Remembering and Honoring Eugene Ettore
by Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News (posted by Joan Dominick with permission of author, Rita Davidson Barnea – Facebook Post June 2, 2020)
“Video: “Rhapsodie Espagnol” by Eugene Ettore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeoryp6f-ZI
June 2, 2020 would have been Eugene Ettore’s 99th Birthday. In honor of his birthday, I am posting the link to the website I created to educate all about a unique, versatile and talented individual who made great contributions to the accordion world and musical world in general. I encourage you to visit this page:
http://www.accordions.com/memorials/mem/ettore_eugene/
I was extremely fortunate to be his student. He prepared me for my long career as a music teacher in the public schools. I played the accordion every day for my students! It is a fabulous asset to any music teacher!
Eugene Ettore inspired all of his students with an approach which included discipline, encouragement, and kindness. Those of you who had a music teacher as a guiding light in their lives will understand the importance of having a teacher/mentor. The lifelong benefits and influence branch out into so many other areas of life.
Eugene Ettore was well known as a fabulous composer for the accordion. He performed as both soloist and in the duet team, “Concert Duo” with Carmen Carrozza, his great friend. As a Renaissance man, Eugene Ettore also played the French Horn, and wrote method books for the accordion and French Horn. He was an artist, inventor, piano tuner/rebuilder and Braille transcriber etc. He was President of the AAA (American Accordionists’ Association) three times!
I presented a lecture/concert workshop, “The Life and Music of Eugene Ettore” at the 2018 AAA Festival in Alexandria, Virginia. In honor of Eugene Ettore’s birthday, I am offering a free download of the recording of his original compositions: http://www.musicforaccordion.com/eTracks/inform/davidson/index.htm
If you would like to see recent performances of some of his works, please visit Youtube :
1. Rita Barnea Workshop “Prelude & Scherzo”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etP04Tf6rQc
2. Eugene Ettore: “Spanish Holiday, for Accordion”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFhxhXcb7pQ
3. Rita Barnea Workshop “Accordion Miniatures”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPyCpSxiT8E
4. Rita Barnea Workshop “Five O’Clock Rush”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-7JMjGdU1c
If you wish to learn his music, please email me and I will send it to you as a free download.
I hope that you enjoyed learning about Eugene Ettore. He greatly deserves to be remembered and recognized for his important contributions. I would love to see more accordionists learn and perform his works. I welcome any comments sent to me, Rita Barnea, at Ritabelll@aol.com. Cell: 201-675-4861″