Supplication

One last short day for CIMF2026.  I was sad to miss the final MOSSO gigs and a few others this final day, but so be it;  external conflicts.  But I was free for a solo concert of James Crabb, renowned classical accordion player on a chromatic button accordion.  This is a button accordion with its complex, geometric arrangements for each hand.  His touch could be light and flighty, strong and decisive, even making sound effects and accordion breathes.  Something quite unexpected and experimental to my ears, but I don't know the instrument int his context.  The theme was spiritual with a title Supplication to transcendence with water spirit songs from Ross Edwards, religious themes from JS Bach and Piazzola and Sofia Gubaidulina.  Then, unusually, a discussion with CIMF MD Eugene Ughetti on related themes, of Gardeners and architects, religious symbols, dissonance and resolutions, practice, breathe>spirit/divine>religion, his performance history and approach to the instrument and teaching and ritual of performance. And weight of the instrument: 16kg each and he may carry 2, front and back.  Thus some exercise, I guess.  And the mechanicality of it all, with one button stuck on this day!  A fascinating outing with a master of the art.

James Crabb (accordion) performed at ACCC for CIMF.  JC was interviewed by Eugene Ughetti.