In June 2009 the German Association for mandolin orchestras BDZ, district Hessen, had its music fest in Schlitz. Several videos of this event are available at youtube with interesting performances of some of the best mandolin orchestras in Germany.
There are several videos available with the mandolin orchestra of Hessen (Hessisches Zupforchester). The orchestra is conducted by Oliver Kälberer who ist known for his excellent work with orchestras. Oliver Kälberer has arranged an Intermezzo by Johannes Brahms for mandolin orchestra:
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Intermezzo in Es-Dur op. 117, Nr. 1, bearb.: Oliver Kälberer
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Intermezzo in Es-Dur op. 117, Nr. 1, bearb. von Oliver Kälberer
The youth mandolin orchestra of Hessen (JZOH) has also played some interesting pieces. The first piece is an arrangement of a piece by Peter Maxwell Davies, Farewell to Stromness. I know this piece from a CD with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (a video of this version is also availble at youtube), but the version for mandolin orchestra, arranged by Frank Wittstock, is also very beautiful.
Jugendzupforchester Hessen JZOH – Farewell to Stromness
(the video shows a different and incorrect title, obviously the program had been changed, which has not been recognized by the author of the video).
Here is a second example, a piece by Astor Piazzolla:
Tango Apasionada gespielt vom JZOH am Landesmusikfest 2009 vom BDZ Hessen
Jugendzupforchester unter Leitung von Sabine Geis mit dem Titel “Tango Apasionada” von Astor Piazzolla, bearbeitet von Sabine Geis im Rahmen des Landesmusikfestes 2009 vom BDZ Hessen
More videos of his music fest are available in the youtube channel 60erklaus http://www.youtube.com/user/60erklaus
More resources
Homepage of the music fest “Landesmusikfest 2009” with the programs and information about the orchestras (German):
Hessisches Zupforchester (German): http://www.hzo.de/
Jugendzupforchester Hessen JZOH (German): http://www.jzoh.de/old/index.html
Youtube channel of 60erklaus: http://www.youtube.com/user/60erklaus
Homepage of Oliver Kälberer: http://www.ok-music.de/
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Amazon tip (partnerlink)
The Mandolin Picker’s Guide to Bluegrass Improvisation – by Jesper Rubner-Petersen