Rocky Mjos

Saint Paul, MN

United States

Profile Information:

About me:
I performed on lute, archlute, theorbo, baroque guitar, renaissance guitar, cittern, and modern guitars.
Studied with Toyohiko Satoh at the Royal Conservatory, The Hague, Netherlands.

Comment Wall:

  • Timo Peedu

    Great work, Rocky. Thaks a million.
    Timo
  • christopher davies

    beautiful stuff, thanks very much
  • Daniel Shoskes

    Thanks again for the Morner MS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwNjn1-1Q2M
    Great fun to play!
  • Juan Pablo Pira

    Baroque guitar music in Guatemala has been found -so far- on two manuscripts: Regla para entrastar, which is a beginner's instruction book, and a small notebook which bears the inscription "Soy de Manuel Albares" on the title page.

    Regla para entrastar is written for a five-course instrument, with tuning AA Dd GG BB e. It is unknown if it was written in Guatemala or if it was brought from Spain. Some ilustrations for the alfabeto chords are very similar to the ones found in Sanz - actually, they look like copies. However, there are more chords in regla para entrastar than in Sanz. Music includes Baile Inglés, a minuet and a Contradanza.

    Manuel Alvarez is an otherwise unknown musician. He wrote for an instrument tuned in fourths (maybe Dd GG cc f). This unusual tuning has also been found in Italy (see Soundboard, Vol XXII, No 1). Music in the Alvarez manuscript includes Canarios, Marizápalos, Marionas, and many which include the word "Fantasmas" (ghosts) in the title.
  • Daniel Shoskes

    Thanks very much for keeping the list, it's a great resource. BTW, I'm working on the Piccinini/Foscarini Ciaconna which was always a favorite of mine, although I still can't pull it off cleanly on my archlute. In your edition last bar of variation 17 first beat, the bass note should be an F, not a C (tab letter d on the 4th course, not the 5th).
  • Radamés

    Fantastic job. And just save my sorry butt. I have a concert coming up and some colleagues had to cancel some pieces, so i was looking for one of the Monteverdi tunes in a nice edition with alfabeto. So thanks a bunch!!!!! Wil give special thanks in the concert if it goes well ;)
  • Andreas Düker

    Thanks for the welcome !
    I played Electric Guitar at the Jazz festival. But I'm trying to do some Jazz stuff on early instruments. Just arranging" Tea for two" for baroque guitar and Viola da Gamba !
  • Craig Jordan

    Thanks......I'm bending the sides for a baroque guitar, or rather their in the form.....
    trying to do a homely copy of this 1670 Vobaom....http://orgs.usd.edu/nmm/PluckedStrings/Guitars/Voboam/4143/VoboamGu...
    and homely it will be, could not afford a proper plan, this was the only instrument that had basic measurements listed....I'll post stuff as I go...if you guys and gals promise not to laugh too Much ;) thanks for the welcome....and I appreciate your sharing of such great scores......I'm pretty musically helpless but love it anyway!!!!!!
  • Joaquim Bogunyà

    Wish you the best with your new task on this site.
  • John J van Gool

    Bedankt voor je welkom. Ik denk dat ik Jelma wel ken, zeker van naam. groet John.
  • Oleg Boiko

    Greet you, Rocky Mjos! It is the idea of my designer to post a picture of a historical instrument onto my page. I play Batov`s baroque guitar only :)
  • Wilson Burnham

    Thanks, Rocky!
    I am glad to be part of this community and look forward to learning from the other members!

    Wilson
  • Thomas Schmitt

    Only one detail, the title is "libro de sifra" (ie. cifra o tablature), and not "Silva" (although it could be possible). Sorry.
  • Jim Gallant

    Rocky--I'm wondering if you, or any of your online acquaintances, might be of help with a question I have about early stringed instruments. I'm working on a novel that will involve several early guitarists as characters. One is a historical figure--Francesco Corbetta who was a serious exponent of the five-course guitar. (Gaspar Sanz was his student). The five-course guitar was, I gather, was in most cases virtually the same as the vihuela; and frankly, listening to quality vihuelas and lutes of recent manufacture aplayed on You Tube I can't hear much, if any, difference. I need for the purposes of character-building in the novel a plausible explanation of why a soloist would be drawn to the five-course guitar or the vihuela rather than the lute. Any help--i.e. reasonable conjectures or wild guesses--appreciated!
  • Daan Hoeksema

    Hallo Rocky, Nee ik ken Jelma niet persoonlijk. Wel over haar gehoord as geinteresseerde in klassieke gitaar. Bedankt voor je welkomstwoord !
  • Arwyn Rees

    Thank you for the wecome Rocky,this site has added to my interest in early music and the instruments it's played on. Regards Arwyn
  • RAY BRETT

    Thank`s Rocky
  • Ray Andrews

    Thanks, it's good to be here.
  • Melodie Prichta

    Thanks rocky!! really glad to be here :-)
  • Akira Sakamoto

    Thank you very much! I'm looking forward to visiting here.
  • Mark Smith

    thank you Rocky, but the first name is Mark! I play guitar and lute.
  • Franz Mechsner

    Thanks a lot, Rocky!
    With warm greetings from Germany
    Franz
  • Adam Cripps

    Thanks Mr. Mjos! I appreciate your having created this, it's a wonderful resource for new guys like me!

    -Adam
  • Luca Tarantino

    I thank you very much. Pleased to meet you and all members
  • Jeremy Bass

    Thank you. I think this is a really good idea.
  • Fernando Lewis de Mattos

    Hi, Rocky,
    I have no problem in contribute $5 per year.
    I need to know how I may contribute.
    I'm Brazilian, and I suppose it's easier if I pay with credit card.
    Best wishes!
    Fernando.
  • Bob Newby

    Hi Rocky. No worries. The rest of the process was in English. Regards, Bob
  • Dagma Eid

    Thanks Rocky! I Know Regina. I had some classes with her in Brazil. All the best, Dagma.