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Very nice. Do you happen to have an arrangement for 2 mandolins, tenor mandola and mandocello? I'm sure our quartet would like to have a go if you do.

Hi Viv,

I did this with Ali at Dartington one year and have the parts she gave us. They are No. 48 Aubade (act 3) M1&2 and M3&4. Plus No. 25 (Dance with Mandolins) with parts for M1 and M2. Let me...

Yes - we are in the early stages of this project but, if possible, the aim is to make Eileen's compositions much more easily available. I have had an e-mail from someone who had met Eileen who told...

A project is just getting underway in the UK to collate all Eileen's compositions of which there are many. It may take a little while but it will be very worthwhile.

Sorry, no, I don't have the notation available and am not sure where it originated.

http://youtu.be/mZtAJsgbRY4

Bonny at Morn is a lovely English folk tune from the north-east of the country. (The photos however, are from the south-east just to confuse)

Thanks so much for the comment, Nigel. No, we don't play much in public and when we do it is usually for residential homes or day centres which we do for our own enjoyment as much as anything. The...

This is a recording of Alloa House made by the Mango Trio and played on 2 mandolins and a mandola.
This song was first published in 1740 by James Oswald after the melody had been adapted by Rev. Dr...

http://youtu.be/cyP5T4130Qo


Last weekend, the wonderful Dutch Orchestra, RMGO, visited us, the Fretful Federation in Brighton. We very much enjoyed hosting them and on Sunday we presented a...

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As expected, it was a wonderful concert held in the spectacular baroque venue of the Chapel of the Old Naval College, Greenwich - designed by Sir Christopher Wren no less.
There were...

Tomorrow night at 7.30 (Friday - UK time) the Alison Stephens memorial concert will take place at Trinity College, London. Friends, colleagues and former pupils will all contribute to a wonderful...

This is a favourite track from one of my favourite albums. Everyone should buy a copy.
Also, I like the idea of more of Ali's wonderful music being available on YouTube.
The Fretful Federation's...

Thanks Ian,

I will be there wearing orange and I am sure the funeral will be the kind of event Ali would have wanted it to be - a celebration of her life and of all the wonderful qualities she...

In defence of the audience, this event was billed as a Christmas party and featured a wide variety of local performers. There wasn't any seating to speak of apart from the floor. At least they were...

Tom,

That looks splendid. Not unlike Richard Osborne's style, especially the triangular shaped sound hole. I'm looking forward to hearing it.

Tom,
I use Noteworthy Composer which I find more than adequate and is cheap. You can download a trial version from their site.
John, as you know, the Frets are always interested in your work and...

Yes - that's the same Robert Schulz and we play those 2 Folk Dances a lot, often opening our program with them as they are lively and fun. I have also worked on the "Lament" you mention with my Trio,...

Here in Brighton, the Fretful Federation Orchestra is working on The Adventures of the Duyfken by R. Charlton which was commissioned by the Australian Mandolin Music Association. It's in 4 movements...

Tom, I'll suggest it. Unfortunately, the concert last week was the first time Ian had played saw on Santa Lucia and we don't have a video of it. Maybe we could get someone to record it at Haywards...

Some of you will know that the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra also has a Myspace site. Ian has just added 4 items recorded live at a recent concert - 2 Folk Dances by Schulz, Benvenuto by Kok,...

Cool. It is indeed a nice symphony and I see SFSO with Tilson Thomas have recorded it too. I believe Mahler used a mandolin in his 8th as well. Good stuff.

I switched on the TV last night to find a Proms concert from the London Albert Hall being broadcast. It was Mahler's 7th Symphony played by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and I was just in time...

Hi Ali,

I play second mandolin with the FF and there is plenty of room for improvement in my playing of that part. The first part would present a challenge in terms of all those ledger lines! The...

That's interesting. I was in Cephalonia last May - staying in Sami where CC's Mandolin was filmed. The locals told me that Italian television had been filming a soap set in Cephalonia which was...

I've just had a message from Sherry Ladig, composer of the Como Suite which both MMO and the Fretful Federation play. She was pleased to read the discussion but has been unable to register and reply...