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  1. #1
    Registered User Carl23's Avatar
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    Default Mandolin classical literature

    Just wondering if anyone knows of a list of works for / including mandolin?

    I'm familiar with the Calace page, and other specific resources, but I'm thinking more of a formal / scholastic list.
    Something that can put things into perspective, and allow the selection of works from different time periods.

    Thanks,
    Carl
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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    First you must learn the secret handshake.
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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Have you ever tried to do a secret handshake through the internets?

    ;-)
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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidKOS View Post
    https://imslp.org/index.php?title=Ca...plate:Catintro

    IMSLP's list of scores featuring the mandolin
    Thanks!

    This is a great start!

    are there any resources for things that are not public domain?
    I've look at individual publishers... a bit of work tho, would rather someone else do it. :-)

    C
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    Registered User fumblefour's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Hunting down the less well known music written specifically for Mandolin (or its close relatives) would I suspect be a long albeit fascinating journey. Then there is the question whether it’s just solo mandolin or also duets/ensembles/zupforchester etc. And of course a lot (maybe most? I couldn’t say) of the classical repertoire is actually based on adapting music not originally written for the mandolin. Plus there are modern composers now writing for the mandolin (blessings be upon them).

    I am probably not telling you anything you don’t already know, but one site well worth exploring is Trekel (https://www.trekel.de/Home.html). They have an interesting selection of sheet music for mandolin and some pretty good search filters. Presto Music ( https://www.prestomusic.com/classical ) seems to have quite a varied selection of classical sheet music for mandolin from various publishers.
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  10. #7

    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Another interesting site concerning contemporary mandolin compositions might be the German Pan-Verlag:
    https://pan-verlag.com/shop/noten/in...sik-mandoline/
    They print classics such as Calace as well as contemporary compositors such as
    Juan Carlos Munoz

    or José Antonio Zambrano

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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    "Hunting down the less well known music written specifically for Mandolin (or its close relatives) would I suspect be a long albeit fascinating journey. Then there is the question whether it’s just solo mandolin or also duets/ensembles/zupforchester etc. Plus there are modern composers now writing for the mandolin (blessings be upon them)."

    The most comprehensive listing of original music for mandolin can be found at http://mandolin.music.coocan.jp/works.html. Unless you are fluent in reading Japanese, you will need Google translate. Clicking on any of the letters of the alphabet will bring up a list of composers. The "notes" column at the end contains publication information (T = Trekel, VF = Vogt & Fritz, and so on). Note #1: the listing covers more than classical music. Note #2: the listing does not cover arrangements (e.g. under "B", if one looks up Siegfried Behrend, the listing gives only his original works, not his 30+ published arrangements).
    Robert A. Margo

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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Note #3: the Japanese website mentioned in my previous posting does not list works by living Japanese composers but instead redirects users to a separate website.

    Note #4: I've attached a copy of a handout of workshop that I gave at the CMSA convention in Milwaukee in 2017 on online sources of mandolin music. Included in the handout is a table listing the major current publishers and also step-by-step instructions for ordering from Trekel.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Margo handout pdf.pdf  
    Robert A. Margo

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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    @ fumblefour

    Actually... I didn't know either of those sites! thank you so much!

    Early in the research... hoped someone had beat me to it. :-)

    Carl
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    Slingerland Modified Drumset
    Hand made profesional djembes from Guinea and Maili West Africa
    and toys... lots and lots of toys.

    Hey... I have a blog here!
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    Registered User Carl23's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    wow! you guys are great! I knew I could count on you!
    very excited to start digging in. (hopefully I can find recordings as well)

    Thank you!

    Carl
    "The Loar" LM-520
    Ludwig & Ludwig 8-370X Marimba
    Slingerland Modified Drumset
    Hand made profesional djembes from Guinea and Maili West Africa
    and toys... lots and lots of toys.

    Hey... I have a blog here!
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    Feel free to stop on by and let me know what you think!

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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Chris Acquavella has two very useful repertoire lists on his website, one Baroque/Classical, the other Romantic/contemporary:

    http://chrisacquavella.com/wordpress...e-Workshop.pdf
    http://chrisacquavella.com/wordpress...e-Workshop.pdf

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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Fwiw, here's a list of some of my own scribblings. I think they'd classify as "less well known music written specifically for Mandolin."

    http://www.craton.net/music/mandolin/mandolinworks.htm
    John Craton
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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Quote Originally Posted by margora View Post
    Note #3: the Japanese website mentioned in my previous posting does not list works by living Japanese composers but instead redirects users to a separate website.

    Note #4: I've attached a copy of a handout of workshop that I gave at the CMSA convention in Milwaukee in 2017 on online sources of mandolin music. Included in the handout is a table listing the major current publishers and also step-by-step instructions for ordering from Trekel.
    Wow! this is a great resource / collection of resources. thanks!
    "The Loar" LM-520
    Ludwig & Ludwig 8-370X Marimba
    Slingerland Modified Drumset
    Hand made profesional djembes from Guinea and Maili West Africa
    and toys... lots and lots of toys.

    Hey... I have a blog here!
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/blogs/53556
    Feel free to stop on by and let me know what you think!

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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Quote Originally Posted by John Craton View Post
    Fwiw, here's a list of some of my own scribblings. I think they'd classify as "less well known music written specifically for Mandolin."

    http://www.craton.net/music/mandolin/mandolinworks.htm
    John,

    thanks for sharing. I ran across this on one of my searches... so many bookmarks! :-)
    "The Loar" LM-520
    Ludwig & Ludwig 8-370X Marimba
    Slingerland Modified Drumset
    Hand made profesional djembes from Guinea and Maili West Africa
    and toys... lots and lots of toys.

    Hey... I have a blog here!
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/blogs/53556
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  24. #16
    Registered User Carl23's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Ok, so I started this thread thinking that I'd have time to put some of it together as my own resource...
    what was I thinking?

    :-)

    I guess I'l have this conversation on bookmark for a while. A lot of material to go through.

    my thanks to everyone!

    carl
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    Registered User Martin Jonas's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Three more resources are:

    1. The Nakano archive, now partially reposted in the members section of CMSA: Link. I'm not a CMSA member, so I'm not sure how much of the original archive is posted to their site. I made my own off-line backup of the original Japanese archive and HTML index files when the site was still up, but the original index was a bit of a mess, as well as partially in Japanese.

    2. The "Biblioteca della chitarra e del mandolino" (link), which overlaps in large parts with the Classical Guitar Library (link) -- both sites have mainly PD guitar music, but there is a lot of mandolin and mandolin/guitar music as well.

    3. Last but not least, Sheri Mignano's Dropbox archive of old Italian-American mandolin music here on the Cafe. There may be an argument as to whether this should be counted as "classical mandolin music" (it's really a musical sub-genre of its own), but there are certainly many gems in there. There are still big gaps in what has survived, but some of the scores include scans of the original catalogues which fills in at least some of the names of the missing tunes.

    Martin

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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Quote Originally Posted by Martin Jonas View Post

    3. Last but not least, Sheri Mignano's Dropbox archive of old Italian-American mandolin music here on the Cafe. There may be an argument as to whether this should be counted as "classical mandolin music" (it's really a musical sub-genre of its own)
    Martin
    A group of us including Sheri decided at an informal meeting at the last CMSA convention that Ballo Liscio was a form of "light classical" music as it is not "folk" music, we know the composers!

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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    The CMSA group's decision notwithstanding "Light Classical" sounds like a dreadfully milquetoasty characterization of this wonderful music. At least for me, the BL music I enjoy most was written for dancing, too. Not in the folk tradition, for sure....

    I appreciate Martin's suggestion of a 'sub-genre', but I am perfectly content with thinking of the Ballo Liscio tradition as a valid music in its own right, and deserving of its own life and love and proud performance.

    To my ear, hands and feet, it is not "light" anything. It is a rich, unique musical tradition that has and should continue to stand on its own. Does it draw on some "classical" phrasing or structures? Likely so, just as "classical" has drawn on many a folk tradition. If the CMSA folks want to dig into it, fine, but Ballo Liscio doesn't play second mandolin to anything.

    However, without the prospect of a revival of dancing to the music, it may be doomed to the stultifying regimens of the the classical rather than the lifeblood that the music has arisen from and continues to pulsate.

    still smoothly dancing,
    Mick
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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Not to contradict but rather to clarify and add to the discussion.

    Many of the Italian ballo liscio composers learned from Italy's older generation of mandolinists--Calace, Silvestri, Becucci etc; however, Italian immigrants in America published their village dances as existing on the cusp of classical music in the sense that they often exhibit the essential classical elements: introductory cadenzas, brilliant flourishes, flamboyant finales, extended tremolos requiring Italian classical training, arpeggiated gymnastics and nuanced appogiaturas. The music is based on a thorough understanding of positions and execution. The technical level on many of these dances presents challenges quite similar to those encountered in any classical mandolin piece. Take a look at Canoro, Tarantola, Tafarella, Tesio and Gioè and you don't see simplicity but melodic complexity that requires virtuosity. They are three minute miniature jewels, not sonata allegro structured into a 12-minute mini-concerti. I dare anyone to take on Canoro's "Il Trionfo di Mandolinisti" or any Tafarella mazurka or a Tarantola tarantella and play it at its proper tempo and not experience a classically-inspired dance.

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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Quote Originally Posted by brunello97 View Post
    Does it draw on some "classical" phrasing or structures?
    Yes.

    Many of the forms are Da Capo aria type ternary form or "march" form, for example. With contrasting key changes for each section, and counterpoint on the 2nd parts.


    Quote Originally Posted by Mandophile View Post
    Italian immigrants in America published their village dances as existing on the cusp of classical music in the sense that they often exhibit the essential classical elements: introductory cadenzas, brilliant flourishes, flamboyant finales, extended tremolos requiring Italian classical training, arpeggiated gymnastics and nuanced appogiaturas. The music is based on a thorough understanding of positions and execution. The technical level on many of these dances presents challenges quite similar to those encountered in any classical mandolin piece.
    That's what we were talking about!

    BTW, the discussion was not sanctioned by the organization, this was informal and I take responsibility for using that term "light classical, so don't blame anyone else but me, Mick. Thanks.

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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    I was wondering if some café members could suggest preferred pieces from this large and growing body of music. I appreciate and thank you for the difficult task collecting, scanning and cataloguing all these works! Are any of the pieces standard repertoire? The size of the collection is quite intimidating if one hasn’t been exposed to Ballo Liscio composers and related music!
    Any suggestions would be helpful. I’m an intermediate to advanced player and could read quite well. It would be great to have suggestions for different levels of players!
    Thanks, Barry

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  37. #23
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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    I’ve worked up a few, and the tunes work well solo, but to get the real effect I think you need to get hold of an intermediate mandolin and a proper ‘in you face’ guitar player. This lets you get the pushes and pulls of the performance, where one instrument leans on the other. They’re real conversations in sound, even better if you can find a willing audience who will let you act the emotion, playing it directly to them and not being afraid to show off the flourishes. You need a bit of the musical peacock in you to deliver the feel and be truly entertaining.

    here’s a slightly bonkers one I like from Tesio;

    Click image for larger version. 

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    This website is worth a rummage too. http://www.lisciomuseum.com/2016/03/06/il-progetto/
    Eoin



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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Here's a question for some long-timers. This probably goes back close to 20 years when Norman Levine was still with us. He authored a book or collection of some type--which I never saw nor heard much about--that had a title something like "1,000 pieces for classical mandolin and where you can find them," or something like that. Not sure it was 1,000 but it was a large number. Clearly, it was a one printing and I never saw it referred to since, and a Google search turns up nothing. Surely someone else heard of this and possibly has a copy. In a number of discussions I see from time to time about amassing these types of collections I'd have to think this could be of value. I suppose it's possible it wasn't even a book, but a typed list that he made available. Anyone remember that, possibly some long-time CMSA folks? I'd think a Terry Pender, Neil Gladd or Bob Margo might know, possibly Marilynn Mair. If it would be of use to someone at some point it'd be good to have a decent reference where it could at least turn up in a Google search. I'd think this Forum might serve that purpose.

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  41. #25
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    Default Re: Mandolin classical literature

    Quote Originally Posted by Martin Jonas View Post
    Three more resources are:

    1. The Nakano archive, now partially reposted in the members section of CMSA: Link. I'm not a CMSA member, so I'm not sure how much of the original archive is posted to their site. I made my own off-line backup of the original Japanese archive and HTML index files when the site was still up, but the original index was a bit of a mess, as well as partially in Japanese.
    In the context of this thread, there may be some interest in the original Nakano index files as a subset of published music for mandolin. I've converted the original HTML index files into a single PDF, which I attach. There are separate index files for composers by alphabetical order, and an "extra volume" with a rather unsystematic mix of other music.

    There are a few caveats:

    1. Not all the files in the index actually exist (at least not in my local backup) as the early version of cloud storage they used for the archive was very flaky.

    2. The filenames are consecutively numbered for each composer, but with gaps in the numbering that suggest that Nakano had many more scores that were never scanned and uploaded into the archive.

    3. Although all the music in the index is either published or manuscript music specifically for mandolins, it does not differentiate between original mandolin music and arrangement of non-mandolin pieces.

    4. As this was originally a private archive rather than an online resource, little or no effort was made by the archivists to establish the copyright status of any of these pieces -- much of it is obviously public domain and much else obviously copyrighted (including much that is still in print from Trekel.de), with a fair number of pieces in limbo because of incomplete publishing and biographical information. I understand this was the biggest problem with putting the archive on the CMSA website.

    5. Much of the music was photocopied by Maestro Nakano himself in the early days of photocopying, and the quality is extremely variable, from quite good to atrocious.

    While I am posting, it occurs to me that further lists of published mandolin music are in this old thread of repertoire lists compiled from a number of mandolin orchestras: Link

    Martin
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Nakano index.pdf  

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