Nearly everyone has their own personal legacy. Most legacies are sustained through one’s lifetime and continue to live for some time in the memories of family and friends after that person passes. However, some legacies continue to enrich our personal lives for years or even decades.

Top photo: Anthony Galla-Rini with accordionist Esther Lanting and cellist Heidi King.
Left photo: Anthony Galla-Rini

Accordion Heroes 2012 will celebrate the legacy of Anthony Galla-Rini at the Fredericksburg, Virginia, event scheduled for June 20-24 – but it is more than just using a name to attract visitors. Galla-Rini created a wealth of musical arrangements that many consider critical cornerstones in the study of the accordion. But he is credited with other things that are more difficult to glean from a page of music or even an essay; like his vision on the accordion’s tonal capabilities. Musical performance exists in real time, and there are qualities, nuances and details that sheet music or even the greatest recording technology cannot capture.

Galla-Rini’s students often devoted hundreds of hours on a single detail, sometimes working on countless precursory steps until a concept became imprinted as an influence on their playing. As a teacher, Galla-Rini was a master in guiding a student through this process. The measure was always the musical outcome. It didn’t require extreme virtuosity; in fact, virtuosity could sometimes get in the way. Simple can often be the most difficult. Galla-Rini shared freely with his students so they ultimately could understand exactly what he was about. But in the true sense of an artist, he stressed that his vision was intended to contribute to his student’s artistry; it didn’t define it.

Several of the artists and educators at Accordion Heroes are considered Galla-Rini’s most respected repetiteurs and will bring his music and vision to life in Fredericksburg. Jorgen Sundeqvist came to the United States from Sweden specifically to study with the master. They ultimately toured throughout the United States and Europe together in addition to the creation of special arrangements and recordings. I was a student of Galla-Rini during several of my most exciting developmental years, to include preparation for the Frank Sinatra Musical Performance Competition, the recording the two Accordion Masterworks albums, the recording of the entire accordion works of Gregory Stone, and three Coupe Mondiales.

But whereas Jorgen and I bring the fireworks, passion and technical detail to the workshops and concert stage of Accordion Heroes 2012, Esther Lanting, who will be mentoring, participating in workshops, and coordinating the Galla-Rini Band, promises to bring yet another treasure to the event – and that is a rarely-seen look into the personal side of Galla-Rini. Galla-Rini was a very private man and rarely discussed any parts of his personal life with his students. It was all about the music.

But as the years passed, Esther stayed in very close contact with Galla-Rini and remained one of his closest friends right up to the end. As a repetiteur, her experience stands apart from the rest of us as she shared in the spirit and soul that defined not only the man but provides rare insight into the true foundation of his musical gift to the accordion. As a musical guide, her confidence in his work lets the beauty of the music stand on its own. The approach allows both the players and audience a very personal and direct line to the pure genius and craftsmanship of Galla-Rini.

Esther spoke recently of one of the last times she played for Galla-Rini very near the end of his life. As she described the small hand gestures from frail hands guiding her interpretation on details of the music I was envious; transported back some 40 years ago as I so vividly recalled my time with him.

And perhaps Esther is the most unique repetiteur, as she experienced what many of us would consider to be Galla-Rini’s greatest gesture. She has the master’s accordion. But she didn’t buy it in an estate, he wanted her to have it – and she played for him.

Open to all participants, the Galla-Rini accordion ensemble at Accordion Heroes will celebrate the legacy of his music for accordion band. Participants will learn from his repetiteurs his vision on how ensemble playing should contribute to the development of musicianship, but above all, they will experience the work of the master.