Sem Accordions Circa 2005


 

In 2002 the SEM brand was launched and presented for the first time. This was the SEM Accordions' website.
Content is from the site's 2002-2005 archived pages as well as other sources.


P.O. Box 77
60022 Castelfidardo (AN) • Italy
Tel. +39 071977681
Fax +39 0717506049

 

 

The SEM story began in 1972 when two of the most prominent musical instrument factories in Castelfidardo: ELKA® and ORLA®, decided to create a brand new accordion factory. The people involved in this decision included: Piero Crucianelli - a direct descendant of one the founding families of the Italian accordion industry: Romolo Breccia - whose Salpa reed factory already had a world wide reputation and Nazzareno Piermaria, a french accordion builder whose family were originally from Castelfidardo.

The partners decided that SEM had to be capable of emulating the success and quality of the original Soprani and Crucianelli factories of Castelfidardo. In 1973 the new accordion factory opened.

Measuring nearly 3000 sq.meters it was the largest in Italy. SEM produced for ELKA®, HOHNER®, PIERMARIA® and many others, all of whom used the research, development and production facilities that the new company had to offer. For many years, SEM products were presented at all the worlds' major music exhibitions and festivals always with third party brands.

In 2002 the SEM brand was launched and presented for the first time. Then at the start of 2003, in a strategic move SEM merged with another accordion manufacturer, Menghini - producers of the SCANDALLI® and PAOLO SOPRANI® brands. The merger was a natural result of previous manufacturing collaborations between the two companies which evidenced that they had many complementary facets in terms of production and products.

The continued aim of SEM remains that of producing innovative, competitively priced, quality instruments that satisfy the customers needs and desires.

 


 

"My father gave me his SEM 502 as a graduation present because I was always borrowing it. After grad school (computer science) I eventually got a job at Google, where I was introduced to a group of coders who all played instruments and we formed a small band with a mandolin and pipe players. Our high tech assignment was to develop one of the first working models to demonstrate the capabilities of container-orchestration cloud development, AKA Kubernetes, at the time a super cutting edge discipline. So is was somewhat of a contradiction that our music involved old European instruments. But that is part of the fun - very few people knew about the ancient folk music we loved and even fewer knew about Kubernetes, much less the consultants who live in that world. One day, at retreat for Kubernetes consultants sponsored by Google, we were asked to perform for a larger group of Data Science coders. In attendance was Guy Milardo, who was a folk music officianado, who booked talent into the European circuit. We got hired immediately to perform for a music festival in Oslo, and from there we spent the summer performing various venues in the northern European countries. Eventually my band broke up and my 2 other players returned to Google, but I struck out as solo performer, using my SEM accordian to become a professional entertainer. I really liked working on Kubernetes, but now I actually love my job!" Michel Orenlich

 


 

ARTISTS WHO PLAY SEM ACCORDIONS

 

FREDERIC SCHLICK
ACCORDEON JAZZ

 



Frederic Schlick 2001, Jazz Accordion

 

En 1994, à l'approche de la soixantaine, Frédéric Schlick décide de revenir à ses premiers amours, le jazz (il adore Toots Thielemans, Stan Getz, Art Van Damme ou encore George Shearing). C'est Bireli Lagrene, contacté pour participer à un enregistrement qui l'incitera à se lancer dans une carrière européenne d'accordéoniste de jazz.

Répertoire: Standards et compositions personnelles

Festivals: Festival de Colmar, Fète de la Musique au Jardin du Palais Royal à Paris, Festival de Slovénie, Alltkirch, Augsburg, Bruxelles, Montreux, Membre dujury au Festival de Castelfidardo 2000

Concerts: Strasbourg, Montreux, Foire de Paris, Allemagne Kassel, Augsburg, Nuremberg, Bad Kissingen, Regensburg, Landau, USA Détroit, Chicago, Hilton Head

Radio & Télé: Radio Enghien, Radio Bleue, Radio France Belfort, Radio Dreyland Mulhouse, Télé France 3 Limoges, Radio France Strasbourg, Télé Berlin DW, France 3

Influences: Art Van Damme, Bireli Lagrene, Toots Thielemans, Stéphane Grapelli, Stan Getz, George Shearing.

Presse:
«... jeu délié d'un musicien modeste et attachant...»,
«magnifique accordéon... »,
« ... belles trouvailles... »,
« ... parution remarquée du CD Nuances Jazz... »,
« .. .musique variéc, sans prétention... »,
« .. .mérite d'avoir un large écho... »,
« ...répertoire très éclectique... »,
« ... cxcellent disque de'jazz... »,
« ... einem der besten Jazz Akkordeonisten Europas... »,
« ... Topklasse des Akkordeonisten... ».

Strasbourg Discographie:
«Hymne des Forains» (maxi-single)
«Chansons pour Elles» (avec 3 chanteuses)
«Nuances Jazz»

CONTACT:
FREDERIC SCHLICK
Société SOFOREST
3, rue industrielle
67310 WASSELONNE
Téléphone : 0 (33) 3 88 87 13 08
Fax : 0 (33) 3 88 87 21 23



 



RENZO RUGGIERI
plays SEM 502 argento

CURRICULUM

STUDIES
Classic accordion under Maestro Vittorio Pomante and traditional accordion under Maestro Aldo Rampa. In 1993 he attained the "Superior Pianoforte Jazz Course" certificate at the C.P.M. (Milan) under Maestro Franco D'Andrea. He attended seminars held by Ennio Morricone, Frank Marocco, Adriano Mazzoletti, Richard Galliano, Mario Raja, Umberto Fiorentino.

CONCERTS
held in Italy, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Scotland, Slovakia, Canada, Ireland, Brazil, Iceland, England.

TEACHING ACTIVTIES
He teaches “Accordion” and "Keyboard Instruments", and many of his students have won national and international prizes (Castelfidardo, Morro D'Oro, Latina, Caramanico Terme, Lanciano, Pesaro, Ascoli Piceno, Acquasparta, Recanati, Sora, Baragiano, Broccostella, Loreto, Rieti, Capistrello). He has organised seminars on Jazz and Electronic Accordions in Slovakia, Finland, Canada, Brazil, Iceland and is currently a jazz accordion teacher at the Musical Academy of Pescara.

OTHER INFORMATION
- 1979/1982 classed within the first six places at national and international competitions.
- 1972/1990 performed with different Italian folk music and Pop/Rock tours.
- 1991/1999 participated as musician in three theatre shows; wrote (and arranged) stage music for various theatre shows some of which were staged by important shows like "Taormina Arte 1997". In 2001 he was signed on as "Arranger Maestro" by the prestigious Rome Opera Theatre.
- in the 2002, in direct RAI1 (national television), he has written and played an arrangement for orchestra with the famous singer Antonella Ruggiero.
- He has written articles for the following magazine: "Fisarmoniae" – a musical information journal (Castelfidardo International Accordion Study Centre), Strumenti & Musica (BERBEN - Ancona), The Squeeze (Accordion Worldwide – internet magazine translated into eight languages), JazzIt (Ass. Cult. CHARLIE, Terni – Italian Jazz magazine).

HE HAS WORKED WITH
JAZZ
: Gianni Coscia, Art Vand Damme, Massimo Manzi, Paolo Di Sabatino, Paolo Ghetti, Frank Marocco, Luca Bulgarelli, Luciano Biondini, Marcello Sebastiani, Giovanni Finizii, Sageer Khan, Geoff Warren, Alfredo Laviano, Giovanni Maier, Maurizio Rolli, Diana Torto, Ares Tavolazzi, Massimo Moriconi, Ada Montellanico, Fabrizio Bosso, Orchestra Contemporanea conducted by Toni Fidanza, Gianni Cazzola, Bruno De Filippi.
OTHERS: Germano Mazzocchetti (theatre - composer), Piera degli Esposti (actress), Angela Pagano (actress), Judith Malina (actress), Salvatore Zinna (actor, writer), Maria Piera Regoli (actress, writer), Federico Magnano San Lio (producer), Davide Riondino (producer and comic), Antonio Calenda (producer), Paolo Perelli (producer, actor), Alessandro Agostinelli (poet), Carlos Ansò (poet), Massimiliano Pitocco (concert performer), Paolo Picchio (musicologist, teacher), Peppino Principe (accordion player, composer), Dario Baldanbembo (light music song writer and singer), Fiorello (singer, showman), Franco Bracardi (musician), Andrea Belmonte (mime), David Haughton (producer).

PROJECTS
LEADER: Solo Accordion Project, Renzo Ruggieri Group.
SIDEMAN: Etnikos (leader GIOVANNI FINIZII).


PUBLICATIONS
leader:
CD: ACCORDION VOYAGE (Renzo Ruggieri Group - WideSound WD103 info@musicomania.it with Massimo Manzi, Paolo Di Sabatino, Massimo Moriconi) – classed as one of the top 20 Italian jazz records in 2000 (referendum by the magazine "Musica Jazz).
CD: IMPROVVISAZIONI GUIDATE (Solo Accordion Project, VOGLIA D’ARTE no. R1000-001 - http://shop.ijm.it/)
text: ELEMENTI DI MUSICA JAZZ (Method for Jazz Accordions, BERBEN no.4190 - http://www.berben.it/)
texts: OPERE DIDATTICHE for accordions and electronic instruments (BERBEN nos.3860 - 4164 - 3972 - 3951 - 4548).
sideman:
CD: L'AMO - by Claudio Canzano (WideSound WD101) info@musicomania.it. With Paolo Di Sabatino, Nicola Del Grande, Gianluca Caporale, Maurizio Rolli, Diana Torto.
CD: NO MUSIC – Contemporary Orchestra conducted by Toni Fidanza (IMP_GBraga 001) special guests Maurizio Giammarco, Fabrizio Bosso.

CONTACT DETAILS
Renzo Ruggieri - Viale Europa, 15 - 64026 Roseto degli Abruzzi (TE - Italy)
Phone +39 085/8942272 - cell. +39 333/4929093
email: info@renzoruggieri.it
web: www.renzoruggieri.it

 



 

NICOL Mc LAREN
plays SEM model Scotia

CURRICULUM


Menghini srl are delighted to announce the appointment of Nicol McLaren as a Menghini artist in Scotland. He will use Scandalli, SEM and Paolo Soprani instruments exclusively.

Nicol, who lives and works in Scotland, has been playing since the age of 9 and is active promoter of the accordion both at home and abroad.

A regular adjudicator and workshop leader at festivals and competitions, Nicol has composed a number of Scottish dance tunes which have been published. His current publishing project is the compilation of the third volume of the works of Angus Fitchet (1910 - 1998). The first 2 volumes are already in print.
He is Chairman of the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs: www.naafc.fsnet.co.uk

Alongside his solo projects, Nicol is the leader of the Glencraig Scottish Dance Band (formed in 1984 - www.glencraigsdb.co.uk) who are featured regularly on the club circuit. Notable performances abroad in 2002 included:
The Robert Burns Ball in Bahrain,
The St.Andrews Ball in Moscow
Tutti in Piazza, Corsica
The band are regular performers on BBC radio and television and have produced 4 CDs'

For further information contact:
Fausto Fabi
Menghini srl
P.O.Box 77
60022 Castelfidardo (AN) Italy
Tel: +39 071 7823689
Fax: + 33 071 7820979
Email: menghini@scandalli-soprani.it

Nicol plays SEM mod.502 "Scotia"

"SEM Scotia For me, the 2 vital characteristics which can make an accordion special are the sound and the "feel", and the SEM Scotia has both! The positive keyboard action makes the Scotia very responsive to the touch and the exquisite, mellow, rounded tone, created by the full wood cassotto chamber & the quality hand made reeds make this the finest & most versatile accordion I have had the pleasure to play"
Nicol McLaren

 

 



 

ANGELIQUE
plays SEM model 818

 



 

BRUNO DE NICE
plays SEM model 818

 



SEM NEWS


    1. 23-08-2005
      very happy customer
       
      • Hi! I picked up my new Scandalli on Tuesday at 4PM. As soon as they called I was on the road for the 2 hour drive. This is the BEST Accordion I have ever played better than my Z......,Better than any B....... ever made. The tuning is perfect, and the reeds are fantastic. I can't wait for the next performance to show it off.
        The workmanship on the keyboard and case are also first class. I really like how you placed the CIAO higher, and put the Scandalli emblem on the grill. I also like the footage written on the switches, and the connector on the bottom. The keyboard is so fast and smooth, and this is the first accordion I have played with such a tremendous bass. So far I have only listened to the CIAO on headphones. I can't wait to here them on our JBL SRX417 speakers. I won't even need to take all the sound modules any more. At your next available chance please express my gratitude to every one involved in making me one very happy customer.
        Thanks again
        Art Oswald Stoughton,WI, USA

    2. 01/03/2005
      CIAO WIRELESS
       
      • [ENG]
        Now it's possible to have CIAO electronic accordions with WIRELESS system. With WIRELESS KIT it's possible to transform the first version of CIAO into a wireless accordion.

        [ITA]
        E' possibile acquistare il CIAO con l'opzione senza fili. E' inoltre disponibile un KIT WIRELESS per trasformare i CIAO giÄ… in commercio in fisarmoniche senza fili.

    3. 7/12/2004
      High Quality DEMO of CIAO MIDI accordion in MP3
      Demo AUDIO del CIAO in alta qualitÄ… (MP3)

       
      • ENGLISH
        Inserted in the page of the CIAO the High Quality Audio Demo in MP3.

        ITALIANO
        Inserita nella pagina del CIAO delle demo audio in alta qualitÄ… (MP3).

    4. 27/11/2004
      CIAO - Video Manual
      CIAO - Video Manuale

       
      • ENGLISH
        Inserted in the page of the CIAO the VIDEO MANUAL.

        ITALIANO
        Inserita nella pagina del CIAO il Video Manuale.

    5. 04/06/2004
      Manual of the CIAO in French.
      Manuale del CIAO in francese.

       
      • ENGLISH
        Inserted in the page of the CIAO the translation of the manual in French.

        ITALIANO
        Inserita nella pagina del CIAO la traduzione del manuale in francese.

    6. 09/04/2004
      Manual Integration v1.1
      Integrazione Manuale v1.1

       
      • ENGLISH
        In the web page of the CIAO you will find the integration of the TRANSPOSE function.

        ITALIANO
        Nella pagina web del CIAO troverete l'integrazione della TRASPOSIZIONE.

    7. 20/03/2004
      Manual of the CIAO in Dutch.
      Manuale del CIAO in olandese.

       
      • ENGLISH
        Inserted in the page of the CIAO the translation of the manual in Dutch.

        ITALIANO
        Inserita nella pagina del CIAO la traduzione del manuale in olandese.

 



DISTRIBUTORS:

AUSTRALIA
RON PEARCE MUSIC
St.peters  5069
email:  rpmusic@chariot.net.au
MUSIC JUNCTION
East Hawthorn 3123 Email:palmi@musicjunction.com.au

BELGIUM
VISEUR ACCORDEONS
Ruisbroek
Tel: +32 38664757
E-mail: iwein.jacobs@pandora.be

BELGIUM
VISEUR ACCORDEONS
Ruisbroek
Tel: +32 38664757
E-mail: iwein.jacobs@pandora.be

BRAZIL
OSCAR DOS REIS
Caxias do Sul
Tel: +55 542283695
E-mail: oscardosreis@hotmail.com

CANADA
JOHN'S MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Windsor, Ontario
Tel: +1 5199746224
E-mail: johnkie@cogeco.ca

FRANCE
LUTHERIE MUSIQUE
Saint Alban, Toulouse
Tel : +33 561703845
E-mail : lutherie.musique@free.fr

GERMANY
ASS AKKORDEONSERVICE SIEGERLAND
Wilnsdorf-Wilden
Tel: +49 2739 47999-39
E-mail: prelude@gmx.de

ERICH ABELS
Unkel-Scheuren (Bonn)
Tel: +49 2224 4705
E-mail: info@abels-akkordeon.de

GREECE
CELTON S.A.
Corinth
Tel: +30 2741083411
E-mail: celton@otenet.gr

ICELAND
MAGNUSSONAR LIEFS
Reykjavik
Tel: +354 568 8611
E-mail: piano@piano.is

IRELAND
ALL ABOUT ACCORDIONS
Dublin
Tel: +353 14502189
E-mail: allaboutaccordions@yahoo.co.uk

GEORGE E. PLANT
Co. Wexford
Tel: +353 54 33546

THE SOUND SHOP
Drogheda
Tel: +353 419831078
E-mail: sales@soundshop.ie

ITALY
ABRUZZO
DI LEONARDO ANTONIO & FIGLI
Chieti Scalo CH
Tel: +39 0871 551231
E-mail: lucdile@tin.it

CALABRIA
GABRIELE STRUMENTI MUSICALI
Cantinella CS
Tel: +39 0983 80442
E-mail: gvsmusic@libero.it

LIBRERIA MONDADORI
PITAGORA 2
Crotone
Tel: +39 0962 930656

SOLIMEO
Catanzaro Lido CZ
Tel: +39 0961 738248
E-mail: info@solimeo.it

SCAVELLO AGOSTINO GIUSEPPE
Regina di Lattarico CS
Tel: +39 0984 939851

CAMPANIA
D'ALESSANDRO PIANOFORTI
Sala Consilina SA
Tel: +39 0975 520635

FULL MUSIC
Montella AV
Tel: +39 0827 69268
E-mail: fullmusic@aruba.it

GALLERIA DEGLI STRUMENTI
Scafati SA
Tel: +39 081 8508617
E-mail: posta@galleriadeglistrumenti.com

EMILIA ROMAGNA
CENTRO MUSICA DI VASSURA
Ravenna
Tel: +39 0544 6220

DRAGON MUSIC
Forlì
Tel: +39 0543 705176
E-mail: info@dragonmusic.it

LOMBARDIA
MILANFISA
Milano
Tel: +39 02 8692627
E-mail: milanfisa@tin.it

SAN MICHELE PIANOFORTI
Cavernago BG
Tel: +39 035 840012
E-mail: valenti@mediacom.it

MARCHE
CASTELFIDARDO MUSICA
Castelfidardo AN
Tel: +39 071 7825373

(ITALY) MOLISE
L'ANGOLO DELLA MUSICA
Termoli CB
Tel: +39 0875 714409
E-mail: angolodellamusica@katamail.com

PUGLIA
ALPHARD MUSIC
Ceglie Messapica BR
Tel: +39 0831 385532
E-mail: info@alphardrecord.com

SETTENOTE
Tricase LE
Tel : +39 0833 545828
E-mail: settenote@freemail.it

VENETO
MUSICARTE
Conegliano TV
Tel: +39 0438 63615

TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE
LA BOTTEGA DELLA MUSICA
Pergine Valsugana TN
Tel: +39 0461 530019

JAPAN
akkordeon.jp
c/o TechnoPromotion Co., Ltd. Att.: Hiroshi Kawai/Mr. 313-640 Toyofuta, Kashiwa-shi 277-0872, Chiba-ken, Japan Phone: 04-7135-7707 Fax : 04-7135-7706 e-mail: hiroshi.kawai@technopromotion.co.jp web site: http://www.akkordeon.jpg

KOREA
MOKHWA MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Busan
Tel: +82 518645944
E-mail: kim@mokhwa.com

MARTINIQUE
MUSIQUE ET SON S.A.
Lamentine
E-mail : musiqueson@wanadoo.fr

NETHERLANDS
MUZIEKHUIS GERT NIJKAMP
Apeldoorn
Tel: +31 55 3557356
E-mail: info@gertnijkamp.nl

NEW ZEALAND
ACCORDION HOUSE
Auckland
Tel: +64 94898316
E-mail: mauricej@xtra.co.nz

PORTUGAL
NELSON CONCEIçãO
Rua José Ferreiro Pai, Nº57 Bordeira
8005-423 Faro (PORTUGAL)
Vat number: 210 868 821
Phone/Fax: +351289432159
Mobile: +351965581477
Email: ncbordeira@sapo.pt

VIVAMUSICA INSTRUMENTOS E AUDIO
Setubal
Tel: +351 265227731
E-mail: comercial@vivamusica.pt

SPAIN
CASA MARTI
Palma de Mallorca
Tel: +34 971712623
E-mail: casamarti@casamarti.com

CENTRO MUSICAL ARAGON
Pamplona
Tel: +34 948125059

JAVIER MARONDA ESPI
Valencia
Tel: +34 669012156
E-mail: spadarostefano@mail.com

SWITZERLAND
GALLINARI MUSIQUE
Monthey
Tel: +41 244713886
E-mail: gallinariw@freesurf.ch

UNITED KINGDOM
ALLODI ACCORDIONS
London
Tel: +44 2082443771
E-mail: info@accordions.co.uk

JOHN DOUGLAS MUSIC
Dumfries, Scotland
Tel: +44 1387256479
E-mail: jdmusic@tiscali.co.uk

ELECTRONIC ACCORDIONS
Sunningdale, Berks
Tel: +44 1344873717
E-mail: sales@electronicaccordions.co.uk

GEOFF HOLTER ACCORDIONS
Darlington
Tel: +44 1325381223

Mc ALISTER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Ballymoney, N. Ireland
Tel: +44 2820741409

OMEGA MUSIC LTD
Newcastle
Tel: +44 1914147700
E-mail: deanna@omegamusic.co.uk

WILKIES MUSIC HOUSE
Perth, Scotland
Tel: +44 1738623041
E-mail: wilkies.music@fsbdial.co.uk

SQUEEZE BOX SCOTLAND Ltd
Glasgow
squeezebox_scotland@hotmail.com
tel   +44 1418876565

Accordions of Coventry terrybirtley@tiscali.co.uk

Electronic Accordions Rochdale, Lancs
tel: 01706 658283

U.S.A.
ACCORDIONS INTERNATIONAL
Salt Lake City, Ut
Tel: +1 8014855840
E-mail: paul@accordioninfo.com

CASTIGLIONE ACCORDION CO.
Warren, MI
Tel: +1 5867556050
E-mail: johncast@bignet.net

MUSIC MAGIC USA
Clifton, NJ
Tel: +1 8009081498
E-mail: chudolij@optonline.net

TRUE TONE MUSIC
Rockford, IL
Tel: +1 8153998065

ACCORDIONS & KEYBOARDS 1248 S. Highland Ave. Clearwater, Florida 33756 (727) 443-4113 Web site: www.accordionsandkeyboards.net

 

SemAccordions.com