For Classical Accordion Lovers
DOKTO...@duq3.cc.duq.edu
October 14, 1996
Dear Friends,
Just finished my fourth concert with the River City Brass Band
yesterday afternoon. It's really been exciting. Here's a brief summary:
Thursday night: Carnegie Hall in Homestead, PA
Friday night: Carson Middle School on Northside
Saturday night: Carnegie Hall in Oakland (my parents came to this one)
Sunday afternoon: Baldwin High School
Two more to go:
Thursday night: Gateway High School, Monroeville
Saturday night: Palace Theater, Greensburg
Program:
Galla-Rini: Tarantella from "Concerto no. 1"
Astor Piazzolla: Oblivion (solo)
Monti: Czardas
Encore: Pennsylvania Polka
There was a nice photo and half-page article by the entertainment editor
of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review promoting the concerts. Here are some
highlights from the article:
"Accordionist Henry Doktorski knows his instrument sometimes has
the image of being only the heart and soul of polka parties, but he isn't
offended. 'I thought the same way once,' he said. But that was before he
discovered the accordion can do more than convey the music of polka king
Jimmy Sturr. It finds its way through the folk music of every part of
Europe, through bistros in Paris, cajun gatherings and even pieces of
virtuosity for accordion and symphony orchestra.
"'My main interest seven years ago was classical music,' he said. 'I
discovered a sub-cult of classical accordion players and since then
learned that there have been thousands of classical pieces composed for
the instrument, including 200 concerti.'
..... "I was just stunned at the virtuosity of this guy,' conductor
Dennis Colwell said about Doktorski. That virtuosity has developed over 33
years, even if it took a few changes in direction. Doktorski started
playing when he was seven, but when he went to high school, he discovered
that it wasn't too 'in' to be an accordion player. He switched to organ
and played in rock bands, but he got tired of that and began to study
classical piano in college. .... Years later, he was serving as organist
for a Hare Krishna congregation in West Virginia when he regained his
interest in the accordion.... While he is not upset at the lack of
appreciation of the accordion, he said he is trying to broaden thinking
about it." etc. etc.
Our opening concert was surprisingly well attended. Of all the
halls, this one seemed to have the most beautiful acoustics. Nice
reverberation. Was somewhat nervous for a couple hours before the first
three concerts. (By the time we played the fourth concert, I was so used
to the routine that I couldn't care less about being nervous!) However, as
soon as I stepped on stage, the jitters disappeared! (Funny, I NEVER get
nervous when I play other types of music, like wedding receptions,
parties, dances, etc. Perhaps the degree of precision of classical
concerts make me more nervous - there is much less room to cover your
mistakes. Never-the-less, all the performance went well and I was
extremely pleased.
The conductor, Dennis Colwell, introduces me before my entrance on
stage - I personally think his glowing words are too flowery, but I guess
the audience likes to think that they're in the presence of a great
world-wide luminary!
I walk on to the audience applause, sit down, adjust the
microphone positions and nod to the conductor. We play the Galla-Rini and
I acknowledge the applause. Then I walk to the conductor's mike and begin
my speaking routine, which pretty much developed spontaneously.
"Thank you! Many people are surprised to hear the accordion is used
in classical music, and frankly so was I when I was first introduced to it
a few years ago! This is not surprising, however; the instrument is very
young compared to most orchestral instruments. It was born on May 6, 1829
(audience chuckles) and it's birth certificate was a patent by it's
inventor, Cyrill Demian! (More chuckles)
However, the first accordions were only about this big (hold my
hands up to show a tiny instrument the size of a small kitten) and only
could play a few notes. It took nearly one hundred years for the accordion
to develop into a sophisticated instrument which could play in all keys.
"The first classical piece for accordion was written by the German
composer Hugo Herrmann in 1927. Since then there have been thousands of
pieces written for it, including 200 concerti."
"Sometimes people ask me how I started playing accordion. I tell
them that when I was seven years old, a music teacher knocked on our door
giving free musical aptitude tests for children. My mother said, 'Oh, I
think my son has some talent.' I passed the test.... actually, I think
every child who took the test passed.... (audience chuckles)
The music teacher said, 'Your son has definite talent! I think you
should enroll him in my music school; and if you sign up today, the first
lesson is free!' (Audience laughs)
"He asked my parents, 'What instrument do you want him to play?'
They asked, 'What instruments do you teach?' He said,'piano,' they said,
'no.' He said, 'guitar,' they said 'no.' He said 'saxophone,' they said,
'no.' He said 'drums,' and they said 'Nooooo!!!" (Audience laughs) Then he
said, 'accordion,' and my parents said 'Yes!'
"Anyway, I think instead of asking how I started playing accordion,
people should ask me why I am still playing it!" (Big audience laughter)
Next I play the accordion solo, "Oblivion" by Astor Piazzolla. I
turn the mikes off for this one. No sense distorting the sound of the
accordion when I'm not playing with the band.
After the Piazzolla is finished, I begin my last spiel at the
mike: "There's one thing I forgot to mention.... (I speak very slowly)
During intermission, if you walk into the lobby you'll find a table with
some really terrific CDs and cassettes!" (Audience laughs) There are two
that deserve special mention. One is a Christmas album by the River City
Brass Band, and the other is a Christmas album by...." I stop speaking,
smile and point to myself. (Audience cracks up.)
Then we play the Czardas by Monti and conclude with the
Pennsylvania Polka.
Then I rush out to the lobby to autograph CDs and cassettes. It's
really a blast; quite satisfying to have dozens of people say how much
they enjoyed your concert, how much they love the accordion, women hugging
you, holding your hand, etc. even if they don't buy your CDs!
There is only one small problem - nearly 100 percent of the woman
at these concerts are old enough to be my mother; they're all between 60
and 80 years old! Where are all the 25 to 40 year old women? Don't they
come to accordion concerts?
I noticed a similar phenomenon when I played for the California
accordion clubs, although I admit, there were a few young people in
attendance in San Francisco. I wonder, suppose I really get serious about
accordion and start to play concerts all over the world.... I can tell
that I'm not going to get many dates by concertizing!
Sometimes I wonder: am I playing the wrong instrument? Maybe I
should be playing piano or guitar! Guitarists don't seem to have any
problem attracting beautiful babes. I wonder why?
But perhaps this is particular to the United States. Is the
classical accordion more popular with younger audiences in Europe? I'd
like to hear from our European friends about this.
Maybe it's just classical music audiences. Symphony concerts are
famous for drawing an elderly crowd, but I've noticed at the symphony
concerts there are always some younger people, students, etc.
Got any ideas, friends? I would like to hear your comments about
this one!
Sincerely,
Henry
To be continued....
Toby Hanson
In article <845286365.8072...@duq3.cc.duq.edu>,
DOKTO...@duq3.cc.duq.edu wrote:
>October 14, 1996
(Astute Accordion Journalism Snipped)
> There is only one small problem - nearly 100 percent of the woman
>at these concerts are old enough to be my mother; they're all between 60
>and 80 years old! Where are all the 25 to 40 year old women? Don't they
>come to accordion concerts?
> I noticed a similar phenomenon when I played for the California
>accordion clubs, although I admit, there were a few young people in
>attendance in San Francisco. I wonder, suppose I really get serious about
>accordion and start to play concerts all over the world.... I can tell
>that I'm not going to get many dates by concertizing!
> Sometimes I wonder: am I playing the wrong instrument? Maybe I
>should be playing piano or guitar! Guitarists don't seem to have any
>problem attracting beautiful babes. I wonder why?
> But perhaps this is particular to the United States. Is the
>classical accordion more popular with younger audiences in Europe? I'd
>like to hear from our European friends about this.
> Maybe it's just classical music audiences. Symphony concerts are
>famous for drawing an elderly crowd, but I've noticed at the symphony
>concerts there are always some younger people, students, etc.
> Got any ideas, friends? I would like to hear your comments about
>this one!
Well, Henry, I've wondered about that one myself. Where are all the babes
begging to be roadies for my band? The thing that I've found is that
people my age (early 20s) tend to believe what they see about the
accordion. If all they see is Myron Floren in an over-sized blue
polyester shirt they say, "This sucks!" If they see me playing YMCA and
the Beer Barrel Polka in my lively style they say, "That's cool!" It all
depends on how you present the accordion. Slowly but surely I'm winning
an audience in Seattle for the accordion and polka music, since that's
primarily what I play outside of school. I have people coming up to me
requesting Just Because and Who Stole The Kishka. My point: if you play
the accordion like it's cool then it's cool. If you play it like it's for
old people (and this isn't a slam against the accordion elders) then young
people think it's not cool.
I get email from different people around Seattle who see my shows and
through it discover all the fun of accordion music. These are people who
normally listen to indie rock and ska and techno and they can appreciate
the fun, almost escapist polka ethic. This year at the Cornish freshman
orientation I did a polka workshop and it was the highest-rated of all the
workshops given over the two days. The accordion is also retro-cool in
the same way that lounge music and 50s lamps are. It's just so funky that
it's cool, especially when played right. Friday night my band will play
for the opening of the Olympia Film Festival in Olympia, WA. Normally an
indie band (alternative rock, for those of you outside Seattle) would get
that honor but this year a polka band got the nod. Why? Because the
people who run the festival, all in their early 20s, saw my band and how
we play our music and could appreciate it as being cool. In fact, the
hospitality director is a big fan of Frankie Yankovic. His girlfriend
plays accordion. Don't despair, Henry, you won't need to switch
instruments. :)
--
-Toby Hanson
jtha...@halcyon.com
http://www.halcyon.com/jthanson/main.htm
"Remember趴e may not all be Scandinavian, but we're all Smilin'!"
DOKTO...@duq3.cc.duq.edu
Dear Friends,
I'm looking for some pieces of music written by classical composers
between 1940 and 1975 which use the accordion in a light-hearted way. It
could be funny, vulgar, earthy, folksy, dancey... anything but serious.
Any ideas?
Henry