DIY refret #2

Part way through installing bigger frets on my electric mandolin.

If anybody else does this kind of thing, I'd like to compare notes and discuss DIY luthiery.

                        Now we can all quit worrying about getting paid in hard cash for performing!

Banjo uke for sale; proceeds to MMO

I acquired this no-name banjo uke sometime in the early 2000s, but have never played it much, mainly because ukulele baffles me.  I put on new strings when I bought it, but have played it maybe one hour total over the years.

I was thinking that I'd put it up on Reverb dot com, but this might be a better way to pass it along to somebody who would enjoy it.  Anybody who is interested can acquire this instrument by writing a check for a negotiable (very low) figure to the Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra.  I'll bring it to our May 14 rehearsal for anyone who wants to check it out.  

(Hypothetically, MMO could raise a little money this way on a regular basis.  I have a few more music items I wouldn't mind donating, and maybe others do too.)
 
- Tate

Hallelujah as an Example of Conceptual versus Experimental Innovation

For people who don't know the provenance of "Hallelujah", or for fans of Malcolm Gladwell or dichotomy, our practice reminded me of a podcast where Malcolm Gladwell uses "Hallelujah" as an example to demonstrate the difference between experimental and conceptual innovation. (transcript)

-- Jonathan

Peter Ostrouschko health crisis

I just read that Peter Ostrouschko has had quadruple bypass surgery and a stroke. 

Here is a page to contribute toward his medical care:

https://www.gofundme.com/peter-and-marge

Armonie Alpine tremolo

This is my list of tremolo recommendations for Sartori's Armonie Alpine.

1-3: tremolo halves tied to eighths
4-7: no tremolo
8-20: tremolo greater than quarter or slurred
21-28: ditto
29-52: tremolo greater than quarter regardless of slurs
53 (solo): tremolo everything
54-112: tremolo greater than quarter regardless of slurs
113-116: tremolo half notes and slurred notes, but not notes with staccato dots under the slur
117-130: tremolo greater than quarter or slurred, but not notes with staccato dots under the slur
131-154: ditto
155-187: no tremolo
188-end: tremolo greater than quarter or slurred

Complete Bach organ works for free download

(Testing one two three... anybody reading this blog?)

Here is a link to recordings of the complete organ works of J.S. Bach, recorded between 2010 and 2012 by an American music professor on original baroque organs in Germany.  Highly inspiring!

James Kibbie - Bach Organ Works

Avi Avital: Feb 20th 7:30 pm, Feb 21st 10:30 am

Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital is in town those days, performing with guitarists Sergio and Odair Assad. This concert is billed to have a Brazilian flair. We are looking into ways to hook the MMO into this event. Perhaps a workshop, perhaps a meet and greet. Stay tuned and get your tickets. Avi is very popular in the Twin Cities and his performances do sell out!

https://schubert.org/event/avi-avital-mandolin-sergio-and-odair-assad-guitar/2018-02-20/

Mark your calendars: Sunday, November 19th, 7pm, St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church

Many of you remember the Kickstarter the MMO made a substantial contribution to, benefitting Sherry Ladig's Maiden Rock CD project.

In return for the success of that Kickstarter, Sherry's band Dunquin is holding a thank you performance for us - the MMO - and our friends! As an opener, the Carl Street Mandolin Quartet will perform a few of Sherry's compositions for the MMO.

It took us a while to find a suitable venue, and we all know and love the Lutheran church at St. Anthony Park, so it's exciting to be there!

Given busy lives, the MMO alone might be a too small group to form the audience. Add our friends, and we're a bit bigger. Add Sherry's friends and we could readily fill the church beyond capacity!

We're operating on a more is better, as long as it's friends and family of the MMO and Sherry and her Trio. This is not a "public" concert, per se.

We'll do a rolling invitation starting November 1st - first the MMO+friends, then Sherry Ladig's friends. The goal being to allow MMO members and families and friends first dibs on seats, then Sherry's friends.

When you get your invitation, if you intend to attend, please follow the Brown Paper Tickets link and secure seats for you and your immediate family.  Those other people you asked to subscribe to our distribution will get invitations next - and we will encourage them to act quickly as well. Based on headcount from BPT, we'll decide whether to open it up to Sherry's peeps.

This is a very interesting experiment. It may well open up ideas for future indoor events and how we go about those!

If you have any ideas, please let us know.

CMSA 2017

Wondering how many of our orchestra members are planning to go to the CMSA 2017 Convention in Milwaukee (October 25 - 29).  I found a nice flight on Delta for $226.00 ... Riteway has a very reasonable shuttle downtown to the hotel for around $15.00 each way!

Here is the En Masse Orchestra Music List:

1. Peripatos, by Victor Kioulaphides
2.The Frolic of the Imps, by Carl Carlton
3. Reminiscense, by Howard Weeks
4, Pear Shaped Dance, by Yasuo Kuwahara
5. Konzert C-Dur, Vivalidi arranged by Keith Harris

Looking forward to a week of just Mandolin....

Daryl()