Here’s a YouTube video of Accordion player Alexander Sevastian (apparently, R.I.P) masterfully performing Bach’s, perhaps, most famous work. Alexander’s Accordion sounds much akin to a pipe organ, minus the pedal notes. I must confess, that when I first watched this performance I sat transfixed. Never before realizing that an Accordion could sound good playing classical music. I had ignorantly thought them suitable only for polka. I don’t know what a virtuoso Accordion player sounds like, but I imagine they sound like Alexander does here. Although the video is from 10 years ago, I just now stumbled across it.
I hadn't heard that one before either. These Classical music Button-Accordion players exhibit a truly impressive manual dexterity.
By some miracle, Virgil Fox came to our little town when I was 17. Set up in the auditorium that was surprisingly good and performed for 2 hours. At some point, I had to just close my eyes to keep from being distracted by this man's total body movement. His legs, arms, hands and feet were all over that organ. I knew to keep the performance in memory the best that I could because it would be never... that I could hear anything like this again with the hearing that I had.
Funny to say though, I recently got a CD of him performing, and the recording is not even close to being acceptable for listening. Bass blunted, and right at that point, I have no interest in the whatever the rest is being offered.
Funny to say though, I recently got a CD of him performing, and the recording is not even close to being acceptable for listening. Bass blunted, and right at that point, I have no interest in the whatever the rest is being offered.
Perhaps they could have a third person playing gold fish bowls to get some low notes.
Back to the classical music on the accordion theme. You can download MP3 files of Leon Boellman's Suite Gothique, played by a Belgian accordion orchestra, at IMSLP: 3rd movement, Priere a Notre-Dame, and 4th movement, Toccata.
Have fun!
Have fun!