Mandolin Magic in the Park

16 Feb 2010

The Auckland Mandolinata Orchestra will play relaxing music from around the world and from y

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Auckland Mandolinata Orchestra

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The Auckland Mandolinata Orchestra will play relaxing music from around the world and from yesterday and today; light classical, traditional Russian, Greek, Austrian, and Spanish, toe tapping Irish, and of course Italian with one the blues thrown in.

With all the members of the mandolin family, mandolin, mandola, liuto, mandolon supported by guitar and with flute to enhance that special mandolin sound, families can come together for a Sunday afternoon of music by the only mandolin orchestra in New Zealand.

You can gavotte, waltz, tap, tango or just mooch around the park, or lie back and enjoy your own refreshments to music you will only hear when the AMO plays.

FORTY YEARS OF PLAYING

Forty years ago a group of musicians were gathered together by Doris Flameling for a rehearsal that initiated the Auckland Mandolinata Orchestra as it is today. Although Doris, a proficient musician and teacher herself has passed on, her son John continues to provide leadership in the orchestra with his wife LynneSue, our concertmaster.

John recalls how Doris decided that the group needed a mandolin player and gave John a mandolin and a “How to Play” book. As a guitar player, John took up the challenge.

Our history is one that we are proud of. Internationally we are part of the Federation of Australasian Mandolin Ensembles (FAME) and have travelled, studied and played in Europe. We are the only mandolin orchestra in New Zealand and our music genre stretches across time and cultures, reflected in our library of over 300 pieces measuring seven cubic meters or more with new compositions and arrangements continually being added.

New players are always welcome and beginners' classes and other support is available.