mandore

mandora, also spelled mandola, small, pear-shaped stringed instrument of the lute family. It was derived from earlier gittern or rebec models and acquired its name in the 16th century. Originally, the body and neck of the mandora were carved from a single piece of wood.

The mandola is commonly used in folk music - particularly Italian folk music. It is sometimes played in Irish traditional music, but the instruments octave mandolin, Irish bouzouki and modern cittern are more commonly used.

an early lute resembling a large mandolin.

The MANDOLA is to the Mandolin what the viola is to the violin. It is larger with a 17 inch scale length, a body width of 11 1/8th inches and an overall length of 31 3/4th inches. It is tuned a fifth lower than the mandolin, typically to C, G, D, and A.

an early lute resembling a large mandolin.

The MANDOLA is to the Mandolin what the viola is to the violin. It is larger with a 17 inch scale length, a body width of 11 1/8th inches and an overall length of 31 3/4th inches. It is tuned a fifth lower than the mandolin, typically to C, G, D, and A.

The mandore differs from the Neapolitan mandolin in not having a raised fretboard and in having a flat soundboard. Also, It was strung with gut strings, attached to a bridge that is glued to the soundboard (similar to that of a modern guitar). It was played with the fingertips.

Lutes were larger than mandores, which Mersenne described as miniature. Lutes had more courses of strings and were not restricted to the high treble range, but could play into the bass range. Earlier in the section, he compared the lute to the mandore.

Some also call this instrument the "alto mandola". Its scale length is typically about 161⁄2 inches (420 mm). It is normally tuned like a viola (perfect fifth below the mandolin) and tenor banjo: C3–G3–D4–A4.

Mandores are an early version of the mandolin, said to have been first used by shepherds in Northern Spain from about 1500 or earlier. They were first mentioned in France in 1587, where they were fitted with four single strings or more. This example has six and may well have been tuned liked a lute.

Today, the mandolin is still a popular instrument in American folk and bluegrass music, but it is also used in many other genres such as jazz, rock, Western and Indian classical music, and pop. Many famous musicians have played the mandolin, including Bill Monroe, Chris Thile, David Grisman, and Paul McCartney.

Neapolitan mandolins feature prominently in European classical music and traditional music. Archtop instruments are common in American folk music and bluegrass music. Flat-backed instruments are commonly used in Irish, British, and Brazilian folk music, and Mexican estudiantinas.