The Fretful Federation: Home
Welcome
Hello and welcome to the Fretful Federation's website. Find here information about who we are, current and past events, resources and how to contact us.
Brighton's very own mandolin orchestra has been in existence for 16 years, since its foundation by Ian Harris, the Leader and Musical Director of the Orchestra, in 1995. His goal was to revive the tradition of mandolin orchestras, which were hugely popular in the UK up until the 1930s.
Originally playing standard Banjo-Mandolin-Guitar pieces typical of Mandolin Orchestras from the beginning of the twentieth century, the repertoire of The Fretful Federation is always expanding and developing and now we play exciting contemporary music, by living composers, as well as classical and popular pieces, concertos and collaboration with other mandolin orchestras from around the world, and choirs.
The music is written, in part form, for mandolins, mandolas, mandocellos, mandobass, percussion and guitars. We welcome recruits, to our orchestra of all such musicians, and their relative bowed cousins. We play around Brighton and have toured abroad.
Recent news and upcoming events:
The Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra, returns again with another sellout show. This year we have soloist Chris Slack performing the Vivaldi Mandolin Concerto in C. Also performing contemporary compositions by living composers, folk and other genres.
Finchcocks Musical Museum. The Orchestra is delighted to be playing at the Alison Stephens Memorial Concert which is part of the Finchcocks 40th anniversary celebration.