EXCELLENCE IN MANDOLIN PERFORMANCE

Intensive course led by Jacob Reuven

Faculty: Ekaterina Skliar, Dor Amran, Mark Davis

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International concert artist and mandolin soloist Jacob  Reuven will lead a 5-day course centered around classical mandolin performance. Reuven's artistic approach has created a worldwide artistic paradigm for mandolin playing. Based on his deep familiarity with violin repertoire, as well as actual performance and recording of masterpieces for violin on mandolin, Reuven has established a global reputation and created an artistic legacy that today brings forth a young generation of musicians to continue his artistic approach.

Furthermore, Reuven plays on a revolutionary double-deck mandolin built by luthier Arik Kerman, a model which has now inspired a new generation of luthiers around the world.

Reuven's Israeli school of mandolin playing is recognized around the world as creating successful Israeli soloists that not only win international competitions, but sign with international recording companies, and regularly perform with important orchestras around the world. This success is directly related to Reuven's methodical and artistic approach, as well as to his instrument, which was built specifically for performing violin repertoire.

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"At the University of Rhode Island, as part of the international URI Guitar Festival, a festival that has become a musical family for me, I am founding a course that is entirely dedicated to excellence in mandolin performance. Musical knowledge, artistic depth, the discipline of being an instrumentalist - these are forces of beauty that we will cultivate during this course at URI.” — Jacob Reuven

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In the course, we are fortunate to have two excellent mandolin instructors, Ekaterina Skliar and Dor Amran. They join Reuven and will give fascinating lectures, as well as various performances. Another guest of honor is the American mandolinist, director of the Providence Mandolin Orchestra as well as a member of the Hampton Trio, Mark Davis.

Throughout the course, private lessons will be offered to explore violin repertoire on the mandolin. In addition to the lessons, lectures will be offered on the following topics:
 

Dor Amran
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Paganini's 24 Caprices Op. 1 for Violin solo is considered to be some of the most challenging repertoire for violinists because of the variety of techniques and the intensity of performing a great amount of virtuosic material without relief, and the extraordinary fete of being on stage alone.

In this lecture we will discuss:
-Why do we learn this music on mandolin?
- the technical challenges of performing the Caprices specifically when playing them on the Mandolin
- The importance and special place of this collection of works in the repertoire
- Paganini as a composer – how he uses not only the instrument itself, but almost all the musical tools at his disposal.

*The lecture will combine some live examples.

Ekaterina Skliar
Mandolin transcriptions from 3- and 4-string domra repertoire.

This lecture will explore a fascinating repertoire composed for a 3-and 4-string domra and its potential for expanding the modern day mandolin repertoire. A close relative of the mandolin, the domra has been a prominent part of classical music stages in Russia and Ukraine for decades. As a result, the original repertoire has been constantly expanding and nowadays ranges from solo pieces to chamber works and concerti with a symphony orchestra.

Heifetz and Kreisler, who set the standard for violin transcription, demonstrated how transcriptions are an effective way to expand a performer's repertoire. Following their footsteps, we will examine the original domra repertoire and discuss how it can be adapted for the mandolin while maintaining the composer's original intent and ensuring that the recomposed work is both technically and stylistically suitable for the new instrument

Mark Davis
My Mandolin music story
This lecture will explore Mark Davis’s various ensembles and the most important works which were written for each one. So, in historical order we will  have: Mair-Davis Duo; Providence Mandolin Orchestra; the Davis Guitar Duo, New American Mandolin Ensemble; the Hampton Trio.

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COURSE REGISTRATION

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In the Course of Mandolin Excellence, we have three groups, and registration is available for each group separately.

Group A: The Mandolin Soloist
The first group is for young students who aim for a career as classical mandolin performers. This group receives private lessons, and its members participate in a chamber ensemble that rehearses challenging orchestral repertoire every afternoon.

Those who are accepted into the Solo Mandolin Performance group will receive the sheet music for the ensemble during the month of August.

*Deadline: August 31, 2023. Registration requires submission of a sound or video recording of up to five minutes of playing. Please submit your videos to Ekaterina Skliar at skliar.music@gmail.com.

Group B: Mandolin Lovers

The second group is geared toward mandolin enthusiasts of all ages. Those accepted into this group will receive duet sheet music to prepare for the course. During the course, they will benefit from coaching sessions focused on chamber music, rehearsal techniques, and culminate in a final concert performance. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to attend and audit lectures and Mandolin Soloist Performance Class ensemble rehearsals.

*Deadline: August 31, 2023. Registration requires submission of a sound or video recording of up to five minutes of playing. Please submit your videos to Ekaterina Skliar at skliar.music@gmail.com.

Group C: Auditors
Auditors may attend all lessons, workshops, lectures, and concerts throughout the week.

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