Like many musicians, I find myself drawn to the mandolin because of its capacity to bring beautiful melodies to life. There’s a unique joy in exploring a delicious melody, adding personal touches and ornamentation, and letting the music transport you and your listeners. This feeling resonates deeply, especially when playing tunes that possess a certain magic.
For me, a significant portion of my mandolin playing revolves around melodies from the Celtic, Contra Dance, and Old Time fiddle traditions, alongside a rich collection of waltzes. These aren’t just tunes; they are pathways to intimate musical experiences, whether in a small jam session, a duet, or during solitary practice. While I am comfortable providing chordal backup when needed, my true passion lies in unwrapping the beauty of a melody and weaving in my own musical voice, aiming for a performance that transcends the ordinary.
It’s interesting to consider what constitutes the core mandolin repertoire. Compared to other instruments, the body of work specifically written for the mandolin is relatively small. This realization expands the horizon of musical exploration for mandolinists, encouraging us to look beyond the instrument’s traditional boundaries.
This leads me to think about Beautiful Songs that might surprise or inspire, perhaps those outside the typical folk or classical realms, venturing into the realm of “popular” music.
One of the first popular melodies I adapted for the mandolin was the theme from the movie “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.” This tune, particularly Rod McKuen’s version, became a favorite, embedding itself so deeply in my muscle memory that my fingers seem to play it automatically. It remains a delightful piece to revisit.
More recently, I’ve been captivated by “The Lonely Shepherd,” a melody made famous by Zamfir on the pan flute and featured in Kill Bill. Discovering a mandolin rendition of this piece was a revelation. The example I found, featuring both mandolin and what sounds like an Andean pan flute, beautifully showcases the bowlback mandolin. In this performance, the mandolin is not just beautiful in tone but also incredibly expressive, highlighting subtle shifts in emotion throughout the song. It’s a version I find deeply inspiring and strive to emulate. If you have a moment, listening to the full performance is a worthwhile experience.
Exploring these diverse melodies highlights the versatility of the mandolin and the boundless potential for finding and playing beautiful songs across genres. The journey of discovering and personalizing these melodies is at the heart of the joy of playing the mandolin.
