A Brief History of the Mandolin

1 Ancestors of the Mandolin

One ancestor of the mandolin is the Quinthara (or Quiterne), which came from the west Islamic culture to Spain and south Italy. From 1300 onwards many of these instruments can be found in pictures of the time. The Quiterne has 3 or more single, or four double strings. It is likely that this instrument was played with a plectrum or a quill. The instrument shown was made around 1450.

2 The Mandolin during the Renaissance

During the Renaissance, construction of the mandolin changed. The body was made out of single wooden strips that were glued together. The instrument had 4 single or double strings and up to 9 frets (the frets consisted of gut strings that were wound around the neck). From 1570 the instrument was also found in France where it was called Mandore. The first known tablature for Mandore was published in Paris in 1578.

In Italy, the same instrument was called Mandola, and in contrast to the Mandore, it was tuned in fourths.

3 The Mandolin during the Baroque Period

The Six Course Mandolin

From the first part of the 17th century an instrument called Mandolino was developed. It was a smaller version of the Mandola. Music from this period indicates that it was a 12-stringed instrument, in pairs, tuned g b e’ a’ d" g" (starting with the lowest-sounding note)

The First Neapolitan Mandolins

The Neapolitan Mandolin was developed around 1700. It has four sets of strings that are made of metal. The instrument has 10 frets on the neck and further frets on the body top. It overtook the Mandolino in popularity, and the latter was no longer used after around 1740. Only recently has the Mandolino been revived.

Read more about the mandolin in the early 18th Century in the November 2006 newsletter p4.

4 The "Romantic" Mandolin

The changes in instrument construction in this period were aimed at achieving a greater volume of sound.
The Italian Vinaccia family was the first to introduce new changes to the mandolin:

• The fretboard was extended up to the soundhole and had up to 17 frets.
• After 1820, the tuning pegs were replaced by machine heads which point to the side.

Read more about the mandolin in the early to mid 19th Century in the May 2007 newsletter p14.

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5 Mandolins at the turn of the 20th Century

Calace Mandolins

One of the leading mandolin builders were the Calace family. The workshop was founded in 1825 by Nicola Calace. His two sons Raffaele and Nicola continued the workshop. Antonio immigrated to the United States in 1901.
Raffaele was not only a mandolin maker, but also a composer and performer of international status. Raffaele Calace composed about 180 pieces and wrote a mandolin tutor in several volumes. After his death the workshop was continued by Giuseppe Calace. The workshop still exsists today and is lead by Raffaele Jr.

The Roman Mandolin

This was built as a virtuoso instrument. Features of the violin were incorporated into its construction, such as the rounded fingerboard and the shape of the neck, which was narrowed and made more triangular. Also, the fretboard on the side of the E string was extended beyond the sound hole, and had up to 29 frets. The leading builder of this type of mandolin was Luigi Embergher (1856-1943), who was based in Rome.

6 Historic Mandolins in Scotland

Edinburgh University Collection of Historical Musical Instruments

Dean Castle, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire

There is also a collection of mandolins, guitars and lutes in Dean Castle, Kilmarnock that is very worthwhile to look at.