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()

Hey MMOers---
If you are free, stop by my house on Sunday September 3, anytime from 1-6.  I'm having an open house for friends to drop by.  Of course, instruments, pets, SO's, children are welcome.

I'm at 4820 Elliot Ave S, Minneapolis.
612-258-3717

Dave Ingham

Mandolin Orchestra promo on KBEM

Phil Nusbaum and I recorded an eight-minute promotional piece about the Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra. It will air on KBEM 88.5 FM Saturday, July 29, at 7:22 p.m. and Sunday, July 30, at 10:22 a.m. and 5:22 p.m.

You can also listen to it here: https://beta.prx.org/stories/211445

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 singers.  I'll be dancing in a few numbers, and sadly, not playing with the musicians for this concert.  There shows are this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (June 23-25) at Pearson Theater at Concordia University.

The theme this year is "Land of Legends" and features culture and traditions from the Carpathian Mountains in Eastern Europe.  Our concert includes suites from specific regions within Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and more.  You can see us dancing czardas in at least two numbers!

In addition, there will be the opportunity to learn some dances and speak with the cast.

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

Hope to see you there!

~ Tiffany

John Maxwell concert 6/23/17

MMO friends:

Here's information about my brother's concert this coming Friday. I hope you can come, and bring friends & loved ones!

Who: John Maxwell (acoustic country blues & ragtime)

Instruments: Guitar, resonator guitars, and resonator mandolin

Where: Creek House in New Brighton (easy to get to)
When: Friday, 6/23/2017 at 7:30pm (doors open at 7:00)

Suggested donation: $20

To make reservations, contact Glenn Elvig at: glenn@elvig.comHe will send a confirmation and directions to Creek House.For information about Creek House concerts:  http://www.creekhouseconcerts.com/concerts.html

For information about John Maxwell: slowlyiturnmusic.com
There are several videos on the website where you can check out his playing.

I will playing blues harp for some of the concert.

Hope to see you all there!
Steve Maxwell

Perry Mason theme for MMO: what do you think?

I have been having fun feebly attempting to play a piano arrangement of this great TV theme, and it occurs to me that it might be fun for the MMO and our audiences too.  Any interest?  I'll take a shot at arranging it if I get a few thumbs up.  Admittedly it might take a long time to get it done...

Perry Mason theme (aka Park Ave. Beat) (Fred Steiner)

Music stand left behind March 27

As I was leaving last night's rehearsal, I noticed an abandoned music stand in the room. It's a black folding model with no brand name that I can see. It's at my house now, and I'll take it with me to our Ramsey County Care Center gig next week. Anybody want to claim it?

John Maxwell performance 6/23/17

MMO friends:
My brother, John Maxwell, is going to be in the Twin Cities on Friday, June 23rd for a 7:00pm performance at Creek House in New Brighton. I suppose there's a chance that I'm biased, but he's a wonderful guitarist and performer. Check out his web site at: slowlyiturnmusic.com, where he has posted several videos and other information. John plays old country blues, ragtime, and originals steeped in both traditions.

To learn more about Creek House, go to creekhouseconcerts.com. If you're interested in going to this performance, contact Glenn Elvig by phone at 651.633.5353 or email him at: glenn@elvig.com
Glenn will get back to you with a confirmation, as well as the address and directions to Creek House.

I'm hoping to get a good turn-out for John, so he gets asked back to this wonderful concert venue!
Hope to see you there,
Steve

Chordpulse

For a year or so I've found this free computer program fun and useful in creating backing tracks to jam with - for example, a cycle of 5ths to play scales against, or a 1-6-2-5 jazz progression to improvise on.  You can enter any chord progression, tempo and key, and it will play back a nice-sounding backup in a variety of styles, through your MIDI output.  You can save your work in its propietary format.  Here is the link: Chordpulse Lite

(Only for Windows users.  The paid version has more chords and styles, and enables you to save in MIDI format.)

January 16 rehearsal is on

As of 10:00 this morning, the weather reports are saying the freezing rain will likely be insignificant or not happen at all. The Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra rehearsal is still on.

Winter storm watch Monday January 16

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Monday, January 16. If the storm materializes, and if the roads are too icy for safe driving, I'll cancel the mandolin orchestra rehearsal. If that happens, I'll announce it here, on the MMO rehearsal schedule page, and by email.