Mandolin: International Music...Italian, Russian, Greek, Spanish, German Music as Played on Mandolin

Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 13:54:23 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
Subject: Italian street music

Help me!!!

I started playing the mandolin to play Italian music. I've learned a few bluegrass songs but don't like the songs nor the way the music sounds. My problem is that I can't find any tablature or books on Italian street music. Can you point me in the right direction.
I've reached the end of the internet and...nothing yet

Thanks so much, Andrew

Greetings Andrew,

One of my all-time favorite books, that covers some wonderful Italian music, along with many other styles such as Russian, is "Anthology of Mandolin Music" published by Mel Bay:

http://www.affordableonlinestores.com/stores/folkofthewood/merchant.ihtml?id=51&step=2

This one includes both standard notation and tablature...and, is an essential in every mandolinist's library...

Keep on Pickin', Mickey

Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2004 10:37:47 EST
Subject: a new mandolin

Hi Mickey,
I have been reading your website and am very interested in getting a mandolin. Although you mentioned F-style is very versatile, but I am leaning toward an A-style mando. I will most likely play it alone. I like to get something with sweet sounding with long resonant qualities. I play mostly folk and Italian music. I am not looking for something that has to project as if you are playing in a group or for a big group. Thus, here are what I think I may want and please let me know if I am on the right track: a mandolin with A-style, flat style, and O-soundhole qualities. If you think these are the right qualities I need, please let me know what mando you have and at what price (unfortunately my budget will only let me go up to $500 max.). If you think I would do better with another style, please let me know.
Thanks so much for your help!!!
-tanya

Greetings Tanya,

Nice to hear that you're pursuing Italian music with your mandolin...this now seems like a lost art form...I used to perform many traditional Italian pieces on mandolin along with many other styles of course...for the styles you hope to pursue, the flat style would be superior to most any other mandolin style body...

The two A-Style Flat mandolins I recommend would be the Weber and the Mid-Missouris...the Weber flat styles all exceed your 500.00 maximum price point...both would offer excellent resonance for folk and Italian traditional music...Mickey

Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2003 17:46:17 EST
Subject: Italian music

I love to play italian music for family and freinds but i am only limited to 4 songs that i know and i want to learn as many as possible for when i go to italy, plus i have also been asked to play at a realitive wedding in 4 months and i need italian music do you know of a book i can order with italian tunes for the mandolin? I also like serenades do you know of a book with serenades for the mandolin. Please help me

Thank you
P.s: they should be in tab form

Greetings,
Glad to assist if I can:

I love Italian music! You might check with early Mel Bay mando books...I have a few that has some Italian standards.

One that I really like is written by:
"Mel Bay's Anthology of Mandolin Music" by Bud Orr
There are few Italian songs in this book that would make it well worth the purchase...
www.melbay.com

I'm not too sure about the serenades...

Good luck with your research...Mickey