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

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/