Where can a lover of music witness an orchestra consisting of accordions, accompanied by two vocalists, a drummer, and guitarist that combines the sounds of nearly every musical instrument on the planet into a single concert consisting of a song list from nearly every musical genre?
The answer lies in a concert performance of the New England Digital Accordion Orchestra (NEDAO). The NEDAO is the first of its kind in the United States and one of only two known in existence throughout the world!
Close your eyes and you would never imagine that you were listening to a group consisting mostly of accordions! That is due to the amazing versatility of the Roland V digital accordion’s unique technology, first introduced in 2004. The instrument has been aptly described as “an orchestra in a box” and each accordion can perform the sound of multiple instruments playing at one time.
The Orchestra is truly unique because of its abilities to produce almost every musical instrument sound in existence and, therefore, perform in the fashion of every type of musical ensemble in the field of music. As a result, its concert performances are able to feature a broad spectrum of musical genres rather than a single one. Audiences at NEDAO concerts are treated to a program consisting of a smorgasbord of musical ensembles and genres.
Whether its Broadway (“Fiddler On The Roof”) to Hollywood (themes from “Star Wars”, “Rocky”, “James Bond”); Classic Rock n’ Roll (“Celebration”, “You’re Mama Don’t Dance”, or a medley of hits by The Beatles) to Country (“On the Road Again” a la Willie Nelson); Classic Swing (Medley of “In the Mood”, “String of Pearls”, “Moonlight Serenade”, and “Take the A Train”) to the original Big Band arrangements of “New York, New York” and “Fly Me to the Moon” as recorded by Frank Sinatra or “Birth of the Blues” as performed by Sammy Davis, Jr.; Polka, Italian, Mariachi, and Celtic/Scottish medleys; or unique pops concert arrangements of patriotic favorites (medley of Civil War Era songs, “Stars & Stripes Forever”, “God Bless America”), music lovers will get a taste of each at every NEDAO concert! Do you enjoy Dixieland? If so, you will love the Orchestra’s New Orleans style sextet’s arrangement of “Muskrat Ramble”! An NEDAO concert provides the audience an array of “miniconcerts” of every type of musical group and genre to take in – all in one sitting!
The New England Digital Accordion Orchestra was formed in 2015 by its conductor who is the internationally recognized accordionist and music educator, Anselmo (Sam) Falcetti of Wilbraham, Massachusetts. The Orchestra currently features 20 performers representing four of the six New England States. Its venues have included First Night Chatham 2019, The Big E, The Spencer Fair, opening act for Deanna Martin and Bobby Rydell at the Annual Italian Festival in Enfield, CT, and numerous community summer concerts.
The Orchestra is looking forward to returning by popular demand to First Night Chatham on New Year’s
Eve to perform concerts at 1and 2:PM at the United Methodist Church. Chatham, a beautiful New England seaside village on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, is the site of one of the nation’s longest running and most successful First Night celebrations. This year’s event marks the 32nd year of First Night Chatham, a family-friendly and alcohol-free festival of the visual and performing arts which ushers in the New Year on December 31 of each year. It features over 70 top-flight entertainment acts from throughout New England performing throughout the day from 1 to 9 pm in indoor and outdoor spaces, all within walking distance along Chatham’s Main Street! Other highlights include a road race and a noise parade in which all who wish to participate march down Main Street, noisemakers in hand, to the field where a professional fireworks display is held! Admission to indoor events is via purchase of First Night buttons. Ordering directiona and event details can be found at www.firstnightchatham.com. The event is an annual sellout attracting both locals and visitors from around the country!
Videos of performances can be viewed on youtube.com and Facebook by searching
under New England Digital Accordion Orchestra.
The first photo was taken at our 2019 First Night Chatham concert program, and the second taken at a “Concert on the Common” which the Orchestra performed in Sturbridge this past summer.
