Accordion Times – The World Music Festival in Innsbruck

Ever since reading E. Annie Proulx's excellent novel 'Accordion Crimes' a few years ago in which a nineteenth century Sicilian accordion-maker comes to the United States in search of a better life, I've understood a bit more about the instrument's importance in European musical culture. Recently, the Accordion 'came home' as it were to Innsbruck and the heart of the Alps, the city hosting the 14th 'World Music Festival', which this year featured the 'Tag der Harmonika' (Harmonica Day) for the first time. And when I say 'came home', that's in reference to the first accordion patent being awarded in Austria in 1829, thanks to the work of inventor/composer Cyrill Demian.

The World Music Festival is back

The World Music Festival in Innsbruck had become a fixture in the international calendar of the accordion/harmonika scene. But this was actually the first one since 2019, thanks to Covid. The competitions and concerts were complemented by a large instrument and sheet music exhibition, and many impromptu performances too, as I found out when I spent a few hours at Congress Innsbruck on Saturday morning and into the afternoon.

I also caught up with Johannes Wollasch, managing director of the  Deutscher Harmonika-Verband (German Harmonica Association, one of the organisers of the event) for a brief chat.

How long have you personally been involved?

Johannes Wollasch: This is the first time for me and my team.

And it takes place every three years?

Yes, but this is actually the first one since 2019 because of Covid. Now we should be back in the rhythm of every three years again.

Why host the event in Innsbruck?

Innsbruck is good because we have everything here in Congress and the Messe. The two venues are very close. And we have a long cooperation with the CMI (Congress Messe Innsbruck) and it makes it easier because they've done it so often. It's the fourth time the current manager here has organised the music festival so he knows what to do. It's the 14th time the event has been held in Innsbruck.

Do you play yourself?

No! I'm a singer. We all love music on the team, but different instruments.

How did you get involved in the Deutsche Harmonika-Verband then?

I'm a cultural manager. That's what I studied. Before I was at the brass association and I don't play a brass instrument but it's management. And I'm interested in people making music and making the best music. It's pretty important that people make music.

How many people are here to perform and where have they come from?

We have over three thousand participants from all over the world. From ten different countries. We have participants from Australia and all over Europe and we have judges from America.

How many people do you expect to visit over the course of the weekend?

We think between five and six thousand altogether.

And in general how are you finding it?

For the team it's stressful but it's pretty cool to see that everyone enjoys it and the participants are happy and the visitors are happy. The exhibitors are happy that so many people with knowledge of the instruments are here. And the weather's good! So the mood is good. Everyone is happy if they come in dry!

I then returned in the evening for the Gala concert, which I have to admit, I enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would! (To be honest, British ears don't tend to be so attuned to the sound of accordion!)