La mandoline en France - (cours, concerts, sessions, luthiers?)

[MoreThanQuinn]

Bonjour,

I arrived in France last month. I'll be here to teach for the duration of the school year and likely again next year as well. I'm in the Aquitaine region (the Dordogne), in Périgueux.

I'm looking for anything mandolin-related around me!
I would love to take some lessons, since I've just been coasting off of my violin/guitar experience thus far, but I'd also be happy to go to any concerts with mandolin, sessions, workshops, festivals, or to see any luthiers shops while I'm here.

Any info and advice would be greatly appreciated!

Répondez-moi en anglais ou français, les deux marchent

Thanks!

[Daniel Nestlerode]

Bonjour Quinn,

I'm in L'Aisne, the other side of the country. There's probably more going where you are than here.

http://www.france-bluegrass.org/ns/h...age1400sl.html

France has a bluegrass music association. Might be worth your time.

:-)
Daniel

[Martin Jonas]

I arrived in France last month. I'll be here to teach for the duration of the school year and likely again next year as well. I'm in the Aquitaine region (the Dordogne), in Périgueux.

I think Dave Hynds is near(-ish) to you -- I suggest you drop him a line. If I remember right, he lives on the lower Gironde, near Royan. Dave should be able to tell you what else is going on locally in terms of mandolining.

Martin

[Bruce Clausen]

http://www.france-bluegrass.org/ns/h...age1400sl.html

France has a bluegrass music association. Might be worth your time.

Yes, check out the forum there. Tons of info on events and concerts, plus discussion of music, instruments, players. A little like Mandolin Cafe.

[MoreThanQuinn]

Thanks very much, guys! I will definitely check out France Bluegrass.

And @Martin, thanks a lot. I actually remember seeing Dave's page a while ago when I still wasn't sure exactly where in France I'd end up. A quick google maps search tells me I'm about an hour's drive from Dave. That's awesome! I'll definitely reach out to him.

Anything else you all or others can think of regarding the mandolin in France?

Bands to keep an eye out for? Music shops? Festivals? Builders?

Thanks!

[MoreThanQuinn]

Hey, those of you who use the France-Bluegrass forums, how long did your account activation take? I created my account almost a week ago, but it has yet to be activated by an admin, so I'm stuck not being able to log in and post for now

[Beanzy]

http://mandolinesremiremont.free.fr/ maybe ping them an email to get a steer on what’s happening. Certainly check out their links page tab “Liens” etc ie; http://mandolinesremiremont.free.fr/LES_OAP_FRANCE.pdf

[MoreThanQuinn]

Hey Beanzy, thanks a lot.
Can I ask, what exactly is that list of all the various contacts and their locations? Is it lost of mandolin-based groups and mandolin orchestras across France? Unfortunately there isn't one in my city, however there is one in Bordeaux, just an hour and change from me.
Thanks!

[Martin Jonas]

Hey Beanzy, thanks a lot.
Can I ask, what exactly is that list of all the various contacts and their locations? Is it lost of mandolin-based groups and mandolin orchestras across France? Unfortunately there isn't one in my city, however there is one in Bordeaux, just an hour and change from me.
Thanks!

I think "OAP" stands for "Orchestres à Plectre", i.e. plucked instrument groups. From the names, not all of them appear to be mandolin orchestras but also guitar and banjo (or banjolin) ones. The word "Estudiantina" which appears in many of the listed groups is used in France for a smallish mandolin orchestra. Although I don't know the individual groups, from the names and context I would expect most or all of them to be mainly interested in classical mandolin.

Martin

[Beanzy]

Yes it’s a list of the plucked string orchestras and ensembles there. I’ve found that you get a great insight into things by engaging with the local orchestras and societies. Arranging to go along to a rehersal or performance is a good way to begin. The main thing is not to make any assumptions that you know what’s happening, even if it seems obvious; there are all sorts of connections and interconnections between different groups. If you can establish a rapport with the contact person you can normally check & clarify what’s happening and whether being part of their world would suit you (that’s usually why they volunteer to take the emails & phone calls). The orchestras would be a proper commitment, but they are rewarding. There have been some great and lasting connections established in this way. By way of illustration some of our friends on here have just come back from playing their baroque mandolinos with the European Lute Orchesrta at Laval, something that added a whole new texture to the sound enhancing the experience for all. You never know where you’ll end up if you follow your curiosity.

Bonne chance!

[MoreThanQuinn]

Wow, thanks a lot. I had no idea there was so much going on here. I am definitely going to check out the ones nearest to me. Much appreciated!

[Daniel Nestlerode]

http://www.festivalmandoline.fr/
Looks mostly Classical.

:-)
D

[Paul Kotapish]

For mandolin in contexts beyond bluegrass, check Patrick Vaillant's Mandopolis website —#"The Liberation Front for the Mandolin." I think Vaillant is over in Nice, pretty far from Périgueux, and I believe he organizes a mandolin festival over there. Might be worth trying to contact him for info about general info.

[Bruce Clausen]

Yes, the Mandopolis festival is held in July in Puget-Théniers, just up the Var from Nice. And Sabine Marzé's classical mandolin festival occurs later in July in Castellar, over near Menton. There are some great concert videos posted on the site:

http://www.festivalmandoline.fr/port...deos-recentes/

[MoreThanQuinn]

Wow, thanks a lot, everyone. Getting really excited about all the mandolin going-ons around here. I had no idea!