Mandolin, Repertoire
One of the prominent voices of the mandolin in Irish music, Marla brings a deep and distinctive sensibility to the tradition on one of its lesser-heard instruments. Her playing is featured on her 2020 album The Bright Hollow Fog, the 2017 Noctambule release A Sweetish Tune, and The Morning Star, a duo CD with legendary Irish singer and bouzouki player Jimmy Crowley, as well as on the 2010 Three Mile Stone recording. A new recording is in the works, a duo project with fiddler Rebecca Richman, that will feature a body of new compositions — expected release in Summer 2024.
Marla also plays mandola, tenor guitar, and button accordion, and is a singer and a composer. She is known for her musical settings of works from a variety of poets, as well as original tunes written in traditional forms. This work is featured in the duo Noctambule, her longtime collaboration with guitarist and husband Bruce Victor. Together they have released 4 albums, most recently Every Migrant is My Fellow in 2021.
An experienced and sought-after teacher, Marla teaches private students and classes, online at Peghead Nation, and has been on the faculty of many music camps including The Swannanoa Gathering, The Mandolin Symposium, O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat, Portal Irish Music Week, Lark Camp and others. Her instructional DVD has been a popular self-learning tool, focused on acquiring the foundational technique for playing Irish music on the mandolin. More at www.MarlaFibish.com.
Some of the best mandolin playing in Irish music.” —Dennis Cahill, Guitarist
“Marla is a wonder on the mandolin; rhythmic beyond imagination, clear as a bell tone, great invention, lovely ornaments at just the right times and places, and a sureness and ease that allows the listener to relax and be carried away.” —Kevin Carr, Folkworks
