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Thread: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

  1. #1

    Default My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    Hello,

    Thought I'd have a go at recording an album full of Bach pieces on Mandolin, mandola, guitar and bass (I went through a phase of playing only Bach on Mandolin haha). A few months later, and it's ready. I'd love to know what people thinks. I had great fun recording these songs, and hope people get a kick out of them.

    It's available to buy (both physical cd's and digital copies) from my website:
    www.BenBosco.com

    (will also be available from cdbaby and itunes etc soon).

    And here's a video of one of the tracks from the album:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCkcY-mZ1pc




    And here's the track listing:
    1. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, 1st Movement - Allegro (BWV 1048)
    2. Invention No. 1 in C Major (BWV 772)
    3. Invention No. 13 in A Minor (BWV 779)
    4. Violin Concerto in E Major, 3rd Movement - Allegro Assai (BWV 1042)
    5. Goldberg Variation No. 1 in G Major (BWV 988)
    6. Goldberg Variation No. 21 in G Minor (BWV 988)
    7. Trio Sonata for Organ in Eb Major, 3rd Movement - Allegro (BWV 525)
    8. Sonata No.1 for Solo Violin in G Minor, 4th Movement - Presto (BWV 1001)
    9. French Suite No. 3 in B Minor, 4th & 5th Movements - Menuet-Trio (BWV 814)
    10. Trio Sonato in F Major (BWV 1040)
    11. Ouverture No. 2 in B Minor, 7th Movement - Badinerie (BWV 1067)
    12. Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1: No. 23 in B Major, Prelude & Fugue (BWV 868)
    13. English Suite No. 2 in A Minor, 5th Movement - Bourrée 1 (BWV 807)
    14. Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, 1st Movement - Vivace (BWV 1043)
    15. Sinfonia No. 11 in G Minor (BWV 797)

    More info at my website http://www.benbosco.com

    Thanks!
    Last edited by fluxman; Dec-16-2010 at 4:01pm.

  2. #2

    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    Heavily cool stuff, BB.

  3. #3
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    Very nice.

    Jamie
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    Work in Progress Ed Goist's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    Quite nice! Impressive playing Ben. Thanks for posting.
    c.1965 Harmony Monterey H410 Mandolin
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  5. #5
    Registered User wildpikr's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    Sweeeeet!
    Mike

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  6. #6

    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    I downloaded the album last night. Haven't listened to most of the tracks but once or twice but it's a fun mix, kind of a Whitman's Sampler[1] of Bach music. Probably won't displace my Hilary Hahn violin sonatas in the frequent-listening rotation but very nice work, Ben!

    [1] That's a popular box of mixed chocolates in USA for anyone who doesn't know the name.

  7. #7
    Registered User stevenmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    That is soo cool would love to learn how he does that with the multipule screens and his playing is excellent and the piece is sooo pricise .
    steven shelton

  8. #8
    ************** Caleb's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    My son and I have watched (in awe) Ben's videos on YouTube a few times. The Vivaldi stuff is amazing. All of it is, really. Very nice work!
    ...

  9. #9

    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    thanks for the comments!

    I'll be putting another video up in a week or 2

  10. #10

    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    Good job Ben. Bach will be proud of you today! Can I give you a sugesstion? I do think a bowl back mandolin will make your recordings sound even sweeter. a typical F-hole mandolin lacks the sweetness that is crucial in classical music.. A bowl back mandolin will add more 'bell -like' overtones.

  11. #11
    Registered User Plamen Ivanov's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    So it is you... We discussed your playing and youtube videos before in another thread. Excellent job! Congratulations! And yes... go for a bowlback!

  12. #12

    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    Well, I am about as close to a bowlback purist as possible. However, Bach's music has absolutely nothing at all to do with mandolins, was not conceived with any mandolin in sight. When approached by mandolins, it is purely transcription. Those who opt to play Bach on mandolins, I say have at it with whatever mandolin you happen to have on hand. If you do decide to take up some mandolin music, do feel free consider the type of mandolin for which that music was conceived.

    ...And nicely played, Ben.

  13. #13
    MandolaViola bratsche's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    Ben, I am a big fan of what you do. Believe it or not, your Bach Violin Concerto in E Major, 3rd movement was the first example of multi-voiced recordings I ever saw and heard on YouTube. It impressed me so much that I was inspired to try that myself. I want to do more, and hopefully also get better at it. (But for now, getting just 2 voices, let alone more, is quite a lot of work when all I have at present is my old digital camera to work with!)

    Kudos to you - I'm sure JSB is smiling.

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  14. #14
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    Well done Ben. Is your album up on the MP3 section of the cafe?

    I have to ask. Is that packing tape on your mandolin????
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

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    Site founder Scott Tichenor's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    This is a wonderful project I look forward to grabbing once it's on iTunes. The French Suites selection on this one I found a particularly great choice (the snippet that's available) and one I've enjoyed playing of late. Sorry I didn't see this when it was originally posted here but happened to see it mentioned elsewhere on the web, hence this news blast published last night. I'd be happy to host a cut on the MP3 page at Ben's request.

  16. #16

    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    I agree about the French Suites. Mighty fine.

  17. #17
    Registered User Ronbo's Avatar
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    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    I thoroughly enjoyed this Ben! Thank you!
    Ron Pennington

  18. #18

    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    @Scott - thanks for the news article...much appreciated. Putting it on the mp3 page would be great too (what do you need from me to do this?)

    @JeffD - yes, it's packing tape haha. One day I decided to hear what my mandolin would sound like if I covered up the f-holes. Both of them covered was just quiet and tinny...but covering just ONE up, for some reason, I really liked the sound of it....I never really intended on keeping the hole covered, but I just got used to it...i wudn't recommend it though; ruins the finish and probably makes an already quiet instrument quieter!

    As for the bowlback requests...I do own a bowlback, but I just prefer the sound of flatbacks (ha "flatbacks"...is that what they're called?)...but maybe I'll whip it out for a future recording.

  19. #19
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    Default Re: My Bach Mandolin Album and Video

    Very nicely done Ben. Kudos.

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