Mandolin Minute

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With Ron McKinnon. If you geek out on minutiæ regarding music interpretation, history, acoustics and theory (and seriously who doesn't?) I invite you to join me on the Mandolin Minute. Available wherever podcasts are heard. Suggestions/comments can be sent to https://www.twitter.com/ron_mckinnon

Ron McKinnon

  • Nov 16, 2019 LATEST EPISODE
  • infrequent NEW EPISODES
  • 3m AVG DURATION
  • 75 EPISODES


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Latest episodes from Mandolin Minute

Mandolin Minute (Trailer)

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2019 0:55


S02E07. Session Music Online

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2019 7:07


1. TheSession.org  2. Conversion to a score with tabs  3. Mandolintab.net  4. An example  5. Under a Breton Sky  6. Transposition  The Session website with tons of scores: https://thesession.org  Generate score (and mandolin tabs) from abc notation: http://www.mandolintab.net/abcconverter.php  “Under a Breton Sky” in abc notation:  X: 1 T: Under a Breton Sky R: Polka C: Aurora Celtic M: 2/4 L: 1/8 K: Am Q: C2=120 "Am"A/2B/2c BA | (ec dc | "Em"Bd cB) | "Am"(AE FE) | "Am"A/2B/2c BA | (ec dc) | "Dm"BA Bc | "E"B2 cd | "C"ef (ec | "G/B"d2 dc | "F/A"B)d cB | "E"(AE FE) | "Am"A/2B/2c BA | (ec dc) | "Em"Bd cB | "Am"A3 "coda"z  :|| ||: "Am"EF (AF | E3 D | "C"(C)D E(C) | "Dm"D/2E/2F ED) | "Am"EF (AE | "Dm"D3 E | "C"(C)D EF | "E/B"E4) |  "Am"A/2B/2c B(A | E3 D | "C"(C)D E(C) | "Dm"D/2E/2F ED) | "C"(CD ED | "Dm"EF EF) |1 "Esus4"^GF ED | "E"E4 :||2 "Esus4"^GA Bc | "E"B2 c"D.C. al coda"B ||

S02E06. Copyright 2.0

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2019 10:06


A second foray into what might become a series of episodes on the topic of copyright, the protections it provides for you, and who's trying to undermine these laws and who's trying to prop them up. 1. Introduction 2. Article 13 17 3. Don't Cover Supertramp 4. Copyright 101 5. Third episode? 6. Minuet 7. Until Next Time Links mentioned: Google astroturfs the EU: https://musictechpolicy.com/2018/08/08/the-times-of-london-confirms-that-google-is-behind-astroturf-opposition-to-article-13/ The Future of What - Copyright 101: https://soundcloud.com/thefutureofwhat/copyright-101

S02E05. Other Mandolin Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2019 6:20


In this episode I give a shoutout to the other mandolin-themed audio podcasts available out there. Contents: 1. Intro Review 2. Mando-Show Podcast 3. Mandolin Cafe Podcast 4. Musical Number 5. Ay Triste Que Vengo (Octave) Links mentioned in the episode: Mando-Show: https://mandomontreal.squarespace.com/en/mando-show?format=rss Mandolin Cafe: https://www.mandolincafe.com/mp3/mp3.xml Youtube video where I first heard the song "Ay Triste Que Vengo": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4csYgR39SR8 and the process of making that instrument, très cool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_18qReD5MZg

S02E04. St. Patrick's Day

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2019 9:26


Welcome to my St. Patrick's Day Party. Stay a while... 1. Two Polkas 2. O'Neill's Cavalry March Tralee Gaol 3. Two Jigs 4a. The Irish Washerwoman 4b. Morrison's Jig 5. Two Slip Jigs 6 The Butterfly The Kid on the Mountain 7. A Reel 8. The Musical Priest If you'd like to call in you can leave me a voice message on the Anchor.FM app at Mandolin Minute. If voice messages are not your thing, I can also be reached at Twitter @ron_mckinnon. I would be delighted to hear from you.

S02E03. Fiddling Around

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2019 5:16


1. Intro / News 2. Fiddler's Fakebook 3. 6/8 and 9/8 4. K-What? 5. The Irish Washerwoman Mandolin re-tweet: https://twitter.com/HilaryJamesUK/status/1102876479032049666

S02E02. Guitar and Lute (and Mandolin)

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2019 7:31


1. A Great Call-In (*) 2. Summertime, motorcycles and the Dead 3. Allan Alexander 4. Bransle Charlotte (Octave) 5. Rhythmic Variations *If you'd like to call in you can leave me a voice message on the Anchor.FM app at Mandolin Minute. If voice messages are not your thing, I can also be reached at Twitter @ron_mckinnon. I would be delighted to hear from you.

S02E01. Octave Minute

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2019 5:35


I just got myself an octave mandolin. This is a mandolin but twice the size and tuned an octave lower than a regular one. This particular one is an Eastman. Archtop A-style with F-shaped sound holes. Come have a listen!

Vacay notice

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2018 0:54


I'll be away from the microphone for a few weeks. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

30. Tremolo

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2018 5:01


In this episode I return to tremolo practice and talk a bit about other instruments that use it.

29. On SoundCloud

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2018 9:19


In this episode I talk about the rise and fall of the SoundCloud streaming audio platform and offer a cautionary tale to similarly-themed web sites. My playlist referred to in the episode: https://soundcloud.com/ron-mckinnon/sets/mandolin

#AudioMo 30!!! "Grasshopper"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2018 9:34


Made it! The final installment for the year 2018 is a re-cap. If you only listen to one of my #AudioMo segments listen to this one.

#AudioMo 29 “David Grisman”

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2018 2:49


Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/ron.mckinnon/playlist/3V6JOv1MdAsWwda4n6iYpt?si=WKImpLF0SN6xHsMe4X05KA Grisman / Thile Interview: https://www.fretboardjournal.com/features/generation-gab/

#AudioMo 28 “Simon Mayor”

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2018 2:13


Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/ron.mckinnon/playlist/3V6JOv1MdAsWwda4n6iYpt?si=Aq0o8snjTnm8Rp0Pbd0mgA

#AudioMo 27 “Marilynn Mair”

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2018 3:03


Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/ron.mckinnon/playlist/3V6JOv1MdAsWwda4n6iYpt?si=80YEvb3qRauCtHJ68gwSeQ

#AudioMo 26 “Avi Avital”

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2018 3:02


Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/ron.mckinnon/playlist/3V6JOv1MdAsWwda4n6iYpt?si=9x42I7XxS6qgvDDUbSqTRQ

#AudioMo 25 "Mike Marshall"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2018 2:09


Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/ron.mckinnon/playlist/3V6JOv1MdAsWwda4n6iYpt?si=qxSd7QWKSHmpS3UHw6zYlQ

#AudioMo 24 "Chris Thile"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2018 2:22


Related playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/ron.mckinnon/playlist/3V6JOv1MdAsWwda4n6iYpt?si=Mbnmv_OORAW25ZRGDW07aQ

#AudioMo 23 “Le Party”

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2018 3:32


Saint-Jean concert from the deck.

#AudioMo 22 "South America"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2018 1:16


South America has a variant of the mandolin called a bandolim. This is a short intro from the Suite Venezolana by José Antonio Zambrano.

#AudioMo 21 "Summer is a-comin' in"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2018 2:02


Praise the sun · Sumer Is Icumen In

#AudioMo 20 "Baroqtronic"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2018 2:19


Gone digital.

#AudioMo 19 "Greensleeves In Reel Time"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2018 3:28


There aren't the green sleeves you're looking for.

#AudioMo 18 "Left Unfinished"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2018 2:01


Intro • Garçons à marier

#AudioMo 17 "It's a snap!"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2018 2:09


In this episode I talk about a relatively regional rhythmic device.

#AudioMo 16 "The Oldest Song"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2018 4:04


In this episode I talk about and perform the incredibly ancient Hurrian Hymn.

#AudioMo 15 "Tribute"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2018 0:43


A few bars of a famous song, in remembrance.

#AudioMo 14 "Lullaby"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2018 1:22


An Italian lullaby for the little'uns.

#AudioMo 13 "La Rotta"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2018 2:24


A follow-up to the Trotto episode, here's La Rotta I'd heard on the same record.

#AudioMo 12 "Scaling Up"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2018 2:33


Familiar yet exotic scale.

#AudioMo 11 "Unexpected Metronome"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2018 1:01


Making the best out of the urban environment.

#AudioMo 10 "Mando Bio"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2018 5:54


Why the mandolin?

#AudioMo 09 "Trotto on the Deck"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2018 3:11


Results from AudioMo 8's quiz and an outdoor recording of a very old piece.

#AudioMo 08 "Pick Demonstration"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2018 2:33


Can listeners tell the difference between an expensive pick and a cheap one? We'll find out! Responses welcome on Anchor, Limor, Vaudle, and https://www.twitter.com/ron_mckinnon

#AudioMo 07 "Early Dance Music"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2018 1:52


A quick arrangement of early dance music. The melody is kind of catchy and I find myself humming it incessantly.

#AudioMo 06 "Lusignac"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2018 2:27


A musical number I really enjoy. I hope you do too.

#AudioMo 05 "Bach to the Menuet II"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2018 1:31


Here I complete what I started in the Bach February soundbite.

#AudioMo 04 "Hitchhiker's Guide"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2018 3:02


Installment 4 of #AudioMo recorded during the crazy that is our household most of the time.

#AudioMo 03 "Terminator Two-Step"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2018 2:43


In this next installment of the daily #AudioMo challenge, I talk about the odd time signature of the original Terminator movie's theme music.

#AudioMo 02 "The Godfather"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2018 1:42


Day 2 of #AudioMo. Mandolin + Godfather = an offer you can't refuse

#AudioMo 01 "The Butterfly"

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2018 1:51


In the month of June there's this #AudioMo challenge happening where participants are tasked with recording a piece of audio every day. I'm going to partake, recording pieces from my repertoire that could use a bit of ... ahem ... rehearsal.

28. Musical Notation Software

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2018 5:14


In this episode I talk a bit about software used in writing out music notation on the computer. References The "powerless podcast" piece in notation and tabs: https://www.instagram.com/p/BiuLSqNAbYJ/ The StaffPad demo: (très cool!) https://youtu.be/D_PgKyqE3RU The Session website: https://thesession.org/tunes/1113

27. Advantages and Pitfalls of Sight Reading

Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2018 5:12


Where I talk about the differences between learning a piece by ear or by using sheet music. The musical number is this tune I heard played by someone on YouTube. Here's the version that inspired my rendition for comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4csYgR39SR8

26. Powerless Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2018 2:40


An impromptu podcast episode made during a power outage.

25. Mandolin Reinvented

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2018 3:16


What prompted the redesign of the mandolin in the early 20th century and how has its status changed over the years? These questions and more answered in today's episode of the Mandolin Minute.

Entr'acte: Trois Gnossiennes

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2018 7:59


With the recording of the last of the trilogy, here are Erik Satie's three Gnossiennes collected together for your listening pleasure. I hope you like these, I enjoyed making them. (Originally featured in episodes 14, 18 and 24).

24. Trilogy

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2018 4:00


Rounding out the trilogy, here is my rendition of Erik Satie's Gnossienne No. 3. I added some chord tones to the melody to fill out the sound.

23. Podcasting on the go

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2018 6:01


It's not always possible to have a digital audio workstation handy so for those circumstances recording on the go is always a possibility. Here's a brief chat about this. Pieces: Early Renaissance Song • Under the Breton Sky • The Morris Dance • Pan's work in progress

Now on Anchor 3

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2018 2:02


Anchor is the platform upon which these podcasts are assembled and disseminated. They recently went through a major upgrade. This episode was recorded on v2 and then podcast via v3. Also contains an Irish reel to commemorate St-Patrick's day.

22. Tarantella

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2018 3:23


Introduction • Tarantella di Ogliastro • Afterword

FFFinale

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2018 2:51


Free February Friday wrap-up episode. Sound bites are available for download at: https://soundcloud.com/ron-mckinnon/sets/soundbites

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