No rehearsal Nov 7

Taking a Monday off. Our next rehearsal will be November 14.

Ethnic Dance Theater Concert

Hello MMO friends,

I spoke of my dance group's concert at practice last week.  Performing will be EDT dancers, musicians, and Mila Vocal Ensemble.  I'll be dancing in 2 numbers (which is 2 more than I expected to be in this summer!) and will be leading the musicians in the opening suite.  There shows are this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Concordia University.

The program includes dancing, singing, live music (with at least two dozen different instruments!), and colorful traditional costumes from Posavina (Croatia), El Cuando (Argentina), Opoczno (Poland), Banat (Romania), Timonya (Russia), Norteño (Mexico), Ireland, Myangad (Mongolia), and Thrace (Bulgaria/Greece).  You'll have to come for yourself and see which ones I'm in!

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: http://www.ethnicdancetheatre.com/event/grasslands-tickets/

Hope to see you there!

mandolin for sale

I've been corresponding with the owner of this mandolin (see photos).

From the owner: I have a mandolin that my Grandmother took lessons on in 1909. I would like to get it into the hands of someone who would appreciate it. I recently took it to Hoffman's on Franklin and was told it is in excellent condition.  It has been in its case since 1911 or so.  Charlie Hoffman thought it might be worth $350, but ultimately I understand it is worth whatever someone is willing to pay (which might be much less). The most important thing to me is that it goes to someone who will appreciate it.

If you're interested in this mandolin, write to me or comment here and I'll get you connected with the owner.

ToneRite promotion

A representative from ToneRite contacted Tedd and me about a ToneRite "mandolin month" promotion. If anyone has tried a ToneRite and has comments, the company would like to hear about it. Also, members of our mandolin orchestra can get a ToneRite for a discounted price of $93.13.

Please let me know if you're interested.

More about ToneRite here: http://www.tonerite.com/

All the photos from the Como show

Tate has uploaded ALL the photos from the Como show into our Dropbox.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/37wizt0s77si71n/AABzqtjDJbTjwl7IX_f-cyYia?dl=0

We will use these (giving due credit to our photographer) for Facebook publicity for our remaining 2016 concerts and for fun.

After navigating via the link above, if you look at the left hand side of the screen there is a "photos" link - click this and you can see the photos displayed in a more appealing way.

Enjoy!

Dotty

Pictures from Como show

Here are two of the more than 160 photos my old friend, wedding/portrait photographer Steve Rouch, took of our Como show last week.  (He didn't ask for a plug, but here it is anyway - choicephoto.com.)  Once I determine the best way to share these all with you, I'll post a link on this blog.

MMO's Dropbox

Fantasy in Five can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/oszr67njuj8w52z/fantasy-5-parts.pdf


For all 2016 Season tunes, please save this link - as I get new tunes, I automatically put them here.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ivp4n24xx7lwmyu/AAAQ83FJUveyF662H8i3velda

Fantasy in Five Time August 8

I put Eileen Pakenham's "Fantasy in Five Time" on the rehearsal list for August 8. We last played it during the 2012-2013 season, but never performed it. Parts are available from the MMO dropbox. If you need help finding it there, write to me or Dotty.

Mandolin refret pt. 2

Done - it took two weeks.  I played it at the MMO rehearsal before last - OK action, but not perfect - some tweaking still is needed.  Hardest part: cutting the tang (the part that goes into the wood) away from both ends of each of the 20 new frets, to fit over the bindings.  It took 45 minutes to an hour to fit and install each fret.  Also a new bone nut, made from a cattle bone I got in the dog treats section of a pet store.

The only specialized tools I used were nut files from Stewart Macdonald luthiers' supply.  All other tools were available at Menards, Home Depot, Harbor Freight, etc. 

Let me know if you want the full details - it was a lot of work but it wasn't rocket science.

June 13 rehearsal

I haven't figured out how to update the mmo schedule page while I'm away from my main computer.

 

We will have a regular rehearsal on June 13, and these are the selections:

 Impresiones de la Puna Danza

The Kickstarter Rag
Valse Espagnole
Dolce Malinconia
From the French and English Suites
Astride My Velocipede
Made in the U.S.A.

 

See you Monday.

DIY mandolin refretting

Hoffman Guitars recently told me the fingerboard on my old Hohner mandolin was twisted, and quoted me a large price for a fix.  Not worth it for this cheap mandolin, so I'm flattening the fretboard and refretting it myself - first time ever.

I pulled the frets out using an end nipper whose angled jaw I filed down for a flat grip.  I knocked off the nut and I just finished sanding the fretboard flat using a 24 inch aluminum level - a flat, straight surface - as a sanding block.

Next step, fret installation.  Insights or advice will be gratefully accepted.

See you Saturday

This Saturday, June 4, we'll play at St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church at 10:00 a.m. as part of the St. Anthony Park Arts Festival. I made this set list for the occasion. It's the same music we played at Eagan Pointe.  You can wear whatever you want to.

Then on Monday, we'll start working on Sherry's Kickstarter Rag (parts coming soon). We'll also play Dolce Malinconia, Valse Espagnole, Impresiones de la Puna Danza, Astride My Velocipede, and From the French and English Suites.

Mandolin Pronunciation

Taking a poll here. Do you pronounce mandolin with and accent on the first syllable (like Sierra Hull and Tim O'Brien) or with the accent on the last syllable like the majority of players? Both are appropriate according to Mr. Webster, other sources favor the last syllable accent. I'm currently liking the more relaxed sound of the former and am changing my previously misguided pronunciation.

Steve's brother on slide guitar

MMOers:
Here is a new YouTube video of my younger brother John playing his composition "Bella's Romp." Back in 1966, I taught him everything I knew about guitar. It took him all of 20 seconds to absorb what I had to offer at that point, and he's gotten pretty damned good, if I do say so myself.
Steve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpQUk84cSYc

http://slowlyiturnmusic.com/

Roseville String Ensemble Sunday - featuring Jack Litzau in the bass section!

Sunday at 3:30 pm, the Roseville String Ensemble performs at Sundin Music Hall at Hamline University, 1531 Hewitt Ave., St. Paul

Works include:

• Concerto Grosso No. 3 in d minor, by Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti/Charles Avison
• “Elegy,” by Kevin Puts (b. 1972)
• “Mayflies,”* by Charles McCarron (b. 1985) — *WORLD PREMIERE*
• “Wavin’ Flag,” by Keinan Abdi Warsame (K’naan)
• “Siyahamba,” South African hymn arr. by Deborah Baker
• “Viva la Vida,” by Berryman, Buckland, Champion, and Martin

The spring concert will feature a world premiere of “Mayflies” by Charlie McCarron, a successful Twin Cities composer of video game music. Commissioned by the Roseville Strings, this piece for string orchestra and computer meshes shimmering orchestral music with responsive computer sounds and a video of mayflies rising from water.

Free admission, donations welcome.

Great show last night at Friendship Village...

...what a nice-sounding room.  Nice crowd, too.

But wow, "The Procession" sure got played fast - more like a 100-yard dash than a procession. 

Not that I have the right to give advice - but let's watch our conductor more closely on this one.  Help me out, I'm an old geezer, I can't play that fast!

Sherry Ladig's CD Release Party!

In case you weren't on Sherry's mailing list

Backers, Friends, Romans and Countrymen,

 

     Finally, we celebrate! Dunquin (Rosa, Sherry and Don) and Friends are throwing a Maiden Rock CD release party this coming Saturday, April 9th, from about 7-9 p.m. It will be at First Congregational Church social hall, near the East Bank U of MN campus, address 500 8th Ave SE, Minneapolis 55414 . This is a thank you party for all backers who contributed to the Kickstarter project, but we are inviting lots of other friends as well. People who didn't back the project may kick in a little donation money towards refreshments if they want to, but it's up to them (free, of course, to all backers). There will be a brief musical interlude (about a half hour), but it's mostly just noshing, drinking a little wine or beer, general merry-making. I'll have additional CDs to sell, too, if anyone wants to start their Christmas shopping early. 

 

Dance & Music Party

Hi guys,

My dance group, the Ethnic Dance Theatre, is holding a dance party with live music (starting at 7:30) this weekend. It's at the Ukranian American Community Center (at 301 Main St NE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413) from 6:00 - 11:00 on Saturday. If you don't already have plans, it would be great if you could come.

More information can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/554434834730677/

First time I ever heard of a mandolin

My parents had a 45 rpm single of this song back in '58 or '59.

Mandolins In The Moonlight

Stealin' Home this Thursday at The Nicollet

Greetings:
Stealin' Home (my "other band") is playing at The Nicollet on Thursday, February 4th at 7:30pm.
The website says 7:00 but that's an error; 7:30 it is! Please join us if you're free!
Steve

1931 Nicollet Ave | Minneapolis, MN | 55403
612-353-5252

http://www.the-nicollet.com/events/

Radim Zenlk online group lessons

Here's a link to the information about Radim's mandolin classes:

http://www.zenkl.com/online_group_lessons.htm

Capriccio microna on youtube

Here's a recording of Capriccio microna that could be useful for practicing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYiiJ6H0YIw