Mainerio

[generankin]

I went and bought this mandolin to play bluegrass and old time. #Then I played one of my fave records of renaissance dance tunes and realized that one of the really hot ones is in the right range for the mando. #A SOTFW brought me the score (also midi files, which I can do nothing with at the moment). #After struggling with the score (I cannot sight-read), then trying to make the notes cohere, I've gotten Mainerio's 'Schiarazula Marazula' down. #Took me under an hour, spread over three days. # Now, to get the 'B' part up to speed and sort out ornamentation. #And to maybe spring this on the jammers when they get all new-grassy on me? #Or would that be too cruel? #;-)

A CheeseHead

[Jim Garber]

Don't expect them to suddenly break out their crumhorns and join in. I generally get blank stares when I play a mazurka, let alone renaissance music. I was talking some time ago a the phone to a fellow mandolin enthusiast and we got to discussing what our main mandolin was. He mentioned a few of hsi high end carved ones and i told him thast my main mandolin was a bowlback. There was a long pause on the other end. Luckily i cam eback with info on the vintage Gibsons I own. He must have thought I was from outer space.

Welcome to our little corner of the Cafe.

Jim

[Martin Jonas]

I love playing "Schiarazula Marazula" on the mandolin. It's in Allan Alexander's Renaissance Music for Mandolin (http://home.earthlink.net/~guitarandlute/renaissance_mandolin.html#quality) in standard notation and tablature. If you like playing this tune, you might want to check out this book and the accompanying CD. Lots of good tunes in there, all fairly straightforward to play.

Martin

[generankin]

Don't expect them to suddenly break out their crumhorns and join in. I generally get blank stares when I play a mazurka, let alone renaissance music. I was talking some time ago a the phone to a fellow mandolin enthusiast and we got to discussing what our main mandolin was. He mentioned a few of hsi high end carved ones and i told him thast my main mandolin was a bowlback. There was a long pause on the other end. Luckily i cam eback with info on the vintage Gibsons I own. He must have thought I was from outer space.

Welcome to our little corner of the Cafe.

Jim
I can appear to fit in, as I have an F-style Eastman, scrolls all over the place. I am contemplating (once I think I can actually play this thing) getting a Phoenix Deluxe, to serve as an instrument for classical, old time AND bluegrass (I don't have to be loud, nor do I have to fit in with an orchestra). Anyone have any experience with the Deluxe who can offer up an opinion about this notion?

Gene Rankin

[Jim Garber]

I have not played a Phoenix but am not all that attracted to the looks. I am sure that if i tried one i might change my tune tho.

Your Eastman is fine for what you want at the moment. Unless you have extra bucks/pounds/euros to burn, stick to that. You can play classical on a "bluegrass" instrument. Just remember that there was no Bluegrass when Loar was around and that F5s were intended for classical and parlor music.

On the other hand, the main reason to get a "classical" instrument I would think would be for the shorter scale and so that you can make those longer stretches that some of the more difficult pieces entail.

Jim

[generankin]

I have not played a Phoenix but am not all that attracted to the looks. I am sure that if i tried one i might change my tune tho.

Your Eastman is fine for what you want at the moment. Unless you have extra bucks/pounds/euros to burn, stick to that. You can play classical on a "bluegrass" instrument. Just remember that there was no Bluegrass when Loar was around and that F5s were intended for classical and parlor music.

On the other hand, the main reason to get a "classical" instrument I would think would be for the shorter scale and so that you can make those longer stretches that some of the more difficult pieces entail.

Jim
Well, I am one of those who really likes the looks of the Phoenix two-pointer, and have liked the mellower sound that I have heard them produce over the phone or on mp3s and CDs. #As a non-fan of mp3 and CD (I'm a vinyl man, recently allowing SACDs into the collection), I'm still staying sorta agnostic on what the sound is really like, but I'm as shallow as the next guy, am a sucker for a spiffy fretboard inlay