fROOTS
From the man who brought you The Mandolin Album, The Second Mandolin
Album and Winter With Mandolins - more mandophilia!
This is a delight,
Simon Mayor's mandolin playing is without peer, and he's chosen a
balanced and entertaining selection of stuff here. My first reaction
was that this might be pleasant "background music" - then I played the
CD. It's one to listen to properly, and repeatedly. The Folk/Roots
credentials are strong, despite the fact that much of the material is
Purcell arranged Mayor or Holst arranged Mayor (etc), as much of it
draws on traditional tunes such as Lilliburlero and Staines Morris. The
rest simply sounds as if it does. Hilary James helps out on bass and
guitar, and Mayor plays a little guitar himself, but he's concentrated
(wisely) on that which sets him apart - his consummate ability with the
mandolin family. The delicate, harpsichord like quality of the
mandolin, mandola and mandocello provide a coherent yet varied palette
of sound to carry the tunes - and this is very tuneful indeed.
Don't be
misled into thinking that this is an esoteric collection, interesting
only to mandolin players. If you like good, "folk" tunes played in an
inventive and interesting manner, on an unusual instrument (for this
type of music) you'll like this.
Alan Murphy
Rock ‘n’ Reel
Mandolin maestro Mayor has on ‘English Mandolin’ returned to a cause
close to his heart, the exploration of the mandolin family (mandolin,
mandola and mandocello) within the context of ‘Classical’ composers
Gustav Holst, Percy Grainger, Edward German and Peter Warlock.
Mayor's
mastery of the instruments and understanding of its beautiful tones,
melodious colour and ability to produce rich textures makes for an
outstanding listening experience.
The clarity and natural brightness of
the mandolin family, makes the whole of ‘English Mandolin’ a work of
epic proportions touched with a regal quality.
Steve Caseman
Folk North West
This is not something to put on while you hoover the house or drive the
car. This is a serious piece of work! I'm a very big fan of Simon Mayor
(and Hilary James) having seen him live, and marvelled at his command
of his instruments and his empathy with whatever music he plays. Its
truly amazing that he is self-taught! Here he takes music from mainly
20th century composers and adapts it for the mandolin, a much
neglected, but in his hands, very versatile instrument. Stuning
technique, complete commitment and a deep feel for the music are the
characteristics of this album. I urge you to buy it, but only if you
are willing to devote to it the level of attention it deserves.
Dave Day
Folk Write
This is Simon Mayor's fourth album using instruments of the mandolin
family - not just the mandolin, but also the mandola and mandocello.
Simon plays guitar, and his partner Hilary James guitar and double
bass, to bolster the bottom end. Most of the material is not taken
directly from traditional sources, but consists of arrangements of
pieces composed using traditional tunes or in a traditional style.
Perhaps the best known are the opening and closing pieces, the St
Paul's Suite by Holst and Peter Warlock's Capriol Suite, consisting of
four and six short dances respectively. The Holst in fact does not use
traditional tunes, except Greensleeves as a counter melody in the last
movement. In contrast, the Capriol Suite is based on tunes from a
collection of dances published in the late sixteenth century. Warlock's
own period (early twentieth century) is given away by some distinctly
modern harmonies. The arrangements of these and the other pieces by
Grainger, German and Purcell are remarkable for the fullness and
variety of the sound.
At the top end, the sound also sparkles, and this
is a bit of a surprise to those more familiar with the orchestral
originals or arrangements for wind band.
The three tunes directly set
are Staines Morris, the Unfortunate Tailor and Lord Marlborough. Of
these Lord Marlborough works the best, mixing three, four and five in a
bar in energetic style. There is an excellent set of sleeve notes. This
is a very fine record indeed which should give pleasure not only to
mandolin enthusiasts but to wide audience.
David Crofts
Acoustics Records
PO Box 350
Reading RG6 7DQ
England
Tel: +44 (0)118 926 8615
www.acousticsrecords.co.uk
