Algerian mandole

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 (as a guitar's). 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. Strings in parentheses are dropped for a five or four course instrument. Using a common Arabic oud tuning D2 D2 G2 G2 A2 A2 D3 D3 (G3) (G3) (C4) (C4). For a mandocello tuning using fifths C2 C2 G2 G2 D3 D3 A3 A3 (E4) (E4). ==History==

The mandole was the European mandola, reborn in Algeria. The North African variant was made in 1932 by the Italian luthier Jean Bélido, following the design, conception and recommendations made by Algerian musician El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka. 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==

with a mandole. His music helps to preserve and revive the Berber languages and its heritage. • Abderrahmane Abdelli modern style Algerian mandole player. He often incorporate instruments such as the cajón (Peru), the tormento, the quena (Chilean), and the bandura (Ukrainian). • Amar Ezzahi 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. ==References==