I’M IN RIO ~ no, not still, but again. But I am still playing choro and working on a book with Paulo Sa. We’re recording the CD tracks for our bandolim method (due out on Mel Bay in August). I’m also teaching my RWU courses online for a month, as I did a couple of years ago, so I can be away from my academic year for the start of the one down here.
Please check out my blog, CELEBRATING A YEAR for pictures and reflections on my time here so far @ http://mairmusic.wordpress.com/
MEU BANDOLIM MAKES ME SO HAPPY! ~ My new all-Brazilian CD is getting the thumbs-up from Brasileiros and classical aficionados alike. Particular favorites seem to be two of my own compositions, “Isso, “ (That’s It!) and “Siga Em Frente,” (Go Straight Ahead). And my Brazilian friends and colleagues are saying such nice things about my interpretation of their music. Paulo Sa called the CD “audacious,” and said he really hadn’t expected me to be so adventurous and original so soon. One particular thrill I had here in Rio a couple of weeks ago was to arrive at a roda to sit in, and a few tunes in have them start to play my “Por Que Não,” (Why Not?) that’s part of their regular repertoire. They proudly announced me as the composer when we finished and the whole bar clapped. Muito legal!
Please take a minute to order your copy from my webpage, http://www.marilynnmair.com/ Truly you won’t regret it! Or you can hear the two songs above by going to my MySpace page @ http://www.myspace.com/marilynnmair Visit, listen, make a comment, be my friend there!
AMGuSS IN FEBRUARY~ was a dream! We converged on the campus of RWU through snowstorms north and south, and rehearsed and performed, giving the world premiere performances of two 2009 Australian compositions for mandolin orchestra,“Rag for Razz,” by Ann Carr-Boyd, and “A Day at the Circus,” a four-movement suite by Richard Charlton. Truly exciting!
And when will AMGuSS meet again? That remains a question to be answered, but when we know you will read it in this newsletter. Until then, check out my week @ Summerkeys, June 28 to July 2, 2010 @ http://www.summerkeys.com/mandolin.html
BRAZILIAN MUSIC WARMS THE WINTER ~ I had such a good time performing Brazilian music in the US this February and March. It was such a treat to bring choro to New England to share with my friends and audiences. The Alive! Arts concert at Roger Williams University on February 8, featuring my duo w/ Luiz Simas, piano, and the Boston-based regional, Choro Democrático was a huge success! My RWU students were blown away—a high compliment.
And my beloved series, “Live/Whirled,” ended on March 7, with “Rio-Whirled,” featuring Monique da Cavaco, direct from Rio—who happened to be in town visiting family—as well as many of my favorite folks to play Brazilian music with. Sad to lose Live/Whirled, but getting a crowd to downtown Providence for live non-rock music was a battle I just couldn’t win. But the concert and roda that followed were truly a wonderful send-off. And the best part is that I’m still playing with Monique here in Rio—we’ve got a big roda planned for Saturday.
I WON’T BE ~ performing for a bit when I return home, not until next fall. I have been running on fumes for the past year or so and I am taking some time now to finish my book, my academic year, and move on to some creative work.
But in the meantime please visit the virtual me!
IN MUSIC—Meu Bandolim http://www.marilynnmair.com/
IN WORDS & PHOTOS—Celebrating a Year http://mairmusic.wordpress.com/
FOR MANDOLIN INSTRUCTION—Summerkeys http://www.summerkeys.com/mandolin.html
Or drop me a comment @ http://www.myspace.com/marilynnmair
The next issue of “MARILYNN ON MANDOLIN” will be out in May or June. Enjoy spring, and we’ll just see what the summer brings—shall we?
