"Golden Anniversary Benefit Concert"
Recorded Live at Bendix Theater, Century Center
South Bend IN
July 2008
Featuring The Gene Van Accordion Orchestra
and Entertainment Showcase
with Guest Artists:
Amy Jo Sawyer and Joe Natoli
Now
available (Order
form) - "One Voice" - The 50th Reunion Concert of the
Gene Van Accordion Orchestra and Entertainment Showcase.
This remarkable CD was recorded live at Bendix Theater, Century
Center South Bend IN, July 2008 to mark the 50th anniversary of
Gene Van's teaching career. Former accordion students
representing each of the five decades returned for this once in
a lifetime concert benefiting autism.
The first half of this concert is Mr. Van's tribute to several
outstanding accordionists & musicians who inspired him and many
other accordionists in their careers. Some of these
arrangements will be enjoyed once more by accordionists of all
levels from around the world. Starting off with The Sound
Of Music Medley (Rodgers & Hammerstein), Bugler's Holiday (Leroy
Anderson), and Holy City (Stephen Adams) all arranged by
Palmer-Hughes to Rimsky-Korsakow Danse De Bouffons
arranged by Chas Magnante. Included is an original accordion
piece, Balkan Impressions written by Gerhard Mohr. The
first half concludes with a rousing version of Rossini's "The
William Tell Overture" (Finale) arranged by Aretta Rodionoff.
A world premiere opens the second half of this concert, "The
Patriotic Medley" an arrangement by Gene Van for this concert.
This American tribute is a blend of vocals, percussion and
accordions that grabs your attention from the opening Star
Spangled Banner, the tributes to the branches of the service
with Dixie, Battle Hymn, America the Beautiful and other
patriotic tapestries carrying you to its climatic ending that
includes God Bless America. A truly inspirational and beautiful
arrangement.
What would an anniversary and reunion concert be without a
tribute to some of those great songs and medleys played by many of those returning members of the
Gene Van Symphony of the 70's? Young American Medley and
Mac Arthur Park (Jim Webb) make a welcome and refreshing
comeback, proving that classic arrangements, like older students
can actually stand the test of time.
Memory (Andrew Lloyd Webber) is a beautiful arrangement
that highlights some of the memories of the Entertainment Showcase era of the 80's.
Perhaps the standout of this concert, and certainly a must hear
for anyone who loves hearing a good polka is Gene Van's version
of "The Beer Barrel Polka" (Brown, Timm, Vejvoda). This
arrangement is appreciated by young and old will forever be a
standard setter for other accordion orchestra's worldwide.
A beautiful wish for the future follows with "Let There Be
Peace On Earth" (Sy Miller) a special arrangement prepared for this concert. Truly a wonderful piece that
when performed live brought everyone to their feet in appreciate
of the musicality of the arrangement and vocalist.
Fifty years ago, Gene Van was excited about the prospect of
reaching out to parents as well as students to share his passion
and love of the accordion. A true champion, he has touched
countless lives over the course of his active teaching and still
touches lives as he reminds us in the closing number that all it
takes is One Voice (Manilow).
