The Ensemble Giocoso has been founded in 2012 by members of the mandolin orchestra HARMONIE 1931 from Dinslaken to be able to play more interesting music, pop-songs or new compositions for mandolin orchestra.
The concerts from the last years were filmed and are available as youtube videos.
Program of the concert from 2020
Christopher Grafschmidt – Auf geht’s
Olof Näslund – I Folkton
David Laheurte – Mandoline Project
Claudio Mandonico – Słoneczniki Sinti-Suite
Richard Charlton – Daintree
Pirates of the Caribbean Medley
Dominik Hackner – Danza cubana
John Miles – Music
Claudio Mandonico – Stomp from “Jazz Pop Rock Suite”
Vincent Beer-Demander is one of the leading mandolin players in France and a great composer too. In June 2021 he performed a special online concert for Japan which is available at youtube.
Vincent Beer-Demander and friends played a selection of compositions for mandolin, mandola, two mandolins, three mandolins and songs with piano and mandolin.
Vincent Beer-Demander plays for Japan – Marseille 2021
Vincent Beer-Demander (Mandoline, mandole)
Nina Grimaut (Mandoline)
Siham Pichon (Mandoline)
Pascale Sicaud (Piano, voix)
Remi Beer-Demander (Voix)
Juna Iwamato (Présentation)
Olivier Fordant (Vidéo)
From a comment in Japanese (with google translation) this is the program:
Part One Vincent Beer-Demander solo -Improvisation by Vincent B.D. with a Japanese theme -Andante / J.S. Bach Arrangement: Vincent Beer-Demander -From the animal guessing quiz Bestiere (bestiary). (Guess what animal the theme of Vincent is playing.) -A tribute to the movie musician Ennio-Moricone, who passed away last year Arrangement: Vincent Beer-Demander
Part 2 Mandolin song for kids
-Duck Dolan le canard / Composition: Vincent Beer-Demander -Archangel L’Arcange Galivel / Composition: Vincent Beer-Demander -Egg L’œuf de Grocuche / Composition: Vincent Beer-Demander
Part 3 Mandol’in pour mandoline
-Le verre de cocadine Coke’s cup Composition: Vincent Beer-Demander -La conservature en laine La conservature en laine Composition: Vincent Beer-Demander -Le Machayou Le Machayou Composition: Vincent Beer-Demander
Part 4 Three new songs announced and France’s representative song
-Three songs for singer, mandolin and piano (There are 3 short songs) Composition: Vincent Beer-Demander
-Göttingen / Barbara Arrangement: Vincent Beer-Demander -Amsterdam / Jacques-Brel Arrangement: Vincent Beer-Demander -Rosy Life / Edit-Piaf Arrangement: Vincent Beer-Demander -The Windmills of Your Wind / Michel-Le Grand Arrangement: Vincent Beer-Demander
Denise Wambsganß und Christian Weyhofen have given a concert in August „Sommerserenade – Von Venedig nach Rio“ – “Summer Serenade – From Venice to Rio”- 2021. Videos from thios concert are available at youtube.
Christoph Weyhofen and Denise Wamnsganß
Denise Wambsganß is a mandolin player living in the South West of Germany. She is regularly playing concerts and playing the mandolin part in operas and with symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles. She is also conducting the mandolin orchestra from Essingen.
The concert included selection from the classical mandolin repertoir by Calace, Gervasio and Vivaldi and South American music with Choro, Tango and Folk tunes.
Complete Playlist “Summer Serenade – From Venice to Rio”
Denise Wambsganß & Christian Weyhofen im Konzert SOMMERSERENADE “VON VENEDIG NACH RIO” am 28.08.2021 in der Prot. Kirche in Essingen/Pfalz
Michael Guggino is well known as the mandolin player with the Steep Canyon Rangers. But his Italian-American background has led him to play traditional Italian music on the mandolin. Barret Smith has spent a lot of time in Italy teaching guitar, but also experiencing the musical tradition with folk songs, tarantellas and mandolins.
For years they have played together for Italian Nights and other occasions. For some time they played as “Trio Guggino” with Nicky Sanders on the violin.
Trio Guggino Speranze Perdute
In the following video of an Italian Night Mike Guggino and Barret Smith give some information about their background.
Micheal Guggino and Barrett Smith of the Grammy award winning Bluegrass Band @The Steep Canyon Rangers preform classic Italian Folk songs at “Italian Night” at the Jordan Street Cafe in Brevard NC.
Michael Guggino and Barret Smith have used to make a recording of their favorite Italian tunes, “Mia Dolce Farfalla”. The CD is available at Spotify and youtube.
Mike and Barrett have been performing traditional Italian folk music on the mandolin and guitar for nearly two decades. The duo first met in college, while both were studying jazz and classical music but also getting their feet wet in bluegrass and American folk music. When Mike and Barrett aren’t touring with the band, they host “Italian Night” performances at local restaurants, music venues, and house concerts. Over the years, these widely popular events have provided them the perfect setting to develop their own unique musical expression of these exotic, Italian folk songs. The pandemic allowed them the time to finally record some of these songs.