CMSA is coming up! Kalamazoo, Sept. 21-25.

Most of the music is already available thanks to Lon who is key to all of that.

I do think attending workshops and conventions, particularly those that are classical in orientation (but none-the-less play a wide variety of music), are wonderful development opportunities. Several days to JUST play the instrument, attend workshops about the instrument, and perform together!

If you're intimidated by the notion...don't be. You ARE good enough no matter your skills. You will have concentrated time, be around knowledgable people and will improve. And there's no shame in playing air mandolin at times!

Go, if you can spare the time and afford it.

This year, if you register now, you'll already have access to your parts, so you can begin looking at them, maybe some performances exist on Youtube and you can listen (I haven't looked, usually at least one is there).

In August, I propose to host small mandolin family instrument group practice sessions Saturday mornings 10 AM at my home in Excelsior. By small, I mean no more than 5 people. (Guitars, I can't hope to help you, you may want to do your own thing). Though I play mandocello, I've played mandolin and octave in the orchestra.

We'll focus on the tricky bits...seeing if we can't identify optimal left hand fingerings for stratospheric sections and work on rhythms to the extent we can. That prep will make your experience at CMSA even more enjoyable.

Look me up in the roster on mnmando.org and shoot me an email if you're interested in doing this.

And I encourage others to do the same outreach/small group thing. In fact, I think the MMO will get better if various folks go "hmm, this is challenging...maybe an off-site sectional will help!"

Dotty

Peter Ostroushko, MMO performing works by and in his memory

I went through my photo archives. In 2012, the MMO hosted the convention of the Classical Mandolin Society of America. Peter O was headliner for a sold-out performance at our Ridgedale conference hotel.

Here is a photo of Peter listening as Mark Davis on mandolin and Rene Izquierdo on guitar have a quiet moment and play Peter's Hymn 911. A lovely, heart rending piece.

Here's Peter's version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGLbip7xeIE

This month 100 years ago at the Gibson factory....

Scott shares this series of articles looking back 100 years at Gibson mandolins.  Don't take this blog post as a recommendation to clean your mandolin with gasoline.

Mandolin and Music related books -- Free!

 Spring cleaning!

MMO members: I'm clearing my shelves of books I've enjoyed but doubt I'll refer to again. If you respond to this blog post, I'll earmark these for you, otherwise will offer first come-first serve at next Monday's rehearsal.

• Paul Sparks - The Classical Mandolin - 2 copies (1 CLAIMED, Erik)
• James Tyler and Paul Sparks - The Early Mandolin (CLAIMED, Lou)
• Graham McDonald - The Mandolin: A History

I also have 3 general interest books on performance and rehearsal.

• The Practice Revolution
• The Science and Psychology of Music Performance
• After the Golden Age: Romantic Pianism and Modern Performance

These are in like new condition.

Dotty

Mandolin Rental?

Geoff LeCrone reached out to our orchestra to enquire about renting a mandolin for a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 8 with the Minnesota Orchestra June 10 to June 12.  He would need it from June 3 through the 16th and is ideally looking for a bowlback, but perhaps an early 20th-century mandolin would be appropriate, too.

Does anyone have pointers or ideas for a rental?  Jonathan and Lon can provide Geoff's email.

Scott found the following article from the Minnesota Historical Society on the rich history mandolin orchestras playing in the Twin Cities before us.  Super cool. There’s even mention of probably the first live-stream mandolin-orchestra concert from Minnesota in 1900.

https://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/57/v57i05p218-237.pdf

Eagle Crest preliminary set list

 Here is a preliminary set list for our 45-minute concert at Eagle Crest on March 28:

Army Frolic
Red Lodge Reel
Victoria Elizabeth Waltz
Defiant
Driftless
Red Wing
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik I
And Your Bird Can Sing
Lutonia

Gibson A for sale

 Sherry has a friend who would like to sell a Gibson A mandolin. Looks like it's from the nineteen teens. Price is negotiable. Contact me if you're interested.

Throwing in my hat for board of directors

 Hello fellow orchestra members and Happy New Year!

I've been on leave of absence since October and had planned to be back post-peak, but I have reason to change that plan.

First, I want to recognize and congratulate the current board and Lon for a year and a half of fantastic accomplishments in the face of the challenges of covid.

The video performances, the new website, transitioning the digital music library from a personal account to an orchestra account then integrating into the new website, ongoing improvements to the RSVP site, outdoor rehearsals, great performances, new great rehearsal space.

Wow! This is the most change this group has seen in its 30 years! Thank goodness for the board!

As I understand that Ben is stepping down, I'd like to throw in my hat for the board of directors.

My qualifications:

• MMO member since 2008 (mandolin 1, mandola, mandocello).
• Spearheaded the original transition to a digital library, funded it, provided communications about said library until it was adopted by the newly established board as an organizational asset.
• Host liaison for the 2012 CMSA convention hosted by the MMO.
• Inspired by "care and feeding of the mandolin orchestra" presentation in 2015 CMSA to encourage and motivate the creation of a formal board of directors and 501c3 designation.
• Communications director for the CMSA for 2 years thereafter (communicated and promoted upcoming conventions, hotel arrangements, etc.).
• Created and managed the original MMO Facebook group (it appears defunct since I've stepped back from that).

What I bring to the table?

• A commitment to the organization to provide a conduit between the public, orchestra members and the board.
• Adept at various forms of media, in particular social media and a willingness to work to get the message out about our organization and its performances.

I will attend tonight's rehearsal as I planned to re-engage in January. I remain a bit concerned about omicron and lengthy indoor gatherings, but I will relax my concerns in order to continue my participation and support of an organization I very much care about.

Dotty Coffey

Mandocello

Army Frolic practice file

 I made a play-along practice file for Army Frolic. It's in the 2022 Guide-tracks dropbox folder. We'll play Army Frolic on January 10, and maybe add it to the winter concert list if it goes well.