The Algerian mandole is a steel-string fretted instrument resembling an elongated mandolin, widely used in Algerian music such as Chaabi, Kabyle music and 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. However, the luthier for one of Hakim's instruments describes it as a mondole.
Structure
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. It can have eight, ten, or twelve strings in doubled courses, and may have additional frets between frets to provide quarter tones. A variation is to have the thickest strings be single strings instead of double courses. The sound hole is typically diamond shaped, but can be round, and sometimes covered by a rosette. Instruments have been created with a scale length of 25.5 inches, but also as long as 27 inches. Overall instrument length is approximately 990mm. Width 340mm, depth 75mm. The scale length puts the mandole in the baritone or bass range of instruments, such as the mando-cello. 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 A2 A2 D3 D3 G3 G3 B3 B3 . Strings in parenthesis are dropped for a five or four course instrument. Using a common Arabic oud tuning D2 D2 G2 G2 A2 A2 D3 D3 . For a mandocello tuning using fifths C2 C2 G2 G2 D3 D3 A3 A3 .
History
The mandole was the European mandola, reborn in Algeria. The North African variant was created in 1932 by the Italian luthier Jean Bélido, following recommendations made by Algerian musician El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka. El Anka, who is known for his contributions to Chaabi music, had learned to play the mandola while young. He found the mandolas used in Andalusian orchestras to be "too sharp and little amplified". 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. The instrument he created is closest to the mando-cello in the mandolin family.
Musicians
Abderrahmane Abdelli modern style Algerian mandole player. He often incorporate instruments such as the cajón, the tormento, the quena, and the bandura.
Boudjemaa El Ankis famous performer of Châabi music, who also played the mandole. He was known in Algeria for his more than 300 songs and for being imprisoned by the French from 1957-1960 during the Algerian War.
Cheikh El Hasnaoui born in Béni-Zmenzer famous bilingual Châabi singer.
Dahmane El Harrachi most translated Châabi artist for his very famous song Ya Rayah.
El Hachemi Guerouabi, born in Algiers, Master of the Châabi music.
Lounès Matoub Born in Tizi Ouzou, famous Châabi singer. He used music as political tool until killed.
Mohamed Abdennour Virtuoso of the Algerian mandole.
Mohammed Rouane, Algerian musician, former guitarist of the flamenco group Mediterraneo and pioneer of Casbah Jazz.
Moh Alileche, born in Tizi Ouzou, 10-silk-stringed mandole performer in the San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Takfarinas plays electric mandole that has two necks.
Project Coast - Algerian mandole player from Wales, UK. Creates music on a mandole made by French luthier, François Baudemont.
Luthiers
Rachid Chaffa, mandole maker for artists Guerrouabi, Amar Ezzahi, Boudjemaa El Ankis, Takfarinas and Maatoub Lounas.
