Encyclopedia Mandolinnica by Ethan Setiawan
On Encyclopedia Mandolinnica, champion mandolinist Ethan Setiawan catalogs the possibilities of his instrument with special guests including Mike Marshall, Joe K. Walsh, Jacob Jolliff, Andrew Marlin, among others. Exploring the many possibilities of mandolin music through duets and trios with his friends, mentors, and heroes, the breadth of Setiawan’s ambitious project is brought into focus through a stripped-down mandolin ensemble format, allowing the instrument itself to take center stage. On Encyclopedia Mandolinnica, Setiawan duets with some of his past teachers, such as Don Stiernberg and Mike Marshall, both foundational to the mandolin’s place in current folk music. He also worked with players who are in the process of forging their influence on the instrument, like classical mandolinist Caterina Lichtenberg, Watchhouse frontman Andrew Marlin, and Scottish folk star Laura-Beth Salter. A notable moment on the record is an octave mandolin trio with Sharon Gilchrist and Darol Anger, called ‘Back At It,’ a mid-tempo number that showcases the emotive melodic possibilities of the instrument in a lower register and the tasteful restraint of three powerhouse musicians. Contrastingly, on ‘Blazing Star’ Setiawan duets with Jacob Jolliff in lightning-fast, virtuosic conversation. With Encyclopedia Mandolinnica, Ethan Setiawan has added a collection of foundational mandolin music to his already illustrious recording catalog. A musician whose thirst for knowledge and exploration is never sated, Setiawan shows once again that he is always interested in reaching for the next challenge.
Tracklist
| 1. | Victoria (feat. Mike Marshall) | |
| 2. | Forecast (feat. Matt Flinner) | 4:14 |
| 3. | Blazing Star (feat. Jacob Jolliff) | |
| 4. | Mount Holly (feat. Joe K. Walsh) | |
| 5. | Brothers and Sisters (feat. Caterina Lichtenberg) | |
| 6. | Rockingham Waltz (feat. John Reischman) | |
| 7. | Slurpee (feat. Moriah Ozberkmen) | |
| 8. | Back At It (feat. Sharon Gilchrist and Darol Anger) | |
| 9. | I Hear A Rhapsody (feat. Don Stiernberg) | |
| 10. | Big Hill (feat. Andrew Marlin) | |
| 11. | Shenk’s (feat. Laura-Beth Salter) | |
Credits
Ethan Setiawan: mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, 5-string electric mandocello
Matt Flinner, Jacob Jolliff, Caterina Lichtenberg, John Reischman, Moriah Ozberkmen, Don Stiernberg, Andrew Marlin, Laura-Beth Salter: mandolin
Mike Marshall: mandolin, mandocello
Joe K. Walsh, Sharon Gilchrist, Darol Anger: octave mandolin
“Forecast”, “Mount Holly”, & “Shenk’s” recorded by Ethan in Ripton VT, Portland ME, and Glasgow Scotland respectively
“Slurpee” & “I Hear A Rhapsody” recorded by Dan Cardinal at Dimension Sound Studios, Jamaica Plain MA
“Victoria” & “Brothers & Sisters” recorded by Reinhard Finke at Valve Records, Solingen DE
“Blazing Star” recorded by Andrew Ryan, Brooklyn NY
“Back At It” recorded by Ethan, Darol Anger, and Sam Leslie at AFM Local 257 Cooper Rehearsal Hall, Nashville TN
“Rockingham Waltz” recorded by Ian Gorman at La Luna Recording & Sound, Kalamazoo MI
“Big Hill” recorded by Jerry Brown at The Rubber Room, Chapel Hill NC
Mixed by Ethan Setiawan at Sassafras Hill Records, Cornish ME
Mastered by Dave Sinko, Nashville TN
Artwork by Mike Cox, Jug Hill Gallery, Cornish ME
Design by Louise Bichan, Cornish ME
Photography by Louise Bichan
Released by Adhyâropa Records, New York, NY
Ethan Setiawan plays a Northfield octave mandolin and uses Pinegrove Leather straps.
All music composed by Ethan Setiawan (Mandosepeda ASCAP) save “I Hear A Rhapsody”, composed by George Fragos, Jack Baker, and Dick Gasparre
Thanks to all these mandolinists who were gracious enough to learn my tunes and work though them: Mike Marshall, Matt Flinner, Jacob Jolliff, Joe K. Walsh, Caterina Lichtenberg, John Reischman, Moriah Ozberkmen, Sharon Gilchrist, Darol Anger, Don Stiernberg, Andrew Marlin, & Laura-Beth Salter. I’m very lucky to know all these folks, and even luckier that they were up for this. The engineers: Reinhard Finke and Valve Records, Sam Leslie, Dan Cardinal and Dimension Sound Studios, Andrew Ryan, Ian Gorman and La Luna Recording & Sound, Jerry Brown & The Rubber Room. Everyone who helped with recording and mastering: Dave Sinko, Jonas Eule, Suzanne Houston, & the Flinner family. Without all those folks we’d be a lot quieter and sound much worse. The luthiers: John Monteleone, Bayard Blain, Adrian Bagale & the rest of the crew at Northfield Instruments, Jim Shenk, Bill Bussmann, Austin Clark, Orville Gibson, Steve Gilchrist, Mike Kemnitzer, Will Kimble, Lloyd Loar, & Alfred Woll. It’s a joy and a gift to play these beautiful instruments day in and day out. Thanks to Mike Cox at Jug Hill Gallery for beautifully interpreting this music through his unique view of the world. And Louise Bichan, for putting it all together, and everything else. Thanks to Joe Brent & everyone at Adhyâropa Records; doing so much to help get music out in the world. Finally, Fran & Amy, Nicky Murray, Mike Fogel & the Fogel family, Kathryn Schmidt, Sally Simpson & Pete Levens, and Mark Simos.
For more technical details on the instruments and recordings, please go to www.ethansetiawan.com/encyclopedia-mandolinnica
2025 Adhyâropa Records
All rights of the producer and owner of the work reproduced reserved. Unauthorized copying, hiring, lending, public performance, and broadcasting of this recording prohibited.
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Ethan Setiawan has a command of the mandolin far beyond his twenty-some-odd years. A past winner of both the National Mandolin Championship and the Rockygrass Mandolin Championship, his new record Gambit moves aptly between stylistic influences, harkening back to the experimental string band music pioneered in the early 80s while presenting entirely original compositions.