I needed a haircut today, so I sneaked off at three to travel to my favorite barber in Bornheim and didn't make it back until seven. After my haircut, I headed back to the subway station, paused, and kept on walking up the Berger Strasse until I found a news stand. I purchased Die Zeit, Germany's leading weekly newspaper that comes out on Thursdays. I then wandered down the Berger Strasse until I reached the Cafe Mirador (Picture from Website below).
Sitting out on a Mild Evening at Cafe Mirador in Bornheim
The weather was cool and drizzly, so I sat indoors. The place was fairly empty. I ordered a glass of red wine and the "Mirador Plate", a small tapas plate with slices of chorizo, serrano ham, manchego cheese and a few olives, slices of tomato, and cucumber. (I like the design and variety of the Mirador Menu.) It is a great place to sit outside on a sunny day for a late breakfast or to wrap up an evening with a drink and a snack. I've never eaten a full meal here, so I cannot vouch for the kitchen. The average client age is probably around thirty, but no one cares if there are a few old farts mixed in, as long as they don't get the upper hand. I read the newspaper while listening to my Shuffle and keeping an eye on the young crowd.
Where was I? Oh yes, there was an article in Die Zeit (er, in der Zeit) about the 10th International World Music Festival 2010 in Innsbruck, Austria that took place from May 13 through 16. I linked to the Facebook Page, because I was having trouble finding the official page. The entire city was booked out for the event that only takes place every three years. Here is an excerpt from the 2010 Program:
Welcome to the 10th International World Music Festival 2010! In the year 1983, Arnold Kutzli brought the Festival for the first time to Innsbruck, at that time titled as “International Accordion-Festival with Harp-Gathering”.
Since that time the festival has not only developed to an epitome in the world of music, the supporting program has developed as well in its variety and was accepted with pleasure by all music friends from many countries all over the world. In Innsbruck the friends of harmonica instruments meet from all over the world, furthermore the festival represents the convincing reflection of today’s accordion orchestra. I am sure: the 10th World Music Festival will be an unforgettable event for all participants, happening in the beautiful and fantastic region of Innsbruck. Many new impressions, open minded people and playing music together will contribute at the best to a great success.
I am looking forward to your participation and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for your success.
Hedy Stark-Fussnegger
We've finally come to the title of my post. An accordion in German is often referred to as a Ziehharmonika (literally, a "pull harmonica"), although Akkordeon may be the more appropriate term. What we Americans refer to as a harmonica is called a Mundharmonika (literally "mouth harmonica"). The 10th International World Music Festival is, indeed, limited to "competitive and non-competitive performance for harmonica instruments in orchestras and ensembles." (harmonicas and accordions)
Now, I've gotten used to listening to solo accordion or an accordion playing in a band at one of my favorite blogs, but the thought of listening to an entire orchestra made up of accordions ... well, I'm not there yet. Chamber Music with accordion? Not ready. The final competition with awards ceremony takes place in the Olympic Stadium with the Alps in the background. If that doesn't make you want to yodel, nothing will. So, Mr. A., put on your Lederhosen and get over here for the 2013 competition. FYI, there is a special category of "senior hobby accordion orchestras and ensembles". I don't know whether Canada was represented this year. Someone should look into this. A warning, though, from Hedy Stark-Fussnegger for those lightheaded enough to think they can just come in and polka waltz away with a prize: "The jury is composed out of international acknowledged and experienced specialists. Their decisions are final and incontestable."
Crank it up a Notch
"Oh bliss! Bliss and heaven! Oh, it was gorgeousness and gorgeousity
made flesh. It was like a bird of rarest-spun heaven metal or like
silvery wine flowing in a spaceship, gravity all nonsense now. As I
slooshied, I knew such lovely pictures!" -- Alex DeLarge, Clockwork Orange
(listening to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony)
I'll lighten up this serious post with one of my favorite sayings: "A gentleman is someone who knows how to play the accordion, but doesn't." You can find similar jokes for your favorite accordion player at this website. Use them sparingly so that you don't offend him or her. You might regret it some day.
3 comments:
Thank you for the link. Of course I'm hurt to the quick by the accordion jokes though. For folk music, I think the traditional German accordion is the steirische harmonika. It's a diatonic button accordion that is bisonoric, meaning when you press a button and push air through the bellows you get a different note than when you pull air through the bellows. These instruments typically have one note that is the same on the push and the pull. They're also often called helicon boxes, named after the tuba, because they have long bass reeds and feature an oompah tuba-like bass sound. There are a few manufacturers of these instruments, but the best known is Strasser.
Thanks for being such a good sport Mr. A. I really thought you might be interested in the music festival. Wikipedia has a pretty detailed German article on the Akkordeon, which includes a reference and link to Strasser. Hohner is a German manufacturer that makes lots of accordions.
I totally see a trip to Germany in the future ha ha...you know we went to the San Antonio World Accordion festival. It was fantastic Bloggerboy...but it wasn't 30 accordions playing at once. Chamber music is scary on its own nevermind being done just by accordions ha!
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