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Telemann: Menuets for Two Mandolins (1728)

by John Goodin

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about

According to Steven Zohn in his book "Music for a Mixed Taste: Style, Genre, and Meaning in Telemann's Instrumental Works (Oxford University Press, 2008)" the menuets in this collection were first published by the composer in Hamburg in 1728 under the title "Sept fois sept et un menuet", and most likely were issued to subscribers in groups of seven throughout the year. The music was intended for the enjoyment of an audience of amateur musicians and, to my ears, the tunes still sound fresh today.

While only a combined score with melody lines in the treble clef and figured bass has survived, an advertisement from the time suggests that either part may have been available on its own. The 19 arrangements recorded here were created primarily by raising the bass line into the treble clef, creating a part playable by mandolin, violin or any other instrument capable of reaching the G below middle C. I changed the key of a few pieces and took some liberties with the octave placement of notes in the bass lines when I felt it better served the two mandolin sound.

credits

released May 1, 2021

Recorded at home in Decorah, Iowa, mostly during April of 2021. (A few tracks were recorded earlier.) I believe that all tracks were recorded using a late 1920s Gibson A model, oval hole mandolin equipped with Thomastik strings. A variety of plectra were employed along with a couple of different microphones and audio interfaces. This accounts for some small variations in sound quality between the tracks that I choose to consider as a feature and not a bug.

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about

John Goodin Decorah, Iowa

John Goodin (1951-2021) played guitar and mandolin for decades. He wrote fiddle tunes and pieces for mandolin orchestra, published music books and recorded several CDs. He performed around the country with the contra dance band Contratopia and locally with fiddler Erik Sessions and the Scandinavian-American band Foot-Notes, among others. ... more

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