"The Greatest Mandolin Performance Ever"

[Seter]

Surely it is the great mandolin virtuoso Nicolas Cage in in the film Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

[Mark Gunter]

I'm partial to solo mandolin & vocal performances, like the one you linked in OP. Here's a more down & dirty example. I really like hearing Chris Thile or Sam Bush do their thing with solo mandolin and vocals, and there are a few others who inspire me as well.



And check out Brian Oberlin's "Boneyard Swing"



Maybe not the "greatest ever" performances, but rockin' stuff and inspirational.

[Larry S Sherman]

For me it's between two performances I saw live:

Chris Thile performing Bach solo in Albany, NY. We were front row solo and Chris was playing his Loar only a few feet from us. I don't think I'll ever see such an amazing performance by anyone on any instrument. I didn't record anything, but here's someone else's video of the same tour:



Mike Marshall & Hamilton de Holanda in Richmond, VT. Although I saw this duo play together in a more intimate house party on Cape Cod this VT show was on fire. Mike & Ham were pushing each other and both were constantly challenging the limits of what their instruments could do. You could feel the tension in the air like a prize fight about to happen before it started. They were drenched in sweat by the end. I'll never forget an instant of it.

I captured a few minutes here:



Larry

[Paul Busman]

For me personally it was my performance of the Bach cello suite prelude in D, played on an octave mandolin during a Christmas party in which I had consumed at least two beverages over my limit. Everyone told me it was a truly amazing performance although I have little recollection.

I'll bet you were handsomer than ever and danced wonderfully at that party

[Paul Busman]

For me it's between two performances I saw live:

Chris Thile performing Bach solo in Albany, NY. We were front row solo and Chris was playing his Loar only a few feet from us. I don't think I'll ever see such an amazing performance by anyone on any instrument.

St. Rose, right? That's the performance I mentioned in my earlier post. I was in quiet awe of the complete mastery Chris has over the instrument. He has incredible subtlety when it's called for, but also the most blazing pyrotechnics when needed, and he knows which is which.
One takeaway from the show was learning not to plant my pinky after watching Chris' right hand up fairly close.I made a conscious effort not to do that and it made a big difference in my playing.

[Larry S Sherman]

St. Rose, right? That's the performance I mentioned in my earlier post.

Yes..sounds like we were at the same show. I've tried playing some of those pieces afterwards and I can't make them sound musical...can't get them up to speed.

Larry

[Drew Streip]

Chris Thile's performance on "Tomorrow is a Long Time" was transfixing to me even before I played. The album version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S_Gl3a5Adw) is absolutely one of the most perfect songs I've ever heard. Each note feels like a drop in a spring rain shower.

This live version (to me) isn't as perfect, but it displays the depth of his performance: finger picking the mandolin, single notes, pinch harmonics (!)

And it's just so sparse -- it's rare that he isn't front and center, but it adds so much depth to such a simple tune.



For that matter, Sean's guitar and Sara's fiddle are amazing too. If I had to only listen to one song for the rest of my life, this would be a strong contender.

[bratsche]

Here's a favorite of mine:



bratsche

[MandoNina]

Awesome seeing Mike Marshal and Hamilton de Holanda playing together. Hamilton is a beast on the bandolim.

Here's another great performance by him

[Dagger Gordon]

For something quite different, let's not forget the late Indian musician U Srinivas.

[Jim Garber]

Bratsche: that is one of the best renditions of the Chaconne on mamdolin. It is very hard to compete with it being played on violin but his is emotive and sensitive.

[MandoNina]

Wow! Thanks David. That is really something! I had never seen the use of a mandolin (is it a mandolin?) like that before.

[Dagger Gordon]

Wow! Thanks David. That is really something! I had never seen the use of a mandolin (is it a mandolin?) like that before.

Well, he called it a mandolin .....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U._Srinivas#Instrument

[Delaware]

Since people are throwing out their "bests", I will nominate Chris Thile's performance on Douglas Fir. There is something endlessly fascinating about the mandolin line here. Not only gorgeous but deceptively complex and sublimely arranged. It really makes me look at the instrument on my wall as something transformative.
Those changes of pace, the skipping up and down the fretboard, like leaves or snowflakes falling. Wow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG0aW_GHdRs

[Ron McMillan]

Easy. Chris Thile's solo introduction on Dolly Parton's rendition of I get a kick out of you from her album Little Sparrow.

Seventeen seconds of creative, lyrical and technical mastery that was the object of months of intensive study on my part. And I still can't play it.

[CES]

Easy. Chris Thile's solo introduction on Dolly Parton's rendition of I get a kick out of you from her album Little Sparrow.

Seventeen seconds of creative, lyrical and technical mastery that was the object of months of intensive study on my part. And I still can't play it.

I have several such riffs/tidbits from his playing that I'm working on, and, it hurts me how effortless he makes them sound, and how long it takes me to get them even recognizable, much less up to speed and correct. Another New World is one I've been messing with on and off for a while now. It's pretty simple from a chord structure/arpeggio standpoint, but getting the speed and timing just right is tough for me.

Of course, my talent pool is more like a mud puddle, but...

[MandoNina]

Well, he called it a mandolin .....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U._Srinivas#Instrument

Yeah it's a 5 stringed electrical mandolin tuned in CGCGC. Immensely interesting and impressive what he's able to do with it.

[Dagger Gordon]

Yeah it's a 5 stringed electrical mandolin tuned in CGCGC. Immensely interesting and impressive what he's able to do with it.

Yes indeed. It's good to hear something so different.
I have to say though that for 'conventional' playing your clip of Thile does take some beating.

Recommend any good Costa Rica stuff, by the way? I was there in 2015 and caught a little music here and there but mostly reggae or rock.

[jimmy powells]

Dave Appollon for me. I discovered him in 1972 when I sent to the USA for an album and when it arrived it said "nothing you've heard will ever have prepared you for the mandolin artistry of Dave Appollon", or something to that effect. Couldn't agree more. I was spellbound and enjoy his music (with the accompaniment which makes it) so much.

Jimmy P

UK

[Jim Nollman]

I've seen that same odd-shaped Indian mandolin for sale in a music store in Bangalore. I don't recall it having quite so many electronic bells and whistles. At Indian prices, I almost couldn't resist buying it. Fortunately, the reality of living out of a carry-on suitcase for another month serves as a sure antidote for MAS.

[Seter]

There is a oddly similar looking 8 string Galveston for sale here on craiglist (NFI): https://houston.craigslist.org/msg/d...542524498.html Different body shape, but same finish and similar hardware layout.

[JeffD]

Greatest ever? There are so many that are so great. An early one I fell for was:

[MandoNina]

Yes indeed. It's good to hear something so different.
I have to say though that for 'conventional' playing your clip of Thile does take some beating.

Recommend any good Costa Rica stuff, by the way? I was there in 2015 and caught a little music here and there but mostly reggae or rock.

Hear hear!

Yeah for sure. Let me think on it. What normally floats your boat musically?

[MandoNina]

There is a oddly similar looking 8 string Galveston for sale here on craiglist (NFI): https://houston.craigslist.org/msg/d...542524498.html Different body shape, but same finish and similar hardware layout.

$50?

[Seter]

$50?

Yep. Not sure what exactly the "just needs jack" comment is talking about, could be issues with the input or maybe they're just saying you need to have a cable?