This is the first solo-CD of Vincent van Amsterdam. It contains some of the most important compositions of the modern accordion repertoire, in addition to that there are some compositions of important historical composers. 

We are sorry to inform you a playlist is currently not available.

There are three works from the Barok era on this CD. It opens with Prelude and Fugue in d-minor BWV 875. This composition is one of the 48 preludes and fugues from the famous “Wohltemperierte Klavier II” written in 1742 by J.S. Bach. Also the sonatas by D. Scarlatti are numerous times performed and recorded by classical accordionists. These 550 sonatas  contain all known techniques and styles of the Barok. The compositions of Scarlatti are very divers and colourful.

With J.S. Bach and D. Scarlatti the Barok period comes to an end.  J.P. Sweelinck on the other hand, born in 1562, is one of the more early Barok composers. His “Chromatic Fugue” is considered to be one of the first properly written Fugue. It was considered quite modern and advanced for its day because of the bold use of chromatism throughout the piece. In the next 150 years the art of the fugue was further developed and came to its full glory in the hands of Bach. 

On this CD you also find four original compositions for accordion. In 1975 the Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina met the Bayan player F. Lips and in 1978 she had written her first composition for Bayan “De Profundis”. The composition has a very religious and eclectic nature and is frequently played by classical accordionists around the world. In “De Profundis” Gubaidulina developed sounds and techniques on accordion which were never heard before, this has inspired many other composers since. 

The toccatas by G. Katzer and O. Schmidt are both written in the late 60’s and are dedicated to the Danish accordionist M. Ellegaard. The composition of Schmidt is a mix of classical elements and elements of contemporary jazz. In the Toccata by Kazter there are two different worlds competing with each other; an soothing soundscape and a rithmical up tempo part. The composer of “Fantango”, J. Tiensuu, combines the Tango with the Fandango (a traditional dance from Iberia) and melts them together to make one rhythmical and powerful piece. 

The Scherzo of the fairy-tale like ballet “A Midsummersnight Dream” by F.B. Mendelssohn is also presented. The pianist S. Rachmaninov rewrote this orchestral work to piano in the early twentieth century, the Russian bayanplayer A. Sebastian used this transcription to make his own interpretation for the bayan.