NORTH CANAAN — Young accordionists from Lithuania visited North Canaan Wednesday, Oct. 29, to experience the New England Accordion Connection and Museum.
The musicians, ages 14 to 17, who attend the Alytus Music School in their home country, were in the middle of a U.S. concert tour accompanied by their teachers. They had already performed several accordion shows in Connecticut and were headed next to Pennsylvania for a show in Philadelphia.
Christian Allyn, a North Canaan resident of Lithuanian descent, helped arrange the visit to the museum in Canaan Union Station.
“Connecticut has the highest percentage per capita of Lithuanians in the United States,” said Allyn.
He explained the accordionists were invited to perform and to enjoy a positive experience in the United States. He said sometimes Lithuanians can be “afraid to smile or be too warm to each other because it’s seen as suspicious. So, here in America, we’re trying to get them warmed up a little bit.”
Gabrielius Zenevicius, seated, concludes a rendition of a Lithuanian folk song that he played using Paul Ramunni’s accordion.Riley Klein
True to form, museum director Paul Ramunni met the musicians with hometown hospitality. The language barrier did not hinder connection and the group quickly bonded over a shared passion.
Ramunni showed examples from the collection of some 400 accordions on display. “People took these out to play when the family got together, when friends got together, and it goes over 200 years.”
He demonstrated instruments from different time periods dating back to the 1800s along with some unique items such as a Tanzbar player accordion, an Edison phonograph and a crank-powered machine that plays “solid wood with pins... and every pin will strike a note.”
Ramunni took a seat with his favorite accordion and performed a couple songs, including one Italian number to recognize both accordion heritage and his own.
Ramunni then handed the accordion to Gabrielius Zenevicius, who delivered a deft rendition of a Lithuanian folk tune.
Joy bellowed throughout the room and smiles followed without hesitation. “Isn’t that amazing?” Allyn remarked.
