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Work

World music suite : mandolin ensemble

by Stephen Lalor (2012)

Work Overview

The World Music Suite for Mandolin Orchestra has 3 sections or movements. These can be played as separate, stand-alone concert pieces, or together as this Suite.

Movement I is East-West, which all sprang from the opening melody/riff, which reminds me of the Appalachian/Bluegrass American style of mandolin playing. I changed the second section to a minor key when it comes back in a bit later. When I brought an early version of this piece to a rehearsal, the Russian musicians I work with said it sounds a bit "Vostochnie-Zapednye" i.e. "Eastern-Western". So this piece is based on the change of character from a bright, American-ish (i.e. Western) opening to the more mysterious Eastern minor key and back again, plus the driving rhythm underneath.

Movement II from the World Music Suite is Ballade, which is in a minor mode. It is based on a melancholy melody heard at the beginning, and exploits the more Romantic side of the mandolin's tremolo technique.

Movement III is Kolo Kolo. I grew up with people and music from the Balkans, and continue to play professionally in groups playing music from this region. Among Balkan musicians, there is a common store of connecting tunes called pripevs (originally choruses) which get thrown in as introductions and links from one song or Kolo (round dance) to the next. I have used a couple of these pripevs as the basis for this quick and energetic final movement.

Work Details

Year: 2012

Instrumentation: Mandolin orchestra: mandolin I, mandolin II, mandola, guitar, mandocello (optional), double bass, percussion (optional).

Duration: 12 min.

Difficulty: Medium

Contents note: East-West -- Ballade -- Kolo kolo.

Subjects

Performances of this work

6 Nov 2016: at Plektra in Concert (Blessed Sacrament Church). Featuring Plektra Mandolin Ensemble.

5 Jun 2016: at Plektra Mandolin Ensemble (Blessed Sacrament Church). Featuring Plektra Mandolin Ensemble.

28 Mar 2015: at Mandolins Victoria - gala concert (St Stephen's Anglican Church, Richmond). Featuring Mandolins Victoria.

2 Nov 2012: at Stephen Lalor & Plektra (St Stephen's Uniting Church (Sydney)). Featuring Stephen Lalor, Plektra Mandolin Ensemble.

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