The pieces below were performed at the First London Mandolin Festival concerts Sunday 17 May, 2009. All works were performed by the combined mandolin orchestra unless otherwise specified. Please
contact us if any recordings listed here should be removed. All recordings are not for commercial distribution and should be used for personal or educational purposes only.
John Peterson (1957 - ),
Under Sydney Skies (On Crests of Waves)
A contemporary piece commissioned by the Federation of Australasian Mandolin Ensembles (FAME) for first performance by the combined mandolin orchestra at the International Mandolin Festival held in Sydney January 6 -13, 2008. Peterson’s music generally reflects his interest in tonal idioms as well as the energy and rhythmic propulsion inherent in many popular music styles.
Recording of Under Sydney Skies taken at the afternoon concert
Joseph Lacalle (1860 – 1937),
Amapola
A well known popular song reaching #1 on Billboard charts in 1941. Sung in English and Spanish.
Recording of Amapola taken at the afternoon concert
Eileen Pakenham (1914 – 2009),
Four Sea Pictures
One of Pakenham’s many experimental compositions written for mandolin orchestra. Pakenham lived nearby London in Harpenden, Hertfordshire and was a supporter of the now disbanded London Mandolin Ensemble. Pakenham long struggled with a loss of memory and was no longer aware of the beautiful music she once wrote. The festival hopes that Londoners will continue Pakenham’s legacy and write compositions for mandolin orchestra.
Recording of Windy Day from Four Sea Pictures taken at the evening concert
Recording of Sirens from Four Sea Pictures taken at the evening concert
Recording of White Horses from Four Sea Pictures taken at the afternoon concert
Nicola Romaldi (1680 – 1740),
Sinfonia in do maggiore per due Mandole e Basso Continuo
Roberto Garcia on Mandolin 1, Ian Segui on Mandolin 2, Steve Smith on Guitar, Martin Kilroy on Double Bass
Romaldi would have written his works for an earlier type of mandolin, referred to in the book "The Early Mandolin" by James Tyler, as the 'Mandolino'. This particular work however does transfer itself very well to the modern mandolin, and the basso continuo has been transcribed for guitar by Steve Smith for this performance.
Recording of the 1st Allegro from the Sinfonia taken at the evening concert
Recording of the Largo from the Sinfonia taken at the evening concert
Ferdinando Carulli (1770 – 1841),
Duo in G, Opus 34
Lorna Mackay and Ken Hattersley on Guitar
Well known in the classical guitar world. Carulli was not only a prolific composer of music specifically for the guitar, he performed brilliantly himself, taught the instrument and helped the guitar to the physical form it is used in today.
Recording of the 1st Movement from the Duo in G taken at the afternoon concert
Recording of the 2nd Movement from the Duo in G taken at the afternoon concert
Nawata Masaji,
Sakura
Travis Finch on Mandolin
Sakura is Japanese for "cherry blossom" and is also the name of a folk tune well known in Japan. Travis Finch is originally from the USA and is currently in his 3rd year of a 4-year performers BMus course at Trinity College of Music, studying mandolin under Alison Stephens.
Recording of Sakura taken at the afternoon concert
Emmanuelle Barbella (1710 – 1773),
Trio G-Dur
A baroque piece taught at the mandolin course in Wansfell College where some players in this festival learnt to play the mandolin.
Recording of the 1st Allegro from the Trio G-Dur taken at the afternoon concert
Recording of the Largo from the Trio G-Dur taken at the afternoon concert
Recording of the 2nd Allegro from the Trio G-Dur taken at the afternoon concert
Manos Hadjidakis (1925 – 1994),
Greek Suite
Hadjidakis is an award winning Greek composer well known for his composition of Never on Sunday.
Recording of Ballad of Ouri taken at the afternoon concert
Recording of the Waltz of Lost Dreams taken at the afternoon concert
Recording of I Want To See You taken at the evening concert
Turlough O’Carolan (1670 – 1738) arranged by Bruno Szordikowski,
Planxty O’Carolan
A lively arrangement of six traditional Irish tunes. O'Carolan was one of the last Irish harpers to compose, and a significant number of his works survive in single line melody and are widely played in folk music sessions in the British Isles and beyond.
Recording of the Introduction from the Planxty O'Carolan taken at the afternoon concert
Recording of Lanigan's Ball from the Planxty O'Carolan taken at the afternoon concert
Recording of Planxty Maguire from the Planxty O'Carolan taken at the afternoon concert
Recording of Wind From The South from the Planxty O'Carolan taken at the evening concert
Recording of The Princess Royal from the Planxty O'Carolan taken at the afternoon concert
Recording of Down By The Sally Gardens from the Planxty O'Carolan taken at the evening concert
Recording of the Irish Washerwoman Jig from the Planxty O'Carolan taken at the evening concert
Harry Hasler,
The Ilford Waltz
Harry is an exemplary amateur player. He had, for a long time, organised and directed the now disbanded Ilford BMG Orchestra. Harry is still living in Essex writing new pieces of music for mandolin orchestra. The festival performance of The Ilford Waltz is a tribute to the Ilford BMG Orchestra and a tribute to Harry himself.
Recording of the Ilford Waltz taken at the afternoon concert