10 Questions: An interview with Ian Harris - Conductor of the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra
Today I have great pleasure in interviewing Ian Harris, Musical Director, Conductor and soloist of the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra. They are performing for one night only on Tuesday 13th at St. George’s Church at 8.00 pm. This is a wonderfully lyrical instrument and watching the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra perform tells you that this is a not to be missed concert. It has that wow factor! I just had to interview Ian Harris to learn more about him and the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra….
1. What are the milestones in your life’s journey (both personal and professional) that have led you to be Conductor of the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra?
Receiving a box of mandolin orchestra music, from the conductor of ‘The Fingers and Frets’ Mandolin Orchestra, in Bristol, after having busked, unsuccessfully, in the town centre there.
The creation of the orchestra didn’t so much have milestones, but was a long uphill struggle, with several years of very small turn out of musicians (some rehearsals would just be me and another person!), and a gradual increase in membership of the FF.
One milestone was when, for the sake of an arts council grant, I gave the orchestra to the orchestra members; ie, when it stopped being a privately run organisation, by me, and I encouraged them to form their own committee to run the organisation, with a chair, treasurer etc… Then my role changed from ‘Dictator’ to ‘Musical Director/ conductor/soloist’.
2. What are your musical influences?
For Mandolin orchestra music we started with the 1930’s repertoire, but I soon got tired of that, so we started seeking out more modern composers. Now we get sent great music from composers all around the globe, thanks to the internet; I particularly like the Japanese composers. I like modern music that has surprises, but is not progressive for progressive sake; ‘Tunes with a difference’. I also enjoy music from all eras, classical, baroque, heavy metal…
3. What is your show, “The Magic of the Mandolin” about and what should the Brighton public expect from your show at the Brighton Fringe?
This show is about the performance of some of the finest orchestral mandolin music, played by an award winning orchestra. We’ve got diversity, in that we have classical and baroque music, as well as world premiere’s of some challenging, but tuneful pieces by the best composers currently writing for this genre. It’s also about entertainment; and we have a few surprises in store there…
4. What is your favourite Festival orFringe and why do you like them?
No favourites, just anywhere with a good crowd.
5. What is your best advice for aspiring mandolin musicians?
Get a good teacher, study hard, and preferably go to a London University. There’s a good mandolin course at Trinity College. Also get involved in a wide range of music making (classical, pop, rock, singing…), and also try some other instruments.
6. What has been your funniest experience conducting the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra?
This may not be funny, but while we were playing at the Friends Centre, in Brighton, and particularly we were playing a tune called ‘Blaze Away’, someone set fire to the men’s loos, and the room suddenly filled with smoke.
7. As you travel worldwide conducting, where is your favourite place to vacation and why do you like it there?
The Far East because I like somewhere that is a change from the everyday life; also, it’s very cheap…
8. Who is the person you most admire and why?
My first mandolin teacher, Tommy Jackson, because he was a great eccentric. He played an electric mandolin that looked like a Rickenbacker, toured with the travelling circus, and also had an act that involved him playing the mandolin naked, and at the age of about 70!
9. What is the best tip you have ever been given?
None, anyone got any suggestions now?
10. If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?
I like it as it is.
