I have an interesting mandolin tutor which I picked up in a junk shop in Luton (England) some years ago. It is written by Herbert J.Ellis and published by John Alvey Turner (history of the latter at http://www.johnalveyturner.co.uk/page2.html). It seems to be from the 1890s or thereabouts. Most fascinating are the adverts, which includes tutors for banjo, zither, bandurria, japanese one stringed fiddle and portuguese guitarra, as well as a list of several hundred separately published pieces of mandolin music which give a good indication of the repertoire in this period of the 'mandolin boom'. I will try and scan some of this in when I get the time. Anybody come across anything similar, or know more about Ellis?
Bookmarks