Mandolin Society of Peterborough

The Mandolin Society of Peterborough's first concert, 9 June 2006, St John's Guild Hall, conductor Curtis Driedger standing at left

The Mandolin Society of Peterborough (MSOP) is a non-profit community mandolin orchestra based in the City of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. The MSOP is one of three such groups in Ontario (as of 2013),[1][2] and the only one composed completely of mandolinists.

History

The Society was founded in 2003 by Curtis Driedger.[3][4] Since the year 2000, several Peterborough musical groups have come together in December each year put on a concert called In From the Cold. This well-attended community event[5] raises thousands of dollars each year for the Peterborough Youth Emergency Shelter.[6][7] The organizers wanted to add something new to the 2003 concert, and since many of them were mandolinists, they performed three Christmas carols on mandolins, with Driedger as arranger and Conductor.

In 2004 the group moved beyond its original purpose, adding to its membership other mandolinists from Peterborough and the surrounding area. At first practices were held in members' homes, but soon a larger space was needed and the group began meeting in the premises of the Art School of Peterborough. After spending a number of months building up a repertoire, the still somewhat small orchestra made its first solo appearance, providing the music at a fund raiser for the Art School in the Great Hall at Trent University.

Once again in December, and for the next seven years, the orchestra took part in the In From the Cold concert.[8][9] continuing to raise money for the Youth Emergency Shelter.[7] Each year a recording of this concert is broadcast Christmas Day on Trent Radio - 92.7 CFFF FM.[10][11]

In 2005, the Mandolin Society appeared in "Rigoletto... in Bluegrass", Rob Swales' award-winning[12][13] film adaptation of the opera Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi, performing the Prelude and Introduction from the opera at the Peterborough Folk Festival.[14][15]

In 2006 the orchestra's first full length concert was held.[16] Musical arrangements for the concert were created by Driedger and other members of the group. By this time the group had seventeen members and included several octave mandolins. This was the first of many annual concerts.[17][18] [19]The program each year includes solo pieces and guest musicians.[20][21]

Also in 2006 the Mandolin Society performed as part of the Peterborough New Dance Festival,[22] and the Artsweek Street Festival.[23] Later that year, the orchestra performed at the Peterborough Festival of Trees; this festival raised over $200,000 for local health care facilities.[24]

By 2007 the orchestra had grown to 20 members, having once more outgrown its practice space and moved to the Peterborough ArtSpace building. To help support this organization, the group took part in the annual Twelve Days of Artspace fundraiser.[25] Society members formed a special four-piece band, the MandoBeatles, who made their first appearance at the MSOP Spring Concert.[26] Also that year, the Mandolin Society took part in the "Goddess for a Day" event at Peterborough Square to raise money for the United Way.[27]

In 2008 two members of the society who played together as the Messey Fargusons (a word play on the name of a local farm implement company), took up mandolins and each year thereafter performed as a duet in the spring concert.[28] That year, as well as its usual concert and participation in the In From the Cold fundraiser, the Mandolin Society took part in Folkways Sundays at Lang Pioneer Village, playing music from the 19th century for passing tourists and history buffs.[29] The orchestra also provided inspirational music at a meeting of the Peterborough Unitarian Fellowship,[30] participated in a concert in support of the Ontario Music Centre summer camp,[31] and later performed as part of "Alley Waltz 2008: Counting the Ways", a production of Peterborough's Disappearing Theatre.[32] Practices in 2008 were moved to Sadleir House.

In 2009 the Mandolin Society included two mandocello players in its lineup at the spring concert,[17] and participated in a concert in support of the Canadian Amateur Musicians Association Summer Music Camp.[33] The orchestra also provided period music at the Ontario Heritage Society annual conference, and once again entertained the congregation of the Unitarian Fellowship.

For the first time, in 2010, the orchestra included a custom built mandobass, a rarely seen instrument.[34] Beginning in 2010, the City of Peterborough has presented the Mandolin Society each year with a community grant in recognition of its cultural contributions to the local community.[35]

Today

In 2013 members of the Society include both professional and amateur players, and Curtis Driedger continues to act as conductor and manager. Instruments played include standard mandolins, octave mandolins, mandocelli and one mandobass. The Society meets weekly at Sadleir House.[36] The Messey Fargusons and the MandoBeatles still perform as part of the annual concert. The concert continues to host guest musicians; the most unusual of these was probably the conch shell ensemble Davey Jones' Locker.[37]

The Mandolin Society continues to participate in community events and charity fundraisers in Peterborough. With nine years together, the orchestra has tackled gradually more sophisticated musical pieces from a variety of genres. Most of the orchestra's arrangements are created by members of the Society, and the repertoire includes a number of original pieces written by the members as well.[38]

References

  1. ↑ "Toronto Mandoline Orchestra". Shevchenko Musical Ensemble.
  2. ↑ "The Mandolin Orchestra of Niagara". moonmusic.ca.
  3. ↑ "Mandolin Society:How did the Mandolin Society come to be?", Trout in Plaid, 11 Jan 2012
  4. ↑ Rellinger, Paul, "Mandolin is paid due respect", MyKawartha, 5 June 2008
  5. ↑ Rellinger, Paul, "Few silent nights in December", MyKawartha, 7 December 2006
  6. ↑ "In From the Cold: Concert Raises $9,000", article and photo, The Examiner, Peterborough, 11 December 2010
  7. 1 2 "Another great In From The Cold…", Youth Emergency Shelter News, 10 December 2011
  8. ↑ Skarstedt, Clifford, "In From the Cold Fundraiser Christmas Concert" thepeterboroughexaminer.com, 10 December 2010
  9. ↑ Mueller, Laura, "In From the Cold Benefit Now in its Ninth Year", thepeterboroughexaminer.com, 12 December 2008
  10. ↑ "In From the Cold 2008", Trent Radio - 92.7 CFFF FM, retrieved 25 Dec 2008
  11. ↑ "Four Christmas Programmes", Trent Radio - 92.7 CFFF FM, Dec 2011
  12. ↑ Local filmmaker awarded at U.S. festival, MyKawartha.com, 17 October 2006
  13. ↑ Bluegrass Independent Film Festival, Roundabout.com, 6 Oct 2006
  14. ↑ "PFF presents the 18th annual Peterborough Folk Festival" (festival program), August 2005
  15. ↑ "Rigoletto in Bluegrass - Youtube".
  16. ↑ "Mandolin Society plans first concert", article, photo and fact box, The Examiner, Peterborough, 3 June 2006
  17. 1 2 "Mandolin Society of Peterborough plans concert Friday", Peterborough Examiner, 3 June 2009
  18. ↑ Rellinger, Paul, "Musical encounters of a different kind", Northumberlandnews.com, 7 June 2007
  19. ↑ "Mandolin orchestra concert set for tomorrow at St. John's". Peterborough Examiner 5 June 2008. (with photograph)
  20. ↑ Rellinger, Paul, "All Hail the Mandolin" MyKawartha, 1 June 2011
  21. ↑ "Mandolin Society plans spring show", Peterborough Examiner, 3 June 2010
  22. ↑ "Peterborough New Dance performs Emergency#14", publicenergy.ca, 23-26 March 2006
  23. ↑ Rellinger, Paul, "Busy street festival kicks off Artsweek", MyKawartha, 21 September, 2006
  24. ↑ "Festival of Trees Gala Night". Snap Peterborough Magazine. December 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  25. ↑ Rellinger, Paul, "12 Days Of Artspace the height of uniqueness", MyKawartha.com, 20 November 2007
  26. ↑ "More Mandolin Mischief", concert program, the Mandolin Society of Peterborough, 8 June 2007
  27. ↑ Tuffin, Lois, "Come out to Be a Goddess", Simcoe.com, 11 January 2007
  28. ↑ "An Evening or Mandolinessence", concert program, the Mandolin Society of Peterborough, 6 June 2008
  29. ↑ "Folkways Sundays: The 19th century Set to Music", information pamphlet distributed at Lang Pioneer Village, June 2009
  30. ↑ Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough meeting program, 9 March 2008
  31. ↑ "Music Camp plans August concerts". Peterborough Examiner, 5 July 2008. (with photo)
  32. ↑ "Alley Waltz 2008: Counting the Ways".
  33. ↑ "CAMMAC presents Spring Concert", program, Ontario Music Centre, 3 May 2009
  34. ↑ Rellinger, Paul, "WEEKEND WANDERINGS All hail the mandolin!", MyKawartha.com, 3 June 2010
  35. ↑ Wedley, Brendan, "Community grants considered", Peterborough Examiner, 24 Apr 2010
  36. ↑ Paxton, Allisa, "Typical Day At An Atypical Institution", Arthur, 5 September 2012
  37. ↑ "Mandolins in Flight", concert program, Mandolin Society of Peterborough, 4 June 2010
  38. ↑ "Wishing Well by Dianne Latchford - an original composition - YouTube".

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