Alison Stephens and the Beast

[Eric Renshaw]

An Estonian composer, Tonu Korvits, (quite famous in his own country) contacted Ali a while ago telling her how much he liked the mandolin and her playing and asked whether he might write a piece for her. Ali agreed and within a couple of weeks he emailed her a solo piece for mandolin or octave mandolin. She premiered it in February and has played it in concerts here in the UK several times recently. Ali plays it on The Beast (a 1985 Pasquale Pecoraro mandola) and it is one of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces I have heard in a long time. It is called ‘Wake up, My Heart’ and is based on an Estonian Folk Tune from Vormsi Island. Though to me, the intro also seems to evoke a Japanesey feel. Tonu is hoping to write more for Ali, including possibly a concerto.

If you would like to hear this, an mp3 version of the recording can be heard by clicking on the 'Wake up, My Heart ... mp3' link in the first post on

http://www.mandolincafe.com
/forum/showthread.php?61811-New-piece-from-Estoni
[remove the line break]

Just ignore the totally-off-the-wall comments that follow it on the thread.

Enjoy, Eric