Java John's, solo mandolin tonight, April 20, 2016

(photo courtesy of Trish Finn)

Playing solo mandolin at Java John's Coffee House here in Decorah tonight from 7:00-9:00.

Here's the preliminary setlist:

Java John's solo mandolin, April 20, 2016

Set 1

O’Neill’s Favorite /Old French / Morpeth Rant / Gilderoy

Carolan’s Concerto

Oswald Divertimento X

Goodin Divertimento 2016, no. 4

No Questions Asked

Sonata in L(ou)

Telemann Menuets

Bach Cello Suite no. 1 – Allemande / Corrente

Deer Track June 25, 2003 / Bob’s Angels / Jaunty Ted / Why Ted Flies / Books and Ladders

Set 2

St. Francis and the Wolf / St. Francis Dreaming / St. Francis and the Birds

Sauli Partita I

Six Solos, Summer 2006

Oswald Divertimento I

Telemann Menuets

Carolan’s Draught / George Brabazon #2

St. Louis Railyard

Marsch i April / Maknads Marsch

The Wedding Broom / Alice’s Garden / August 2, 2013

Deer Tracks

Woodhaven

It's a lot of fun planning these programs. I'm optimistic that I can play most of the notes involved. We'll see if there is really enough time to get all of this music played. I may need to skip a few repeats.

The nice photo above comes from Trish Finn who took lots of photos at the Call of the Loon dance weekend a week and a half ago. It's a great shot of the old Gibson approaching 90 years of age. None of the amps in the background were connected to me, they were being used by the fine folks in Wild Asparagus.

The North Georgia Hills at the Mandolin Cafe

Many thanks to Scott Tichenor at the Mandolin Cafe for the nice write-up concerning the publication of The North Georgia Hills music. Scott's contribution to the mandolin world over the last 20+ years is immeasurable.

Scott was also kind enough to run an article a few days ago announcing the publication of my new book from Mel Bay; 12 Divertimentos for Solo Mandolin by James Oswald.

It's always a good day when I find myself mentioned at the Cafe but it will be a while before I see this much attention again.

The North Georgia Hills performed by Another Mandolin Orchestra

“ … and a tote sack full of ginseng won’t pay no travelling bills.”

“The North Georgia Hills” is the title I gave to a piece that I wrote for the Atlanta Mandolin Orchestra about a year ago. I was aiming to capture something of the sound and feel of those great mandolin tunes by Norman and Nancy Blake that appeared on the Original Underground Music From The Mysterious South album around 1982.

At the 2015 CMSA convention in Austin I was honored that many of the Atlanta group (under the direction of maestro Bob Knysz), along with some special friends, chose to perform the piece during one of the open mic concerts. I shared this video with the Mandolin Cafe classical forum and on Facebook back in December. I'm posting it today to this blog because the score and parts for the piece have just been published in Germany by Joachim-Trekel-Musikverlag.

Many thanks to Maren Trekel and the folks at Trekel for making this piece available to mandolin orchestras everywhere. Here's the link to the appropriate page at the Trekel website:

http://trekel.de/de/catalogsearch/result/?q=north+georgia+hills

I hope you enjoy this performance...