Mandolin Mandalas
Digital Download

Phil Lawrence's 1912 Gibson F2 mandolin freely improvises on traditional melodies from the American and Irish/Scottish folk repertoire as well as original melodies, but it is accompanied by two classical Indian instruments--the tabla (hand drums) and the tanpura (drone). The result is a blend of Indian sounding ragas and Americana fiddle tunes. Since the tanpura drones, there is no chordal progression, allowing the improvisations to wander without restrictions. Lisa Sangita Moskow plays the tabla--she and Phil Lawrence respond to each other's phrasing as the music develops in each tune. The highest quality Neumann microphones were used in the recording process, so the sounds of the mandolin and the tabla are as pure as possible. All the finest qualities of Phil's unique antique Gibson mandolin comes through with utmost clarity, and the close miking of the instrument allows him to use a very light touch on the strings that facilitates a gliding cascade of tones at key moments in the performances.

The opening tune, “Ganesha,” is an improvisation on an original motif in the G minor harmonic scale. It is followed by a very loosely interpreted version of the American fiddle tune, “Cluck 'Ol Hen,” here called “Cluck 'Ol Hanuman,” and then by a version of the Scottish air “Will You Go, Lassie, Go,” here called, “Will You Go Lakshmi, Go.” “The Passion of Shakti” is a dynamic improvisation in D minor. “'Ol Joe Craven” recalls “'Ol Joe Clark,” so named because Phil has always admired Joe Craven's unique interpretation of the American fiddle tune which can be heard on Joe's Camptown Races recording. “Rose Blossoms” unfolds and revolves around a simple pentatonic melody in C Major. “Angeline the Buddha” is “Angeline the Baker” disguised as an Indian raga, as indeed all these tunes are. “Rose Petals” concludes the CD with a free improvisation in C major. As the titles suggest, the music is simply playful. The intention was to let the music flow wherever it might want to go. The simple folk and original melodies offered a structure to play off of and around. Bars and measures were stretched and elongated. Phil and Sangita sat in the studio, hit record, and let their instruments and their imaginations wander.