Un Air d’Italie. The Mandolin in Paris in the 18th Century
10/20/2023, 23 Tracks, 1:09:01
Featuring
Anna Schivazappa
Marc Mauillon
Maria Christina Cleary
Ronald Martin Alonso
Daniel de Morais
Pizzicar Galante
Giovanni Battista Gervasio
Nicolas Dezède
Anonymous
Antoine Forqueray
André Modeste Grétry
Anonymous (Traditional)
Did you know?
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Instruments
The mandolin, a small lute with a short neck, has a richly documented history from ancient times and was practiced across an extensive geographical area.
Instruments
The Neapolitan mandolin, developed in Naples by the Vinaccia family of luthiers, became extremely popular due to its violin-like tuning in fifths (G-D-A-E), making it accessible to non-specialist musicians.
Instruments
The mandolin, particularly as developed by Italian luthiers in the 17th and 18th centuries, became popular for being light, inexpensive, and easy to transport.
Historical Context
The mandolin gained significant popularity in Paris during the second half of the 18th century, frequently appearing at the Concert Spirituel and becoming fashionable among the aristocracy.
Historical Context
The mandolin was considered particularly appropriate for young aristocratic and haute bourgeoisie women due to its elegant appearance, small size, and the graceful posture required to play it.
Compositional Technique
The mandolin's idiomatic techniques, such as batteries, trills, slides, and especially the tremolo, became its signature features and were detailed in contemporary methods.
Instruments
Antonio Stradivari, the celebrated luthier, is credited with clearly labeling mandola and mandolino instruments according to their dimensions.
