Four Parishes Arts Society - January 2008

'The Accordion' - a presentation given by Suzanne Webber on 15 January.

Suzanne has been playing the piano for 51 years and the accordion for two years three months. It was when she heard Jim Gilbert playing his accordion in the village shop in Grateley, where she lives, that her interest was awakened and from then on she decided she would like to play this instrument. So Jim lent her an accordion for three months before she purchased her own.

She first played publicly in Amport Church and has appeared at several other local venues gaining valuable experience. Suzanne played for the Four Parishes Arts Society at their summer barbecue in 2007.

Suzanne explained the intricacies of the accordion in between entertaining members by playing five contrasting pieces - Las Fallas, Serenata, Liberty Bell, Libertango and Vive Musetto, with much accomplishment. At one time she demonstrated "bellows shake", a difficult undertaking but very entertaining - as was the whole evening.

She was ably backed by her husband Sam, who had erected a large screen to her left, thereby enabling the audience to get an all-round picture of the accordion as Suzanne demonstrated the use of the keyboard and the bass buttons.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 12 February at Grateley Village Hall (not Monxton), when Caroline Unwin will speak on 'Church Recording'