A World of Accordions Museum, second annual festival

A World of Accordions Museum is proud to announce the May 3-4, 2014, second annual festival celebrating Dr. Willard Palmer, whose musical estate is preserved in this institution. Palmer’s genius affects  generations in world culture from the 1940s into the future. Translated into 17 languages and used by music teachers worldwide, Palmer-Hughes piano, organ, guitar, and accordion method books (numbering 790) tutor inestimable  millions of aspirants at all levels. His 145 Masterwork  editions for Alfred Music are considered definitive for Baroque, Classic, and Romantic epochs’ performance practice.

The focus of this event involves presentation of Palmer’s  magnificent 10-foot harpsichord encased in gold leaf and  vermillion, featuring two manuals and eleven-pedals  controlling six plectra. The instrument, built in 1979 by A.  Cecil Taylor with soundboard hand painted by southwest  artist Grant Tinkler, was transported to the museum in the summer of 2013 and installed at stage-center in AWAM’s Hanni Strahl Concert Hall. After years of musical silence, restorations were undertaken by engineer Roger Schmitz and harpsichord builder Paul Wartman with advice from Willard Palmer, III.

Over twenty performers playing accordions, violins, piano and folk drums in solo, ensemble and orchestral settings are slated in concerts featuring original works for free-bass accordion by Hans Brehme, Hugo Herrmann, Palmer editions and unpublished manuscripts. DSSO violinist Carolyn Carver and museum curator Helmi Harrington will present programs including UMD lyric soprano Amanda Bush and Palmer’s great Titano Super Emperor. Harrington will also present a lecture/demonstration of two-dozen historic instruments explaining ethnic and artistic differences that inspired their inventions, tuning specialties and pitch organizations. Her research into the dissemination of Equal Temperament through accordion-family instruments will be described.

Event highpoints will be entertainments by Willard Palmer, III, master of magic, mystery and mirth, who has delighted royalty and commoners throughout the world. This multifaceted entertainer combines music, humor and encyclopedic knowledge in ways that astounded all who heard him at last year’s festival. He and wife Julie, generous donors of the Palmer estate, will elucidate cultural influences through music on banjos and accordions.

A curator-guided tour of the museum will include displays about its affiliate organization The American Accordionists’ Association. The AAA Archival Collection room offers a public face and research repository for this group that contributes to social, cultural, and musical history since its founding in 1938.

The beloved, prize-winning chronicler of cultural history in the Midwest, Dr. Anthony Bukoski, will read from his new work "Pulaski Day in Polka Town." Refreshments will be provided throughout both days. Admission is $50.00 for all events, $15.00 per individual event. A 10% reduction will be offered for tickets purchased before April 15, and to museum members.