The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-09-04
ideas for GSMn1nen.

10 use the common phrase, rather less
about music than a crow'-can wonder
at the present popularity of the mandolin
About the sweet. sympathetic quality
Of its music there is no need to speak
Everyone whe has ever heard the strings
breathe forth their sweetness under the
skilled fingers OF a trained performer Is
possesssd at once Of a desire to own one
of these dainty instrument and to take
lessons.
And besides this gratifying of the ear
there is that Indulgence Of the eye which
is a powerful though a lesser attraction.
If there is any period Of life at which q
woman can look graceful it is while she
holds one of these dainty instruments
and allows her fingers 20 manipulate the
strings.
I heard a rising young artist say lately
that there was one prescription by which
q woman could look picturesque. Be she
of whatever face and feature she might,
# she would wear an ofd-fashioned gown.
sit in a big chair and play upon this in
strument she was certain of being beau
tiful for hat period.
Perhaps this sentiment is more widely
known without being put in so many
words. And perhaps it is q laudable de-
sire to prepare a feast of sight and sound
which makes mandolin playing so wide
spread in fashionable circles today.
The mandoiins of American manufac-
ture have so far proved very inferior 10
the foreign article. Though there is no
doubt tha when our demand has grown
large enough to make orders larger there
will be production to equal any instru-
ments sent US from abroad. But just al
present the foreign article must be adj
vised for those wishing to secure q really
fine Instrument and to play well. Our
own productions nave not the mellewness
of the Italian mandolin. They are harsher
and are inclined to .ttwanginess'' and want
of richness.
This foreign mandolin is most perfect
in the variety which comes from Naples
and is marked with the sign of yinno-
CHA, a celebrated italian maker of in
struments. whose reputation was gained
sn this line.
A feacher-and a good one-is consid-
cred by all expert performers to be a ne
cessity for beginners Upon the mandolin.
Without this aid it would be hardin
fact. to speak broadly impossible-to
accomplish anything worth talking about.
Students, moreover, who purchase a
mandolin and go into the study of 1t with
the idea that a little practice and q couple
of weeks tinkling are all that will be re-
Quired are sure to meet with disappoint-
ment- Six months at least will be required
before any results may be expected. This
is meant, of course, for those who mean
TO learn well the tremuio. that most diff
cult feature. And not for such as desire
TO do little more than jingle out e faulty
accompaniment.
What Is this dificult tremuio, asks the
novice? In order to give a thorough idea
of this feature 1t would be necessary to
tell more about the construction of the
instrument than is possible In the limit
of this article, Suffice to say, however,
that in the mandolin the strings are
double. Each OF these two are tuned to-
gether. The tuning is iu ffths. The first
string is E. The second is A, D is the
third and the fourth c. Each of the frets
upon the instrument represent g half tone
and OF these there are seventeen. All the
lingering comes, Of course. to the left
hand while the right hand holds the
'pick," and with this strikes the strings.
This pick of which I speak is a little
piece OF tortoise shell. It is held securely
between the forefnger and the thumb.
And this is where that difficult tremulo
occurs 1t is nothing more or less than
the peculiar handling of the pick. 1t
takes the form of an odd up and down
movement which to perform steadily and
sweetiy is the work of months.
- IT, - -
ment to time and occasion Is one of its
strongest claims upon popularity. 1t is
charming upon a starlit porch with an
accompaniment of flufry gowns and sweet
voices. 1t is heard most effectively dur
ing a moonlight sailing trip and is won
derfully in accord with the easy motion
and the mysteries of the silent hour. And
it is not a whit less effective in the pres
ence Of the winter woodfire and the COM
fort of the family circle.
AS a public instrument it grows year
by year in popularity. n a few years
g would lave foretold the number of
societies formed for the enjoyment Of this
charming instrument? The number of
women's clubs which are now enjoying
. wider knowledge of this form of in
strument? Then, too, as many tyros may
Nct o"o lCA are HOW HdnQOlln
orchestras" composed of women in sew
eral cities, and the number OF these is
said to be enthusiastically on the in
crease. Both in lists of members and in
new organizations.
There is one very serious difficulty
which the mandolin beginner is Obliged
to combat. This is the extreme difficulty
in obtaining good teachers. But good
teachers there are undoubtedly. And one
OF these Will doubly repay the difficulty
of the search and the money expended
in lessons. For the services of a good
master in this work are justly considered
everything.
And speaking OF this difficulty. Is this
not a good opportunity for women with
musical attachments and tastes, who are
wondering what work they should adopt
rs a career? 1t is agreed by those most
competent to Judge that there are too
few teachers-good teachers-of this in
Why do not musical women
enter in and Nil this want instead of
attempting to gain work In other instru-
mental occupations which are long since
rowde to overlooking with devotees.
For IT is rapidly being demonstrated that
mandolin playing Is not a passing fad.
Or rather that the fad has long since
AaEaIAnnG tntn n .&c~A