice area in the July issue of the MAAA invited me to a practice session was in the basement. The rain was newsletter, available online: with the Strummers, who he was so hard for so long, our basement www.MAAccordion.org. Continued on next page... MASSACHUSETTS ACCORDION ASSOCIATION 3 My Accordion Life... continued e-bay, until I settled on an older new songs on the accordion. Universal accordion that was Finally, I was really excited to leaked from the pressure of the probably a younger players size, further develop my abilities with ground water pressing against the since it had the 120 bass and 41 the accordion and I was beginning foundation, going downhill for keys, but was about ¾ the size of to comprehend again, near to such a long period of time. I did the one I use to have. where I was before the tumor. not play again for quite a while. Initially, it was difficult trying to Back when I was recovering from Then in July 2002, I was diagnosed remember the songs I use to play, the surgery and the treatments, I with a stage 4 brain tumor that trying to find the song books thought that I would like to “give had metastasized from my “retired” after I lost my accordion back” to others the joys that I lungs. Through the many prayer back in the great Billerica flood of have had throughout my life. I groups my mom created and the 1986. now volunteer playing for assisted incredible doctor and surgeon living facilities. What a great way who operated and the technology Slowly, after a couple of months to learn how to play in front of of cancer treatments at the time, I of strapping it on and finding a others. My first performances have survived now for eight years couple of early songs, I began to were horrible, but again, like (six years longer than predicted). everything else, when you keep Since it was my brain that was with something you do get better. affected by the radiation and Today, I still volunteer at an chemo treatments for several assisted living facility in Billerica, months, I was truly concerned as MA, been invited to play at parties to my mental retention to think and even have a regular weekly and function at the levels I had gig at a restaurant in Tewksbury, before the tumor. I would try to MA. take tests, do puzzles and read to get my mental capacity to I am so thankful for those early where it once was. Then it came argumentative days I had with my to me that the most challenging mom to practice an instrument exercise when I was younger was that I did not want to learn and to learn to play the accordion. I that was a true struggle to play. thought this would be the best The sacrifice of my mom and way to “heal” and re-build my regain some of my playing skills. I dad, the repertoire developed comprehensive and motor skills did find it more challenging since from listening to karaoke and the since the accordion involves the the keys, although 41 of them, volunteering at assisted living right hand, the left hand, bellows were narrower due to the 16” facilities are the cornerstones control and eyesight to hand length, as opposed to the 19¼ “ of where I am today. Most coordination to read music and length I was use to. I was focusing importantly, if it wasn’t for the play at the same time. on getting better, mentally and accordion, I believe that I would mechanically. still be rehabbing from my So, with a renewed dedication, surgery. I went on my search to replace Then, in 2005, my wife joined the the accordion that I had lost. This Red Hat Society, through which, My Accordion Life by Bob brain tumor thing was the 2nd we met our new best friends who Guenther was originally published life changing experience in my happen to also be a karaoke DJ online: www.cordeenman.com/ life, so financially, things were and singer. It is through karaoke bg/BG-Accordion-Life.pdf tough. I went through a couple of that I heard and wanted to learn cheap, second hand accordions on MASSACHUSETTS ACCORDION ASSOCIATION 4 Accordion Friends from Central Gary Morin Massachusetts performance by Dan Mackowiak locations in Connecticut and New Hampshire.

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