BOOKS
period sources to some sort of under- standing of the wide variety of small lutes current in the Renaissance and Baroque periods, then discusses the Italian mandolino', which remained
popular until the early 19th century Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/em/article/XVII/4/569/604515 by guest on 01 October 2021 and even survives today with the label Milanese' or Lombardic'. Paul Sparks takes up the story of the more familiar Neapolitan mandoline' at its first appearance in the mid-18th century, and provides a fascinating glimpse into the craze for the instrument that centred principally on pre-Revolution- ary Paris. There is an inevitable contrast be- tween the two parts of the book. Much of Tyler's section is somewhat specu- lative (although stated with much authority), each precious source of information being wrung dry for poss- ible evidence of a definite name, size or tuning of the instrument in question. His evangelist's enthusiasm can lead to a slightly over-stated presentation: the 18th century is perhaps indeed the mandolino's most active and exciting phase' (p. 10), but to describe it as what might be called a veritable golden age' (p.22) seems to me to be going too far. Sparks's approach is more relaxed and he is able to provide a more narrative yet comprehensive guide to his instru- ment by quoting from a wide range of methods, treatises, memoirs, concert reviews and so on. At his disposal is a wealth of documentary and musical The singer Gaetano Valletta c 1731-5, drawn by Zanetti (Fondazione Cini) evidence, an instrument of a standard- ised form and tuning, ample evidence about playing techniques and a reper- tory including works by Mozart and The Early Mandolin: The Mandolino Guitar A History and Handbook (1980). Beethoven. Both authors write well and and the Neapolitan Mandoline that most valuable summary of the clearly, although Tyler sometimes gets a little bogged down with biblio- JAMES TYLER and PALL SPARKS Clarendon history of the Renaissance and Baroque Press. Oxford 1989. £27.50 guitars, their principal players, their graphical details of his rare and musical repertories and playing tech- precious musical sources. The musical Tim Crawford niques. Tyler sets himself the task of source-lists in both sections, which include locations for prints and brief This elegantly-produced volume is the clearing a way through the dense descriptions for manuscripts, are well ninth in OUP's Early Music Series, and undergrowth of confusing nomenclature presented and in themselves make this is thus a successor to Tyler's The Early and inadequate and often misleading
EARLY MUSIC NOVEMBER 1989 569 The
NEW RELEASE Hanover Band N exclusively on Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/em/article/XVII/4/569/604515 by guest on 01 October 2021 o E Nimbus II G I .COMPANION TO... M NI5205 S.R.P. £9.99 A L
...AND... I svO
NI 5144-48 S.R.P. £34.99 tfkoven Award winning 5CD set T WINNER: BEST SYMPHONY 19X9 Ml SIC RETAILERS ASSOCIATION
- ..| .,, S.-i,hi..
••: I Rl I l'i iM w ..: : •••,!• I :-.-. \Y- DIGITAL AUDIO
n t.-\R[.> \D\ i \\M K book an essential resource for players five members of the violin family and and scholars of plucked instruments. what 1 take to be a mandola or From the outset it becomes clear that mandolino, all depicted in detail, and Cornetts, Tyler's chief problem is that of nomen- possibly identifiable with known Med- clature and definition. What is a ici musicians. This, and one of the Serpents, mandolin, and how should its name be relevant Baschenis paintings mentioned spelt? It would be too confusing to go would have been welcome illustrations. Flat Trumpets into detail here, but the authors' Several tantalising references to paint- decision to use this standard English ings and surviving instruments in and Sackbuts spelling for the instrument in general, accessible collections and especially
'mandolino' for the earlier Italian form to the important series of Stradivari's Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/em/article/XVII/4/569/604515 by guest on 01 October 2021 For details of these and tuned in fourths and mandoline', design templates are rather frustrating the London Serpent Trio whose spelling relates to its great without pictures, and the virtual ab- (first record ever devoted popularity in France, for the wire- sence of musical examples seems a bit to serpents: Ti-100: £5.95) strung, violin-tuned instrument, seems mean; but, on the other hand, the book sensible. Past scholars have muddied is not cheap even as it stands. the water quite sufficiently by inventing The 18th century is clearly a happy names for instruments found in pictures hunting ground for Tyler, who has Christopher without evidence of contemporary uncovered a surprisingly large repertory usage: the use of the word 'mandora' of music for the gut-strung finger- Monk for the miniature lute-like instrument plucked mandolino. especially in opera seen in many medieval miniatures and arias and ensemble music. (He hints, Stock Farm House, Chun, more probably referred to by its players too, at a yet larger mass of unexplored Farnham, Surrey GU10 2LS as a gittern (or local equivalent) is a material for the lute, which would be 042-873 5991 (Hindhead) notorious example. But early authors even more valuable.) This period is had little concern for consistency in dominated by the well-known works of names, and even when they tried to be Vivaldi and the concerto by Hasse. all helpful, they sometimes made things of which, against all the historical worse: Praetorius refers to one diminu- evidence produced by Tyler, are usually tive member of the lute family (not. it played on the Neapolitan instrument. seems, a true mandolin) variously as Important manuscripts in public and Pandurina Mandiirichen. Bandiirichen, private collections in Milan, Florence. Mandoer, Mandurinchen or Mandorgen. Bologna and elsewhere as well as a This 4- or 5-stringed instrument seems large and interesting collection of to be the same as the French mandore, chamber music from late 18th-century and, like it, was tuned in alternating 4ths Vienna, which may partially be for the and 5ths. The Italian version, originally Neapolitan instrument, are discussed called mandola but by the mid-17th in some detail. After a chapter of century known as mandolino (for ob- practical advice and one on related scure reasons neatly sidestepped by instruments comes the admirably TxansTu/aalfhouen Tyler), was tuned in 4ths with a sixth thorough source-list of mandolino course (when fitted) a major 3rd below music and a representative selection of recorders the fifth. music examples of which the most Tyler steers us through this maze interesting is a newly-discovered and reconstructed after Renaissance with confidence, though it is sad that attractive little sonata by Sammartini. and Baroque originals. there are so few illustrations which Paul Sparks's account of the mando- Pitches a' - 415, 440, 466 might have made things clearer. (The line begins properly in Naples where only two provided, from Praetorius and the technical innovation of a canted Mersenne. both show the French man- soundboard enabling a higher string •Bovenwegi dore.) Among the earliest tablature tension suitable for metal strings 8351CB Wapserveen sources Tyler cites are two from mid- combined with the use of violin tuning nth-century Florence: one of Gab- on a 4-course instrument led to the -Holland biani's series of paintings of Florentine evolution of the Neapolitan' mando- tel. .5213-1268 court musicians (1660s?) shows a line around 1740 As he shows in his fascinating ensemble of harpsichord. next chapter, however, it was in France
EARLY MUSIC NOVEMBER 1989 571 It is not enough that the artist should be well prepared for the public. The public must be well prepared for what it is going to hear." ~ Hector Berlioz Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/em/article/XVII/4/569/604515 by guest on 01 October 2021
Dictionary of Music &Musicians Ed^d by stanky Sadi tie Vw (,KOW dinarv Dktionarv li i ^••ik ••! uiimjlk-d iniiskji vjioljivtup. ^attuned u. ii ti td^i-. tiitKiil jiidgenicm- .uid analy^ -\( rti MIL-, ti gives a lively, lucid and even expiring a^coui it musk 2(1 \oluriies. pleasure and learning are umd Shav-v Tailor wrMing in Fhf \c« • umriicd n up confess ihat the continual use of The | New (iK<)\ Y has been a constant joy and also an insidious temptation: again and again, looking up one enlr> I ha\e been caught h> others, which have kept me until long after midnight." [n help m.ike llns wcahh ot learning moie jltordahle.
irut MC can otter you the chanee In spread ihc > vt-ar*.. ma king payments of less lhan £40 a mon lo lernpi you ocn lunher. *e invite you 10 -<; recordings of the highest quality Irom Ihe Mvperion t-atalogue. providing we receive your Sew, dKOVf-. urdei
/// // RIA fl.H . this catalogue- 'Veins t» icmiain more desirahli than any olher I know." ^hichoer v>a\ von .hoose lo h»\ Ihc New d smgk- payment or I as> Pavnietll Scheme you \ all 21) volume wilhin 2K davs plus one tree H\peno iccordtni! e\erv niofilh tor Ihe nexi vear. I In- V-w (,«f)\i is a .ompamoti no imisi. lo--er he wuhoul. Send oil the ctimpleted order torm and within 2H d,ns Mm will receive ihe ^ornpk'te set ot 20 handsome volunifs F ven the most dis^etnin^ ot listciifis. like Mtn-il Hrt-ntM. ti.ive found it emptied then musk.il lite ' I his \s -A lihran, a source of stimulation, a sparring partner." Some people pill llieu New dKO\[ ,>n ,L hoo^helt ChOOSe 12 FREE- recordings worth nearly £70 when von order the New Grow before j>lst December 1989 ******
Hr
1 '•Jf 1 Mrlbiiurnr Plir 41 f * Irlrpltonc ill '"9 4WI- ^a^ 01 .^ t iUM *
r ASY P WMKNT SI HKMK Cp) PAV NOW
I'JV 4:.rr 24 II Je *hcihe .; Mui.it A M.J- rill in A jid B n OK 1 en. The Ne », j Musi i MJ
_ L)l M i... 4 ii •
OR — Mk-a- .- nf tkt i ,r ... •rr-.* •.' » • TDK .-..• • *I:"T H •[•<•' " J--J ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥
.. «•• • M.- . «.- 1 il
•re M.
"• " • •• "u
n II.p. h.r
LAKL1! ML SIC \O\ tMBt R 1984 that this type of mandoline, especially author pretends that they are uncover- in the hands of expatriate Italian ing great music (although Tyler comes virtuosos, became immensely popular dangerously close to doing so) there is BOLTON KITS for about three decades from the a danger of inflating the importance of middle of the 18th century. According these miniature instruments when so to his research, there were at least 25 much of the vast range of fine music maitres de mandoline at work in Paris for the lute, the instrument from which and Lyon at that time, and a consider- they are derived, remains a closed book able body of music was published at to most readers. Paris (listed in the appendix of sources). NEW- complete clavichord kit (one week's easy work to finish)
Elsewhere, the mandoline took Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/em/article/XVII/4/569/604515 by guest on 01 October 2021 The Use of Music and Recordings - or less complete at lower cost. longer to take hold: the mandolino had All kinds ol harpsichord kit for Teaching about the Middle been heard in London as early as 1707, f 1 or 2 manuals, spinels, virginalsj but the English guitar (a form of cittern Ages: A Practical Guide with of the less complete type. Send for free 12-page brochure. paradoxically of German origin) seems Comprehensive Discography and to have been frequently called 'man- Selective Bibliography Also sold separately, the Ace of dola' or mandolin', thus confusing an JOHN w BARKER Medieval Institute Pub- Jacks, registers and keyboard kits. Summer course in Durham. already complex picture. Prague was an lications, Kalamazoo. Michigan, 1988 Agents in London (01-675 33831 important centre: Mozarfs aria from Daniel Leech-Wilkinson Holland, Germany and U.S.A. Don Giovanni (which follows a Kils air-freighted worldwide. serenading convention for the instru- Histories of medieval music have ment's use in opera) and three of tended either to include a discography Beethoven's four lightweight but de- or to be issued together with recordings. D. H. Bolton, 44 Church Lane lightful pieces were composed there. In But each of these strategies has weak- Acklam, Middlesbrough the last years of the century, much nesses which are hard to avoid. Disco- Cleveland, England music was available in manuscripts graphies tend to be very partial and Tel: 0642 817097 and prints from Viennese publishers. almost instantly outdated; recordings Sparks's 'Guide to playing the have generally been of very uneven Neapolitan Mandoline' (chapter 9), quality (the OUP Anthology a notable compiled from the detailed information exception here). And all these publi- given in half-a-dozen contemporary cations are aimed first and foremost at tutors, provides a comprehensive music students or. at the very least, at a introduction to stringing, seating musically-literate audience. positions, the plectrum (or rather, quill, John W. Barker and the sponsoring as recommended by all the tutors) and Consortium for the Teaching of the its technique, ornaments, scordatura Middle Ages have seen the problem and accompaniments. It is here that from another angle. There is a huge the book most resembles Tyler's The amount of teaching, on both sides of Early Guitar, and the coverage seems the Atlantic, devoted to the Middle lohn T. S admirable. A chapter on instruments Ages, the overwhelming proportion of related to the Neapolitan instrument which is concerned with history and Christmas and the comprehensive source-list are literature. Music could play an invalu- Lute i followed by two frankly disappointing able part in illuminating the political, Over 40 of your favourite extended music examples, which tend economic and cultural developments Christmas pieces. Selections to confirm one's worst fears about the on which history is centered. That it for beginning, intermediate & musical level at which the instrument does not must be due to the difficulty advanced Lute Players usually operated. teachers in other disciplines find in A general bibliography and, wonder digesting the standard music histories £12 ^shipping of wonders, an excellent index (a and in finding suitable recordings to use in illustration. This guide is de- John T Sorouie & Associates resource sadly lacking from Tyler's 260 Queens Quay West earlier book, as I know to my cost) bring signed to meet their needs, but in so Suite 2303. Dept E to a close a fascinating and well- doing provides an invaluable reference Toronto. Ontario M5J 2N3 researched book. There remains, how- work for specialists as well. CANADA ever, a nagging doubt as to the ultimate Barker, a distinguished Byzantine » Dealer Inquiries Welcome value of all this industry. While neither historian with a large record collection.
EARLY MUSIC NOVEMBER 1989 573