Search - Nashville Mandolin Ensemble :: All The Rage - Mandolin Ensemble Music From 1897-1924

There are few sounds as mesmerizing as the cascading tremolo of several mandolins playing in unison; quite literally, it's like nothing else. So it's no wonder that, at the turn of the 20th century, the mandolin--an instrument with European roots and American ingenuity behind it--became the instrument to play. Sure, the instrument's fame would fade in the mid-1920s when the banjo and guitar took center stage, but for nearly 20 years, it was America's instrument. The Gibson company--innovators in changing the style of the modern mandolin--had "teacher-agents" to help spread the gospel of the instrument and its varied repertoire while mando clubs sprang up everywhere. What were all these folks playing? As heard on this disc, a wide assortment of classical tunes, European ballads, waltzes, marches, and instrumental pop tunes. The Nashville Mandolin Ensemble performs all of these works with an amazing mastery: it's a classical ensemble like none you've ever heard before--nearly a dozen mandolins playing together. The great liner notes tell the story of the mandolin's evolution from ethnic folk to light-classical to bluegrass axe in fascinating detail, but the music--especially on 1903's "La Tipica" and 1910's "My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice"--shines. Great sonics and memorable music will have you feeling nostalgic. --Jason Verlinde