The mandolin is an instrument that has been around for centuries, so you might be wondering how it became popular in the first place. The mandolin is believed to have originated in Northern Africa, but was brought to Europe by the Moors in the 11th century. It was then introduced in Italy during the 16th century and became a popular instrument in both England and France. Today, the mandolin is used worldwide in many different genres of music including traditional fiddle tunes, bluegrass, country, Celtic music, Brazilian choro, Indian classical music, Italian folk music and Spanish classical guitar. Not only does this versatile instrument have a long history but it also has an incredible amount of talented players who use it today. Here are some notable mandolin players who are still making waves today.
The Origins of the Mandolin
The mandolin is believed to have originated in Northern Africa, but was brought to Europe by the Moors in the 11th century. It was then introduced in Italy during the 16th century and became a popular instrument in both England and France.
The Mandolin Today
The mandolin is a versatile instrument that has been used for centuries. It originated in Africa, but became popular in Europe. In Italy, the mandolin became a popular instrument among the upper classes as well as peasants, and was often seen as a symbol of status. The mandolin was introduced into England and France during the 16th century and became a popular instrument among musicians there. Today, this versatile instrument is used worldwide by many different genres of music including traditional fiddle tunes, bluegrass, country, Celtic music, Brazilian choro, Indian classical music, Italian folk music and Spanish classical guitar. Not only does this instrument have an interesting history but it has some notable players who still play today.
Who are the mandolin players?
The mandolin has been around for centuries and is still an important instrument today. There are many mandolin players that you should be familiar with. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Fiddlin’ John Carson was one of the earliest American musicians to record the mandolin. He started playing as a child and went on to become a popular performer during the 1920s and 1930s, even appearing on the Grand Ole Opry radio program in the 1940s. Carson helped to popularize both country music and bluegrass by adding his signature fiddling skills to these genres with his mandolin.
Mando Diao is a Swedish rock band that also plays a variety of instruments including the mandolin among others. They formed in 1994 and have been nominated for several Grammis Awards over the years, winning two of them in 2003 for Best New Artist and Best Rock Album.
Gustavo Assis-Brasil is an accomplished Brazilian player who is well known for playing choro, which is a style of Brazilian music using primarily guitars or mandolins that originated back in 1850s Brazil.
Kenny Smith was born into a family that played stringed instruments so it was only natural that he became a talented musician as well, picking up mandolin as his main instrument along with banjo and guitar later on in life.
Conclusion
The mandolin is a stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and a curved neck. The players of the mandolin are a diverse group of people, from skilled musicians to beginners picking up a new instrument. The mandolin is a great addition to any musician’s repertoire.