Rally Reviews
Workshop Reviews
• Nigel Gatherer – English Dance Tunes
• Frances Taylor – Baroque Mandolin
Frances led an excited group of participants through our paces as
we played and studied the Conforto mandolin concerto. We tuned
A mixed bag of age, skill, ability and instruments formed Nigel’s
class. I have never played music with players other than my tutor
so was very apprehensive, especially being the only 5-string banjo
player amongst 4-string banjo, mandolins and ukuleles. I suggested
sitting in the background and watching but fortunately for me Nigel
was having none of it. He has a very positive and likeable demeanour
which is very contagious and his synergistic approach was of benefit
to us all. If there was any doubt about enjoyment of English dance
music, it was rapidly dispelled, pleasure was there for all to see. This
was particularly evident when after some direction from Nigel we
managed to get it together in the grand finale of Dick’s Maggot, a
lovely piece of 17th Century music played with 21st Century delight.
Alan Archer, Bolton
• Gaio de Lima – Choro for Mandolin and Guitar
I was fortunate to have attended Gaio’s Choro workshop at the Rally
in London two years ago. That was an exhilarating experience and
when I saw he was to run another workshop at Bristol, I needed look
no further for my choice for that time slot! I received the rhythm part
of Pesqueira – our workshop piece on the Friday morning before I
left for Bristol in the afternoon and, I have to admit, looked at it with
a little foreboding. Some chords were a bit foreign to a mere simple
strummer like me. I need not have worried. Saturday morning’s
workshop dawned and Gaio, in his usual cheerful patient and
re-assuring manner, guided us slowly into the mood and swing of this
Choro piece. Time seemed to fly by and the hour disappeared as if
by magic – a sure sign we were all enjoying ourselves.
Richard Woolley, Midlands Fretted Orchestra
Friday Night Concert –
The Mandolinquents
Photo by Amanda Scott
After driving from various parts of the UK and then finding the
hotel plus the school where the Rally was to be held everyone
was looking forward to a relaxing evening with some superb
entertainment at the Friday evening concert. They were not
disappointed. It turned out to be a wonderfully entertaining
evening from Britain’s first modern mandolin quartet featuring
virtuoso mandolin of all shapes and sizes, guitar, fiddle and
banjo from Simon Mayor, Richard Collins and Gerald Garcia,
with lovely vocals by Hilary James. They mesmerised the
capacity audience with superb musicianship interspersed with
zany off beat humour. They played pieces by Mozart, Ravel,
Tchaikovsky and Dvorak with stunning virtuosity and finished
by bringing everyone back down to earth with a highly
amusing rendition of ‘The Parrott Song’ which brought the
house down. A great start to a great week-end.
David Barwell, Fretful Federation Brighton
our instruments down to baroque pitch which was a new experience
for many of us. We were supported throughout by members of the
Welsh Baroque Orchestra who played 2 violins, cello and theorbo
(a huge lute with sympathetic strings) as a continuo. In less than
two hours we learned a lot about the conventions of baroque music
writing and playing, and whilst not note perfect, Frances led us to
achieve a satisfying sound, enlightening all of us about the pleasures
of baroque music on the mandolin.
Anne Moller, Moonlight Mandolins Cambridge
• David Price – Jazz Improvisation
Useful handouts were sent out giving guidance on varying the
melody, using scales and using/substituting chords. Also we were
given music for five standard tunes to work on in advance. The class
started by playing through jazz standard Ja Da and David showed us
how to put emphasis on second and fourth beat when playing chords
to make it swing. Then we looked at different scales and ways they
can be extended so they don’t sound too ‘straight’. Next we looked at
Skip To My Lou and David played through examples of how we could
alter the tune to a Swing/Jazz style. Finally we improvised on Ja Da
using the scales given and altering the style of the tune. It was a
useful introduction to jazz improvisation and even though the ability
range was varied there was much we could take away and use in the
future.
Adrian Mila