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Algerian stringed instrument From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Algerian mandole (mandol, mondol) is a steel-string fretted instrument resembling an elongated mandolin, widely used in Algerian music such as Chaabi, Kabyle music and Nuubaat (Andalusian classical music).[1][2][3]
| |
| String instrument | |
|---|---|
| Other names | mandole, mondol |
| Classification | string |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | List of musical instruments by Hornbostel-Sachs number: 321.322 (flat-backed) (Chordophone with permanently attached resonator and neck, sounded by fingers or plectrum) |
| Inventor(s) | Jean Bélido and El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka |
| Developed | 1930s in Algeria in tradition of mandola and mandolin |
| Related instruments | |
|
List | |
| More articles or information | |
| Music of Algeria, Chaabi music, Music of Kabyle people, Andalusian classical music, Andalusi nubah, Nuubaat | |
The name can cause confusion, as "mandole" is a French word for mandola, the instrument from which the Algerian mandole developed. The Algerian mandole is not however a mandola, but a mandocello sized instrument.
The instrument has also been called a "mandoluth" when describing the instrument played by the Algerian-French musician, Hakim Hamadouche.[4] However, the luthier for one of Hakim's instruments describes it as a mondole.[5]
The Algerian mandole is a stringed instrument, with an almond shaped body, built in a box like a guitar, but almond shaped like the mandola with a flat back, raised fingerboard, and wide neck (as a guitar's).[2] It can have eight, ten, or twelve strings in doubled courses, and may have additional frets between frets to provide quarter tones.[2][6] A variation is to have the thickest strings be single strings instead of double courses.[7] The sound hole is typically diamond shaped, but can be round, and sometimes covered by a rosette.[2]
Instruments have been created with a scale length of 25.5 inches (650mm), but also as long as 27 inches.[2][3] Overall instrument length is approximately 990mm (about 39 inches).[2] Width 340mm (about 13.4 inches), depth 75mm (about 3 inches).[2]
The scale length puts the mandole in the baritone or bass range of instruments, such as the mando-cello.[2] The instrument can be tuned as a guitar, oud or mandocello, depending on the music it will be used to play and player preference. When tuning it as a guitar the strings will be tuned (E2) (E2) A2 A2 D3 D3 G3 G3 B3 B3 (E4) (E4).[8] Strings in parentheses are dropped for a five or four course instrument. Using a common Arabic oud tuning D2 D2 G2 G2 A2 A2 D3 D3 (G3) (G3) (C4) (C4).[9] For a mandocello tuning using fifths C2 C2 G2 G2 D3 D3 A3 A3 (E4) (E4).[10]
The mandole was the European mandola, reborn in Algeria.[11] The North African variant was made in 1932 by the Italian luthier Jean Bélido, following the design, conception and recommendations made by Algerian musician El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka.[11]
El Anka, who is known for his contributions to Chaabi music, had learned to play the mandola while young.[11] He found the mandolas used in Andalusian orchestras to be "too sharp and little amplified".[12]
Bélido, a music teacher and luthier in Bab El Oued, changed the size of the "demi-mandole" then being played, increasing it, and changing the soundboard structure, case thickness and strings.[11][12] The instrument he created is closest to the mando-cello in the mandolin family.
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