Landmark Center photos

Thanks to Ben and Elizabeth, we have some excellent photos of our Landmark Center December 5 concert. You can find them here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PSGIGoE_qmmYlLBVUdsMRMDrjcvvNPF8?usp=sharing

Mandolin Boot Camp

Every few years, I present a workshop at the CMSA Convention titled "Mandolin Boot Camp - What I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Started Playing the Mandolin".

The workshop covers instruments, instrument set up, personal set up, practice skills, technique, drills, and tips for playing in an orchestra.

I have a number of extra copies of the presentation from the 2018 Convention which I will bring to rehearsal this evening.  If you would like a copy but can't make tonight's rehearsal, please let me know.

Lou

CMSA 2018 Program Links

A few people had asked me about the Classical Mandolin Society of America convention en-masse program, so I thought I'd post a few links here to other groups performing pieces from the program.

1. Tzingana 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqWN_R9ExBM
2. Canestri di Fiori
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovKC8RkAaTc
3. Adagio Misterioso
• I cannot find a recording on youtube.
4. Tanz Suite Nr 2, Op 21 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YOoPnlk5cU&fbcl=
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRGtoWkW--A
5. Cobalt Blue
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnK9AnuE-d4

I'd like to postscript the video links-- the sound from the CMSA orchestra was absolutely incredible.  Not to take anything away from the performers in the above links, but the CMSA orchestra was massive and the energy coming from the stage (at least sitting near the epicenter) was unbelievable; the recordings above do not well represent the quality of sound of the en-masse orchestra.  

Greetings, again!
I'd like to thank you all for working a Thursday concert into your schedules and playing at Eagle Crest Arbor. It meant a lot to me to be able to play for my mother and her neighbors, some of whom I've gotten to know. My mother really enjoyed it; I could see a faint smile on her face the entire time we were playing. Afterwards, in one of the first coherent things she has said in awhile, she held on to my arm and said "That was damned good!" Another resident said to me "Your group is really good" and my mother said "Yes, they are!"

This was a remarkably cogent utterance from my mother that warms my heart. Thanks to each of you for your part in making this a special evening for me, my mother, and the other residents at Eagle Crest. It's a privilege to make music with you all.

Steve

Save The Date: John Maxwell at Creek House 5/4/19

MMO friends:
My brother, John "Greyhound" Maxwell, has just been booked for a return gig at Creek House in New Brighton. The date is Saturday, May 4, 2019, at 7:00pm. John plays prewar blues, ragtime, and fingerstyle compositions on guitar, slide guitar, and mandolin. He may be giving a slide guitar workshop at Creek House, but that part hasn't been nailed down yet. You can watch some video performances at John's website: slowlyiturnmusic.com.

John's second CD, "Even Good Dogs Get the Blues" is available at CD Baby in CD and download formats: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/johngreyhoundmaxwell1

 In the meantime, check out the Creek House website at: creekhouseconcerts.com. Glenn Elvig has a beautiful house concert space with a first-rate sound system, and brings in lots of nationally known performers.

Steve

Invitation to play Friendship Village April 1, 2019, 7pm?

Friendship Village has invited us back to play Monday, April 1 at 7pm.  I'll be polling the group tomorrow at practice to see if we have a quorum and can book the date.  Could MMO members either check calendars before practice, or email me (bredin@acm.org) with your availability for April 1, please?

best wishes,
Jonathan

End-of-Season Party and Potluck

MMO musicians and families: I sent an End-of-Season Party invitation to everyone in the orchestra through our MailChimp email newsletter. If you didn't receive it, please check your spam filter and let me know. Our party will be 7-10p next Monday, October 29 at my house, 2333 Roselawn Ave W in Roseville. Wear a costume and bring an instrument if you like. I'll see if I can find any Halloween-inspired music to sightread.
See you next week!
Allison Eklund

Promotional Apparel?

Looking forward to our Landmark Center performance, they are offering us table space to present promotional material.  Is it worth spitballing ideas (here or at the party next week) for MMO-branded t-shirts, hats, scarfs, or picks?  Surely, I'm not representative of the public, but I'd buy stuff.

Tentative Booking Dates March 18 and 26, 2019?

I'll be asking the group tomorrow about our availability to play at Lyngblomsten March 18 and Ramsey County Care Center March 26.  If you could check your calendars before practice, I'd appreciate your help in seeing if we can muster a quorum.

best wishes,
Jonathan

Speaking of studying jazz...

I have a collection of 17 or 18 Jamey Aebersold disc & book sets to donate to any MMO members who want them.  These are jazz play-along CDs, well-known to jazz students, with excellent piano/drums/bass rhythm sections playing songs or chord progressions to accompany your own improvisation.  I bought them something like 20 years ago - haven't used them in many years.  I'll bring them to our 9/24 practice, and I hope you will take them all.

Lake Harriet Parking

Minneapolis Parks and Recreation allows performers to park at venues for free, provided you put a permit on your dash.  I have a PDF copy of the permit that I can send you if you email me (bredin@acm.org).

best wishes,
Jonathan

State Fair Vibration Experiments

As I announced at practice earlier, I'm doing my research experiments at the State Fair!  My experiment takes about 10 minutes where I test your fingertip and palm for vibrotactile sensitivity (aka how well you feel vibrations). 

I'm particularly interested in subjects to serve as controls for patients with Dupuytrens disease, a hand condition that causes finger contraction and is mostly present in 60+ y.o. Scandanavians, but I would love to test as many people as possible.

Participants will be compensated with a souvenior refrigerator magnet of a hand.

I'll be there the following days:

• Friday, Aug. 24    9:00 am - 2:00 pm
• Monday, Aug.      3:00 pm - 9:00 pm
• Wed., Aug. 29      3:00 pm - 9:00 pm
• Thurs., Aug. 30    9:00 am - 2:00 pm

I will be at the Driven to Discover building on Cosgrove Street, across from the Education building and near the Snelling Ave. entrance.

For more information, please visit my Good Vibrations website or email me at GoodVibrations@umn.edu.

Thanks in advance!  ~ Tiffany

Below is the request for volunteers, but it appears to be uploading here with really low quality:

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