From April 1 to the 6th,2019, people from all walks of life, some young, some old,
entered the Lincoln Center Library to take part in an immersion of accordion
culture. Some of the older individuals expressed that they once played the accordion
and would like to return to it. Some of the younger people found a new and exciting
journey full of possibilities. Each day lasted 5 hours. Many stayed from beginning to end.
The opening concert on Monday Night April 1 at Bruno Walter Auditorium was sold out,
as well as April 6, the closing day which ended with a hearty sing a long.
Dr. William Schimmel conceived and curated the entire event, drawing upon participants
who he felt could best represent the accordion in a dignified, outrageous and totally remarkable
fashion.
It is interesting to note that many of the attendees were there because the accordion gave them
pleasure and joy as listeners. And many others felt it sometimes to be a bit confrontational in a
good way, allowing them the permission to laugh, cry, or do both. And then there were the
intellectuals who loved to hear sounds that they never heard before. Many questions that
were obvious to us, but not always obvious to the attendees were addressed clearly and
precisely such as: What’s the difference between a wet tuned accordion and a dry tuned one.
We have learned not to marginalize questions of that nature. They bring people together,
every one learning. I think the final aspect of the success of the entire week is that it brought
people together, building a new accordion community and reclaiming and restoring the
community of the past as a new and exciting “present”.
And finally, Dr. Schimmel stated: “As curator of the event, I feel that I have chosen a
wonderful thing to do with my life, and I am enjoying a magic carpet ride that I never imagined.
And this is only the beginning”.
Photo: April 2019 William Schimmel and Paul Stein at New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Top photo: The Main Squeeze Orchestra and Dr. Schimmel
