Silver Lining of a Quiet Year

By alex | Published: October 14, 2022

In March of 2020, finding the usual flow of her musical life muted by the Coronavirus pandemic, Marilynn began to compose. Études for solo mandolin. Fantasia for two mandolins. Nocturnes for mandolin & guitar. Choro, missing Rio. Highly original, quirky, lovely, sometimes funny, she has recorded 29 of those pieces here. A mandolin icon with a truly unique voice—hear what Marilynn’s musical world conjured up in a quiet year. if you prefer to download the CD, would like to preview it, or if you live outside the USA and want to order it, you can do all of those things on Marilynn’s Bandcamp page.

Buy Now
$15.00 Silver Lining of a Quiet Year (CD)

Track List

  1. Fantasia: floating
  2. Fantasia: trouble in mind
  3. Fantasia: dragon dream
  4. Fantasia: holding fast
  5. Fantasia: planting gardens
  6. Fantasia: peaches
  7. Fantasia: in the dark
  8. Fantasia: morning light
  9. Fantasia: old folks
  10. Fantasia: mama said
  11. Nocturne 1: Sometimes when I am wearied suddenly
  12. Nocturne 2: Oh, oh, you will be sorry for that word!
  13. Nocturne 3: I shall go back again to the bleak shore
  14. Nocturne 4: Only until this cigarette is ended
  15. Nocturne 5: Mindful of you the sodden earth in spring
  16. Nocturne 6: The light comes back with Columbine
  17. Nocturne 7: Women have loved before as I love now
  18. Nocturne 8: Tranquility at length, when autumn comes
  19. Étude violette
  20. Étude d’ombre
  21. Étude grise
  22. Étude d’ambre
  23. Étude verte
  24. Étude noire
  25. Étude blanche
  26. Étude orange
  27. Étude bleue
  28. Étude de crepuscule
  29. Saudades do Rio
Posted October 14th, 2022. Bookmark the permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.

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

    – Zupfmusik Magazin (Germany)

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

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

    – The Ottawa Citizen (Canada)

    “Mair is unstoppable… capable of evoking any landscape, past or present, you’d care to conjure.”

    – Mike Caito, Providence Phoenix (USA)

    “Marilynn Mair é uma bandolinista americana de formação erudita”

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

    “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)

    “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)

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

    – Carlos Agudelo, Billboard Magazine

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

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

    – Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors (USA)

    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)

    “A sparkling concert… absolutely brilliant!”

    – Guitar Magazine (England)