One of the greatest gifts associated with vintage accordions is their relative versatility in the performance of almost all styles of music, complete with impressive dynamic range and rich tonal resources. The various reed blends lend themselves to imaginative journeys of sound, where the art of improvisation can be fully implemented. Here follows a compendium of impressionistic sketches which I have posted on my You Tube channel (FromHolbergsTime). The subject matter looks back to my time spent in New Jersey, prior to my move to Arizona in 1978.
Accordion Impressions: In View of the Watchung Mountains (posted May 28, 2013) - this video reflects upon my time delivering mail for the Somerville Post Office in 1975/ 76. I remember eating lunch at the Somerset Medical Center while being assigned to walking routes in this lovely area. This music attempts to re-create some of the atmosphere of small-town America while exploring the creative patterns typically enjoyed by the letter carrier. My vintage Scandalli is heard on this recording.
Fantasia No. 3 for Vintage Iorio Accordion (posted May 20, 2013) - This video features my Iorio accordion, a 1950's instrument with organ-like tonal blends. This improvisation recalls my assignment to collect mail from Clinton and High Bridge on Sunday afternoons, then returning to the Somerville main office to deposit the collected mails. Here I can virtually re-play the adventurous journey through the New Jersey countryside as I travel along rural roads and pastoral farmland, briefly making contact with neat, historically charming towns & villages. This is road music for the mind & heart distilled through the Iorio's reed blends.
Accordion Impressions - Preservation of Woods & Meadows (posted Feb 1, 2013) - This impressionistic piece is devoted to sounds & memories associated with the Great Swamp of New Jersey, a vast area of natural beauty surrounded by modern urban density. Here I use the Iorio to indicate some personal reflections upon the special nature of this remarkably preserved area.
To be continued...