Fretworks Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The brainchild of the classical guitar
ist and banjo
and lute
performer Douglas Back, Fretworks Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra was the first public-school-affiliated mandolin
youth ensemble in America.
, consisted of an ever morphing lineup of 13-18 year olds over several years who represented the most talented musicians at the Baldwin Arts and Academic Magnet School as well as talented alumni. The ensemble utilized several unconventional instruments including the mandola
, mandocello
, classical banjo, tenor banjo, and octave mandolin in addition to the more conventional mandolin and classical guitar.
Due to their unique position as a one-of-a-kind ensemble and through the guidance of Back, the group achieved moderate success and notoriety in the mandolin and classical guitar worlds and regularly performed at music festivals around the country. In addition to such performances, Fretworks also recorded a total of three albums over the course of its life including El Cumbanchero, Cathedral Hill, and a self titled CD released in 2003 featuring a suite composed by the composer John Goodin as well as a "Divertimento for Mandolin Orchestra" composed by Lynette Morse, both of which being specifically written for the group. Perhaps, however, the most notable achievement attained by the ensemble was the 2003 performance on the National Public Radio show From the Top
which introduced Fretworks to a national radio audience of roughly 25 million people.
In 2006, they released a new CD, New Harmony.
1st Mandolin
2nd Mandolin
Mandola
Mandocello
Guitar
Plectrum Banjo
Contrabass Guitar
Percussion
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
ist and banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
and lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
performer Douglas Back, Fretworks Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra was the first public-school-affiliated mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
youth ensemble in America.
History
The orchestra, based in Montgomery, AlabamaMontgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, consisted of an ever morphing lineup of 13-18 year olds over several years who represented the most talented musicians at the Baldwin Arts and Academic Magnet School as well as talented alumni. The ensemble utilized several unconventional instruments including the mandola
Mandola
The mandola or tenor mandola is a fretted, stringed musical instrument. It is to the mandolin what the viola is to the violin: the four double courses of strings tuned in fifths to the same pitches as the viola , a fifth lower than a mandolin...
, mandocello
Mandocello
The mandocello is a plucked string instrument of the mandolin family. It has eight strings in four paired courses, tuned in 5ths like a mandolin, but is larger, and tuned CC-GG-dd-aa . It is to the mandolin what the cello is to the violin.-Construction:Mandocello construction is similar to the...
, classical banjo, tenor banjo, and octave mandolin in addition to the more conventional mandolin and classical guitar.
Due to their unique position as a one-of-a-kind ensemble and through the guidance of Back, the group achieved moderate success and notoriety in the mandolin and classical guitar worlds and regularly performed at music festivals around the country. In addition to such performances, Fretworks also recorded a total of three albums over the course of its life including El Cumbanchero, Cathedral Hill, and a self titled CD released in 2003 featuring a suite composed by the composer John Goodin as well as a "Divertimento for Mandolin Orchestra" composed by Lynette Morse, both of which being specifically written for the group. Perhaps, however, the most notable achievement attained by the ensemble was the 2003 performance on the National Public Radio show From the Top
From the Top
From the Top is a national program and initiative to develop and showcase young classical musicians. It is best known for its NPR radio and PBS television programs hosted by pianist Christopher O'Riley, which celebrate the passion, dedication and personal stories of America's best young classical...
which introduced Fretworks to a national radio audience of roughly 25 million people.
In 2006, they released a new CD, New Harmony.
Performers
The lineup from the self-titled album is as follows:1st Mandolin
- Robert Thornhill - Concertmaster
- Aaron Shows
- James Nichols
2nd Mandolin
- Morgan Dowdy - Principal
- Taylor Hall
- Joey Nelson
Mandola
- Logan Yates - Principal
- Collin Taylor
- Joey McElvy
- Wilson Franklin
Mandocello
- Collin Taylor
Guitar
- Mark Edwards - Principal
- Joel Littlepage
- Ruddy Thompson
- Scott Redding
- Travis Manuel
Plectrum Banjo
- Joey McElvy
Contrabass Guitar
- Alesia Davidson
Percussion
- Aaron Shows - Drums
- Joel Littlepage - Egg ShakerEgg shakerAn egg shaker is a hand percussion instrument, in the idiophone category, that makes a noise when shaken, usually by hand. Functionally it is similar to a maraca. Typically the outer casing or container is oval or egg-shaped...