Born in Audacity

It was the spark played ‘round the world! One man’s audacity ignited an evangelizing crusade filled with charismatic mandolinists. Like fireworks on the Fourth of July, the sound waves reverberated throughout America. As if they were on a mission, the first wave took on momentum as their enthusiasm spread into isolated towns and urbanized cities. How did they fuel this fervor?Because mandolin concerts were often described as a mêlée, a frenzy, a hysteria, or a furor, they ultimately caused mandolin mania. Intrigued by the immediate widespread embrace of the mandolin, the author explores the reasons behind its exponential growth between 1880-1900. These immigrant stories sparked an inextinguishable love for the mandolin—and without their passion and talents, a long-term intensity would not have been sustained.First, mandolinists promoted the mandolin through the lyceum bureau movement’s network of secular churches. On that stage, orators and entertainers presented uplifting lectures, and mandolinists attracted new converts. Second, the mandolin’s presence at international and national world’s fairs and expositions further expanded its reach and established satellite mandolin clubs. Third, these same entrepreneurial immigrants used their business acumen by not only launching clubs, troupes, and mandolin orchestras, but they taught mandolin, composed, arranged, and published, too. Many became distributors, importers, sellers, and even manufacturers of the mandolins.Born in Audacity offers a close look at a constellation of mandolinists, some unknown and forgotten, others famous but lacking a complete portrait. It reveals their extraordinary contributions to the mandolin tradition. Every portrait is fully described, and includes never seen before photographs, original letters written by mandolinists, rare concert programs and other ephemeral evidence of their lives and musical proficiency. Appendix includes eight tables and charts to show continuity from 1880 until the early 1900s. Read more