Mandolins/Mandolin Music

March 18

I am thankful for mandolins and mandolin music. To me, it is one of the most beautiful sounding instruments ever played. And I also think they are stunningly beautiful to look at.

I was in graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin at the height of the country-rock revolution, which quickly became my favorite form of music. I decided I wanted to learn to play one of the instruments heard in that music. My choice was between pedal steel guitar or mandolin. When I priced the steel guitar, it was out, but I was able to find a nice looking mandolin with f holes for about $80. I jumped in head first and tried to teach myself how to play. I still have that mandolin, but years later after I had a steady job, I was able to find a vintage 1913 Gibson A4 mandolin, which I picked up at a reasonable price. It is pictured above. My baby is making 100 years old this year and is in great shape (except for a couple of minor scratches I put on her). I just wish I could play that thing like Bill Monroe, David Grisman, Sam Bush, Ricky Skaggs, Chris Thile, or Adam Steffey. They can make it rock out! These bluegrass mandolin masters are especially fun to listen to play, which is stunning at the spead with which they can accurately pick those strings. I even love the mandolin on ballads such as Loosing My Religion by REM, or even Italian songs.

Luke Thompson, a man who previously made mandolins for Gibson, lives in Baton Rouge, and makes F style mandolins under his own name, which have recieved critical acclaim. I was fortunate to have met Luke Thompson and visited him at his house and shop. Luke can boast that he knew Bill Monroe, the King of Bluegrass. Luke has been called the King of Louisiana Bluegrass because he organized the first bluegrass festival in the state. Luke also plays in his band the Green Valley Cut Ups. His mandolins are beautiful and their sound is outstanding. I wrote this poem for Luke:

mandolin man

mandolin man

play me a little bluegrass

you can play like no other

clean and so fast

you are the master luthier

and you build them so fine

shiny lacquered wood

with a sound sublime

mandolin man

mandolin man

play some music

on your mandolin, man

strum the chords

pick those strings

and hammer on

as the note rings

slide and tremolo

beautiful and smooth

or fast and staccato

you can mesmerize

every audience or crowd

as the music you reprise.

© rt tulley