PS: Mid 18th-c. is right about right for extant instruments to begin
appearing in decent numbers. The first wave of mandolin popularity
(and almost all the first method books beginning in the 1760s) happened
in Paris. Without knowing anything about the family's history, I
suspect that portraying themselves with a mandolin this early in that
movement was a demonstration of their cosmopolitan stylishness.
Best,
Eugene
----- Original Message -----
From: Stewart McCoy <lu...@tiscali.co.uk>
Date: Sunday, May 23, 2010 7:00 pm
Subject: [LUTE] Mandolin at Kedleston Hall
To: Lute Net <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu>
> Dear Eugene,
>
> In view of this discussion of Neapolitan mandolins, would you or
> anyoneelse care to comment on a painting of what I believe to be
> a Neapolitan
> mandolin at Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire. I was recently sent the
> following query from a friend who is researching the music there.
>
> -o-O-o-
>
> If you go to
>
> http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-
> findaplace/w-kedles
> tonhall
>
> then click on 'Meet the family' the first picture is of Lady Caroline
> Colyear (1733-1812) daughter of the 2nd Earl of Portmore, who married
> Nathaniel Curzon in 1750: there is a charming portrait in the Family
> Corridor of her playing the mandolin ?? , with Nathaniel
> standing, by
> Arthur Devis, dated 1754. Please could you identify the instrument!
>
> -o-O-o-
>
> Any observations would be much appreciated.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Stewart McCoy.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [mailto:lute-
> a...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On
> Behalf Of Eugene C. Braig IV
> Sent: 17 May 2010 18:19
> To: 'Martyn Hodgson'; 'Lute Dmth'; 'Susanne Herre'
> Subject: [LUTE] Re: lute music and playing technique in italy 18th
> century
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: lute-...@cs.dartmouth.edu [mailto:lute-
> a...@cs.dartmouth.edu] On
> > Behalf Of Martyn Hodgson
> > Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2010 5:50 AM
> > To: Lute Dmth; Susanne Herre
> > Subject: [LUTE] Re: lute music and playing technique in italy 18th
> century
> >
> > Did not violinists play the mandolin,
> especially the
> > Neapolitan wire strung instrument tuned the same?
>
> [Eugene C. Braig IV] However, there isn't any evidence that the
> Neapolitan
> type existed until the mid 18th c. at the earliest.
> Instruments (some
> with
> somewhat dubious labels) don't appear until the 1740s and obvious
> designated
> repertoire not until the 1760s.
>
> Eugene
>
>
>
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>
>
> --
