Marilynn on Mandolin #3 ~ March/April 2004

MUSIC ACTIVITIES

Well I’m just about to hop on a plane to fly to Minneapolis to play the premiere of “3-4-3” a brand new piece I wrote for the 3rd birthday celebration of “Three Dances” – a fabulous modern dance company. It’s a suite of 3 dances: Maruque (for Brinsley), Birthday Waltz (for Jamey), and Wedding Hoedown (for Suzanne). Performance is 3/4 (March 4).

My octet Enigmatica has a concert in Lexington MA, this month that will feature the premiere of “Loosely Blue” a new piece written for us by composer Pamela Marshall. It’s March 12 – check the calendar for venue & directions. Enigmatica also goes into the studio this month – the new CD is expected in June.

On April 4, I’m pleased to host the Rio Trio, w/ bandolimist Paulo Sa for a workshop & concert at Roger Williams University in Bristol RI. Again, if you can come, check the calendar for details. You should register for the afternoon workshop ahead of time.

AMGuSS 2004 INFORMATION IS NOW ONLINE!

June 21-27, 2004

Save the dates for our 19th year! Check the website for the new information, fees, and a downloadable application. Brochures have been sent out. If you want to receive one and haven’t, email your ground-mail address to email hidden; JavaScript is required. EVAN MARSHALL, California mandolinist extraordinaire, is our guest artist this year. Don’t miss it!

PETTINE METHODS LOCATED

Guitarist/mandolinist Tom Greene has discovered a new cache of the fabulous and long-out-of-print Pettine methods for mandolin. You can get the whole set for $70. There are also a few single copies of the invaluable volume on Right Hand Mechanics, for $15, and also some single copies of the Duo book. For info or to order, email hidden; JavaScript is required.

FEBRUARY GIG UPDATES

I played a last-minute fun gig w/ composer and viola da gambist Will Ayton, at the Roger Williams University library in honor of a donor. We performed a set of Will’s original pieces, “Fragments from Fitzwilliams,” that were incredibly cool and great fun to play. And the mandolin / viola da gamba duo is an amazing sound!

NEW COLUMNS

The Spring issues should be out soon. My Mandolin Quarterly “Choro Connection” column for the new issue is on Anacleto Medeiros and Joaquin Callado. The music examples are “Carnaval of 1905” and “A Flor Amorosa”. My column for Mandolin Magazine, “A Classical Approach,” is on arpeggios and hand coordination, and features the music for an etude by American mandolinist, Samuel Siegel. You can subscribe to either magazine on the Mandolin Cafe website.

FUTURECAST

I’ll be performing in Philadelphia in November for the annual convention of the Classical Mandolin Society of America, both as a soloist and with Enigmatica. I’ll also be giving a day-long workshop on teaching mandolin. More details will be upcoming.

FEEDBACK?

I’d love to hear from you. If you know anyone who would like to get this update, have them send me their email. And thanks for reading!

I’ll send the next issue of “MARILYNN ON MANDOLIN” in a couple of months. It seems like winter is rushing into spring, and that’s a good thing. Visit me in cyberspace @ the website, or in person for AMGuSS 2004 Ã�� it looks like a great year!

-mm

Posted April 27th, 2004. 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)

    “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 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

    “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)

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

    – Mike Caito, Providence Phoenix (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)

    “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)

    “A sparkling concert… absolutely brilliant!”

    – Guitar Magazine (England)

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

    – The Ottawa Citizen (Canada)

    “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)

    “Marilynn Mair é uma bandolinista americana de formação erudita”

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

    “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)

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