post a video of yourself

[Bertram Henze]

Hot town, summer in the city, what better to do than to celebrate the advent of hornets (and thus the demise of wasps) with a beer...

[tmsweeney]

nice afterburn on the electric

[Dusepo]

Shabnam (Dew/Frost) composed by Mansour Nariman منصور نریمان - شبنم

[Dusepo]

[Jim Imhoff]

Thank you for continuing to expand the world of plucked instruments for those of us boxed in with bluegrass and classical mandolins. I am curious about the quarter tones: I can't tell in the video if the instrument is non-fretted or if you are bending strings for that effect.
Also, my big old Gibson K4 is in a luthier's shop for the summer, so I will be spending more time with your beautiful cittern/liuto. Don't know if I will ever be ready to post in this thread, though.
jim

[Dusepo]

Thank you for continuing to expand the world of plucked instruments for those of us boxed in with bluegrass and classical mandolins. I am curious about the quarter tones: I can't tell in the video if the instrument is non-fretted or if you are bending strings for that effect.
Also, my big old Gibson K4 is in a luthier's shop for the summer, so I will be spending more time with your beautiful cittern/liuto. Don't know if I will ever be ready to post in this thread, though.
jim

I look forward to hearing you the play the Liuto Cantabile! (Even if not in this thread)
It's an oud, so yes fretless, and this song does indeed feature quarter tones. It's in a dastgah (mode) called Homayun. Here's the notes:

[tmsweeney]

This old English Balled was collected by Percy Grainger in 1908. I went to see the great Celtic fingerstyle guitarist Tony McManus and he reminded of the Martin Simpson album "When I was on Horseback" always a favorite, I put it back on the loop and rediscovered this tune.
I had originally wanted to go with my standard Octave and Mandola but for this it was just too sparse. After adding in the mandocello, I ran several takes with the mandolin - improvising the solos. Going through and trying to find the one I liked I wound keeping them both, which is the effect I was searching for. When I first head the Simpson version again, I was just wailing along with the mando over it in a state of sorrowful joy.
The quartet is a Collings F5, Weber Black Ice Octave, Ratliff Mandocello, and Weber Yellowstone Mandola.

[Jim Imhoff]

Jo, I just heard your "Phase Boundary Improvisation" piece and wondered if you were familiar with a 60's-70's the British psychadelic-folk "Incredible String Band" with Robin Williamson and Mike Heron. Very similar mood, string work, and even the "spacey" title. My wife was a fan long before I met her and she was thrilled to learn I had all their albums. If you don't know the ISB, check them out; but also keep your own eclectic music coming.

[Ranald]

This old English Balled was collected by Percy Grainger in 1908.

I enjoyed your rendition of "Shallow Brown." I hate to get technical, but the song isn't an "old English" ballad (a song the tells a story), but a sea shanty (a sailor's work song) or chantey, if you prefer). You and Martin Simpson have re-interpreted the song, removing the driving beat of the shanty.

[tmsweeney]

I enjoyed your rendition of "Shallow Brown." I hate to get technical, but the song isn't an "old English" ballad (a song the tells a story), but a sea shanty (a sailor's work song) or chantey, if you prefer). You and Martin Simpson have re-interpreted the song, removing the driving beat of the shanty.

Well I stand corrected, I did go listen to some of the acapella group singing versions, and I agree Martin's version is somewhat removed from that style and almost sounds more Americanized (even though he is Australian), it reminds me of a South Eastern American Spiritual, while I really like that whole recording, this one grabbed me and I was compelled. The lyrics are kind of downer anyway.

[Dusepo]

Jo, I just heard your "Phase Boundary Improvisation" piece and wondered if you were familiar with a 60's-70's the British psychadelic-folk "Incredible String Band" with Robin Williamson and Mike Heron. Very similar mood, string work, and even the "spacey" title. My wife was a fan long before I met her and she was thrilled to learn I had all their albums. If you don't know the ISB, check them out; but also keep your own eclectic music coming.

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm not familiar with ISB (I'll have to look them up), but if you like that, you might like to check out the rest of the album: https://dusepo.bandcamp.com/album/phase-boundary

Here's two recent duets, a Swedish song and a medieval dance. I'll include the sheet music below for others to play too, since I think they'd both work well on mandolin.

[tmsweeney]

very cool - I purchased one of those silent ouds, what tuning do you prefer?

[Dusepo]

very cool - I purchased one of those silent ouds, what tuning do you prefer?

Thanks. I use CGADGC, low to high.

[John Kelly]

I loved The Bear Dance, Jo. It's a tune we play a lot at our weekly sessions here, and it goes really well especially on the low D whistle which a couple of our regulars play.

[tmsweeney]

I've heard and played Bear Dance as well, very popular tune world wide it seems.

Here's "The Sailor Who Deserted" or "An Saighdiúir Tréigthe", a very tragic tale.
I believe it is from the World War II era so actually younger than the 3 Gibson's I play it on.

Inspired by the singing of Skara Brea

[Dusepo]

3 collaborations with a Gudok player:

'Tamo Daleko' (traditional Serbian song)


'Hederlez' (Traditional Gaugaz


'Üsküdara Gider İken' (Traditional Turkish song)

[tmsweeney]

Molly put the Kettle on
from O'Neils Music of Ireland, noting McNamara as the collector and in A minor. I transcribed to D minor for a better mandola fit. Played here on a Weber Gallatin Octave, a Weber Gallatin Mandola, and a Gibson H2 Mandola.

[Dusepo]

[John Kelly]

Interesting sound you get from the instrument in the outdoors, Jo. Thanks for posting.

[tmsweeney]

I agree the vibrations from that instrument seem very natural to the environment, waaaaaay cool.