Thursday, August 9, 2012

  Largest mandolin ensemble: Va. Music Gathering sets world record (VIDEO)

GALAX, VA, USA -- Organizers of the annual Old Fiddler's Convention in Galax had 389 people playing the mandolin in one place, which sets the new world record for the Largest mandolin ensemble, according to the World Record Academy: www.worldrecordacademy.com/.
 Photo: Organizers of the "Largest Mandolin Ensemble" in Galax set a world record for the Largest mandolin ensemble. ( enlarge photo )

The Guinness world record for the largest mandolin ensemble consisted of 383 participants during the Festival at the Mainhoelle 2005 in Bürgstadt, Germany.

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the largest collection of playable musical instruments made entirely from matchsticks: 10, held by Tony Hall of Hove, East Sussex. The instruments, constructed from used wooden matchsticks by Tony's deceased father Jack Hall include: violin, chin-rest and bow, Neopolitan mandolin, acoustic guitar, flat-back mandolin, tenor banjo, bones (percussion), castanets, descant recorder, drumsticks and ukulele.

  Organizer Tara Linhardt announced to the crowd that a total of 389 mandolin players participated in the four songs played, beating the previous record by six players, The Roanoke Times reported.

  Participants played "Old Joe Clark," "Cripple Creek," "Angeline the Baker" and "Soldier's Joy" before the crowd erupted in applause, and lifted their mandolins above their heads in celebration of potentially breaking the world record.

   The record-breaking attempt was sponsored by Eastman Guitars, a national company that also makes violins and mandolins.

  After the event, a representative from Eastman drew a random number and gave away an $800 hand-carved, maple mandolin from the company to 18-year-old Jack Dunlap from Winchester, who happened to be wearing the numbered sticker that matched.