- Rose City Accordion Club

AccordionTalk Newsletter
Rose City Accordion Club - Portland, Oregon
October 2007
Please Join Us October 20 at the Milwaukie Public
Safety Bldg. SE 32nd and Harrison
1:00 - 5:00 PM Club Meeting
Board Meeting at 12:00PM prior to normal Club
meeting. All interested Club members are welcome to
attend.
Feature Performer - JOE SZABO
Highlights:
2- September Program
3- BRAVO ZULU history
4- Greg Gordon
5- If Your Accordion could
Talk To You
6- History of “Anchors
Aweigh”
7- History of Halloween
8- Contacts
Joe commenced accordion studies at age six at the Milton-Mann Accordion
Studio in Costa Mesa, Ca. A year later his family moved to Coos Bay, Or. ,
where he studied for about 5 years with Hugo Fursching.
Joe’s father was a tuna fisherman so they sometimes moved to where the
fishing was best. When Joe was 12 he worked the summer fishing with his
dad. He also entered the Western States Accordion Competition with only
one week to practice and was pleasantly surprised to win the competition
with a performance of the “Flight of the Angels.”
Being from a family of nine, he really appreciated that his mother Cicely
encouraged him to play the Accordion. She also learned to play the instrument and joined us a few years ago at the Silver Falls Accordion Camp
after which Maestro Joe Morelli wrote a really nice article about her rendition of “Drifting and Dreaming.” She also gave lessons to some of her
grandchildren.
After high school, Joe studied at the Seminary in Mt. Angel, and enjoyed
accompanying the “Sound of Joy” singers in the Gazebo during the Mt.
Angel Oktoberfest. He later played at the Rhinelander Restaurant for nine
years, and at Frank-n-Steins in Mt Angel.
Joe’s teacher, Dick, had played for many years at the Nona Emilia Restaurant on TV Hwy near Hillsboro. When Dick passed away, they had a large
memorial service for him at the restaurant. The owner asked Joe if he
would play for them and he has been performing there Friday and Saturday evenings for three years. If you are out that way stop in and enjoy the
music.
Joe is married to his lovely wife Michelle and they have three children.
Their son Jeff plays drums, daughter Sarah plays guitar and daughter
Hilary is currently undecided.
Please join us for some very enjoyable music. Hope to see you there--Glenda
Page 2
Accordion Talk
October 2007
September Program
If you weren’t at our September meeting you missed a wonderful program expertly executed by our Feature
Performer GREG GORDON. He opened with Waltz Allegro followed by Trieste Overture. Next were some of
Magnante’s exercises turned into songs, Holiday for Chords and Holiday for Basses, Moonlight Serenade,
Guitanarius (Magnante), La Cumparsita, and Magnante’s Midnight in Paris. He then switched to his musettetuned Piera Maria accordion playing Al de La, Magnante’s Return to Sorrento, Roman Guitars, O Sole Mio
(Magnante’s), a delightful waltz written by Steve Allen titled Somewhere Above Earth, Radio Waltz, La Campagnola, a difficult Magnante piece Green Light, and Carnival of Venice. Switching back to his regular accordion he completed his program with Dizzy Fingers, Nola by Magnante and Tantalizing. All in all a varied set of
songs each executed with feeling, precision and speed as required. Greg, thanks for a delightful program filled
with beautiful music enjoyed by all. LaVerne Morris
Following Greg’s performance other club members took the stage and played tunes as follows:
LETA BUNNELL - a medley of old German Folk Songs
PAT DALEN - Edelweiss and Dreaming of Ellen
NANCY KAYE - Love Comes Softly
LEONARD KOSATKA - Kirmess, Alley Cat and European Waltz
MARLENE MEISSNER - a personalized version of Edelweiss and Munchen Hebund Gaudi
LONNIE LEMBKE - Tea for Two/Satin Doll Medley and Arlunser Landler
WAYNE NELSON - Ciao Ciao Palermo and Napolean’s Last Charge
LAVERNE MORRIS - Tango of the Roses/Spanish Eyes and Repasz Band
GEOFF LEVEAR - Memory (from Cats) and Piemontessian Bella
STEVE KNAPKE - Duchess Polka and You Get a Line and I’ll Get a Pole Polka
A big “WELCOME ABOARD” to two new Rose City Accordion Club members : Elaine Huber of
Vancouver, WA, and Mimi Emerson of McKenna, WA. We are delighted you decided to join our club and
hope to see you again at future club gatherings.
Hospitality:
A big thank you and BRAVO ZULU to
Glenda McLean for providing snacks and
refreshments for all to enjoy during the
intermission of the Club meeting.
Page 3
Accordion Talk
October 2007
Calendar of Featured Guests
October 20 ---- JOE SZABO
November 17 - TBA
December 15 - TBA
Please let me know if you hear of any interesting players as possible future guests.
Thanks Glenda. gmmaccord@earthlink.net
There will be a Board Meeting at 12:00PM, one hour prior
to our normal Club meeting on October 20. All interested
Club members are welcome to attend.
History of the Term "BRAVO ZULU" (by Steve Knapke)
“I didn’t know that!”
If you are a reader of this newsletter, you know I am a retired Naval Officer and frequently
use the words “BRAVO ZULU“ in my articles. Several club members have asked me the
meaning of this term, so here it is. This is a naval signal, conveyed by flaghoist or voice
radio, meaning "well done"; it has also passed into the spoken and written vocabulary. It
can be combined with the "negative" signal, spoken or written NEGAT, to say "NEGAT
Bravo Zulu," or "not well done."
There are some "myths and legends" attached to this signal. The one most frequently heard has Admiral Halsey
sending it to ships of Task Force 38 during World War II. He could not have done this, since the signal did not
exist at that time.
"Bravo Zulu" actually comes from the Allied Naval Signal Book (ACP 175 series), an international naval signal
code adopted after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created in 1949. Until then, each navy
had used its own signal code and operational manuals. World War II experience had shown that it was difficult,
or even impossible, for ships of different navies to operate together unless they could readily communicate, and
ACP 175 was designed to remedy this.
Signal books are organized starting with 1-flag signals, then 2-flag signals and so on. The 2-flag signals are organized by general subject, starting with AA, AB, AC, ... AZ, BA, BB, BC, ... BZ, and so on. The B- signals are
called "Administrative" signals, and deal with miscellaneous matters of administration and housekeeping. The
last signal on the "Administrative" page is BZ (BRAVO ZULU), standing for "well done."
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which adopted English as the international air traffic
control language, developed a phonetic alphabet for international aviation use and designed it to be as
"pronounceable" as possible by flyers and traffic controllers speaking many different languages. This is the "A
(Alfa), B (Bravo), C (Charlie), D (Delta), etc.,” alphabet used today. Thus BZ = BRAVO ZULU =WELL
Playing Out Corner
Steve Knapke played accordion music at the Tomahawk Island Floating Home Community Oktoberfest on Saturday,
September 15, 2007.
Page 4
A “Big Thumbs Up” and
BRAVO ZULU to Greg
Gordon (pictured here)
for a great performance
as our Feature Player at
last month’s club meeting.
Accordion Talk
October 2007
Greg played a wonderful
selection of songs which
demonstrated his mastery
of the keyboard. Great
technique, great songs and
a great time. Thanks for
sharing your music with
us Greg.
Page 5
Accordion Talk
If Your Accordion Could Talk To You:
October 2007
by Steve Knapke
- Do not keep me in the trunk of the car on a hot day or my wax will melt.
- Do not stretch my bellows as far as they will go to see if they rip.
- Do not be careless when placing me in or taking me out of my case for my strap may catch a key and pull it up.
- Do not push my all my bass buttons down hard and deep for my wires will bend and the buttons disappear.
- Do not set me on the back seat of your car or I will fall onto the floor when you stop.
- Do not take me apart to see what I am made of (unless you know what you are doing).
- Do not set me next to a heater, radiator, air conditioning duct or let me sit in the sun.
- When in my case, carry me with the lid next to your body to protect me if the lid should open accidentally.
- Do not play me near the ocean or the salt mist will pit my reeds (note: don’t buy used accordions on the
internet/ebay from Hawaii).
- When moving me from a cold to a warm area, let me acclimate to room temperature before you play me or
water may condense on my reeds and cause them to rust.
- Bring me to a repairman every couple of years for a check-up to prevent me from wheezing and coughing.
- Check my straps for wear and tear lest they break and I crash to the floor and play nevermore.
- No matter how frustrated you may get, please don't throw me out of a window.
Page 6
Accordion Talk
October 2007
History of "Anchors Aweigh"
On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia
and voted to fit out two sailing vessels, armed with ten carriage guns,
as well as swivel guns, and manned by crews of eighty, and to send
them out on a cruise of three months to intercept transports carrying
munitions and stores to the British army in America. This was the
original legislation out of which the Continental Navy grew and as
such constitutes the birth certificate of the navy.
October 13 is the U.S. Navy's birthday. For those not familiar with Army-Navy rivalry it may seem hard to believe that
the tune "Anchors Aweigh" is about the Army-Navy FOOTBALL game! At the Naval Academy, Lieutenant Charles
A. Zimmermann, director of the Naval Academy Band, was approached by Midshipman First Class Alfred Hart Miles
with a request from his classmates for a new march. The maestro had a tradition of composing a song for each graduating class and Miles and the class of 1907 wanted a lively football marching song that would "live forever."
Navy lore has it that Zimmermann and Miles worked out the song together in 1906, sitting at the organ in the Naval
Academy Chapel. In the days just prior to the Army-Navy football game, Zimmermann composed the music while
Miles developed the words and the title. The word "weigh" comes from an archaic word meaning to heave, hoist or
raise. "Aweigh" means that the action has been completed. Miles got his title, "Anchors Aweigh," from an expression
meaning the ship's hoisted anchor has just cleared the sea's bottom and, by implication, the voyage is underway. This
event is duly noted in a ship's log. The song was first performed at the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia in
1906 (Navy beat Army 10-0!) and was adopted as the official song of the U.S. Navy. The concluding stanza was written by Midshipman Royal Lovell, Class of 1926.
"Anchors Aweigh" (Original Lyrics)
Stand Navy down the field, sails set to the sky.
We'll never change our course, so Army you steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll up the score, Navy, Anchors Aweigh.
Sail Navy down the field and sink the Army, sink the Army Grey.
Get underway, Navy, Decks cleared for the fray,
We'll hoist true Navy Blue So Army down your Grey-y-y-y.
Full speed ahead, Navy; Army heave to,
Furl Black and Grey and Gold and hoist the Navy, hoist the Navy Blue
Blue of the Seven Seas; Gold of God's great sun
Let these our colors be Till all of time be done-n-n-ne,
By Severn shore we learn Navy's stern call:
Faith, courage, service true With honor over, honor over all.
“Anchors Aweigh” (Revised Lyrics)
by George D. Lottman
(Verse 2 is most widely sung)
[Verse 1]
Stand, Navy, out to sea, Fight our battle cry;
We'll never change our course, So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll out the TNT, Anchors Aweigh. Sail on to victory
And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!
[Verse 2]
Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night on shore, drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more. Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.
In the 1916 Lucky Bag (Academy yearbook) the class prepared a surprise
for Lieutenant Zimmermann. On page one was a photo of the bandmaster in
his full dress uniform, and on the next, a moving tribute to his devotion to
the Naval Academy. Unfortunately, he did not live to enjoy this tribute. He
became ill and died suddenly on Sunday morning, January 16, 1916, of a
brain hemorrhage. He was 54 years old. He was given a full military funeral,
with midshipmen serving as pallbearers, and classes were suspended so the
entire regiment could attend when he was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery on
Jan. 19, 1916. Later, his body was moved to the Naval Academy cemetery
where a granite monument, a gift from the classes of 1916 and 1917 was
erected, as says the inscription on the base, "by his Midshipmen Friends."
Page 7
Accordion Talk
October 2007
History of Halloween
Behind the name... Halloween, or the Hallow E'en as they call it in Ireland , means All Hallows Eve, or the night before
the 'All Hallows', also called 'All Hallowmas', or 'All Saints', or 'All Souls' Day, observed on November 1. In old English 'Hallow' meant 'sanctify'. All Hallows Day was observed to honor all Saints in heaven, known or unknown.
The American version of Halloween Day celebration owes its origin to the ancient (pre-Christian) Druidic fire festival
called "Samhain", celebrated by the Celts in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Samhain is pronounced "sow-in", with "sow"
rhyming with cow.
The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the
dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the
new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they
celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble
and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic
priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as
sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads
and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes.
By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they
ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.
The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The
second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the
incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced
today on Halloween.
By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was
attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was
also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night
before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D.
1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils.
The Halloween we celebrate today includes all of these influences, Pomona Day's apples, nuts, and harvest, the Festival of Samhain's black cats, magic, evil spirits and death, and the ghosts, skeletons and skulls from All Saint's Day and
All Soul's Day.
Rose City Accordion Club
1546 Willow Avenue
Woodburn, OR 97071
RCAC Contacts / Business Information
WWW.Rosecityaccordionclub.com www.rcac.us
2007 Officers
President Steve Knapke
Vice President - Glenda McLean
Secretary LaVerne Morris
Treasurer Marlene Meissner
Activity Coordinators
Meeting MC - various
Membership - Marlene Meissner
Program Glenda McLean
WEB Site Marjorie Curkendahl
Newsletter - Steve Knapke
Board Members
Leonard Kosatka
Wayne Nelson
Michael Stotts
George Veenstra
Glad Willie
RCAC Band Co-Directors - LaVerne Morris / Wayne Nelson
Steve Knapke / Phone - 503-521-9140
email - squeezebox1@peoplepc.com
Rose City Accordion Club is open to all accordion players, from beginners to professionals, their friends and
families, and to anyone who enjoys music. Meetings are held monthly on the third Saturday of each month at
the Milwaukie Public Safety Building, SE 32 and SW Harrison, Milwaukie OR, from 1 to 5 PM.
Ad Policy: Any member wishing to place a business card or four-line ad in the newsletter may do so free of
charge for three months. After that, the fee is $5. for two additional months. 2 x 3 ½ ad (Business card size)
$5. ¼ page ad $10. ½ page ad $20. full page ad (8 ½ x 11) $35.
Annual Dues are $20 and checks should be sent to the Treasurer RCAC