Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 89

Thread: What are you playing for the holidays?

  1. #1
    Registered User Pasha Alden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Grahamstown South Africa
    Posts
    1,705
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default What are you playing for the holidays?

    Hi all
    Last night I had such fun playing holiday music in preparation for our annual Christmas party at work. I played a medley of "Dona Nobis Parchem" and "Silent night" (the Latin for those not knowing, means "give us peace"
    I then played a way in a manger, come all ye faithful and played "It's Christmas the War is Over" and "Happy New Year" of Abba. It was such fun! What are you playing for the holidays?
    Such fun!

    Playing:
    Jbovier a5 2013;
    Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
    Jbovier F5 mandola 2016

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Pasha Alden For This Useful Post:


  3. #2
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    13,103

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  4. #3
    Registered User Paul Brett's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Kilkenny, Ireland.
    Posts
    136

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    I've been working on "Have yourself a merry little Christmas"

  5. #4

    Default

    My band are starting to rehearse The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York", lots of mandolin potential on that one!
    Rob

    My YouTube Channel
    My Book - The Solstice Blade - featuring zero mandolin content!

  6. The following members say thank you to Rob Beck for this post:


  7. #5
    Mandolin Botherer Shelagh Moore's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Leicestershire, UK
    Posts
    1,378

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    Hi Vannilla!

    I hadn't really thought of doing anything but your post and pgb's answer has made me resolve to work on a piece... maybe a jazz interpretation of "Have yourself a merry little Christmas" as well!

    Hope you're well!

    Richard

  8. The following members say thank you to Shelagh Moore for this post:


  9. #6

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen sounds awesome on a mando. Give it a go.

  10. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Jimrl For This Useful Post:


  11. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Gainesville, FL
    Posts
    2,664

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    Jingle Bell Breakdown by Red Craven and the Bray Brothers. Great mandolin breaks.

  12. #8
    its a very very long song Jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    BonCarbo CO.
    Posts
    2,446

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    Got a solo gig for a christmas dinner party, Mostly instrumental background music during pre dinner drinks & visiting with a short after dinner "show". For the instrumental aspect I've worked up, Silent Night ( with lots of harmonics), Jingle bells, Carol of the Bells, My Favorite things and What Child is this. Will probably do "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" sung over the House of the Rising Sun chord progression during the "Show"
    Jim Richmond

  13. #9
    Registered User Pasha Alden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Grahamstown South Africa
    Posts
    1,705
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    At Richard: that sounds absolutely fabulously mandolerious! Go for it.
    Yes, I am great. Hope the same goes for you!
    Incidentally I have as part of my holiday music attempted a jazzy take on "Let it snow" Oh dear, it still needs work!

    Playing:
    Jbovier a5 2013;
    Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
    Jbovier F5 mandola 2016

  14. #10
    Registered User Pasha Alden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Grahamstown South Africa
    Posts
    1,705
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    At Denny Jies That sounds great!

    Playing:
    Jbovier a5 2013;
    Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
    Jbovier F5 mandola 2016

  15. #11
    Registered User Pasha Alden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Grahamstown South Africa
    Posts
    1,705
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    At Martin Stillian: absolutely fantastic, I dream of my bowl back mando and getting to that level!

    Happy playing!

    Playing:
    Jbovier a5 2013;
    Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
    Jbovier F5 mandola 2016

  16. #12
    Registered User Pasha Alden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Grahamstown South Africa
    Posts
    1,705
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    At Jim That sound fantastic. Do I understand the rhythm of House of and chords and melody also and just lyrics of Oh little Town of Bethlehem over that?

    Playing:
    Jbovier a5 2013;
    Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
    Jbovier F5 mandola 2016

  17. #13

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    Hi vannillamandolin -

    I'll be playing at a local Church's Country Christmas on December 8. We'll do all the standard Christmas Hymns.

    Lee

  18. #14
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    24,807
    Blog Entries
    56

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    I have several Christmas tune books, with ancient and more recent Christmas music. I don't get to liking a tune until it is at least a few years old.

    I thingk being to play Christmas tunes expressively is important because everyone listening is hearing the words and having nostalgic thoughts. I like my playing to evoke the words if I can.

    I favor tunes with long extended notes, so I can tremolo long and hard. "Angels We Have Heard on High" with that great "Gloria in excelsis Deo" chorus is one of my favorites to play. There is so much dynamic range in my resonator I can bring the audience right along.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

  19. #15
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy, NW Oregon.
    Posts
    17,103

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    I get to shake the dust off the 'Here Comes Santa Claus' rendition for another year.
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  20. #16
    Registered User Pasha Alden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Grahamstown South Africa
    Posts
    1,705
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    Hi mandolinlee

    That sounds great! It is wonderful to be talking to my mandolin friends about holiday music after being on the café for a year and playing for exactly 11 months. So much has happened and the mandolin and the music has added such a rich dimension to my life and made me new friends. It is like standing on a luxurious rug in front of a fireplace, feeling safe and warm. In this case, warmed by the friendship and music.
    Happy playing holiday music!

    Vanilla

    Playing:
    Jbovier a5 2013;
    Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
    Jbovier F5 mandola 2016

  21. #17
    Registered User Pasha Alden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Grahamstown South Africa
    Posts
    1,705
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    At Jeff - it sounds great. Agreed. Holiday/Christmas music must be played expressively.

    I love the idea of learning old and new tunes anddifferent versions. Sometimes renditions can differ so much as musicians have their unique take on a song.

    Happy playing

    Vanillamandolin

    Playing:
    Jbovier a5 2013;
    Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
    Jbovier F5 mandola 2016

  22. #18
    Registered User Pasha Alden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Grahamstown South Africa
    Posts
    1,705
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    At Coprolite
    Thanks for reminding us of that one!


    Happy playing!

    Vanillamandolin

    Playing:
    Jbovier a5 2013;
    Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
    Jbovier F5 mandola 2016

  23. #19
    its a very very long song Jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    BonCarbo CO.
    Posts
    2,446

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    Yes VM, that's singing "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" to the tune of "House of the rising sun". And It's been a pleasure having you on the cafe this last year and watching your love of the instrument and music ( and it seems life in general) grow.
    Jim Richmond

  24. #20
    Registered User Londy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Chapel Hill, NC
    Posts
    869

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    Does anyone have a few good Christmas tunes (music) that sound good on mando that you can share? Believe it or not, i have no Christmas books on hand.
    Amateurs practice until they can play it right.
    Professionals practice until they can't play it wrong.

    Collings MTO
    Epiphone Mandobird IV
    Yamaha Piano
    Roland AX-1

  25. #21
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Marcellus, NY
    Posts
    245

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    I'm a trumpet player playing Handel's Messiah. I play 4 songs and sit for the rest. I now do air mandolin fingering during each solo. I hope it helps.

  26. #22
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States
    Posts
    14,284
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    I play either carols from Allan Alexander's collection or these by member Michael Pilgrim.

    I'm partial to God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen jazz style like on Grisman's Christmas CD.

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

    + Give Blood, Save a Life +

  27. #23
    Unfamous String Buster Beanzy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Cornwall & London
    Posts
    2,921
    Blog Entries
    5

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    My son and I are working these two up by ear on guitar & mandolin
    Not there yet but shouldn't be too long once he gets his new guitar he'll put the time in .



    Eoin



    "Forget that anyone is listening to you and always listen to yourself" - Fryderyk Chopin

  28. The following members say thank you to Beanzy for this post:


  29. #24
    Registered User Pasha Alden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Grahamstown South Africa
    Posts
    1,705
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    Hello Jim Richmond - such kind words. Love your take on Oh Little Town of Bethlehem! Going to do that tonight!

    Stay well and happy playing!

    Playing:
    Jbovier a5 2013;
    Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
    Jbovier F5 mandola 2016

  30. #25
    Registered User Pasha Alden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Grahamstown South Africa
    Posts
    1,705
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: What are you playing for the holidays?

    Hi londy

    Believe it or not, I am playing only with pitch!
    Will look in what I do have!

    Playing:
    Jbovier a5 2013;
    Crafter M70E acoustic mandolin
    Jbovier F5 mandola 2016

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •