The providence mandolin orchestra and het consort

[Alex Timmerman]

Dear Mandolin Cafe friends,


After having had an absolute fantastic long weekend together this morning we waved goodbye to our dear friends John and Debbie Craton, to Mark and Beverly Davis and to all the other members of the Providence Mandolin Orchestra.

We have had a splendid time together, studying the music that had to be performed at the scheduled concerts and being together from Thursday till Monday in Zwolle ànd in Amsterdam during the freetime(!) we had last Sunday.

I am sure there is going to be a lot more to be written here about the whole event, but right now I'd like to give you the (first) impression of what the local press had said of the joint-concert by the PMO and Het CONSORT. #
Click here to visit the review published also at the Webpage of the daily newspaper De Stentor of Zwolle (Monday July 7th 2008). (http://www.destentor.nl/regio/zwolle/3386896/Het-Consort-is-andere-koek-dan-Jo-met-de-banjo.ece)

More to come!


Best (from a sleepy but very happy),

Alex


The news paper photo shown below was taken during the World première on Saturday July 5th 2008
of the 'FLOWERS OF SPAIN', the concert suite for two solo guitars and mandolin orchestra
composed by John Craton performed by the guitar duo Mark and Beverly Davis & the
Mandolin Chamber Orchestra HET CONSORT conducted by Alex Timmerman.

[Alex Timmerman]

The translated review by Maarten Mestrom in the local newspaper De Stentor about the joint-concert given by the Providence Mandolin Orchestra & Het CONSORT in the Zuiderkerk in Zwolle (Netherlands).

---------------------


MUSIC
Duo concert mandolin orchestra
Het Consort dir. Alex
Timmerman & The Providence
Mandolin Orchestra
dir. Mark Davis
As witnessed: Zuiderkerk, Zwolle, 5/7/2008

by Maarten Mestrom



Het Consort is quite something else then ‘Jo with the banjo’


The popular song 'Jo with the banjo' and ‘Lin with the mandolin' (‘mad on a man-man-mandolin’) has done the image of the mandolin – a plucked instrument with a respectable history - no good. When hearing the word 'mandolin orchestra' the average music lover today often thinks of a motley collection of hair permed ladies of a certain age that give their best to play an a-rhythmical imitation of Greek bouzouki music. #

Nothing - dear reader - is less true! #As was witnessed last Saturday evening in the Zuiderkerk in Zwolle. A double concert was given there by the mandolin orchestra Het Consort from Zwolle with their colleagues of The Providence Mandolin Orchestra from the United States. It turned out to be a truly musical evening where honest and delicate music was made in serious compositions. #

The mandolin orchestra consists - so we learned this evening - not only of the small mandolin that we all are familiar with, but also contains its larger brothers like the mandola and far nephews (or cousins) as the guitar. #
The program was opened by Het Consort under the leadership of Alex Timmerman. Undoubtedly one of the best mandolin orchestras of the Netherlands with Sebastiaan the Grebber as concert master (De Grebber won in 2006 in Amsterdam the Uitmarkt Chamber Music Concours). #

Via works of among others Villa-Lobos the program went to a World première. In the presence of the American composer of John Craton the 'Flowers of Spain' were performed. #An atmospheric work with an Andalusian touch with a principal part for the excellent guitar duo Beverly and Mark Davis. #

This duo we saw back after the pause. Mark Davis as the conductor of his orchestra from Providence; his wife Beverly as one of the guitarists. #
The American ensemble made a strong impression, especially in the concentrated performance of the ‘Cinco Piezas' by Luis Gianneo. #
At least notably was the adaptation of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. The well-known and granite chopped Rock-classic was interpreted with the ethereal tremolo of the mandolins. #

After the second pause a mega mandolin orchestra was formed that in turn was led by Timmerman and Davis. Programmed were among others 'Palladio' by Karl Jenkins – once a member of the underground rock band Soft Machine. #No, this mandolin concert was clearly something else then 'Jo with the banjo'. #


News paper photo text: Saturday evening the mandolin orchestra Het Consort and The Providence Mandolin Orchestra presented a double concert in the Zuiderkerk. #The music performed by both orchestras did not at all resemble the folk songs like ‘Jo with the banjo’ and ‘Lien with the mandolin. Also Het Consort presented its new CD.


News paper photo Frans Paalman

[trebleclef528]

Thanks for the translation Alex, seems to have been a superb event.

I was very interested to read this: "At least notably was the adaptation of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. The well-known and granite chopped Rock-classic was interpreted with the ethereal tremolo of the mandolins."

One of the members of our orchestra(Da Capo Alba www.mandolinscotland.org) is currently working on an arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody and it would be very interesting to hear any other mandolin and guitar versions. Do you know if there is any recording of this?
Thanks
Ian

[Eugene]

Thanks for this word. I would have loved to hear!

[brunello97]

Very interesting read, Alex, particularly with all the pro-forma language in local US newspapers these days. #(Seems like the better writers have headed off to Blog-land.) #That a newspaper would call itself "The Stentor" might certainly demand a bit of umph from its staff.

Coincidentally, another recent conversation turned on Rafael Sabatini's classic "Scaramouche" , where an altogether more positive spin on the characters virtues was evinced, #Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' notwithstanding. #Your type of eclecticism keeps us all off-balance, listening and interested. # A real way to bring life to the music, the instrument and the audience. # It all sounds like great work!

I had no idea it was THAT Karl Jenkins authoring 'Palladio.'

Mick

[vkioulaphides]

"...a motley collection of hair permed ladies of a certain age that give their best to play an a-rhythmical imitation of Greek bouzouki music."

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif


I am SURE this was NOT what the concerts of Het Consort and the PMO sounded like! In fact, having attended other performances of the two, fine groups separately, and then together, I can only imagine how absolutely beautiful the music must have sounded.

I am happy that John and Mrs. Craton were able to attend. Those are unforgettable memories...

Three cheers to all!

Victor

[markmdavis]

Yes, it was a terrific weekend that we spent in Zwolle, filled with music and friendship! #I have to say that Alex and Marianne Timmerman and the members of Het Consort outdid themselves arranging this event and were the perfect hosts in every way! #
A personal highlight of this weekend for me was, of course, rehearsing and performing the world premiere of John Craton's excellent "Flowers of Spain" with Beverly and the Consort. #A fine and challenging piece in six movements, it received a rapturous response from the large audience in attendance. #And what a treat to have the ever-encouraging and appreciative composer himself in the audience!
Another real thrill was rehearsing and performing Betty Beath's "Lament for Kosovo" with the combined forces of the PMO and Het Consort. #This is a rich, dramatic and deeply moving piece, which really came alive in performance.
And it was a treat for the PMO to perform our own concert in the huge, ancient 'Buitenkerk' in Kampen, with its seemingly endless reverberation (which made for some interesting challenges!). #At this concert our concertmaster Josh Bell performed beautifully the Cinco Piezas of Luis Gianneo, in the recent arrangement form John Craton. #(This piece may be known to some as the "Suite Argentine" recorded back in the '60's by Jacob Thomas). #We presented a number of European premieres, including performances of Robert Schulz' "Lament for the Death of Polite Language," my own "Cat in Springtime," Fran Trester's Movement No. 1 (from "Three Movements for Mandolin Orchestra), and Owen Hartford's latest piece - the very beautiful and moving "Gretel Dreaming" featuring violinist Rachel Panitch as the 'voice' of the elderly Gretel looking back at her life. #Oh, and also Robert Kaye's very effective arrangement of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" (R. Kaye is the Pres. of FAME, and has recorded this piece with his own group Stringy Bach).
Another highlight was getting to hear Het Consort performing Craton's arrangement of Kioulaphides' wonderful Basque Variations, as well as Alex' excellent new transcription of Villa-Lobos' "Bachianas Brasilieras, No. 5" complete with the seldom-heard concluding Danza. #I considered this group top-notch when we heard them last summer in Rhode Island. #If anything, they have become more polished and more mature with a sheen and a finesse to their sound which is truly orchestral. #I feel that they rank right up there with any chamber music group you can name.
And I cannot forget to mention Sebastiaan de Grebber's absolutely stunning performance with pianist Eva van den Dool, in a program of mandolin works that included John Craton's exotic "Xochiquetzal (from "Dioses Aztecas") and Victor K.'s (may I say) 'rhapsodical' "Rhapsody." #Sebastiaan is, of course, the youthful concert master of the Consort, and possesses an effortless technique, gorgeous sound, and immense musicality. #
And I probably don't have to tell anyone (but will anyway) that the evening parties were exceedingly fun, the sight-seeing trip to Amsterdam (museums, canal boats, flowers, cafes,..) was awesome, and the final party with a staggering amount of food, drink, and bonhommie was just what we all needed to celebrate the success of this wonderful weekend of music and friendship.
As the Consort members were all seeing us off at the station on Monday morning, one of our PMO members turned to me and said "These are the nicest people I have EVER met!" #We can all second that emotion, and hope to see the Consort back on these shores sometime soon!

[Martin Jonas]

"...a motley collection of hair permed ladies of a certain age that give their best to play an a-rhythmical imitation of Greek bouzouki music."

I am SURE this was NOT what the concerts of Het Consort and the PMO sounded like!
When we're playing on the other hand...

Martin
(still working on his perm)

[margora]

The only thing I will add to Mark Davis'e excellent and thorough summary of the PMO trip to Zwolle was that I also got a chance (at the final party) to play Alex's 10-course lute, a David Rubio ca. 1973 from his Oxford period, an absolutely superb instrument. The people who make up Het Consort are truly wonderful, as a group and as individuals.

[John Craton]

I must echo Mark’s post and say that it was indeed a terrific weekend in Zwolle! Alex and Marianne and all the members of Het CONSORT (and their families) were superb hosts and made our visit a truly memorable experience. I am especially honored to have been allowed another opportunity to visit all the wonderful people in Zwolle, with the added benefit of getting to meet the PMO whom I’ve only previously met via internet. (In person is far better.) Mark and Beverly did a truly fantastic job presenting my “Flowers of Spain” — and after only two days to rehearse with Het CONSORT! True professionalism all round! Throughtout the entire weekend, my wife kept turning to me and saying “It’s amazing!” She — and I — were overwhelmed by the technical facility and marvellous interpretation Mark, Beverly, Alex, Sebastiaan, Josh, and all members of both consorts exhibited.

And of course the enjoyment didn’t end with rehearsals and performances. As Mark already alluded to, we enjoyed a number of delightful occasions to meet and mix, laugh, and partake of the ample and scrumptious Dutch cuisine. Our hats off to all participants, both American and Dutch, but especially to our graceful and generous hosts. Alex, Marianne, et al., you are, as Beverly said, without doubt the “nicest people I have EVER met!” As I told my wife on our return voyage, the only bad thing about visiting Holland is that eventually we have to leave.

Thanks to all for this great experience. I hope it will be only the first of many such collaborations.

[mandowen]

As a PMO member, I must also offer my sincere appreciation to both Mark and Beverly and Alex and Marianne for putting together such a wonderful weekend of music and culture, food and drink, parties and people, and perhaps best of all, many stimulating new musical ideas and connections. Thanks to all.

Owen Hartford

[vkioulaphides]

Hello, Owen.

Having enjoyed IMMENSELY some of your other, older works when I heard the PMO perform on its "home turf", I am sure that the latest creation of yours was as beautiful, if not even more. Bravo! I hope to hear it in person some day, perhaps on my next visit to Rhode Island.

Cheers,

Victor

P.S. Oh, one more thing...


"Martin
(still working on his perm)"

Martin, please make ABSOLUTELY sure you work in that all-important bluish hue that miraculously comes on as we, of graying persuasion, reach a certain *ahem* advanced, pigment-less stage. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Alex Timmerman]

Dear Friends of the café,

Thank you for all the nice words! It really has been a fantastic long weekend and I will certainly forward all what is said here to the members of Het CONSORT. Sometimes it is as if everything positive comes together and that happened, I am sure, last weekend. There was 'something' in the air that helped make this event in a very successful and memorable one! #

To give you all a more precise idea, I have put on YouTube the video registration made by Pauline Ulderink, one of our Consort members, of the 'Cinco Piezas' by Luis Gianneo during the excellent concert by the Providence Mandolin Orchestra on Friday evening July 4th in the Buitenkerk in Kampen. The atmosphere in the church and Joshua Bell's playing is just wonderful!

Make sure you choose the highest YouTube viewing quality. You'll find that option to choose just beneeth the edge of the video on the right side.
Just click here to view the PMO conducted by Mark Davis with their concertmaster Joshua Bell as the mandolin soloist in the Cinco Piezas by Luis Gianneo in the arrangement for mandolin solo and mandolin orchestra (http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=awXGpJqMTdA&feature=user) by John Craton.


Enjoy,

Alex

[John Goodin]

Absolutely beautiful! Thank you, Alex, for sharing this link.

John G.

[Alex Timmerman]

Thanks John. So many nice things happened that I will try to post some more video and photo impressions of the weekend. Right now I am busy with Owen Hartford's breathtakingly beautiful 'Gretel Dreaming' in the #performance of Rachel Panitch on violin (usually playing the 2nd mandolin in the PMO).
I don't know what exactly the english expression is, but shivers ran down my spine when Rachel played it with the PMO at that very same concert in Kampen.

Hopefully that'll be in the air tomorrow night (my time),


Regards, Alex

[vkioulaphides]

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!

Must go; leaving on vacation tonight, or rather tomorrow, so to speak, around 2:00 a.m. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

This audio/video clip will surely send me off with a BIG smile on my face! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Congrats to all!

Talk to you soon / Tot weldra,

Victor

[Alex Timmerman]

Hello all,

I have posted the 2nd part of Luis Gianneo's 'Cinco Piezas' performed in Kampen by the Providence Mandolin Orchestra with Joshua Bell as the mandolin soloist conducted by Mark Davis.

Here is the fast link to the YouTube Webpage. (http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=bGil43oNr2Y&feature=user)


Enjoy,

Alex.

[Alex Timmerman]

And here is the video with the 1st part of Owen Hartford's new composition 'Gretel Dreaming' (http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=sBwtinICIg8&feature=user) in the performance by Rachel Panitch on violin with the Providence Mandolin Orchestra conducted by Mark Davis.

It was fantastic to see and hear how all the musicians were concentrating to make it a great performance. What a commitment! #


Best,

Alex

[mandowen]

Alex, many thanks for posting the Gretel video. Nice job by the shooting and editing crew.

Here is a shot taken of the joint PMO/Het Consort rehearsal -- with you conducting. I'm not sure how to attach a photo here -- I hope it comes through.

[Linda Binder]

Thanks all, for sharing the music and experience of a wonderful collaboration!

[mando Nick]

Is the Owen hartford piece, with violin solo, recorded yet?
Nick Royal
Santa Cruz, CA

[Alex Timmerman]

Thanks Owen and also thanks for the photo of the PMO and the CONSORT. And here are the 'Evening/The Dream' and the 'Morning', respectively the 2nd and 3rd movement of 'Gretel Dreaming'. Click here for the video on YouTube. (http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=p5rKjR5G-7o&feature=user)

There are still some more videos of the weekend to come, so stay tuned!


Best and thanks for all the nice comments,

Alex

[Alex Timmerman]

Hello,

At this very moment the video of the concert by Sebastiaan de Grebber and Eva van den Dool is not yet available. So that is to be saved for later. I do however have a photo to share with you of that memorable Mandolin & Piano recital on Saturday afternoon the 5th of July.

What is available is the video of the 'Variations on a Basque Melody' by Victor Kioulaphides in the orchestration by John Craton, two of our 'own' members of the Mandolin Café. This video was made during the 'joint-concert' of the Providence Mandolin Orchestra and Het CONSORT on evening of Saturday the 5th of July. The program opened with this charming piece of music. Thanks go to Mr. Ulderink for making this video (and a few more to come).

The video is found here. (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YDNTySh1sbE)


Best,

Alex

Photo: Sebastiaan de Grebber and Eva van den Dool.

[mandowen]

Message to mando Nick:
No these pieces haven't been recorded yet -- only on these videos. Someday, we may get to that -- either with violin or with the original intention of a soprano and the lyrics.

[Alex Timmerman]

And the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Freddy Mercury of the Rock formation Queen in the arrangement for mandolin orchestra made by Robert Kay excellently performed by the Providence Mandolin Orchestra conducted by Mark Davis. Click here to view the video on YouTube, (http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=qPLNsRd5fOI) Enjoy!


Best for now,

Alex

[John Craton]

I finally managed to get some of the photos posted online that my wife and I took during the PMO-Het CONSORT weekend in Holland. There are dozens more, but some did not turn out well and I'll have to wait till I have time to do a little photo editing to see if they're salvable. The 64 that were fairly decent are posted to Flickr, which I've never used before and am still a little unsure of. Any PMO members (or anyone else who had a camera there) who would like to share their photos with the group are welcome to do so. I believe this link will get you to the correct folder on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28773577@N08/sets/72157606235900932/

(You may have to copy and paste that URL as the hyperlink feature at the Café doesn't seem to be working with my computer lately.)

Anyone with more experience with Flickr who wishes to write me and tell me how to improve the folder is welcome to do so. I'm just an "old dog" when it comes to these things.

Anyway, I hope the photos are viewable and will help bring back many fond memories. Thanks!

[markmdavis]

Very nice, John. Thank you for posting the link. #It is wonderful to relive those moments through your photographs.

(I'll have to do some learning about Flickr myself!)

Mark

[lenf12]

Hi Mark and Beverly (and PMO),

Looks like you all had a great time on your latest European trip. Congratulations to the Providence Mandolin Orchestra and Het CONSORT. I know from personal experience that you know how to arrange a wonderful concert tour, perform at the highest artistic level and throw one heck of a party to crown it off. I wish I could have been there with you all. Please give my warmest (literally from Florida) greetings to all in the PMO. I miss you guys.

Len Boudreau
Clearwater, FL

[markmdavis]

Hey Lenny,
We miss you too - you would have loved this last trip. So much good music, so many excellent times with new friends.
MMD

[Alex Timmerman]

Hi all,

Here is the video of Jurriaan Andriessen's Canzone in the performance of the Providence Mandolin Orchestra and Het CONSORT. (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OGUZw7n6a8g)


Best greetings,

Alex


Photo of the PMO and Het CONSORT

[markmdavis]

Alex, your conducting of the Andriessen Canzone is really wonderful.! You brought out the depth and emotion of this piece with great sensitivity. It's a powerful piece. The moment you finished conducting this piece I thought "that is the BEST version of that piece ever performed!" What a concert!

[Eugene]

Very nice! ...and one of my favorite tracks from Omaggio.

[Alex Timmerman]

Hello Mark, Eugene and all,

Thanks for the nice words! You are absolutely right; Andriessen's Canzone No. I is a very nice work. That evening the atmosphere among the listeners and musicians was so good and special that it turned out to be an even#greater piece! Indeed Mark, to repeat your words: "what a concert!".

I have placed on YouTube another wonderful composition. The LAMENT FOR KOSOVO by Betty Beath performed by The Providence Mandolin Orchestra & Het CONSORT conducted by Mark Davis. This work is one of my personal highlights of this concert. Although some strange mumbling person in the audience sitting near to the microphone of the video camara is heard sometimes through the music performed, I simply - because it is such a beautiful composition and so well performed - I had to share it with you all.

Click here to listen and view the LAMENT FOR KOSOVO by Betty Beath on YouTube. (http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=IgK9Yo5E4vA&feature=user)


Enjoy,

Alex

[Alex Timmerman]

Photo taken during the performance of the LAMENT FOR KOSOVO by Betty Beath performed by The Providence Mandolin Orchestra & Het CONSORT conducted by Mark Davis.