Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra
Oct. 2nd, 2010 08:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kevins_concertsThe Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra was having its 110th anniversary at the Cedarburg cultural Center, which was having its 25th anniversary. There were cupcakes (baked by one of the orchestra members) and champagne.
I was interested in how the orchestra was set up. There were first mandolins, and second mandolins. There were mandolas and mandocellos. There was also a guitar and a bass. They had a singer (a baritone), and also a guest singer.
They played a variety of what I'd consider historical music. Pieces were from as early as 1891 and as late as 1943. Mandolin orchestras were a popular form of entertainment in ballrooms across the country at the turn of the century. They did ragtime, polka, and a collection of tin pan alley songs, among other styles.
I was really impressed by the guest vocalist, Robin Pluer. She has a wonderful voice. She really knows how to sing. No surprise that she's won a boatload of awards around here.
I was interested in how the orchestra was set up. There were first mandolins, and second mandolins. There were mandolas and mandocellos. There was also a guitar and a bass. They had a singer (a baritone), and also a guest singer.
They played a variety of what I'd consider historical music. Pieces were from as early as 1891 and as late as 1943. Mandolin orchestras were a popular form of entertainment in ballrooms across the country at the turn of the century. They did ragtime, polka, and a collection of tin pan alley songs, among other styles.
I was really impressed by the guest vocalist, Robin Pluer. She has a wonderful voice. She really knows how to sing. No surprise that she's won a boatload of awards around here.