Music Commissions Home | Music Commissions Brief History | Music Commissions Articles List | Composer's Guide to the Piano Accordion
The listing below consists of all original works commissioned by the AAA since 1957, when the first composition, Prelude and Dance (Op. 69), by the renowned American composer Paul Creston, was published. Since then, the number of works has passed 61 and is still growing.
All commissions, from the first through the most recent, are listed below in alphabetical order by
1) composer (left-hand column);
2) dates of commission and/or publication (middle column); and
3) the original publishers (far right column), accompanied by links to recorded performances from a variety of sources (in red under the publisher’s name) when they can be found.
The sound quality of the recordings varies, depending upon the conditions under which they were made, and range from carefully made studio productions to more spontaneous amateur through professional level recordings at live events. A number of these have been on Youtube for some time already. Most of the venues are public auditoriums of varying notoriety, professional recording studios, and private homes. Despite the conditions under which the recordings have been made, however, the performances themselves are of outstanding professional quality by artists of the highest caliber and should successfully fulfil the main purpose of their inclusion on this list: to acquaint the reader aurally with the scores themselves.
For the interested performer, some scores may be hard to find since items often go out of print, and publishers themselves go out of business or are absorbed by other publishers. A web search will often turn up out-of-print copies for sale, however, and is worth the effort. The AAA is endeavoring to locate present-day owners of these publications for permissions. Feel free to contact us at mcmahan@tcnj.edu if you are having trouble finding a score that interests you in the meantime.
Articles about individual AAA Music Commissions.
Short history of the Composers’ Commissioning Committee.
Live radio broadcast interview with Carmen Carrozza, pioneering performer of the first CCC commissions of famous American composers. WFMT, Chicago, February 16, 1961, following Carrozza’s February 11 concert at the Arts Club of Chicago in which he performed AAA commissioned solos by noted American composers Robert Russell Bennett, Henry Cowell, Paul Creston, Otto Luening, Wallingford Riegger, William Grant Still, Carlos Surinach, and Virgil Thomson. Carrozza discusses the rise of the classical accordion and plays excerpts from these works as he describes them.
| Composer Last, First name |
Music Title (year) | Publisher Recording Information |
|---|---|---|
| Adler, Samuel | Canto XVIII (2009) | Ludwig Masters Recording by Dr Robert Young McMahan. |
| Video: Samuel Adler discussing his Canto XVIII with Beverly Curnow (who premiered the stradella version at a previous event) and Robert McMahan (who would premiere the free bass version at this concert). They were members of a pre-concert discussion panel of performers and/or composers participating in this, the fourth of a series of AAA- and City College of New York (CUNY)-sponsored programs of contemporary concert works for or including accordion, produced and moderated by McMahan. The other panelists seen in this excerpt and who discussed other works on the program are accordionists William Schimmel and Mary Tokarski; pianist and daughter of one of the composers on the program (Todor Vasilev Gerov), Dessie Vaughan; and dancer/choreographer Micki Goodman. Elebash Recital Hall, CUNY, October 10, 2008. | ||
| Baksa, Robert | Accordion Sonata (1998) | Theodore Presser Video 1st mvt, 2nd mvt, 3rd mvt Robert Young McMahan |
| Bennett, Robert Russell | Four Nocturnes (1960) | Chappell
& Co. Recording by Beverly Curnow. Nocturne 1, Norturne 2, Nocturne 3, Nocturne 4. |
| Bennett, Robert Russell | Quintet (Psychiatry), for Accordion and String Quartet (ca. 1963) | Chappell & Co. |
| Biviano, Joseph | Quintet in G, for Accordion and String Quartet (ca. 1986) | (Rental Only) |
| Brant, Henry | Sky Forest, for Four Accordions (1962) | O.
Pagani & Bro. Recording by Robert Young McMahan, Beverly Roberts Curnow, Rita Davidson, Leonard Feldmann. |
| Brickman, Joel | Prelude and Caprice (1973) | Pietro
Deiro Publications. Video by Mary Tokarski. |
| Cowell, Henry | Concerto Brevis, for Accordion and Orchestra (1962) | Pietro
Deiro Publications Video 4 movements, Joricio Cagel accordion |
| Cowell, Henry | Iridescent Rondo (1960) | Pietro
Deiro Publications. Video by Carmen Carrozza Recording from Schimmel’s LP, Accordion Revisited |
| Creston, Paul | Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra or Band (1960) | Ricordi
Music/reprint by Ernest Deffner Music Video Carmen Carrozza, accordion, & Boston Pops Orchestra, world premiere. Video Carmen Carrozza |
| Creston, Paul | Embryo Suite (1968) | Pietro
Deiro Publications Video Robert Young McMahan |
| Creston, Paul | Fantasy for Accordion and Orchestra, or as solo (1966) | Mills
Publishing Co. Video Mary Tokarski & 2013 AAA Festival Orchestra conducted by Joan C. Sommers Video Carmen Carrozza as a solo |
| Creston, Paul | Prelude and Dance (1957) | Pietro
Deiro Publications Recording by Robert Young McMahan |
| Davidson, Roger | Tango Blues, for Flute, Viola, Cello, & Accordion (2010) | Ernest Deffner Music Video Mary Tokarski (accordion), Christina Busso (flute), Alice Fish (violin) and Yulia (cello). |
| Diamond, David | Night Music, for Accordion and String Quartet (1966) | Southern Music. Night Music Recording by Carmelo Pino and the Potomac String Quartet |
| Diamond, David | Introduction & Dance (1967) | Southern Music Video by Dr Robert Young McMahan |
| Diamond, David | Sonatina (1966) | Southern Music 1st mvt, 2nd mvt, 3rd mvt by Beverly Roberts Curnow |
| Flagello, Nicholas | Introduction and Scherzo (1964) | Pietro
Deiro Publications Video Mario Muccitto, accordion Video by Carmen Carrozza |
| Foss, Lukas | Curriculum Vitae (1978) | Pembroke Video Robert Young McMahan |
| Foss, Lukas | Triologue, for Violin, Cello, and Accordion (ca. 2003) | No publisher 1st mvt, 2nd mvt, 3rd mvt by Dr Robert Young McMahan accordion; Airi Yoshioka, vn; Madeleine Shapiro, vc; |
| Franceschina, John | Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra (1987) | Ernest Deffner Music |
| Franceschina, John | For Elsie (2004) | No publisher |
| Franceschina, John | Scaramouche (1975) | Pietro
Deiro Publications Recording, by Robert Young McMahan |
| Fremar, Karen | Introduction & Allegro, for Accordion and Synthesized Tape (1976) | Ernest Deffner Music |
| Fremar, Karen | Herrick’s Road, for Accordion and Percussion (2009) | Ernest Deffner Music |
| Friedman, Gary William | Accordion Samba, for Vocalist, Bassoon, Cello and Accordion (1997) | 150
Music Recording, by Robert Young McMahan, Glenn Turner, scat singer; Madeleine Shapiro vc: Valerie Trollinger, bn; |
| Gordon, Louis | Aria, Scherzo and Finale, for Accordion and Orchestra or Band (1962) | Pietro
Deiro Publications |
| Halac, Jose | Accordion Shadow for Accordion, Flute and Percussion (n.d., 1993) | Ernest Deffner Music |
| Holshouser, Will | Redbud Winter, for B-flat Trumpet & Accordion, with alternate versions for B-flat Clarinet & Accordion, and 2 Accordions (2021) | Ernest Deffner Music Video by Will Holshouser (accordion) and Eric Vloeimans (trumpet) |
| Katehis, George | Become/Desiccated (2017) | www.katehis-music.com Video Matti Pulkki, accordion |
| Kleinsinger, George | Prelude and Sarabande (1963) | Pietro
Deiro Publications Recording by Dr. Robert McMahan |
| Klucevsek, Guy | Three Tributes (2016) | www.guyklucevsek.com Video by Guy Klucevsek |
| Krenek, Ernst | Toccata (1964) | O.
Pagani & Bro. Recording by Dr. Robert McMahan from Orion LP |
| Lockwood, Normand | Sonata Fantasia (1965) | O. Pagani & Bro. |
| Luening, Otto | Rondo (1961) | Pietro
Deiro Publications. Video by Carmen Carrozza Recording from Schimmel’s LP, Accordion Revisited |
| McMahan, Robert Young | Apparitions, for Flute (alt. Piccolo) and Accordion (1996) | Ernest Deffner Music |
| McMahan, Robert Young | Incantations, for Cello and Accordion (1995) | Ernest Deffner Music Recording by Robert McMahan, accordion; Cecelia Barczyk vc; |
| Natoli, Joseph | Sonata in F Major (in the Classical Style) (2018) | JANPress Video by Joseph Natoli |
| Natoli, Joseph | Child's Play, for 2 Accordions, Cello & Percussion (2019) | JANPress Video 1, Video 2 by Joseph Natoli |
| Oliveros, Pauline | Shape Shifting (1965) | Ernest Deffner Music |
| Pisk, Paul | Adagio & Rondo Concertante, for Two Accordions & Orchestra (1962) | Alfred Music Co., Inc. |
| Pisk, Paul | Salute to Juan (1961) | Alfred Music Co., Inc. |
| Riegger, Wallingford | Cooper Square (1958) | Pietro
Deiro Publications Video Carmen Carrozza accordion Video Paul Shigrove accordion |
| Schimmel, Dr William | Fables (1975) | Ernest Deffner Music Recording from Schimmel’s LP, Accordion Revisited |
| Schimmel, William | Remembering a Legend; Charles Magnante (1987) | Ernest Deffner Music Recording by Mary Tokarski |
| Schimmel, William | The Spring Street Ritual (1979) | Ernest Deffner Music Video Joanna Darrow accordion |
| Schimmel, William | Variations in Search of a Theme (1976) | Ernest Deffner Music |
| Serebrier, Jose | Danza Ritual (1967) | O. Pagani & Bro. |
| Serebrier, Jose | Passacaglia and Perpetum Mobile, for Accordion, Strings, Brass and Percussion (1974) | Peer
International Publications Recording by Yi Yao, accordionist; Serebrier, conductor; Toulouse Chamber Orchestra |
| Siegmeister, Elie | Improvisation, Ballad and Dance (1962) | Sam
Fox Publications Track 1, Track 2, Track 3 by Dr. Robert McMahan |
| Soldier, Dave | Sontag in Sarajevo, for Accordion, Melody, Chordal, Bass Instruments and Drums (1993) | Ernest Deffner Music Video Denise Koncelik, flute; Devon Osamu Tipp, bassoon, Wm. Schimmel, piano; and Dr Robert Young McMahan, accordion |
| Still, William Grant | Aria (1960) | Sam
Fox Publications Recording by Robert McMahan |
| Still, William Grant | Lilt (1967) | Pietro
Deiro Publications Recording by Robert McMahan |
| Surinach, Carlos | Prelude to the Sea (1965) | Alfred
Music Co., Inc. Recording by Robert McMahan |
| Surinach, Carlos | Pavana and Rondo (1959) | Alfred
Music Co., Inc/reprint Ernest Deffner Music Recording by Mario Tacca Recording from Schimmel’s LP, Accordion Revisited |
| Tcherepnin, Alexander | Invention (1968) | O. Pagani & Bro. |
| Tcherepnin, Alexander | Partita (1962) | O.
Pagani & Bro. Video Nathan Chapeton, accordion |
| Tcherepnin, Alexander | Tzigane (1968) | Pietro Deiro Publications |
| Thompson, Timothy | Growth Cells (1976) | Ernest Deffner Music |
| Thompson, Timothy | Keyworld (1977) | Ernest Deffner Music |
| Thompson, Timothy | Rossiniland (1977) | Ernest Deffner Music |
| Thomson, Virgil | Lamentations (1960) | Pietro Deiro Publications |
The AAA Composers’ Commissioning Committee welcomes donations from all those who love the classical accordion and wish to see its modern original concert repertoire continue to grow. The American Accordionists’ Association is a 501(c)(3) corporation. All contributions are tax deductible to the extent of the law. They can easily be made by visiting the AAA Store at https://www.ameraccord.com/cart.aspx which allows you to both make your donation and receive your tax deductible receipt on the spot.
For additional information, please contact Dr. McMahan at grillmyr@gmail.com