Laurie Niles Chris Thile's mandolin concerto comes to life

Violinist.com ^ | January 27, 2010 | Laurie Niles

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

"It took Bach for me to figure out there was something mighty and substantial in classical music," Thile said before the concert, sitting with mandolin in hand, his left foot resting over his right, alongside conductor Jeffrey Kahane. "It always seemed to me that it wasn't grooving – which is very simplistic. It grooves, in a different way. To me, it was a revelation; it was mesmerizing to my core."

The desire to learn Bach's solo Sonatas and Partitas for violin pushed Thile to teach himself to read music, he said, as learning Bach by ear "was slow-going."

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

This is a 2010 article, by no means breaking news. I just discovered Thile today whene looking for recording of Fisher's Hornpipe. Chris is 31 years old now. He plays many different styles. As you might expect, there are many other youtube videos of Chris playing.

There was a movie about the band called "To grow a band." The problem with making movies that have serious music in them is that they are attacked by tin-eared "movie critics." But Punch Brothers is doing just fine. I just realized they will play at Antone's in Austin but I can't get a ticket because they are completely sold out.

The piece in the title is "modern symphony music." More interesting to me are his arrangements of Bach and Charlie Parker (although that piece contains a lot of improvisation). His current band is call Punch Brothers, who play standard bluegrass instruments (if you allow a string bass instead of a washtub).

YOUTUBE: Punch Brothers: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3

YOUTUBE: Scrapple From The Apple - Mike Marshall & Chris Thile

[JRandomFreeper]

if you allow a string bass instead of a washtub

Yankees.

But that boy is good on the mandolin.

/johnny

[Semper Mark]

“I just discovered Thile today...”

I remember Chris Thile from back when he was with Nickel Creek. Quite the musician that boy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcjAXI4jANw

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Bach/bluegrass ping

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Go-ooood pickin! Reminds me of Frank Wakefield - Sleepy Eyed John

[Semper Mark]

Incidentally, the fellow playing the bull fiddle in that video is Robert Trujillo, the bassist for Metallica.

Will you add me to your ping list, please?

[Sparticus]

I do like hearing that guy play. When he's pickin' I'm grinnin' for sure.

[mylife]

Jethro Burns

[mylife]

Dave "Dawg" Grisman

E.M.D (Eat My Dust)

[miele man]

Wow! What a talented guy. Thanks for posting this.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Wow! What a talented guy. Thanks for posting this.

Here is another one. Listen to the way he plays in spite of some yahoos in the audience. The ending is great. The Punch Brothers - Bach's Presto of the G Minor Sonata

[tanuki]

Fantastic post! Enjoyed all the videos.

[sitetest]

Classical Music Ping List ping!

If you want on or off this list, let me know via FR e-mail.

Thanks!

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Thanks for the music list ping!

[MinuteGal]

My grandfather played for the Chicago Mandolin orchestra in Orchestra Hall circa the forties (classical music). The instruments were of all pitches and tones, finely-tuned and crafted.

For encores, they would play Russian folk compositions. There's nothing like a full mandolin orchestra playing throbbing/passionate or merry/lively Russian folk music to make your toes tingle and your heart soar. These encores always brought standing ovations.

A classical mandolin orchestra is a thing of beauty to the ears.

I don't know if there are any more such orchestras. Milwaukee used to have one, I believe.

Leni

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Mandolins (at least the bluegrass kind, not sure about Russian) are great for playing violin/viola/cello because the positions are the same.

[prairiebreeze]

I have a friend who plays (or at least used to play) for the Denver Mandolin Society. Thanks for the ping.