Marilynn on Mandolin #27 – March/April 2008

BACK IN RIO

Yes, I am! I’m here for 6 weeks this time– RWU Spring Break & then I’m teaching online for 5 weeks. I’ve got filmed lectures, discussion forums, students presentations, etc. all set up online and ready to go when the students get back from break. It’s a trial run for hybrid courses @ RWU, so I’ve got my fingers crossed that all my hard work setting this up will pay off in the possibility of more time to spend in Rio in future as well as right now.

It’s the beginning of the academic year here & choro school started the day after I arrived. So far I’ve played in 4 rodas in 4 days, and have been in the studio to add my tracks to the Agua no Feijao recording in progress. Lessons w/ Joel start soon & he’s playing a gig in a couple of days. It’s been rainy so far, but today the glorious sun has finally come out, driving away the last remnants of my winter RI cough. Lovely!

MY METHOD IS CIRCULATING

I’ve been getting good feed-back from the US and world-wide as well. It’s really exciting that this long labor-intensive project is finally reaching the people it was intended for. You can get a copy of the book/CD package for a mere $25 @ the Mel Bay website, or Elderly or Amazon. Or request it at your local music store. And to those of you who have sent your thanks– you are absolutely welcome!

AMGuSS WINTER WEEK-END

was a blast! Although it was only a taste of our usual week it was a fun reunion, teaching/learning opportunity, and the final orchestra concert (with an Enigmatica + faculty prelude) was awesome. Good work– to all of you who were here. For those of you who haven’t heard, we won’t be holding a June AMGuSS this year. But we’ll try to have another week-end before 2008 is out, and the June week will be back in 2009, for sure.

My LIVE/WHIRLED Series ended its 1st season sucessfully with the 4th concert on March 9th. We have the dates for next season set already– the 1st Sundays of November, December, February, and March, so mark your calendars. You’ll be hearing more soon. And if you’d like to play in the series, let me know.

SUMMERKEYS 2008

I’m teaching again @ SummerKeys this year, in scenic Lubec, Maine. I’ll be there the week of August 18, and can accept 6 students. I can’t schedule a 2nd week this year, so sign up soon if you want to be part of this one.

The next issue of “MARILYNN ON MANDOLIN” will be out in May, when I’m back from Rio.

As I write this I’ve left New England spring for Rio autumn (I’m wearing a tank top & flip flops, so it’s not fall as I usually know it). I will miss my crocuses & daffodils at home, but the music here still calls me so strongly that I know I will be leading 2 lives, and missing half of each, for awhile to come. I am truly lucky to be able to do this, and to have family, friends, colleagues, bosses, and music groups who understand my musical, geographic, and seasonal duality. So have a happy spring/fall wherever you are! I’ll look forward to seeing you sooner or later, as may be the case. beijinhos,
mm

Posted April 6th, 2008. Bookmark the permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.
  • “Mair is unstoppable… capable of evoking any landscape, past or present, you’d care to conjure.”

    – Mike Caito, Providence Phoenix (USA)

    “Smudging the lines between folk and classical is an intrepid endeavor… Mair’s a superb mandolin player who has brought the instrument to unexpected places…”

    – Jim Macnie, The Providence Phoenix (USA)

    “Mair displays an exceptionally gifted approach to this music, using her formidable mandolin technique with grace and sensitivity… It’s the next best thing to a trip to Rio.”

    – David McCarty, Mandolin Magazine (USA)

    “Mair travels by mandolin to Brazil and brilliance… her commitment to the music shines through.”

    – Rick Massimo, The Providence Journal

    “Marilynn Mair lives up to her reputation as an excellent mandolinist, with clear tone, a beautiful tremolo, and creative expressiveness.”

    – Zupfmusik Magazin (Germany)

    “Marilynn Mair has always had the keen ability to balance classical mandolin traditions and repertoire, while constantly breaking new musical ground…a superb and versatile mandolinist and composer.”

    – – Butch Baldassari, Mandolin Magazine (USA)

    “Stepping back to the 18th-century masterworks gave her the opportunity to highlight her technique with a fresh light… her playing is thoughtful, vibrant and a delight to listen to.”

    — Terence Pender, Mandolin Quarterly (USA)

    “A brilliant concert from beginning to end…The performance was extraordinary.”
    – La Rioja (Spain)

    “Marilynn Mair é uma bandolinista americana de formação erudita”

    — Paulo Eduardo Neves, Agenda do Samba Choro (Brasil)

    “She’s a fabulous player with a wonderfully clear and lyrical sound.”

    – The Ottawa Citizen (Canada)

    “Marilynn Mair performs Brazilian mandolin music… she plays the mandolin as an instrument for all occasions.”
    – Vaughn Watson, The Providence Journal (USA)

    “A lovely concert! We estimate your spell-bound and enthusiastic audience at close to 1800 people…”

    – Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors (USA)

    “The final repeat of the melody transmitted a strong feeling of peace and tenderness that escaped no one in the audience. It is this sensitivity and subtleness that characterized the overall performance.”

    – Brian Hodel, Guitar Review (USA)

    “Marilynn Mair acquits herself very well indeed, a most accomplished player, able to deal with the many intricacies the repertoire demands of her.”

    – Chris Kilvington, Classical Guitar (England)

    Bring a talented ensemble of gifted musicians together playing some of the great concertos and chamber music pieces of the 1700s, present the extraordinary classical mandolinist Marilynn Mair front and center, and you have a rare combination of the right musicians performing the right music at the right time.

    – David McCarty, Mandolin Magazine (USA)

    Marilynn Mair on mandolin…touches the deepest and most engaging reaches of the ancient and passionate ‘Latin soul’.

    – Carlos Agudelo, Billboard Magazine

    “A sparkling concert… absolutely brilliant!”

    – Guitar Magazine (England)