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Returning to Mandolin Mondays this week we have classical mandolinist Alon Sariel with us to play this gorgeous original prelude from a recent partita he composed for mandolin. Joined by his cat and his Mintu Biswas mandolin, Alon's video is one you'll not want to miss.



If you're new to Alon's music, he's an award-winning mandolinist and lutenist originally from Beersheba, at the southern part of Israel. Now living in Hanover, ...

Just for Bach's birthday (March 21st) here's a closet recording from the vault. Back in 2014 I tried learning these two movements from Bach's Violin Sonata No. 1 in Gm BWV 1001. This performance is far from perfect, but it was probably the best I was ever able to play it.



I don't have the tab for this one (that would be pretty intense), but I'd still love to connect with you if you're interested in discussing fingerings or ...

In thinking about the best ways to notate mandolin music today, it can be helpful to consider some mandolin music that was very specific about where notes are to be played, and by which finger -- a century before the rise of mandolin tablature. The following excerpt is from Calace's first prelude (op. 45), included in his Metodo per Mandolino volume 6a:



Perhaps the most interesting part about the notation is how seldom Calace indicates ...

Seems like great range of meaning, in how people are using the words "classical mandolin" -- and yet parts of classical mandolin traditions often go overlooked. Often people are referring to classical music that's been adapted to mandolin -- for example the violin music of JS Bach. It's wonderful to play, and a great learning exercise to explore fingering possibilities. Arranging other music to mandolin is a proud tradition -- check out the concert programs of Munier, Calace, or any of ...