Why girls should play mandolin

Subject: Why girls should play mandolin
From: Marion
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 11:41 AM

Here's an interesting article:

New York Herald, approximately 1900

Marion

"Girls should stick to girl sports, like wrestling in jello." --Homer Simpson, when his daughter tries out for the hockey team.

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 11:48 AM

Interesting that the banjo had its detractors even then! ("strum strum strum" monotony and tuning problems).
RtS ((who likes to hear a good strum strum strum)

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 12:27 PM

The banjo's detractors probably feel that way because "one can never quite separate it from its time-honored association with the dusky race". Need we say more?

WS (just quoting the article, with tongue in cheek)

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: mousethief
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 12:37 PM

Speaking of racism and music, there is a hilarious send-up in the Onion's millenium book about how Rock Music Has Nothing To Do With Negroes. And white crooners are working overtime to try and remove the "blackness" from jazz.

Leave it to the Onion...

tongue firmly in cheek, of course,
Alex "I am not a Racist" Mousethief

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 12:44 PM

link doesn't work for me........

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: Morticia
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 01:47 PM

Bugger me....first time I've ever come close to being classed as lady like!!

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: GUEST,willie-o
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 03:35 PM

aw, that just did my heart good reading it. aside from the anachronistic comment on "dusky race" it was equally composed of stuff that's still true, and stuff that I wish were still true.

I have a perfectly acceptable $85 mandolin, $10 won't get you much these days...

w-o

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 05:13 PM

Never played the mandolin but there is one at the foot of the bed so I might have a go.

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 03:52 AM

My first mandolin cost me £7 in 1965. The strings were extra!

Steve

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: KitKat
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 05:46 AM

As a female mandolin player, I admit that I began playing it because it is a smaller instrumen than the guitar and therefore far easier to get my tiny feminine fingers around the fretboard.

Naturally, I feel my 'mysterious feminine allure' is dramatically enhanced, just like the article says! - Or maybe it was - 20 years ago when I took it up!

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: Morticia
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 09:05 AM

I'm not sure I have any 'mysterious feminine allure', what sort of bottle does it come in?

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: Amos
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 09:26 AM

Comes from a dusky bottle, kind of watermelon shaped.

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: Gervase
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 10:13 AM

For some salacious reason, when I saw this thread I thought it referred to the French slang expression - a rather more elegant euphemism for the female equivalent of taking Captain Picard to warp speed (to use one of hundreds of euphemisms for what blokes do...)
Sorry. Must take a cold shower...

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: GUEST,Irish Sergeant
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 07:34 PM

IN spite of the article, I've heard several fine mandolin players of both sexes. Was interesting to read an article from that time period. The term "Dusky race" is not necessarily an anachronism. I've seen period articles from before the Civil War using the same description for Americans of African descent. Kindest reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: GUEST,willie-o
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 10:39 AM

I don't think my mandolin playing does anything to enhance my "feminine allure". Although women seem to like it....

w-o

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 10:43 AM

There might be a little dust on the bottle But don't let it fool you about what's inside There might be a little dust on the bottle It's one of those things that gets sweeter with time...

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: Brigie
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 12:48 PM

I thought that the article was lovely.And the mandolin is lovely to play and hold too! Brigie

Subject: RE: Why girls should play mandolin
From: LR Mole
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 12:19 PM

I think girls should be able to play TUBAS!!! And TYMPANY!!! And roaring, blaring leads through stacks of Marshall amps on that great Irish axe, the Strat o'caster!!RAT OWN RAT OWN RAT OWN!! --LR Mole, having a violent moodswing this morning.