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100% in favor of a Dowland Renaissance! Yes, let's hear more.

As a young man, John Dowland worked for the English ambassador in Paris when negotiations were in progress for the marriage of Elizabeth I to the Duke of Anjou and Alençon. He was referred to as "the...

Chop, Shred & Split- Danny Knicely!
Must listen!

although mostly 1970s to early 2k - Mick Maloney was one the premier Irish mandolinist, Gerald Trimble though mostly a cittern player and mostly Breton music, also plays mandolin or his arrangements...

Hard to think of him as an 80 year old, but there was an 80th birthday celebration gig for him in Dublin last night.

I am absolutely certain that many of us would not be on this site today, or...

Hi mandolinists,

In sympathy with the Ukrainian people, I wanted to share a Ukrainian folk tune, a waltz in Am, with staff notation and TAB.

The TAB is just the most basic version, I often...

If I could play like this just once I would call my musical career accomplished.
I believe that's a Lyon and Healy style C maybe?

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I agree that this is disappointing. I know that the San Diego folks have put so much work into preparation and several great events were planned. (The Rudy Cipolla celebration comes first to mind.)
...

You should all know that last year's virtual event was surprisingly successful and well organized. I am disappointed, but I know the people who run this organization as well as some of the guest...

Sound and video sample:
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I've just created a web page for another of my older mandolin orchestra pieces from my backlog. This one was commissioned by Douglas Back for his Fretworks ensemble at the Baldwin Magnet School in...

I remember the workshop that DougC mentions at the CMSA in Minneapolis and it was a great one. My memory is that we got him to talk a little about the preparation for and recording of the Original...

Hi all,

I've posted a new blog article about my latest find. I discovered two manuscripts with music for mandolin and orchestra (violin 1, 2, viola, basso, flutes 1&2, horns 1&2) from Ernest...

Here's a medieval citole which I built for a customer here in the UK:

https://i.imgur.com/pIOP2Lt.jpg

And here's a sound and video sample I did before it was shipped out:

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Here's a children's size oud (scale length of 45cm) which I built for a customer in the USA:

https://i.imgur.com/PM8tmfP.jpg

And here's a sound and video sample I did before it was shipped out:...

The musical examples in the video would have been easier to comprehend and would have sounded more palatable if they had been re-voiced so that each note in the old chord led to its closest neighbor...

Hi all, I was able to spot an unknown newer edition of Leone's first volume of mandolin sonatas. (First edition 1767, newer edition 1768-1774). You can read all about it on my blog post and download...

Here, I respectfully disagree (respectfully, of course). "Piece" and "work" (depending on scale/scope) in generic reference to music has been status quo for a very long time, no commoditizing or...

Dear mando-kin around the world,

I hope that you and yours are all well despite these dreadful times that we are traversing. "This too shall come to pass" never sounded more optimistic; we must...

I'm having a great time and learning a lot. I get the point that $150 for non-members might seem like a lot (I would have suggested a slightly lower price point) but attending the physical convention...

For mandocello players, we already saw Fabio Giudice's presentation, based on the Bickford Mandocello Method book recently modernized in bass clef by Ben Ash. As Bob said, recorded and available to...

Me too! Cheers again, Barry.

Here's my latest renaissance cittern:
https://i.imgur.com/2qya2FY.jpg

As I am preparing for the CMSA event, including Fabio Giudice's workshop and my own Mandocello Hangout session, I need to send out a huge THANK YOU to the people behind this wonderful Mandolin Cafe...

I find your use of invective (“parochial”, “prejudice”) lacking in imagination and creativity. Also, you read my posts a bit carelessly. I never said the learning TAB detracts from more productive...