MMO 5

This is our latest CD, launched at our concert at St John's Church at Southgate in Melbourne on Sunday May 31st, 2009 and features contemporary Australian music for the Mandolin & Guitar ensemble. Conducted by Slava Iourgaev, recorded at Move Records.

Contents:   (Total Playing time: 61' 24 ")    

• Pacifica by Michelle Nelson
• Dances for the Mandolin & the Moon by Richard Charlton
• Little Suite for Strings by Peter Sculthorpe, arr. by Michelle Nelson
• Outback by Robert Schulz
• Brolga Dances by Michelle Nelson soloists: Jill Johnson, mandolin, Michelle Nelson, guitar
• Capricorn Light by Michelle Nelson soloist: Julie Danaher, flute
• Mikri Thalassa by Betty Beath
• Stringing by Caroline Szeto

A comment from Peter Sculthorpe:

...it’s a terrific CD, with the music wonderfully conducted by Slava. The performances are just so rhythmic. Also, I like the variety in kinds of pieces and forces used. Certainly I hope it does really well. I congratulate the Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra and everybody who was a part of it.

Feedback from Richard Carlton:

Congratulations to all on the launch of your CD Brolga Dances. I am enjoying listening to the whole thing as it has so much wonderful & exciting music.

Well done to the orchestra on their interpretation of my piece, please tell them I was very pleasantly surprised. Please also congratulate Michelle on her fine work and arrangements, you are certainly lucky to have her in your ranks.

Critique by Betty Beath:

Brolga Dances has arrived safely and has brought much pleasure. I'm very impressed with the musicians of the Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra, with the enthusiasm they so effectively communicate in their performance of 'new' music, with the guidance they receive from Slava Iourgaev and with the initiative and talent of your resident composer Michelle Nelson.

It was so good to hear such an expressive performance of Mikri Thalassa. There was a lovely sense of the rise and fall within the phrase. I like the way the orchestra responds to the score, picking up tempo and dynamic suggestions which give vitality to the work. Conductor Slava Iourgaev understands the work and has drawn from the orchestra a response, though disciplined, has the freedom to 'feel' out mood and emotion...so essential to the music.

MMO 4

This CD contains two out-of-print LP's recorded by the MMO in 1969 and 1981, digitally remastered and released by Move Records in 2008. The first LP, "Andalusian Romance" was conducted by founder Joseph Ruecker and the second LP, "Melbourne Mandolin Orchestra at St Martins, Armadale", was conducted by the founder's son, Werner Ruecker.

Contents:   (Total Playing time: 78' 42 ")    

• Sonatine by Ludwig von Beethoven
• Santa Lucia traditional
• Serenade by Schubert soloist: Lloyd Evans, tenor
• A Night On The Volga traditional
• Edelweiss March by Schmitt
• Andalusian Romance by Fernando Sor
• An Die Zither by Mozart soloist: Lloyd Evans, tenor
• Grotesque Dance by Krebs
• Overture in A minor by Clausnitzer
• Wascha Mesa by Hans Neusidler

• Sonate - Allegro & Presto by Zaneboni soloist: Steven Morey, mandolin
• Canzona & Fantasia by Marcus Wengler
• Munchner Residenzmusik - Allegro &Allegro e spiroto by Evaristo Felice Dall'Abaco
• Nirthanjili - Lasya & Tnadara - by Eric A Phillips soloist: Eric A Phillips, flute
• Concertino - allegro con moto, andante cantabile & Allegro - by Max Baumann soloists: Kay Mansell, recorders & Bruce Millar, guitar
• Resolution of Conflict by Robert Schulz soloist: Steven Morey, mandolin

MCD 292

MCD 120

Here's a small (420K download) sample MP3 from "Rumba für Zupforchester"

Conducted by Richard Sudmeyer, Jochen Schubert, recorded 1998, by Move Records

Contents:   (Total Playing time: 61' 21")

• Three South American Pieces by Martin Kugler
• Polushco-Pole by L. Knipper, arr. Abram Iourgaev soloist: Jeff Vague, clarinet
• Klezmer Suite by Elke Tober-Vogt                soloists: Juliette Maxwell,accordian, Jeff Vague, & clarinet  Ben van denAcker, percussion
• Sonata No. 3 for Clarinet by Gustav Gunsenheimer soloist: Richard Sudmeyer, saxophone
• Fantasy by A. Holminov, arr. Abram Iourgaev soloists: Jeff Vague, clarinet & Abram Iourgaev, mandolocello
• Invierno Porteño by Astor Piazolla, arr. Jochen Schubert
• Yugoslavia by Ralph Pausen soloist: Richard Sudmeyer, saxophone
• Rhumba by Dieter Kreidler

MD3159

Here's a small (1.2MB download) sample MP3 from "Song of the Japanese Autumn"

onducted by Fred Witt, recorded 1994, Move Records

Contents:   (Total Playing time: 59' 20")    

• Concerto for guitar by Sylvius Leopold Weiss, soloist: Slava Grigoryan, classical guitar
• A Celebration by Robert Schulz, soloist: Karla Drazenovic, cello
• Song of the Japanese Autumn by Yasuo Kuwahara
• Concertino for Mandola by Fred Witt soloist: Kurt Jensen, mandola
• Summertrip by Jurgen Klose
• Tanz suite by Willi Althoff