Mandolin Cafe Event/Gig Calendar

Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra concert honoring the music of Jonathan Jensen
If you’re in the Baltimore area on Sunday, April 26th, and you’re familiar with Jonathan Jensen’s works for mandolin ensemble – or even if you’re not – here’s a concert you won’t want to miss.

Jonathan, a composer, arranger and multi-talented instrumentalist from Baltimore, is like a national treasure to the Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra. He is a member of our orchestra (mandola), but, unfortunately, he is unable to attend most of our concerts because of his other full-time gig with the Baltimore Symphony (bassist). But his presence is felt at every one of our concerts in his music. Jonathan has composed and arranged many pieces for us and for the Baltimore Mandolin Quartet, which will also perform.

This concert will consist solely of works by Jonathan Jensen.

If you’re a CMSA member, you may be familiar with Jonathan’s “Swimming Down the Stars,” which was performed by the CMSA en masse orchestra at its convention here in Baltimore in 2011. And it has been performed elsewhere. You'll hear it at this concert. Jonathan’s choice of genres is wide-ranging: he has composed a tango, a march, a schottische, a tarantella and a waltz, among others. Among his arrangements of familiar pieces that the orchestra will perform are Handel’s “Largo” (from “Xerxes”) and “Come Sunday” by Duke Ellington.

Italian-born soprano Beatrice Gilbert will perform a couple of pieces arranged by Jonathan for her with mandolin orchestra accompaniment. These include pieces by Lehar and Puccini.

Adding to the festivities will be two appropriately mandolin-themed pieces. Our soprano will sing a brand-new arrangement that Jonathan just finished of Vincent Scotto’s “Ecoutez les Mandolines” (Listen to the Mandolins). And Jonathan’s latest original composition is a tango he calls “Tango de las Mandolinas” (Tango of the Mandolins).

The Baltimore Mandolin Quartet, with former BMO director David Evans on 1st mandolin, Laura Norris on 2nd mandolin, Jonathan on mandola and Tony Norris on guitar, will perform a couple of pieces from their CD “Grandmother’s Ghost,” including his “Waltz for Diane,” which is well-known in mandolin circles. Jonathan’s arrangement of the Quartet from Verdi’s “Rigoletto” will be included in the BMQ’s set.

The Baltimore Mandolin Orchestra is so fortunate to have Jonathan providing us with music that you just don’t find anywhere else. His compositions and arrangements are always fun and challenging for the BMO members to play too, because, thanks to Jonathan’s intimate knowledge of the mandolin family of instruments – he plays them all, plus a multitude of other instruments – he invariably finds ways to pass the melody and countermelodies around among the other sections – the second mandolins, the mandolas and the mandocellos – and, being a bassist, he gives the mandobasses a workout from time to time too.

This promises to be a great concert. BMO music director Kristin Turner conducts. Come if you can to hear the marvelous repertoire of compositions and arrangements by Jonathan Jensen. You’re welcome to stay and chat with Jonathan after the concert. Hope to see you there.

Sunday, April 26th, 4:00 p.m.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
8501 Loch Raven Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland
Admission: Free (freewill offering)