The 'Cordeen and Me: Coming to Terms With Myron Floren

[SteveH]

Hi, Friends --
Im happy to announce that the next episode of The Cordeen and Me - Coming to Terms with Myron Floren -is now available at http://www.accordionweb.com

Thanks for all the positive comments on the blog thus far. I hope you enjoy the new posting.

-- Steve

 

[SteveH]

...by the way. I'd be fascinated to know whether Myron Floren and "The Lawrence Welk Show" are known outside of the USA! Have you had the pleasure?

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Steve,

Never heard of either. The UK seems to have been spared/denied that privilege, unless others on this site know differently.

This side of the pond we had Sir Jimmy Shand, who regularly appeared on TV throughout my childhood and adolescence. I knew even less about accordions then than I know now, but I accepted that he was a virtuoso accordionist.

Back then, my main musical interest was the Clarinet, which I played reasonably well. I bought Acker Bilk's single "stranger on the shore" and played along with the record until I had learned to play it quite well. By the early sixties I was heavily involved with Folk Clubs, and occasionally played with my Cousin's Folk Group.

It would be wrong of me to say that I didn't like Rock Music, but I did think that a lot of it was utter rubbish. The sixties was a golden era for music, but there was also an enormous amount of dross in amongst it. (don't stick stickers on my paper knickers) springs to mind. There were a couple of "folk revivals" in the sixties, which produced some excellent music, and kept people like me interested and entertained.

Adios,

Stephen.

 

[AccordionUprising]

Theres probably a book to be written about the schmaltzier side of the accordion in different countries represented by different artists. Shand and Welk played totally different music but seem to have filled a cultural niche for a post-war conservative, predictable music. Their audiences grew older along with the artists and the music got sort of entrenched. I gather theres equivalent French musette artists and the at least the early schlager styles as well. (I dont know much about that so it may not relate.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlager_music

Then of course baby boomers decided they were above all that and rejected them (and largely the accordion) in favour of loud electric amplification.

 

[JerryPH]

...by the way. Id be fascinated to know whether Myron Floren and The Lawrence Welk Show are known outside of the USA! Have you had the pleasure?

It was certainly popular in Canada!

 

[SteveH]

Interesting that the Welk show made it to Canada, but not to the UK. Id recommend that of my non-North American readers take a look. You can find a complete show from 1963 at .

By the way - their sponsor, Geritol was a tonic for old folks -- it was synonymous with age. When you turned 40 or 50 or 60, some wag was sure to buy you a bottle.

THanks for reading, guys!

 

[donn]

Canada is not so far from the US.

When I was a kid, Lawrence Welk was terrifically popular among the older generation and there wasnt any confusion on that point - it turned totally away from young people, and they turned away from it. I doubt that all old people liked it, but old people didnt have as many options then, as they do now.

Sure, a lot of 60s music was trash, but thats true of every era - or perhaps everything (see Sturgeons Law.)

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Music, the arts, science and culture have been evolving for many centuries, though you would hardly credit it when confronted with some of the "music" heard today. It seems that music has been dumbing-down for about half a century, and the idea of learning to play an instrument properly does not sit right with a generation of people who demand instant gratification.

I cannot think of a word which is the complete opposite of evolution, but certain elements in our society are involved in a headlong race to the bottom.

 

[SteveH]

At the risk of sounding like the crotchety old fart I probably am, I completely agree, Stephen ...

 

[JerryPH]

Never learned "Lady of Spain", actually refused to as a kid... and I never will never play it... ever... 'nuff said.

 

[SteveH]

You're not alone, Jerry. I've heard the same thing from quite a few Accordionistas.

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

SteveH,

I don't know if you get any British sitcoms on your side of the pond, but there is one in particular which I think you would relate to. It is called "One Foot In The Grave", and features as its main character one "Victor Meldrew."

The general plot involves a recently retired man who finds modern life totally infuriating. He says what most older people think, often striking a blow by upholding long abandoned values.

My Wife often calls me "Victor."

 

[Alan Sharkis]

For a good time, uh, a study in contrast, try:

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Nuf said?

Alan

 

[JackieC]

Back in 1999, I had the great honor of meeting Myron Floren and played in an accordion orchestra in which he conducted two or three tunes. It was a pretty magical moment for me because I had grown up seeing him play accordion on the Lawrence Welk Show. He was a very nice person and he autographed his autobiography for me. It was an experience I'll never forget!

 

[JerryPH]

Great story... great experience!

 

[AccordionUprising]

When I was a kid, Lawrence Welk was terrifically popular among the older generation and there wasnt any confusion on that point - it turned totally away from young people, and they turned away from it. I doubt that all old people liked it, but old people didnt have as many options then, as they do now.

Sure, a lot of 60s music was trash, but thats true of every era - or perhaps everything (see Sturgeons Law.

I wonder if there was a certain point when Welk made a decision to turn away from the youth market? He was always studiously middle-of-the-capitalist-road. Wherever the money was in the road, he was right there. He stuck with the audience that had listened to him since the 1930-40s and they were loyal as hell. But his strange attempts to reach out to younger viewers make me curious. Like having Buddy Merrill on stratocaster or the examples where they covered hippy songs or even had the band dress up as stoners. Apparently his audience either missed it or rejected it.

One Toke Over the Line, they really played that?! Yup.
<YOUTUBE id=t8tdmaEhMHE url=></YOUTUBE>

Hippy Welk (only temporary)
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[JackieC]

I think that whatever Lawrence Welk did, musically, to work with the hippy era, was done with the usual bit of class, for which that show was known. Those were the days when the musicians dressed very nice in matching outfits. It was a first class show with first class musicians. The time I played in the accordion orchestra where Myron Floren conducted was at the Welk Theater in Branson, Missouri. It was a very beautiful place and a very special moment in my life.

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

You know, when you actually think about it, the divergence in musical tastes owes a great deal to the tearing up of social norms and customs. Some things did need to change, that is for sure, but the pendulum seems to have swung much too far.

 

[JeffJetton]

The shame of it is that "Lady of Spain" is, at its core, not a bad song at all. No worse than, say, "Fascination" or "Pigalle" or "Carnival of Venice" or any number of similar waltzes that are welcomed with open bellows into many accordion player's repertoires. As time goes on, and fewer and fewer people remain who even know about the baggage that song has, maybe it will creep back toward legitimacy.

I guess every instrument has the same problem. If you play fiddle, someone's gonna request "Orange Blossom Special" or "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". If you're a drummer, people are going to ask for "Wipeout".

Guitarists? "Free Bird" and "Stairway to Heaven". Piano? "Piano Man", of course. Saxophone? Hmmm... maybe "Yakety Sax"? The riff from "Careless Whisper"?

Anyway, we American piano accordionists wound up with "Lady of Spain". Well, that and "Beer Barrel Polka". And "Chicken Dance".

Oh well.

 

[Howie]

Saxophone? Hmmm... maybe Yakety Sax? The riff from Careless Whisper?

Even worse - Ive been asked more than once, to play the theme from Pink Panther.

I agree with your thoughts on Lady of Spain, Jeff. Ive lightened up over the years regarding musical tropes and cliches, and so I deliberately sought out out a few pieces that I know people will be familiar with on accordion. I dont play L.o.S, but Im not averse to playing a few of the usual suspects, and enjoy them, guilt free.

Regarding the Topic at hand - I continue to enjoy The Cordeen and Me. I had already discovered Myron Floren via youtube, and so although Im not a resident of northern America, I knew what the article was talking about.

Im probably opening myself up to mockery here, but I really enjoyed the performances by Myron that I saw. He looks like hes having a ball, and thats infectious. Bearing in mind that Ive not been over-exposed to either accordion or MF or the Lawrence Welk show... I thought it was very entertaining. Theres nothing wrong with a show that knew its audience and provided what they wanted.

Sooner or later all of us find ourselves in the older generation (if were lucky!) I realized this truth many years ago when I despaired that an all-night, commercial free music video show I watched seemed to change overnight. Gone were the clips of whatever pop or rock acts were current. Suddenly, every clip was Rap and Hip Hop. And it was there to stay, night after night, year after year. Why cant they play proper music, my friends and I moaned. This isnt singing! Theres no music! And so on, sounding just like our parents before us. The other day, apparently, was the 44th anniversary of the birth of Hip Hop. It hasnt grown on me, so I suppose Ive been an old f*rt for a long time now, especially since I would rather have an hour of Myron than a minute of rap