The Early Mandolin: The Mandolino and the Neapolitan Mandoline

by James Tyler, Paul Sparks

The name "mandolin" was used to refer to two quite different instruments: the gut-stringed mandolino , played with the fingers, and the later metal-stringed Neapolitan mandoline , which was played with a plectrum. This is the first book devoted exclusively to these two early instruments about which information in reference books is scant and often erroneous. The authors uncover their rich and varied musical history, examining contemporary playing techniques and revealing the full extent of the instruments' individual repertories, which include works by Vivaldi, Sammartini, Stamitz, and Beethoven. The book's ultimate aim is to help today's players to produce artistically satisfying performances through an understanding of the nature and historical playing style of these unjustly neglected instruments.

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1989

Reviews

[Brendan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly academic and not really for the casual reader (which I was), but even though I didn't fully absorb the information in this book I feel I gained a slightly better understanding of the origin on the mandolin. Since that was what I wanted the book was a success. My one desire for this book would have been more illustrations. Illustrations were often referenced as existing in other texts, but I don't have the time to go out and search all these different papers just for illustrations.

[Wilbur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!