Description: The mandolin has its origins from the mandora being a lute having 6 or 8 course strings having its origins in the Boroque period. In Germany the mandolin appeared on the scene much later. Mandolin orchestras in Germany, Austria, Italy and other areas of Europe have been present through out history as well ranging from prima to bass mandolins. Mandolins are also sometimes found through Mexico in regional areas. Yes I am refering to an upright bass-mandolin in which was sometimes used instead of the upright right bass. In blue grass music often the mandolin and fiddle take the lead the guitar, upright bass, and other instruments may take accompanimant roles. In blues or jazz the mandolin did not have the presense though is used by some musicians. The mandolin periodically makes its appereance in Jewish Klezmer music and other related traditions. The drobro brothers are also known to have created the dobro-mandolin which looks some what like a mandolin with a tri-cone body these are saught after by collectors, musicians and the like. I have seen one in my home town even. Contemporary luthiers and makers;like Gibson, who is known for Gibson guitar fame have switched from the bowl back or properly called "Napoleon" mandolins (these are the mandolins from the Napolean era henceforth the name). to the flat-backed mandolins which descriptively have a more "punchier sound". In peru one can find 10-stringed mandolins, 12-stringed mandolins as well as 8-stringed mandolins.
About my specimen: In Peru the mandolin is an instrument in its common and current formation of having 10-strings, some have 8, others have 12 strings but usually the tuning being E-A-D-G is the most commonly played but many altrenative tunings also exist based upon the regional styles and techniques of playing the mandolin. Also the 10-string configuration is arranged as follows, two courses for A-E and three courses of strings for D-G. The mandolin is uusally in all cases played with a pick. Also almost all Peruvian mandolin's are flat backed lutes.
Where played? In peru the mandolin is most popular in the cuzco department but also found in ayachucho to apurimac but the bandurria is also the competitive instrument played in the two departments aformentioned. It is known also in the coast of peru but not as popular as it in in Central to Southern peru, in particular the andes. The mandolin I have is well made but the maker is not known to both my teacher Rene and I. I asked him who the maker is and he did not know either but could have been made by Baca (A well known maker) or sombody with similar tallents. The mandolin is played usually solo or in accompinament to Charango harp, violin, kena this arrangement is popular in Quzco. Others would be mandolin, guitar, charango, or mandolin, guitar and so fourth.