Sunday, April 14, 2013

Meeting ick Albreski called the meeting to order. • Dick had brought some extra accordions for anyone who wanted to play. Everyone with an accordion played "Happy Birthday" to Milo Shedeck. Dick followed with "Easter Parade." • Milo and Lucy served delicious birthday cake to the group. • We agreed to hold the next meeting on May 12. This is the scheduled date, and it is also Mother's Day. • Dick announced that the 2014 NAA Convention will have a new location: The Harvey House. • Future OAC meetings were discussed. Dick asked members for new ideas for special places to meet, and different things to do. Bob Mansfield will find out if we can have a meeting at the Norman Performance Center -- possibly in August. This meeting could include a concert, if there are enough participants. • The big September Fest party will be at the church, as it was last year. • Other ideas under consideration are: a meeting in Tulsa; a fund-raiser of some kind; and a special meeting at a local restaurant. • Then we had music! −Dick and John Buchanan began with "The Swedish Polka." −John soloed with "Elmer's Tune." −Anne Lopez treated us to a medley of romantic French tunes: "I Love Paris," "Under Paris Skies," and "The Song from Moulin Rouge." −Anne and Dick played "La Vie En Rose." −Barbara Duer played two pieces that she had received from Gordon Kohl at the NAA Convention: "Chosjajka" and "Cossack Dancer." Magdalena Brantley accompanied her with clackers --- a handmade rhythm instrument. − Bob Mansfield performed several selections: "The Accordionist March," "The Italian Polka," and three French songs: "For Me Formidable," "Douce France," and "Y'a d'la Joie." He also played and sang "Blue Skies," and ended with "Sweetly" by Andrew Bird. −Dick handed out copies of "Midnight in Moscow." He demonstrated ornamentation of the song by adding thirds for harmony, and triplets and counter basses for interest. −He also presented us with an "accordion puzzle" picture -- a mirror image of the left side of a 140 bass accordion. −Dick played two Polish polkas that he had learned as lessons in the forties: "With Money You Can Do Anything" and "Happy Mary," and "The Michael Oberek." His final song was "Eveline," composed by him for Evie. −Bob showed us how to make an Italian accordion sound "French" by half-engaging two switches. −The Accordionaires (Dan Orza, Karen West, John Buchanan, and Lois Roth) ended the meeting with three seasonal songs: "April Showers," "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," and "Tiptoe Thru the Tulips." They also performed a British March, "Song of the Regiment." There was a fun jam session after the meeting. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, May 12. Spring! May! Mother's Day! Come and play with us!