Marilynn on Mandolin #18 Sept/Oct 2006

By Marilynn | Published: September 28, 2006

CAPE COD FESTIVAL OF MANDOLINS

Is September 29 to October 1, and I can hardly wait! Staying on the beach in East Sandwich for the week-end; taking classes w/ me, Butch Baldassari, and my colleagues in the New England Mandolin Ensemble; hearing a concert by all of the above on Saturday; working out pieces in a small ensemble for the student performance on Sunday — what could be better! There’s still room in my ensemble (classical/choro) and there are ensembles for jazz, bluegrass, Baroque, and non-readers. More info on this webpage. I’d love to see you for the week-end, or for the concert.

OCTOBER GIGS

I’m doing a lecture on Brazilian choro at Rhode Island college on October 16th, and playing with Adam Larrabee in Providence on October 19th for a conference of two-year colleges. On October 22 at 2:00 p.m., I’ll be playing with Adam & Enigmatica at Roger Williams University, a concert to celebrate my new CD, “Leave Something Unexplained”. This concert is part of the 5th Annual “Daniel Pearl World Music Days: Harmony for Humanity,” a global celebration of the ideals of tolerance, friendship and shared humanity inspired by the life and work of journalist and musician Daniel Pearl. A classically-trained violinist, fiddler and mandolin player, Daniel was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan while on assignment. Music Days are centered around his October 10th birthday and carry on his mission of connecting diverse groups through words and music. I hope you can join us for this free concert. There’s more info on Music Days.

Looking ahead to November, I’m playing with a Renaissance band led by Will Ayton for the Elizabeth I festival at RWU on November 1, and NEME is playing jazz at the Blackstone River Theater on November 5. Lots of good music! For details and directions go to the concert schedule page.

POST-AMGuSS GIGS

I had a really good time playing with “my” mandolin orchestra, the Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra, in August @ the beautiful Lake Harriet bandshell, under the stellar baton of Lon Hendricks. At the concert I also got to play an original from my new CD — “East of Here,” w/ mandolinist Lou Chouinard & Jack Litzau on bass. There’s a pic of us having fun with music on the website front page. Thanks to Ann of the MMO for taking and sending that. In July I was also was invited to give a lecture-demo on Brazilian choro at UMass Dartmouth for the Portuguese Summer Intensive, the course I took there a couple of years ago.

AMGuSS 2006 WRAP-UP

I really wrote it this year! There’s a cool pic of me on the front page, courtesy of AMGuSS regular, Mary, and a link to take you to the article. If you want to know exactly what you missed, there’s a copy of the 2006 schedule you can download. Laura put the pics in an “album” rather than throughout the article, so maybe I can get a few more of y’all in with next month’s updates.

LEAVE SOMETHING UNEXPLAINED

My new CD is doing well & I am really proud of it. Lots of listeners have confirmed that it’s a happy disc and has some great tunes. The sound samples will be up soon for those of you who want to listen before purchasing. But with me, Adam, Enigmatica, Brazilian Paulo Sa, and Radim Zenkl performing you’ve got a certain guarantee of quality already.

ARTICLES

My Mandolin Magazine column on 3rd position is out and I’ve sent in the next one, on shifting. CMSA’s Mandolin Journal seems to be back, so you should be able to read some more of my “Teacher’s Spotlights” soon. I’m going to be putting some new articles up on the webpage later this month, so check back to read them.

“THE COMPLETE MANDOLINIST”

Is now in its final editing process, and is guaranteed to be worth the wait. I plan to send it off to the publisher before my birthday (mid-October), so fingers crossed that I really can get this out the door.

FRIENDS PLAYING

Viva DeConcini, daughter of mandolinist & AMGuSS newby Dino, will be playing at the Brooklyn Coffee & Tea House (209 Douglas Ave., Providence) on Wednesday,September 27th at 8:00 p.m. Viva is a jazz guitarist & is coming all the way up from Brooklyn NYC, so all ye locals, check her show out! Renaissonics, a Boston-based Renaissance band, will be playing a free concert and giving a workshop at RWU on October 29, for the Elizabeth I festivities. Also, advance notice, I’m having the BR Trio at RWU on Thursday, Nov 2 for a workshop, & a concert at 8:00 p.m. Piano, bass & percussion, these 3 guys have played w/ everybody in Brazil, and 2 of them are coming up from Sao Paulo especially for this short tour. It’ll be amaing, guaranteed, and it’s free & in the RWU PAC.

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!

The next issue of “MARILYNN ON MANDOLIN” will be out in November 2006, & back issues are archived on the website. Here’s wishing y’all a great fall, & hoping we’ll have a long Indian summer with a couple more back-porch picking afternoons.

-mm

Posted September 28th, 2006. Bookmark the permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.

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

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

    – Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors (USA)

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

    – Zupfmusik Magazin (Germany)

    “A sparkling concert… absolutely brilliant!”

    – Guitar Magazine (England)

    “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)

    “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 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 é uma bandolinista americana de formação erudita”

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

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

    – Mike Caito, 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)

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

    – The Ottawa Citizen (Canada)

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

    – Rick Massimo, The Providence Journal

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