The Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra was commissioned in 1986 by the American Accordionists' Association as a test piece for the 1987 Coupe Mondiale competition. In three movements, the free-bass composition explores the diverse technical capabilities and tonal colors of the accordion in the context a dialogue between that instrument and a symphony orchestra. The first movement, Fantasy, is a freeform construction, improvisatory in nature that makes great technical demands on the performer; the second movement, Nocturne, is a simple arioso designed to feature the cantabile ability of the instrument; and the third movement, Caprice, is a playful, rondo-like scherzo that incorporates motifs from the two earlier movements in a virtuosic display.
The Concerto was published in 1986 by Ernest Deffner Publications in a reduction for accordion and piano. In a preface to that publication, Faithe Deffner, the President of the American Accordionists' Association, wrote:
"John Franceschina's Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra is a noteworthy addition to the literature for our instrument, resulting from the American Accordionists' Association's long-term commissioning program.
Since the inception of our organization in 1938, AAA's board of governors has supported efforts to enlarge the original music repertory of the accordion. We hold the conviction that the accordion will be perceived as a serious and significant member of the musical instrument family when it can boast a body of original literature, utilizing the many unique musical capabilities of the instrument, in addition to the artistry and technical proficiency which has already been attained by many of today's accomplished accordionists.
This new work addresses the accordionists' need for orchestral music which will highlight the instrument. We believe that concert accordionists will find this Concerto to be an excellent vehicle for our instrument.
Our thanks to the very talented composer, John Franceschina, for an outstanding composition."
The present edition of the Concerto makes available, for the first time in print, the full orchestral score.
John Franceschina, composer, has created scores for the National Shakespeare Company and the Provincetown Playhouse in New York City, the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Baltimore's Center Stage, Washington's Ford's Theatre and the Arena Stage, the Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, Florida Studio Theatre, Geva Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Papermill Playhouse, Music Theatre Works, and the Moscow Art Theatre, in addition to the Asolo State Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, where he acted as composer-in-residence from 1976 to 1993. His Fanfare for the Fiftieth was commissioned by Philippe Entremont for the fiftieth anniversary of the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra in 1985; his secular oratorio, Houtebeen, for male chorus, string orchestra and accordion ensemble, toured the Netherlands in 2014, and his opera, Scenes from the Jungle toured the Netherlands in 2019.
