Mandolin And Its Repertoire In The 18-21 Century
By Elena | March 29, 2019
Mandolin is a plucked string instrument that appeared during the Middle Ages. The mandolin received wide distribution at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in Europe and even America. Over time, this instrument has become one of the most popular in world music (in particular, in various folk directions).
By popularity, the mandolin is quite comparable with, for example, violin or guitar. The undoubted advantages of the mandolin are its compact size and loud expressive sound.
Mandolin is able to convey gentle lyrical images: her bubbling soft tremolo, reminiscent of Neapolitan serenades, sounds warm and heartfelt. But on the mandolin, you can play also chords and swirling swirl passages. Its possibilities are truly enormous and limitless.
The repertoire of the mandolin is quite rich and diverse. For the mandolin, different composers wrote compositions in different genres: from Scarlatti, Mozart, Vivaldi and Beethoven to Prokofiev and Schoenberg. Sonatinas, variations, capriccio, sonatas, serenades, concerts, large and short works, a huge musical layer that has accumulated over the centuries.
Ludwig van Beethoven wrote works for mandolin and piano, Antonio Vivaldi – concerts for mandolin and orchestra. This means that the mandolin in the 18-19 centuries was perceived not only as a chamber but also as a full-fledged concert instrument. Music was created for both the mandolin solo and the mandolin ensemble. As an example, a Concerto for 2 Mandolins and Orchestra by Antonio Vivaldi.
Interestingly, the tradition of transcribing music for the mandolin already existed in the 19th century. As an example, mandolin transcriptions of piano, chamber, orchestral works by Verdi, Brahms, Bellini, Donizetti and others.
The possibilities of this instrument are enormous. In the 19th century, a large number of works were written for various plucked instrument ensemble with the participation of the mandolin. One of the most organic is the mandolin and guitar duet.
Over time, the popularity of the mandolin did not fade. A kind of surge of interest in the mandolin occurred at the turn of the 19-20 centuries. During this period, the composers created not only works for the mandolin itself but also wrote music for the mandolin and guitar duet. An example is Niccolò Paganini, who could play both instruments very well. And in the late 19th and early 20th century, the Italian composer Carlo Munier also wrote for such a duet.
And not only he at that time showed an active interest in the mandolin. One of the most brilliant composers of the time who wrote for the mandolin was Raffaele Calace. He wrote for both the mandolin solo and for ensembles with the mandolin.
The mandolin is perfectly combined with other musical instruments. So, we can find it in the symphonic compositions of such famous composers as S. Prokofiev, G. Mahler, I. Stravinsky, R. Shchedrin.
Even legendary pop-rock musicians always get attracted to the mandolin. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin “Going To California”, Tommy Shaw of Styx “Boat on the River”, Paul McCartney “Dance Tonight” – they had all skillfully improvised on the mandolin during their performances.
Jethro Tull “Christmas Song”, Rod Stewart “Maggie May”, R.E.M. “Losing My Religion” is not a complete list of world hits that mandolin truly makes better!
Even legendary pop-rock musicians always get attracted to the mandolin. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin “Going To California”, Tommy Shaw of Styx “Boat on the River”, Paul McCartney “Dance Tonight” – they had all skillfully improvised on the mandolin during their performances.
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