Simon Mayor 'I Saw Three Ships'

Taken from Simon's album Winter with Mandolins CDACS 015 Art animation by Hilary James Simon Mayor’s website: www.mandolin.co.uk Acoustics Records: www.acousticspublishing.com 'The most beautiful bell-like mandolin sound I have ever heard' Living Tradition Originally released in 1992, Winter with Mandolins features many unusual and beautiful carols and seasonal instrumentals including Russian style massed mandolins (Christmas Candle), Celtic inspired arrangements (I Saw Three Ships), highly evocative Basque and Provencal carols, music from Handel's 'Royal Fireworks' and Simon's own compositions. There are stunning contributions from guests Alan Whetton on soprano saxophone; Brendan Power's harmonica and Hilary James on basses complete this superb album. Simon Mayor is one of the world's leading mandolinists as well as a fine fiddle player, guitarist, composer and wit. His live performances are a riot of humorous anecdotes and off-the-cuff wit alongside dazzling musicianship. The Instruments: The mandolin, mandola and mandocello used on this recording are modern instruments built, essentially, like their violin family cousins. They incorporate carved tops and backs, bass bars (but no sound posts) and a scale length longer than the traditional Italian round-back. The design originated in early 20th century America, originally as a classical instrument for the mandolin orchestras hugely popular at this time. Their use later spread to bluegrass and country music. While the round-back has a delicate, harpsichordal quality, the tone of the modern instrument has more of the bloom of the classical guitar, although the strings are metal. ‘One of the World’s great mandolinists’ Sean Rafferty, BBC Radio 3 November 2019 Simon Mayor & Hilary James Sun 10. Oxenhall Village Hall, Kempley Rd, Oxenhall, Newent, Gloucestershire GL18 1RH Tel: 01531 821354 Tickets £10.00 -- 7:30pm Simon Mayor & Hilary James Fri 15. Owen Street Community Arts Centre Owen St, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 1DG Tel: 01827 713 634 Tickets £10.00 -- Doors 7:30pm Simon Mayor & Hilary James Sat 16. Millenium Hall, Marsh Farm, Dalbury Lees, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 5BE Tel: 01332 824 007 Tickets £12.00 -- Doors 7:30pm Simon Mayor & Hilary James Sun 17. East Lincolnshire Arts, Richmond School, Richmond Drive, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 3SH Tel: 01754 881 176 Tickets £11.00 -- Doors 7:30pm Simon Mayor & Hilary James Sat 23, Lewes Folk Club/Mandolin Workshop See website for full workshop details 10:00am-5:00pm Simon Mayor & Hilary James Sat 23, Lewes Folk Club Elephant and Castle White Hill, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2DJ Tel: 01273 476757 Tickets: £12.00 -- 8:00pm Evening performance. Simon Mayor Sun 24. Lewes Folk Club/Fiddle Workshop. See website for full workshop details 10:45am-4:55pm Simon Mayor & Hilary James - CHRISTMAS SPECIAL with Richard Collins and Phil Fentimen Fri 29, Pearson Hall, Pearson Road, Sonning-on-Thames, Reading RG4 6UL Tel: 0118 9268615 Tickets £15.00 -- 8:00pm Slim Panatella & The Mellow Virginians Christmas Special Simon Mayor, Hilary James and Richard Collins are joined by Phil Fentimen plus Andy Baum, and Andy Taylor Sat 30. The Morrell Room, Church Lane, Streatley, RG8 9HT Tel: 0118 9268615 Tickets £15.00 -- 8:00pm