Evan Marshall is a virtuoso mandolinist, prominent as an arranger of classical music pieces for the mandolin and proponent of the duo style of playing.Paul Sparks, The Classical Mandolin, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1995, p. 181. His name comes up in mandolin-oriented music circles as one of the best of modern mandolin players, one who has taken the techniques of early mandolin soloists to new levels.Mandolin Cafe forum, Evan Marshall (Is he the "best"?) He is also a recording artist with Rounder Records and teaches mandolin. He has given classes for the Classical Mandolin Society of America, the Mandolin Symposium and the American Mandolin and Guitar Summer School, and has been associated with the Conservatory of Music at Biola University. As a performer, he has worked as a featured guest with several symphony orchestras, including the Houston Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.Biola University, The Conservatory of Music, Evan Marshall, Mandolin He is a former member of Billy Hill and the Hillbillies.
Early beginnings Marshall played the violin from the time he was 7-years old, playing classical. He was inspired by Chet Atkins and learned about bluegrass music after seeing Atkins play on television. He pursued bluegrass, joining a folk music club, and when he was 14 years old, discovered the mandolin, by way of a clubmember with a mandolin at home.
Duo style Marshall plays with what he calls a "musician's sleight of hand", the duo style.John Roos, A Mandolin Wind Blows in a Rock 'n' Roll World, L.A. Times, December 14, 1996. Duo style is a technique in which the mandolin player plays both the melody line of music, as well as harmonic parts, sounding like more than one instrument. The technique was made famous by Giovanni Gioviale in the early 1900s. In the American tradition, the technique was used by early mandolin virtuosos Samuel Siegel, Valentine Abt and Seth Weeks in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.
Works Marshall arranges music for the mandolin. Although he has been labeled a classical musician on the internet, his arrangements include American pop music, Beatles tunes and movie music.
Recorded Music Mandolin Unlimited (1987) Rounder Records,Discogs, Evan Marshall – Mandolin Unlimited produced by Mark O'ConnorCraig Harris, All Music, Artist Biography by Craig Harris Mandolin Magic (1990) Rounder Records,AllMusic, Evan Marshall, Mandolin Magic produced and Engineered by David Grisman Evan Marshall is the Lone Arranger (1995) Rounder RecordsAllMusic, Evan Marshall, The Evan Marshall Is the Lone Arranger Billy Tell & Vanilla Schubert: Evan J. Marshall, Solo Mandolin (2005) EvanJMarshall.comEvan J Marshall website, Recordings A Mandolin for Christmas (2008) EvanJMarshall.com Mr. Solo Mandolin: Evan J. Marshall, Solo Mandolin (2008) EvanJMarshall.com Twin Mandolin Slingers with Brian Oberlin (2015) EvanJMarshall.com Mandolin Mystery Tour (2016) EvanJMarshall.com Beethoven Country with Estudiantina de San Gabriel (2016) EvanJMarshall.com
Instructional works Duo-Style A to Z: A Comprehensive Method for Solo Mandolin in Duo-Style, from Entry Level to Artist LevelInstructional Editions: Duo-Style
Sheet music Caprice # 1 for Solo MandolinSheet Music Editions: Solo Repertory 1812 Fantasy, for Solo Mandolin in Duo-Style Joyful Variations on a Theme of Beethoven, for Solo Mandolin in Duo-Style Ave Maria, by Franz Schubert, arranged for Solo Mandolin in Duo-Style Pastorale, by G. F. Handel, arranged for Solo Mandolin in Duo-Style Maria, Mari!, by Eduardo DiCapua, arranged for Solo Mandolin in Duo-Style
References
External links Evan's website: http://evanjmarshall.com/