Squeezins June 2014
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Volume 13, Issue 12 June 2014 SQUEEZINS "Our squeezin’...is pleasin’" Don Lipovac, an accordionist that extended to the other extraordinaire, passed away on ethnic groups. April 26, 2014. The Kansas Arts He taught and directed over Council described him as a “cultural 200 students of St. John's treasure.” School Tamburitza Orchestra. His career in music started in The Don Lipovac Polka Band childhood playing Slovenian songs on and their records are well- the button accordion that his known and appreciated around grandfather used to sing. Through the world. Don's polka style classical training, he developed into a was inspired by his friend, renowned accordion artist, winning the Frank Yankovic. The band national virtuoso competition at became frequent performers at Carnegie Hall in 1958, going on to local events and festivals represent the United States in the world around the country. Their competition in Brussels, Belgium. Don popularity has earned studied the piano accordion under Alfred recognition and induction in the National Vacca of Kansas City, Missouri, and Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame and earned degrees in music theory and music Iron World USA Polka Hall of Fame in education at the Kansas City Chisholm, Minnesota. Conservatory of Music. Don will be remembered for his He also gave solo concerts around the contemporary style of music. However, country and performed as a soloist with his main love was folk music. For his life- the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra. long dedication to folk music, he was Don leaves a great legacy in his inducted into the Tamburitza Hall of hometown, where he developed a deep Fame. appreciation and love for the folk music of He will be missed, but his many his Slovene and Croatian neighborhood, accomplishments will keep him alive for June Meeting 2:00 pm Meet & Greet+Orchestra Rehearsal 3:00 pm Business Meeting 3:15 pm Individual and Group Performances 5:00 pm Jam Session The June meeting will be held on Sunday, is encouraged to perform. If you are shy about June 8, at 3:00 pm. As usual, the meeting will be playing alone, some of us will play with you. held at the Messiah Lutheran Church, located on After the individual and group performances, the southeast corner of Northwest Expressway and we will have a Jam Session. Portland in Oklahoma City. All are welcome to join in on the fun! Everyone is encouraged to come, and everyone !The Oklahoma Squeezins! June 2014! Page 1 ! The Prez Sez BOARD OF DIRECTORS Barbara Duer PRESIDENT Barbara Duer Our meetings have been fantastic. We’ve had lots of people and groups playing, and that’s what makes the meetings so enjoyable. 100010 Hefner Village Terrace Please, please, everyone play for us. Oklahoma City, OK 73162 We started signing up and rehearsing for the August concert at the 405/721-9657 May meeting. It was fun. We have at least ten groups and soloists [email protected] signed up. Now we just have to keep practicing. Below, I included an article on Zydeco music this month. There’s a group that plays every year at the Dallas convention, and they are VICE-PRESIDENT very entertaining group. There’s always an accordion and a Tom Phillips washboard. I thought the history of that area was interesting. Holdenville, OK It was very isolated for a long time. [email protected] • Barbara TREASURER Milo Shedeck 12805 Castlerock Court Zydeco Oklahoma City, OK 73142 [email protected] Zydeco is a genre that has become synonymous with the United States. This southern black music tradition has also now achieved much SECRETARY wider appreciation of the cultural and musical identity of Louisiana Maggie Abel because of the migration of the French-speaking blacks and multiracial Oklahoma City, OK Creoles, the mixing of Cajun, and the Zydeco festivals throughout [email protected] America and Europe. Zydeco music is performed at festivals, schools, performing art centers, and large corporate events. It is performed for presidents and celebrities, heard on cinema soundtracks, and used to HISTORIAN/LIBRARIAN advertise everything from vehicles to toothpaste to antacids, Karen West pharmaceuticals, and candy bars. Rolling Stone, The Los Angeles Times, Oklahoma City, OK Time Magazine, among many others, have featured it. It is played on [email protected] radio stations around the world and on Internet radio. The original French settlers came to Louisiana in the late 1600s, sent by the Regent of France, Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, to help PAST PRESIDENT settle the Louisiana Territory. Arriving in New Orleans on seven ships, Dick Albreski the settlers quickly moved into the bayous and swamps. There the Oklahoma City, OK French culture permeated those of the Irish, Spanish, Native Indian, and [email protected] German peoples already populating the area. For 150 years, Louisiana Creoles enjoyed an insular lifestyle, prospering, educating themselves without the government, and building NEWSLETTER EDITOR their invisible communities under the Code Noir. The French created the Frank Gesinski Code Noir in 1724 to establish rules for treatment of slaves, as well as 8035 South Irvington restrictions and rights for gens de couleur libres, a growing class of free Tulsa, OK 74136-8404 people of color. They had the right to own land, something few blacks in 918/492-1715 the American South had at that time. [email protected] Zydeco's rural beginnings and the prevailing economic conditions at its inception are reflected in the song titles, lyrics, and bluesy vocals. The music arose as a synthesis of traditional Creole music, some Cajun WEBMASTER music influences, and African-American traditions, including R&B, Diana Richard blues, jazz, and gospel. It was also often just called French music, or le [email protected] musique Creole known as "la-la." Amédé Ardoin made the first ! recordings of Creole music in 1928. This Creole music served as a WEBSITE foundation for what later became known as Zydeco. Sometimes the http://www.okaccordions.com/ music was performed in the Catholic Church community centers, as Creoles were mostly Catholic. Later, it moved to rural dance halls and nightclubs. !Page 2! June 2014! The Oklahoma Squeezins The Treasurer Sez Milo Shedeck • Here is a good accordion website: See www.czechhall.com for the schedule www.accordionusa.com of bands • No birthdays in June. • We still have a positive balance in the • Dance every Saturday night at the Yukon treasury. Czech Hall, featuring Dick Albreski and Hope everyone had a great Mother’s Day, Milo Shedeck. and may you all have a great Father’s Day. • Milo Mark Your Calendars Dick Albreski Les Grande Dames of Springfield Petrilli. For more information, visit Missouri will present “An Afternoon of www.Accordions.com/ATG. Fun” at the Library Center in Springfield, The Oklahoma Accordion Club will have Missouri on June 8, 2014. The event their annual Free Concert on August 10, presented by our own OAC’s Lou 2014, at the Norman Depot, 200 South LeBrun, along with Sharon Fox, will Jones Avenue, Norman, OK from 2:30 to feature an exciting repertoire of accordion 4:30 pm. No reservations required, but music. The event will start at 2:00 pm, come early because of open seating. This and the public is cordially invited. See is your chance to hear international music the invitation on page 7 in this newsletter. performed by the OAC accordionists. The Leavenworth International Accordion The 24th Annual Cotati Accordion Celebration will be held from June 19 to Festival will be held on August 16 and 22, 2014 in Leavenworth, Washington. 17, 2014 in Cotati, California. The Cotati The many headliners include Tony Festival was started in 1991 to support Lovello and Cory Pesaturo. Here’s your local youth organizations. Dick Contino chance to see the WORLD’S LARGEST and Bruce Gassman will be two of the ACCORDION. This event, sponsored by many performers. For more information, the Northwest Accordion Society, will be visit www.cotatifest.com. their 21st annual meeting. For more information, visit www.nwasnews.com. The Chapel Creek Winery will host a weekend of wine sampling on The American Accordionists’ Association September 6 and 7, 2014 at their winery, (AAA) will host their 2014 Festival from located at 5005 Darlington Rd. in El July 9 to 13 at the DoubleTree Hotel, 445 Reno, OK (south of El Reno on Route South Tarrytown, New York, NY. Some 81). OAC member Dick Albreski will of the guest artists include: Vladimir perform from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm on Mollow, Dallas Vietty, and Frank Saturday and Sunday. For fun, good Carozza. For more information, visit food, great wine, and terrific accordion www.ameraccord.com. music, don’t miss this event. The Accordion Teachers Guild (ATG) The 67th Coupe Mondiale will be held in th will hold their 74 Festival from July 23 Salzburg, Austria from October 27 to to 26, 2014 at the Crowne Plaza Airport November 2, 2014. Make your Hotel in Burlingame, CA. The featured reservations early. guests will be Stas Venglevski and Frank Honor Role of Lifetime Members! • Janet Haskin • Tom Phillips • Roland Lohmann • Phil Scibelli !The Oklahoma Squeezins! June 2014! Page 3 May Minutes Maggie Abel Minutes of OAC Meeting • Barbara played “Czardas” and “Rustic Dance.” May 11, 2014 ! ! • Dick Albreski played “Moonlight in Vermont.” President Barbara Duer called the meeting to order. ! • The Accordionaires (Dan Orza, Karen West, John There were 19 members and three guests present. Buchanan, and Lois Roth) performed several pieces, Vice President Tom Phillips offered a prayer. Then including “Paragon March,” “Lady of Spain,” and we all enjoyed the special refreshments: pizza and soda “Popeye the Sailor Man.” pop.