Web hosting ideas?

We need to change the way the MMO web site is hosted. Currently, I own the name minnesotamandolinorchestra.org, and that name points to my personal web space, which is included in my mindspring (a.k.a. earthlink) ISP account.

I'm in the process of changing ISPs. Unfortunately, the new ISP doesn't have the hosting flexibility that mindspring has. Before I pull the plug on the old account, we need to find another place for our site to live. We can still use the minnesotamandolinorchestra name--we just need to make it point somewhere else.

Some possibilities: We could use a hosting service like GoDaddy or Yahoo! ($5-$10 per month). Or we might be able to use web space belonging to another MMO member. A possible difficulty is that I, as the webmaster, would need write access to that account.

Ideas, anyone?

Bluegrass concert in Northfield March 29

Here's the information about the concert I mentioned at our March 23 rehearsal.  The featured act is Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike.  Becky Buller, a popular bluegrass musician from Minnesota, is part of Valerie's band.  The opening act is String Fever Bluegrass Band, with me on the mandolin.

The concert is Sunday, March 29, at 3:00.  It's at First United Church of Christ, 300 Union Street in Northfield.  The admission charge is $10 at the door.  Here are some link for more information:

http://www.valeriesmithonline.com/

http://www.stringfeverband.com/

http://firstucc.org/

scan sheet music, then listen

Jozef, our second guitarist, told me about this software. You can scan sheet music, and it will be played. Also, you can scan the sheet music of an entire orchestra, and you'll hear the whole orchestra playing. I'd love to download it, but I'm too cheap. If anyone else is interested, it's found here:

http://www.finalemusic.com/finale/

Tunes for April 6

Here's a preliminary tune list for our April 6 gig at Ramsey County Care Center:

The X-Town Interchange Rag

Because

Day Tripper

The Waltz Lesson

Wedding March Set

The Italian Suite

Goldfinger

Joropo de Lara

Entry of the Gladiators

Crystal Ship Waltz

Suite nach japanischen Kinderliedern

Where No Mandolin Has Gone Before

LMO plays Fucik

I found a YouTube video of the Louisville Mandolin Orchestra playing Entry of the Gladiators.  It was recorded in 1993 and led by a young and bouncy Jim Bates.  Here's the link, for your entertainment and play-along practice:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp_WLlB2MYs

There's also a link to the video on our "current tunes" page.

mandobass player

What is more cool than a mandocello? Maybe a mandobass? Well, we might have a mandobassist join us! Right before our Sunday gig, a guy asked me if our MMO included mandolas, mandocellos, etc., then he mentioned mandobass. My eyes widened because I thought about playing a mandobass at one point, but 3 reasons prevented me: (1) I don't think there's much volume in a mandobass; (2) a mandobass is hard to hold in your lap; (3) a mandobass is hard to transport, not to mention I'd have to buy one. So I gave up that dream. But this guy, who said he doesn't OWN a mandobass, might join us. He was in a hurry and had to leave, so I directed him to our website and let him know that our rehearsals are on Monday nights. We'll see if he joins us!

Nice playing today, ladies and gents. There was some good listening going on, good dynamics! Onward and upward!

Gigue from Bach Partita

If anyone wants to give a try on the gigue Caterina LIchtenberg and Mike Marshall played last night, I found the partita on IMSLIP and cut it down just to the gigue part. You'll have to contact Mike Marshall if you want the mandocello part.

Look in my MobileMe public folder under Scores. It's the one entitled IMSLIP01307-BWV1004-Gigue.pdf

wed 945pm
we have a lucky winner!

free ticket to marshall concert

hi folks. i have one extra comp ticket to friday night's show at the cedar. email me (holdmanje@yahoo.com) and it is yours.
james