"Dance of the Comedians" (B. Smetana) - accordionist Charles Magnante

Charles really has fun with this popular folk dance from Smetana's Czech opera 'The Bartered Bride.' As the founder of the Czech nationalist school of music he departs from the Italian operatic style & incorporates native Bohemian dances. This dance is from a scene where a circus arrives in the village of the bride & for entertainment the clowns dance this 'skochna' to the public's delight. Charles Magnante began playing accordion at the age of 7. He began by secretly playing his father's diatonic Paolo Soprani accordion while he was away from home because his father kept it in a hidden place so that none of the children could find it. After some time the young Charles's luck ran out when his father came home from work & caught him having fun with his cherished instrument. Little Charles thought he was gonna get a severe tongue-lashing for it, but to his surprise his father said, 'Keep on playing son, it sounds good!" And after Charles played some more for him he said, "You can take my accordion & practice any time you like, just be careful not to drop it!" And so began Charles Magnante's modest beginning with the accordion. Now his is a monumental figure & a legend in his own right. I don't know what year this recording is from, but judging by the excellent sound quality suggests it's one of his later recordings.