Marilynn on Mandolin #39 ~ May/June 2010

By Marilynn | Published: July 8, 2010

SUMMERKEYS IS NEXT WEEK! ~ Sign up quickly if you’d like my complete mando-attention from June 28 – July 2. There are still slots, and the week is always so much fun in lovely Lubec, Maine! This is your only chance to study w/ me in 2010, so don’t delay! http://www.summerkeys.com/mandolin.html

BRAZIL CHORO BOOK OFF TO MEL BAY ~ After a final month of intense effort, I just sent the manuscript & CD for my new mandolin book off to Mel Bay. Co-written over the past two years w/ Paulo Sa, bandolimist extraordinaire from Rio, this bilingual book teaches Choro from the rhythm up, in as close to the Brazilian oral tradition as a book/CD combo can get. It’s been tough to conceptualize, and we had a few false starts, but persevered, and I am so happy with the results. It should be released by fall, and I will definitely let y’all know here.

REVIEWS IN ~ Mandolin Magazine writes of Enigmatica’s “The Blue House,” –“The sound of Enigmatica can be described as sparkling, effervescent, fluid, precise, and joyous. The clarity of line they achieve is breathtaking, completely the equal of any string quartet or chamber ensemble playing today.” And The Mandolin Journal says of my “Meu Bandolim, “Joyous uptempo numbers are followed by rich meditative slower tunes… Marilynn’s own composition “Isso” (“That’s It”) is, to my ears, one of her finest recordings.” Grab copy of both from my webpage, / and as a special incentive for newsletter readers only, if you order copies of both “The Blue House,” and “Meu Bandolim,” I’ll throw in a copy of my Rio band’s CD, “Roda no Rio,” for free. Just ask for it when you order. These are great summer listening!

I WON’T BE ~ performing or teaching for a couple of months after July 2, taking a much-needed sabbatical to work on some creative endeavors, and figure out what’s next for me musically. And with the help of Alex & Brinsley I’m in the process of doing a complete overhaul of my website– look for the gorgeous results next month! And there will be some special new additions to the available information by year’s end.

The next issue of this newsletter will come out at summer’s end. So enjoy the next couple of months, and think about joining me @ SummerKeys next week!

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  • “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)

    “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)

    “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)

    “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)

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

    – Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors (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)

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

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

    – Zupfmusik Magazin (Germany)

    “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 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 é uma bandolinista americana de formação erudita”

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