Captain Corelli's Mandolin

Amazon.com

With this lavish follow-up to Shakespeare in Love, director John Madden proves himself a worthy craftsman of literary films, and while Captain Corelli's Mandolin may frustrate admirers of Louis de Bernières's densely detailed novel, it's a tastefully old-fashioned adaptation, preserving the novel's flavor while focusing on its love story set against the turbulence of World War II. Set on the Greek island of Cephallonia, the drama begins in 1940 with occupation by Italian troops, awkwardly allied with the Nazis and preferring hedonistic friendliness over military intimidation. That attitude is most generously embodied by Captain Corelli (Nicolas Cage), who is instantly drawn to the Greek beauty Pelagia (Penélope Cruz) despite her engagement to Mandras (Christian Bale), a resistance fighter whose absence leaves Pelagia needy for affection. Mandras's eventual return--and the inevitable attack by German bombers and ground troops--threaten to stain this Greek-Italian romance with deeply tragic bloodshed.

Accompanied by pensive serenades from the captain's cherished mandolin, the film charts the unlikely attraction of Corelli and Pelagia, whose wizened physician father (splendidly played by John Hurt) fears for the worst. Their love is uneasy (and Cage's miscasting doesn't help), but the island's beguiling atmosphere is as seductive to them as it is to the viewer, thus making the outbreak of violence--and a climactic earthquake--jarringly traumatic. Emphasizing nobility in war and the many definitions of love, the story's wartime context intensifies the film's admirable depth of emotion. Faults will be found by anyone who's looking for them, but Captain Corelli's Mandolin remains a sensuous, richly layered film that die-hard romantics will find hard to resist. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Corelli's Magical Island.......2007-05-04

Captain Corelli's Mandolin is a touching love story about the suffering that people overcome to hold on to love. Penelope Cruz does a very good job, while Nicholas Cage is rather miscast. The film manages to capture the attitude of the Italians occupying the island. They did not come as the enemy, and those that managed to survive were seen as heroes by the Greeks. Any Kefallonian who lived through those times will tell you similar stories to this one. Many Italians came back to marry their Greek girls. Set on the magical island of Kefallonia, the film manages to capture to pristine quality of the water. Unfortunately the island seems very small and remote, which it is not. It is a magical place where goats have golden teeth, water flows up mountainsides, and black pines grow that can grow nowhere else in the world. The story is uplifting, even though it acheives this by downplaying the horror of the civil war and earthquake. Although it seems that only a few Italian soldiers were killed by the Germans, instead of thousands, it still brings attention to this heroic moment that changed the war. I recommend this movie. Watch it without being too critical and enjoy the nice story.

A Love/War Epic Saga to Rival the Best of Them.......2006-09-08

This film belongs next to "Casablanca", "Gone with the Wind", "The English Patient" and a few other films which depict war and the struggle for human survival along with some tension between a man and woman that eventually leads to a passionate love affair. In most great films which include romance, the question arises if it can stand the test of time and become the one which will be forever remembered as the greatest love affair in their lives. When looking back from the future, will it be viewed as the greatest one despite the difficulties? Nicholas Cage plays the leading man, Captain Corelli and Penelope Cruz is portrayed as Pellagia, his love interest. Each is superbly cast. Each brings a realistic style and emotional depth to their respective roles. Each interprets the developing relationship and events with honesty and total openness ...

What makes this film particularly unique is the setting of Cephalonia. It is a picture perfect, beautiful lush green island, home to a hearty group of Greeks who had faced many enemies over the centuries and survived, defending their mountain homes ... Another outstanding feature to this film is how it includes both the Italians and Germans who place a foothold on the island, as they prepare to fight the Allies. The Italian troop arrives first, a robust, hearty handsome group of young men, who are classically trained singers and musicians. They often engage in music during their off-time. Some of the officers are housed with the locals which is how Captain Corelli first met Pellagia, the daughter of the local doctor ... By living in the doctor's house, the relationship is mutually beneficial since the doctor can get much needed medical supplies. Capt. Corelli first saw Pellagia in the crowd during their arrival to the island, she watched from the roadside crowd. Pellagia stood out and caught his attention with her independence and beauty ...

Prior to the Italians arriving, Pellagia had just become engaged to Mandros, her Greek boyfriend, who was semi-illiterate and a farmer. He volunteered to fight the Germans in northern Greece, he wanted to face the enemy and defend his homeland. Pellagia had no replies to her nearly one hundred letters written to him in which she poured out her love and devotion. He survived but was a changed man, he now had a purpose, to create an underground organization which worked with the Allies. Mandros suspected Captain Corelli had feelings for his fiance; also, Mandros noticed Pellagia was uncertain how to express her conflicting feelings, she was wrestling with deeply hidden thoughts ...

The Germans arrived on Cephalonia and a new type of order and discipline was instituted. However, occasionally social gatherings with the locals was allowed where the populace mixed with their occupiers. At such a festivity, Pellagia danced an astonishing tango with an Italian friend of Corelli's, creating a sensation on the dance floor. It captured everyone's attention except it seems the one whose affections she was trying to reach: Capt. Corelli. Captain Corelli had been assigned to live in their home and when he noticed how uncomfortable it made Pellagia, he volunteered to leave. They had several heated exchanges ... Her father recognized a budding love affair, and encouraged Capt. Corelli to pursue his daughter ... When Captain Corelli played his mandolin and expressed his heartfelt emotions through his instrument, he won Pellagia's heart.

Unfortunately, the tides of war had turned, the Italians had surrendered to the Allies and the German occupiers had a major problem on their hands. They received orders to massacre the Italians, although they let them pack and led them to believe they were returning to their homes ... Through an unusual set of circumstances, Capt. Corelli was allowed to live, although he is nearly at death's door. He is nursed back to health by the Greek doctor, while the island rebuilds itself and attempts to return to normalcy after the war is declared over. Capt. Corelli is provided safe passage back to Italy ... Pellagia pursues her studies and becomes a local doctor on the island. Until ... she receives a mysterious package from Italy, which contains a recording of mandolin music, the melody of one which she knows and recognizes. To the satisfaction of most viewers, several years after the war, Capt. Corelli does indeed return to Cephalonia and meets again with Pellagia ... Erika Borsos [pepper flower]

Geek-Italian Love Drama and Tragedy .......2006-08-04

Agony near the Agean Sea .... when Captain Corelli falls in love with a Greek guerilla fighter's fiancee. Set amidst the breathtaking and riveting backdrop of Greece. Love knows no borders despite the raging of WW2, Greek and Italian loyalties, and engagements and betrothals. Hypnotic to the eye and heart ... will make one wish they too were someone's mandolin.

An outpost of WWII.......2006-07-17

The story of this movie is fiction, but the events depicted are fact. This makes it a very unconventional war movie, just as HEAD IN THE CLOUDS is an unconventional war movie that explores a different angle of WWII.

Cephallonia is a scenic Greek island in the Mediterranean. Some have argued that it is one-in-the-same island as Ithica, which was Odysseous' home in Homer's epics. It is an island with inhabitants who enjoy the simple wonders that life has to offer.

Like the rest of the world, the island was dragged into the cruel reality of the 2nd world war, during which time it was occupied by both Italy and Nazi Germany.

So far, the movie sounds like it is going to be all about Greek citizens having to cope with the harsh and bitter situation of having their beloved island occupied by foreign armies. Well, yes, it does portray that, but there is an unexpected twist.

After Italy surrenders there is a lot of confusion about their fate. Instead of fighting the allied forces they find themselves having to face off against the Nazis, who don't want to see their arms end up in the hands of the allied coalition or the island's inhabitants.

Such is the backdrop of this movie. What happens from this point is historical fact, not fabricated Hollywood fiction. John Madden, director of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, puts together another stellar movie that is well worth seeing. Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz are noteworthy in their performances.

This film is a must-see for fans of war movies, "different" war movies, World War II and European history.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin.......2006-03-11

Both my wife and I saw this movie, we really enjoyed it , it is a beautiful love story, I have tried to buy it locally but could not find it, then I was told about Amazon.com and I was able to purchase the movie, we have already watched it 2 times, and have loaned it out to friends so they can enjoy it also.Again thank you for allowing me to purchase thie movie, and I also appriciate recieving it within 5 days of ordering it.

Average customer rating:

Excellent!
Bravo! Excellent Teaching and Wonderful Performance
Excellent teaching from a pro
Freak with a Dudenbostel
Chop Builder

Essential Techniques for Mandolin
Starring: Chris Thile
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00006G2TO
Release Date: 2002-06-01

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!.......2007-09-06

I'm a beginning mandolin player and while I take lessons from a professional musician, I pick up something new from this video every time I view it. It works on every level and I'm sure I'll be learning from it for years to come!

Bravo! Excellent Teaching and Wonderful Performance.......2007-08-15

Not only does Chris Thile go over techniques like pick theory, cross-picking, hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, and shifting. But he also treats his viewers with performances of his original compositions. "When Mandolins Dream" for the introduction and "Raining at Sunset." Unfortunately the included booklet does not include these two tunes. However it does include "Red Haired Boy", "Hop the Fence" (a Chris Thile tune), "Swallowtail Jig" and "Ode to a Butterfly" (another Chris Thile tune).

Also included is a lengthy discussion and demonstration of 3 octave scales and arpeggios that he got from a violin book, complete with positions and shifting. Chris definitely doesn't stay in first position and moves gracefully all over the fingerboard. You are treated to his long elegant fingers gliding up, down and around.

Two things he does not go into are tremolo and chopping chords. I guess there are a lot of other dvds that cover this area.

I like the discussion of bad habits and why you should avoid them. He does a great job explaining left-hand positioning, finger placement and efficiency, as well as right hand relaxation and picking position.

Finally, it's just an overall nice instructional DVD, because even though he is teaching, he does not make it boring, and he definitely treats you to four original compositions (two included with notation and tab).

Excellent teaching from a pro.......2007-01-12

As a 50-something mandolin player wanting to go beyond the basics, I found this DVD a real help with enough substance to keep me busy a long time. The instructor, Chris Thile, teaches mandolin playing with a very patient but intelligent tone and good humor. The only thing I can quibble over is I thought some of the video shots could have been done better / closer / different angles to show the fingering more clearly. But this can be overcome by watching the segments over a few times -- which I guess is the point of having DVD anyway.

The DVD is probably not for a raw beginner or someone who doesn't know about music playing in general. Fortunately I have experience on brass instruments so terms like "arpeggios" are not foreign. I agree with Chris' emphasis on arpeggio drills and scales, and for example emphasis on playing notes evenly - a point often overlooked by teachers on a lot of instruments. Chris teaches a balance of songs and drills, which equates to equal amounts of fun and work. He's a real pro as well. I was very pleasantly surprised with this DVD purchase and highly recommend it to anyone who's at the intermediate mandolin playing stage -- or like me, who wants to get there.

Freak with a Dudenbostel.......2006-09-28

When this first came out on VHS I was just starting to learn the mandolin myself. Since Chris was a big reason I started to play mandolin in the first place I was very interested in what this video had to offer.

He opens with an original Caprice for Mandolin which is quite stunning. Then he discusses tone and touch, even some pick theory. He rightly points out that many people set their action too high, choking their instrument and putting themselves at risk of injury. One of the exercises he introduces later (Hop the Fence), I still play every day!

Like other reviewers have already mentioned, this is a great tool for intermediate to advanced players because there are several layers of difficulty. However, he does assume that you have at least a basic working knowledge of music theory. In that regard I wouldn't recommend it for stone cold beginners.

Chop Builder.......2006-09-21

This is not for beginners. And there is essentially no musical theory offered here, just a series of exercises to build right and left hand muscle memory. The scales introduced in this video are very valuable (and exhausting!). When going through the arpeggio section, you can see how his mastery of these exercises contributed to the original composition performed at the beginning of the DVD. This video comes with tablature that will get you on the same page as Chris for the most part, however, viewers will have to devote a lot of time to learning these tunes prior to "playing along". Definitely a better purchase than the Ronnie McCoury DVD.

Rhonda Vincent and the Rage - Ragin' Live

Average customer rating:

Great Video, Awesome Sound!
INCREDIBLE
Can't Stop Listening
Great show
Great DVD, Simple As That...

Rhonda Vincent and the Rage - Ragin' Live
Starring: Rhonda Vincent and the Rage
Manufacturer: Rounder Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007GAEOO
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Product Description

1. Kentucky Borderline
2. Drivin' Nails In My Coffin
3. Missouri Moon
4. Me Too
5. One Step Ahead Of the Blues
6. Jolene
7. Heartbreakin' Old Achin Blues
8. Road Rage
9. Cheatin' Kind Of Life
10. You Can't Take It With You When You Go
11. So Happy I'll Be
12. Son Drop In
13. The Martha White Theme
14. Frankie Belle
15. I've Forgotten You
16. Ghost Of A Chance
17. The Last Best Place
18. Bluegrass Express
19. Muleskinner Blues
20. Homecoming
21. Orange Blossom Special
22. I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again

Format: DVD VIDEO

Customer Reviews:

Great Video, Awesome Sound!.......2007-07-23

I am watching and listening to this DVD for the "umteenth" time. It is so beautifully filmed, and the sound is excellent when played through a good stereo system. The choice of songs varies from the soulful "Ghost of a Chance," to the beautiful ballad "Missouri Moon," with lots of true blugrass thrown in. Each member of the rage is highlighted and I especially enjoyed Mickey Harris' "Heartbreakin' Old Achin' Blues." If you enjoy the combination of musicality and good, modern, sophisticated bluegrass (or if you are an Alison Krauss fan), you need to buy Ragin Live.

INCREDIBLE.......2007-03-08

A must have for bluegrass fans. Rhonda has one of the tightest bands and best showmanship (showwomanship) in the business. A great DVD i watched over and over.

Can't Stop Listening.......2007-01-09

A very precision performance by Bluegrass' best. Rhonda's voice and instrumentals are perfect and the backup vocals superb. Banjo Master Kenny Ingram's fingers fly faster than the eye can see. Hunter Berry saws his fiddle in two and Josh Williams' guitar picking is as good as it gets.

Recorded live, the evening is a triumph of wholesome Middle American values and traditions. A must for any serious bluegrass fan.

Great show.......2007-01-09

Wide range of style. Instrumentation is second to none. Bluegrass at it's best!

Great DVD, Simple As That..........2006-12-31

I listen to all genres of music. This DVD is among the best of my collection. The personal story "extra" is a real treat.

The sound & picture quality are both GREAT! No let downs with this DVD. There's even a little humor thrown in!

If you're breathing and you like to listen to music (any good music), then you'll enjoy this DVD, trust me...

I simply don't know what else to say about it other than I bet you'll enjoy it as well as my family does...

Average customer rating:

"Documentary" little more than compiled performance footage
unsatisfying
Awful release. Grisman's daughter is an idiot.
Grisman and Garcia - Beards of a Feather
Nicely done

Grateful Dawg
Starring: David Grisman , Ricky Jay , Jerry Garcia , Joe Craven , and Jim Kerwin
Director: Gillian Grisman
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005UER0
Release Date: 2002-02-05

Amazon.com

Jerry Garcia was famous as the visionary behind the Grateful Dead, but his musical tastes were broad, and he found a rewarding partnership with mandolinist David Grisman, whose distinctive "Dawg" style fused jazz with bluegrass. At its best, Grateful Dawg celebrates the easy friendship and truly inspired musicianship of Garcia and Grisman through grainy home-movie footage with surprisingly crisp sound. As one of the film's commentators says, Grisman made Garcia tighter as a musician, while Garcia made Grisman looser, and where they met they created an infectious, rootsy style they called Grateful Dawg. The film's many highlights include instrumental versions of "Dawg Waltz," "Shady Grove," and "Arabia," as well as splendid footage from Garcia and Grisman's days in Old & in the Way. The talking heads inserted ham-handedly between and over performances, unfortunately, become repetitious and, finally, downright annoying. But Garcia and Grisman fans will still enjoy the glimpse at a rare musical alchemy. --Anne Hurley

Customer Reviews:

"Documentary" little more than compiled performance footage.......2007-02-02

The music here is excellent. If that's the focus of your interest, then by all means get yourself the soundtrack recording, which certainly shows a range of Grisman/Garcia collaboration (from the jazz-exotica of Arabia to the children's music of Jenny Jenkins and Freight Train to the bluegrass of Sunny Sunny South, etc.).

But why make a movie of it? Grisman/Garcia, while virtuosic musicians with great blend, are stultifyingly dull to watch. They stand largely stock still while playing or leaning into the mic to sing, and the acoustic performances shown here (even the lame B&W video of the blues classic "The Thrill is Gone") are utterly devoid of pyrotechnic eye-candy, facial close-ups of performer/audience to offer a narrative/emotional frisson, or even the barest focus on finger-technique. This is music to listen to, not to watch, and even the dull concert footage is routinely interrupted by interview material that fails to illuminate the proceedings.

In fact, the interviews represent a staggering loss of opportunity, considering the insiders (members of the band and producers), intimates (family), and experts (influenced and influential musicians like Bela Fleck) presented. We get little information aside from bland, repetitive hype. "These guys were really great musicians and Jerry Garcia was much more famous than Dave Grisman yet still hung out with him in the early 1970s and again throughout the '90s," about covers it. Moviegoers curious about how the music was constructed, the virtuosic technique employed, the lives of these individuals, and visual examples of the meaning and impact they might have had on one another, art, fans, anything will find this documentary to be a frustrating, hollow shell... and boring to boot.

unsatisfying.......2006-04-30

I don't know much about David Grisman - he seems to be a talented and innovative musician. Plus, he was a friend of Jerry Garcia, which is always good. In fact, their musical talents combined are very exceptional. However, the great music was destroyed by the annoying interviews that permeated the whole footage. I would have enjoyed listening to a song all the way through without interruptions, but sadly, it was not to be. If you love music, skip this DVD, but if you love documentaries, this is the film for you.

Awful release. Grisman's daughter is an idiot........2005-08-22

Grisman's daughter was in charge of this train-wreck. She focused 70 percent of the video on that worthless has been david grisman, and very little on Garcia. There was an awesome beginning to "Sitting here in Limbo", only to be STOPPED, and interrupted by stupid interviews. As if anyone lays awake at night wondering about Bela Fleck's opinion of Garcia and Grisman's collaboration. Worthless, DO NOT BUY!

Grisman and Garcia - Beards of a Feather.......2003-07-15

Unlike most of the reviewers here I am more of a dawghead than a deadhead. David Grisman is my musical idol. The man is a creative genius. I bought the DVD because there's very little video available of David Grisman and I knew that this would be a video bonanza for Grisman fans. I'm not disappointed. The only drawback to this movie in my opinion is that it wasn't shot as a documentary but as Gillian Grisman says, it was a hodgepodge of home movies that were simply used to create a documentary a few years after Garcia's death. Still, there is a certain charm to the fact that it wasn't shot as a documentary. The subjects are free to be themselves, not realizing that anyone outside of their inner circle will ever view the footage. It's obvious that Gillian decided to study the art of movie making once she determined that she was going to create a documentary. She went to great lengths to tell the story of her dad and Garcia with an appropriate thread of performance, studio, and interview video. Sure, there are a lot of interview clips, but it is a documentary after all. Personally I didn't find them all that distracting. And for an added bonus, the DVD viewer has the option of viewing the movie with commentaries from David and Gillian. Several outtakes are also added, including Vassar Clements' embarrassing story of how he was playing with Garcia without really knowing who the Grateful Dead are. I'm sure most deadheads will love this flick. I know dawgheads like me will.

Nicely done.......2003-02-10

Check out this movie. If you're into bluegrass, you ought to pick this up. We all know the distinctive style of Jerry's guitar sounds with the Dead, but have you heard him on the banjo? The music that he played with Dave Grisman, Vassar Clements, Peter Rowan, and John Kahn is some of the best bluegrass you can get. There is a certain laid-back way about their sound. Some folks find bluegrass to be too shrill and hyperactive. You don't get that sense, even when they're frailing at top speeds. Which they can do with the best of em.

Description

In addition to being one of the world's greatest bluegrass musicians, Sam Bush is a clear and dynamic instructor who communicates his ideas with clarity and ease. This terrific two-part series will help aspiring mandolin players improve technical prowess, build repertoire and develop formidable musicianship.

Sam teaches traditional fiddle tunes "Ragtime Annie," "Bile Them Cabbage Down," "Blackberry Blossom" and "Sally Goodin," showing you how to create variations on the melodies, use drone strings for fiddle-like effects, employ crosspicking techniques for a smoother sound and move up the neck to play in higher positions.

A long admirer of Bill Monroe, Sam details the bluegrass master's unique approach to his instrument, teaching "Big Mon" and the ear catching cross-tuning effects in "Get Up John." He then goes into his own challenging arrangements of "Brilliancy" and "Whayasay" (from his CD "Glamour & Grits") and "Big Rabbit" (from "Howlin' at the Moon"), all of which will help you develop technical proficiency and dexterity on the mandolin.

Sam is one of the instrument's great rhythm players, and he shows the essentials of damping, chopping and strumming for bluegrass, reggae and other styles. You'll also get detailed instruction in pick technique, scales, speed building, warm-up exercises, tremolo, improvised soloing and much more.

As a bonus, Sam provides an up-close look at his 1937 "F5" and his new "Sam Bush Model" Gibson mandolins, explaining the differences between them. He talks about his equipment, favorite strings, fret sizes, pick gauges, electronics and the ways that his instruments have been set up to suit his exacting requirements.

This method is an invaluable and important addition to any mandolin player's instructional library, and is highly recommended.

Customer Reviews:

be amazed and learn at the same time.......2005-06-13

It's simple math. Music teachers in my area charge about $20 for half an hour. The Sam Bush Mandolin Method costs $40 to $55 (depending upon the vendor), and you get 2 1/2 hours of instruction from one of the best mando players on the planet. The choice is simple, huh?

Maybe not.

If you're not self motivated and keep forgetting the difference between the end pin and the tuning pegs, go to the teacher. However, if you're more of a do-it-yourselfer, are motivated and don't need or want someone looking over your shoulder, a teaching aid like this is an eye-opening (more like eye-popping) experience.

Sam Bush strikes me as a very friendly person, and it comes across on the disks. His presentation is very encouraging and makes you want to learn and work at playing the selection of songs. He plays them through full speed (you couldn't buy a front-row seat at a concert and be this close), and then breaks them down and plays them at a slower pace. He plays many difficult licks several times, and even demonstrates little variations to make them easier to play or sound slightly different.

There are also little talks about practicing to build speed, selecting equipment, etc. At first I was a little disappointed because I knew that there was going to be a segment about the Gibson Sam Bush model mandolin. Here we go, I thought, time for a commercial break. But it wasn't like that. Sam was talking about his old mandolin, held up the new mega-bucks Gibson, and basically said, "Here it is. It sounds pretty good." End of commercial, and we were back to the music and learning. Very classy.

To wrap it up, this package will be over the heads of raw beginners. Intermediate players will spend hours and hours absorbing his music and ideas, and will become better mandolin players. That's money well spent.

P.S. to Sam: Do your fans a favor and put out a DVD or video on playing slide mandolin. That would be very cool and it's never been done.

Average customer rating:

Another goodie from Home Spun

DVD-Learn To Play Blues Mandolin
Starring: The Knack
Manufacturer: Homespun Tapes
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000624D14
Release Date: 2004-09-01

Description

Bluegrass players, from Bill Monroe onward, incorporated blues licks into their playing. Steve James knows this music and its history well, and he brings it clearly into focus on this fun and funky lesson.

Mandolin novices will start out by learning a basic G scale and how to alter it to create a blues scale. After demonstrating his pick strokes and tremolo technique, Steve dives right into Divin' Duck Blues by the great Yank Rachell. Steve and John Sebastian, another jug band and blues enthusiast, perform the tune, and then Steve takes it apart, note-by-note.

Steve lays out some of the primary blues chords on the mandolin, showing how it can become a wonderful accompanying instrument with the use of partial chords for rhythm comping. Turnarounds, double stops and variations on a walking boogie-woogie line are all essential parts of a blues repertoire, and Steve shows several of these, including a variation he learned directly from the legendary Howard Armstrong.

From there he launches into some powerful and challenging songs, each one of which shows you something new on the instrument. The Lonesome Train That Carried My Gal Away, from the recordings of Charlie McCoy and the Mississippi Sheiks, is a good-time tune that Steve plays on banjo-mandolin while John accompanies him on 6-string banjo. Big Joe Williams' Juanita Stomp is played on a "high-strung" mandolin (the lower strings are tuned to octaves) and features a rockin' blues riff in A. Steve's raucous original, Saturday Night in Jail, contains double stops, chord comps, blues licks and scales and, as Steve puts it, "fun-lovin' high-jinks." Steve and John close the lesson with a performance of Shotgun Blues, which Steve plays on an electric mandolin that once belonged to Yank Rachell.

Customer Reviews:

Another goodie from Home Spun.......2007-01-15

I own several Home Spun instructional CDs and DVDs. I enjoy them all, and they've made me a better musician.

This is another good one. James explores the music of Yank Rachell, breaks down a couple of tunes, and then plays and sings for us. I've also taken some of the techniques James decribes and applied them to other tunes.

You could easily spend an entire day or even a weekend studying and playing what's included on this DVD, which I think makes it well worth the $20. I mean, where alse can you take a music lesson and spend all the time you want with the teacher for only twenty bucks?

Also try the Home Spun Sam Bush DVDs. Awesome stuff. Com'on, you couldn't hire Sam Bush to be your teacher, but here you can have several hours of him, and play the DVDs over and over.

DVD-The Bluegrass Mandolin of Ronnie McCoury

Average customer rating:

Ronnie's talent, Monroe's legacy...a great combination!

DVD-The Bluegrass Mandolin of Ronnie McCoury
Starring: Ronnie McCoury
Manufacturer: Homespun Tapes
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001Z368W
Release Date: 2004-03-29

Description

Ronnie McCoury, the sensational mandolinist of the Del McCoury Band, teaches his most requested solos for the benefit of learning mandolin players everywhere. As an extra treat, Ronnie and Del perform each tune together before it's broken down into its component parts.

Throughout this lesson, Ronnie provides invaluable tips on many aspects of mandolin playing, including use of split strings, the double-time shuffle, right hand technique (keeping a loose wrist), working with tremolo, keeping good rhythm, back-ups with double- and triple-stops, improvisation and much more. Playing his Gilchrist mandolin, Ronnie provides advice about tuning up, as well as the strings, picks and other equipment he uses.

Like so many other bluegrass mandolinists, Ronnie's primary influence (aside from his dad) was the great Bill Monroe, and he starts his lesson with the famous Monroe "downstroke" style. The "Bluegrass Twist" is a perfect vehicle for the bluesy licks, runs and blues scales that were among Bill Monroe's trademark sounds, and you'll learn the solo phrase by phrase.

Ola Belle Reed's powerful "High on the Mountain" was the first tune Ronnie learned on mandolin, and he shows all the special tricks in playing this beautiful mountain song. Ronnie goes on to teach his own tribute to Bill Monroe, "Glen Rock," as well as show-stoppers such as "Quicksburg Rondezvous," "Baltimore Jonny" and the perennial Monroe favorite, "Rawhide."

The Del McCoury band is well known for the influence the blues has played on their music, and Ronnie covers the classic "How Long Blues" as well as country-flavored hits such as "I Feel the Blues Movin' In," "Highway of Pain," and "Don't Stop the Music." This intensive lesson in mandolin playing will greatly enhance your technique, and add some powerful tunes to your repertoire.

Customer Reviews:

Ronnie's talent, Monroe's legacy...a great combination!.......2007-05-28

I found this DVD when was looking for an instructional presentation that covered bluegrass in general and some Monroe in particular. In that respect, this is an excelent product. In comparison to some other bluegrass and general instructional material that I have (Sam Bush/Monroe, Chris Tile, Butch Baldassari/bluegrass), this is my favorite.

Ron McCoury comes out of the Monroe tradition, and appears here with his father, Del, a former Monroe Band member. Del does solid backup work on the songs. Ronnie shows some great tunes, including some Monroe music and some Monroe-influenced McCoury originals. You feel that you are getting some authentic music here, from people who know what that is all about.

Ronnie is a very good instructor, and his tab is note-for-note accurate. Only a couple of breaks are not included. In addition, Ronnie covers some mando basics, various playing techniques, and offers some sage advice. All of the songs are played through at normal and slower speeds, and are also gone over section-by-section at slow speed. With that and the tab, almost anyone can play these songs. With practice, of course.

The tunes are well chosen, the McCoury originals are interesting and fun, and the old-timey offerings are solid, and useful for the mandolin player's overall skill package. The guitar accompaniment is great. Del knows bluegrass guitar. His guitar adds a lot to the presentation of the songs (thanks, Dad!).

My only (minor) gripes: I would have liked to have a few more bluegrass standards, and the video quality could be better--although the playing is easy to see (audio is perfect). But for that, I would have given a 5-star rating.

Average customer rating:

Slap Me Naked and Steal My Clothers
FOR old time music lovers
Entertaining, History On Stage
So Enjoyable
MORE! MORE! NEED MORE DVDs like this.

The Three Pickers (Jewel Case)
Starring: Earl Scruggs , and Doc Watson
Manufacturer: Rounder Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Traditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0000A02X0
Release Date: 2003-07-15

Customer Reviews:

Slap Me Naked and Steal My Clothers.......2006-01-12

All superlatives from previous reviewers apply, and I heartily recommend your purchase of this product. However, I will agree with one of the previous reviewers about the format - the bios, while very worthwhile and interesting (really), should be in a separate section from the music. As good as the bio stuff is, I do NOT want to listen to it nearly as often as I'd like to listen to / watch the performance itself.

FOR old time music lovers.......2005-07-29

This DVD is excellent. For those looking for a "front porch" type of presentation, this is it. The musicians are so relaxed that one viewing the program joins them in the mood.

These three musicians have a camraderie that is one of the best I've ever seen, and it enhances the feel of the music.

Entertaining, History On Stage.......2005-01-27

This concert was filmed 50 miles from where I live, and if I had known this concert would have been going on, I would have been on the front row. Wow! Down home picking and grinning at it's best! Doc,Earl,Ricky, you can't get much better than that. Of course the pretty Alison Krauss in between.
Exceptional talent-It feels like they are sitting in the middle of your living room just picking for you. A must have for your bluegrass collection.

So Enjoyable.......2004-10-10

I just watched this DVD for the first time and have had such a great time enjoying the music and the pickers. I wish there were more bluegrass DVD's available. I highly recommend this to any bluegrass or old music fans.

MORE! MORE! NEED MORE DVDs like this........2004-03-01

If only there were more Music DVDs like this! Totally awesome, a great tribute to old-time mountain music.

Average customer rating:

Good for the finer points...

Bluegrass Mandolin
Starring: Sam Bush
Manufacturer: Homespun Tapes
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Songbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Music Video & Concerts | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

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Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0007R4T8K
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Book Description

Sam Bush details the dominant mandolin styles from Bill Monroe to Newgrass! He demonstrates powerful techniques while teaching ten classic tunes: Paddy on the Turnpike * Gray Eagle * Sugarfoot Rag * Sapporo * Bill Cheatham * East Virginia Blues * Wayfaring Stranger * Manzanita * Banks of the Ohio * Sittin' on Top of the World. 100-MINUTE VIDEO * INCLUDES MUSIC + TAB * LEVEL 3/4.

Customer Reviews:

Good for the finer points..........2007-05-17

This video is best for those that already have a pretty good understanding of how to play the mandolin.

Like most instrument instructional videos that I have seen, this one starts out with tuning, and a brief explanation of how to tune the instrument. The pace picks up rapidly from there, jumping right into the songs. The real meat of the video comes from Sam showing you different picking, phrasing, and note selections based on the styles of true mandolin giants like Bill Monroe, and even Mr. Bush himself, on the same song.

If you are a stickler for little details, you will notice that the notes in the included music/tablature do not always follow exactly what Sam is playing, but that is part of the fun of learning to play this style of music.

My only small gripe about the video is that there is no real explanation of the theory behind the styles that Sam is showing you how to play. The video is literally Sam playing the song full speed, slowing it down and taking each song part by part, and then playing it again in a different style.

All in all, I really enjoyed and learned a lot from the video, but again, if you are not a proficient mandolin player, you will probably be better served by getting either: DVD- The Sam Bush Mandolin Methodor Essential Techniques for Mandolin

Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

This is more supplementary material than instruction (but still good, otherwise)

Beginning Mandolin
Starring: Music Instruction
Manufacturer: Music Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Music Video & Concerts | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

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Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

Product Features:

Several months of valuable lessons are programmed into this one video.
The songs are demonstrated slowly, phrase by phrase, with split screen close-ups so you can see exactly how to play them.
Bass accompaniment is provided so you can play along.
A music booklet is included with exact transcriptions of fingering techniques in tablature.
As you progress, youâll learn how to combine melody notes with chord strumming to create a full sounding arrangement to a variety of well known songs.

ASIN: B0001I56GE
Release Date: 2003-12-23

Product Description

This video is designed for the beginner to the intermediate level player. If you are already taking lessons, this video will supplement and expand your learning between lessons. See how fun and easy it is to learn to play your guitar in front of your own TV. Your own private video teacher is here to patiently guide you each exciting step along the way.

Customer Reviews:

This is more supplementary material than instruction (but still good, otherwise).......2007-01-18

So far I have watched this video for the last two nights. I am a beginning mandolinist (I have been playing mediocre guitar for half my life) so I wanted to start from the beginning to try to "unlearn" bad habits from years of self taught guitar. This is a really good video for play along with and the songs are ordered in various levels of difficulty with each of them having a certain technique to focus on. The part I don't like (possibly will get more technical later on in the disc?) is that it feels more like mandolin play-along then actual instruction. The instructor (who is very articulate and skilled, otherwise) doesn't spend a lot of time talking technique, but spends a majority time showing you these songs that are on the disc. I do recommend the disc as supplementary material to your mandolin training, but don't expect this disc to be one stop shopping solution.

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