Squeezins June 2017

Volume 16, Issue 12 July 2017 SQUEEZINS "Our squeezin’...is pleasin’"

The Oklahoma Accordion Club Newsletter

Invitations

The German American Society of Tulsa (GAST) has extended a personal invitation to the Oklahoma Accordion Club members and friends to enjoy an evening concert on September 29, 2017 by the renowned Aesch Accordion Orchestra and Schlossbrunneli Yodeling Club. It will be held at the GAST center, 15 Terrace Drive in Tulsa. These two traveling groups began in 1943, with 25 active members between the ages of 25 and 65. Their varied repertoire includes Swiss folk, classical accordion, and even pop and rock, aiming to demonstrate that the accordion is a versatile instrument. The group will begin their tour in San Antonio on September 26, travel to Austin, Dallas, and – finally -- Tulsa.

If you would like a large copy of the 2017 Concert poster, please contact Karen West at 405/949-0394 or [email protected]. Cost: 12"x18" shiny: $0.75 each, 12"x18" card stock: $1.00. They will be available at the July meeting. They are AWESOME!!! July Meeting

The July meeting will be held on shy about playing alone, some of us will play Sunday, July 9, at 3:30 pm. with you. As usual, the meeting will be held at the Members are invited to bring snacks for Messiah Lutheran Church. The church is everyone. located on the southeast corner of Northwest After the individual and group Expressway and Portland in Oklahoma City. performances, we will have a jam session. Everyone is encouraged to come, and All are welcome to join in on the fun! everyone is encouraged to perform. If you are

The Oklahoma Squeezins July 2017 Page 1 The Prez Sez Board of Directors PRESIDENT Barbara Duer Barbara Duer 10009 Hefner Village Hello everyone! Terrace Oklahoma City, OK 73162 We will have dress rehearsal for the August concert at the July 405/721-9657 meeting. If you are playing in the concert, please make every effort to [email protected] be at that meeting. We have 17 performances signed up for the concert. Jimmy Woolly and Mike Clark are stage managers this year, ACTING VICE-PRESIDENT and we will practice with them at the meeting, getting on and off stage, Tom Phillips arranging chairs quickly, etc. We’re hoping we can be a little more Holdenville, OK organized this year, and move people on and off stage a little faster. 405/712-1240 [email protected] I looked up “Beer Barrel Polka” a few days ago, and here’s what I TREASURER found: Sil Lopez "Beer Barrel Polka,” also known as "The Barrel Polka" and "Roll 16316 Crested Owl Drivet Out the Barrel,” is a song that became popular worldwide during Edmond, OK 73013 World War II. The music was composed by the Czech musician [email protected] Jaromír Vejvoda in 1927.[1] Eduard Ingriš wrote the first arrangement SECRETARY of the piece, after Vejvoda came upon the melody and sought Ingriš's Maggie Abel help in refining it. At that time, it was played without lyrics as Oklahoma City, OK "Modřanská Polka" ("Polka of Modřany"). [email protected] The polka became famous around the world. In June 1939, "Beer Barrel Polka,” as recorded by Will Glahé, was number one on the Hit HISTORIAN/LIBRARIAN Parade radio program. This version was distributed by Shapiro Karen West Bernstein. Glahé's earlier 1934 recording sold many copies in its Oklahoma City, OK German version, “Rosamunde” (it is possible the reason for the rapid [email protected] spread was due to the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany, PAST PRESIDENT and subsequent emigration of thousands of Czechs to other parts of the Dick Albreski world, bringing this catchy tune with them). The authors of the Oklahoma City, OK English lyrics were Lew Brown and Wladimir Timm. Meanwhile, the [email protected] song was recorded and played by many others such as Andrews Sisters in 1939, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Benny Goodman, Bobby Vinton, NEWSLETTER EDITOR Billie Holiday, and Joe Patek, who sold over a million copies of his Frank Gesinski album, "Beer Barrel Polka."[3] 8035 South Irvington Tulsa, OK 74136-8404 During World War II, versions in many other languages were 918/492-1715 created, and the song was popular among soldiers, regardless of their [email protected] allegiances. It was claimed many times that the song was written in the country where it had just become a hit. Its actual composer was WEBMASTER not widely known until after the War. Diana Richard Under the title, "Beer Barrel Polka,” the tune hit #1 on the Hit [email protected] Parade in the United States in 1939. It sold over one million copies WEBSITE by 1943, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA [1]. http://www.okaccordion.club/ After World War II, Frankie Yankovic was known as the "Polka King" in the U.S., and did both big band and folk music arrangements with his orchestra. Since the 1970s, it (usually the Frankie Yankovic’s version) has Lifetime Members been played during the seventh inning stretch at Milwaukee Brewers • Jim & July Butricks baseball games, as well as becoming one of the state of Wisconsin's unofficial state songs, as it is also played at numerous University of • William “Rusty”Dolton Wisconsin sporting events, as well as Green Bay Packers home games, • Janet Haskin and Milwaukee Panthers basketball games, including after every home • Roland Lohmann win. • Frankie Martinez Will Glahé Orchestra playing the “Liechtensteiner Polka”: https://youtu.be/f4W6fYAKdQI?list=RDf4W6fYAKdQI • Bob Mansﬁeld Will Glahé Orchestra playing the “Beer Barrel Polka”: • Tom Phillips https://youtu.be/TYTon5rU6s8 • Phil Scibelli • Ophelia Woody • Barbara Duer

Page 2 July 2017 The Oklahoma Squeezins Mark Your Calendars Dick Albreski

American Accordion Association (AAA) Festival Chester’s Restaurant, located at Nacogdoches will be held at the Westin Princeton Hotel at Road and Broadway in San Antonio, Texas. For Forrestal Village, New Jersey, July 12 to 16, 2017. more information, contact Laura Niland at Accordion star performers, exhibits, banquets, 210/651-4539. competitions, plus workshops are planned. This Swiss Cultural Tour 2017. The Aesch Accordion year, you’ll be able to hear and see the AAA Orchestra and Schlossbrunneli Yodeling Club will Festival Orchestra, a Jazz orchestra, plus a junior perform an evening concert at the German festival orchestra. For more information, go to American Society of Tulsa on September 29, 2017, http://www.ameraccord.com. Mark your located at 15 Terrace Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma. calendars. Donations will be accepted. Their varied Accordion Teachers Guild (ATG) will hold its repertoire includes Swiss folk, classical accordion 77th annual meeting in Lisle, Illinois, July 19 to 23, music, and even pop and rock, aiming to 2017. Concerts, banquets, exhibits, workshops, demonstrate that the accordion is a versatile instrument. All accordion enthusiasts — especially and competitions will be featured. One of the many all OAC members and friends -- are urged to groups performing will be Quartetto Gelato from attend. Canada. For more information, go to http:// www.ameraccord.com/atg. Mark your calendars. Yukon Czech Days will be held on October 7, 2017, in downtown Yukon, Oklahoma. Festivities Annual OAC Free Concert will be held on start at 11:00 am with a massive parade, followed August 13, 2016, at the Czech Hall on Czech Hall by traditional Czech music and dancing throughout Road in Yukon, Oklahoma, from 2:20 to 4:30 pm. the day. OAC member Milo Shedeck will direst Once again, Lucas Ross will emcee this fun event. the Bohemian Knights Band in performing familiar The talented members of the OAC will perform for polkas, waltzes, and schottisches. In the evening, your listening pleasure. there will also be a grand ball in the Czech Hall, The 27th Annual Cotati Accordion Festival will located on Czech Hall Road. This is one event you be held on August 19-20, 2017 at the La Plaza should mark on your calendar. Park in Cotati, California. Some of the many Las Vegas International Accordion Convention, performers will be Amy Jo Sawyer, Cory Pesaturo, October 23 to 26, 2017, at the Gold Coast Hotel & Ginny Mac, and the Golden State Accordion Band. Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. They will feature For more information on this event, go to Joey Miskulin, Stas Vengleski, Mary Tokarski, and [email protected]. Pete Barbutti, just some of the many featured September 26, 2017 Tribute Concert to Tony accordionists. There will be workshops, concerts, Rozance. Accordionist Mike Middleton will and a youth competition. For more information, go perform a tribute concert for this renowned teacher to http://www.AccordionStars.com. in the San Antonio, Texas area from the ‘40s thru Look for more accordion events in future the ‘70s. The event will start at 5:30 pm at issues of Squeezins.

Happy Birthday Wishes to the following OAC members: Diana Richard, July 4 Lois Roth, July 6 Frank Gesinski, July 14 Dick Albreski, July 23 Billy Henson, July 31 Your birthdate is collected from your OAC membership application, if you have chosen to include it. If your birthdate is not listed on our newsletter birthday page during the year, please contact Karen West at 405/949-0394, or at [email protected].

The Oklahoma Squeezins July 2017 Page 3 June Meeting Maggie Abel

Oklahoma Accordion Club Albreski, and Mike Clark. Toni Paulding will play her vibraphone in this number at the June 11, 2017 Meeting concert. The group played “I’ll Fly Away,” “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder,” and “I’ve Before the meeting, Past President Dick Albreski Got a Home in Gloryland.” conducted a 2:00 band practice for the Music • Toni and Dick played “Sharpshooters March,” a Makers, including two numbers for the August song Toni will play as a solo during the August concert, “La Sorella” and “Gypsy Knights.” concert. • At 3:30, President Barbara Duer welcomed 15 • Dick demonstrated what accordion bass notes members and two guests to the meeting. She can do, using the songs “I Hear The Sound Of read aloud the order of performers for the August Music,” and the French tune “Musette Paradise.” concert. • Lois, Barbara, and Karen played Chopin’s • Music began with a sing-along by the trio of “Fantasie Impromptu” (“I’m Always Chasing Barbara (on banjo), Lois Roth, and Anne Lopez. Rainbows”), Shostakovich’s “Waltz #2,” and The audience joined in as they played “You Are “New York, New York.” My Sunshine,” “Home On The Range,” and • Dick and Wayne Turgeon played “Que Sera, “When the Saints Go Marchin' In.” Sera” (“Whatever Will Be, Will Be”). Afterward, Lois and Anne played accordion • • Dick played the “Just Because” polka, dedicating tunes “Ashokan Farewell” and it to Anne’s guest, her mother Cassi Radicelli. “Chiapanecas” (“Mexican Hat Dance”). • Karen played “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me.” • Jim Woolly passed out tambourines and other Barbara reminded participants to be ready to percussion instruments, which Anne had brought, rehearse their concert selections at the July so onlookers could accompany a gospel jam meeting. group consisting of Jim, Barbara, Lois, Club Historian Karen West, Past President Dick • Maggie Abel