|
|
Mandolin -
Spain, Italy, USSR
Spanish mandolin, purchased in Madrid,
Spain ca. 1967 - 70
|
|
|
|
Back view
|
|
|
It has five single strings. It is one of
the instruments that is used by the Tunas group in Spain. Tunas
are groups of University students that roam the streets,
especially the plazas and quaint restaurants around the plazas
in the older parts of cities. Each department within the
University – Engineering, Medicine, Law, Architecture, and so
on—has Tunas. They dress in medieval clothes. The instruments
used, besides the mandolin, are bandurrias, guitars, and rhythm
instruments like tambourines and castanets. It is truly lovely
to have them serenade you while you are eating some of the
wonderful Spanish dishes. I bought this mandolin sometime
between 1967 and 1970 in Madrid at an antique store.
Purchased in Sicily, 1978
|
|
|
|
Back view
|
|
|
I bought this mandolin in
Sicily, Italy in 1978 from the shop where they are
made. The brand name is Sicilimusica. Donated to
my collection from Marian Olson who lives in
Sarasota, Florida. She was teaching in Sicily when
she bought it. It has four double strings. When I
think of Italian love songs and folk music I think
of the mandolin. It is such a popular instrument in
that country.
Purchased in St. Petersburg,
USSR, 1962
|
|
|
|
Back view
|
|
|
This
mandolin has four double strings. Like the Balalaika,
it is very frequently used to play their folk music. I bought
the mandolin in St. Petersburg during my first visit to Russia –
April 1962.
From
Graciela's Notes
This musical instrument was probably
copied from the lute, a much older instrument. The mandolin is
shaped like a pear cut in half lengthwise. The body is made of
strips of wood – varied kinds of wood – glued together. It has
four or five double strings made of wire, a fretted neck and a
flat headpiece with tuning screws. The player produces a tone
with a rather stiff plectrum or pic, which he holds between his
right thumb and forefinger. Musical sounds can be sustained by
trilling (shaking the strings rapidly). The four stringed
Mandolin, that is the one most commonly used, is tuned in
fifths, like the violin. It is often used to accompany informal
singing. The mandolin is the smaller member of the lute family
which originated in Italy in the 17th century. The
name itself is the diminutive of mandola. Progressively large
sizes of the mandolin ae the mandola, the mandoloncello and the
mandolone or mandocello. An ensemble consisting of mandolins,
combined with guitars, is popularly known as a Neapolitan
Orchestra. Although the mandolin is generally known as a
popular or traditional instrument, Mozart and Beethoven wrote
for it. Neapolitan Mandolins, like the ones we see today, date
back to the 17th century and can be seen in music
museums, especially throughout Europe.
For
more information email: fabrm@lake.ollusa.edu
|
