Italian Mandolinists

Francesco Bartolomeo Conti (1681-1732) - Wrote the oldest surviving mandolin method book.

Alessandro Maria Antonio Frizeri (1741-1819) - One of the most renown mandolin virtuosos.

Giovanni Fouchetti (1757-1789) - Founder of the Parisian school of mandolinists.

Bartolomeo Bortolazzi (1773-1820) - Credited with saving the mandolin from decline.

Eduardo Mezzacapo (1832-1898) - Founder of the French Mandolin School.

Pietro Armanini (1844-1895) - One of the most famous exponents of the Milanese mandolin. The first to professionally perform the mandolin before the English public.

Ferdinando de Cristofaro (1846-1890) - In his day he was considered the greatest mandolinist.

Giuseppe Bellenghi (1847-1902) - In addition to his mandolin books, he was the first to write and publish a method for the modern lute.

Ginislao Paris (c. 1852-1917) - Founder of the first mandolin orchestra in Russia.

Carlo Munier (1859-1911) - One of the principal pioneers in the revival of the mandolin.

Carlo Curti (1859-1926) - Popularized the mandolin in the Americas and created one of Mexico's oldest orchestras.

Raffaele Calace (1863-1934) - One of the most important figures in the history of mandolin.

Giuseppe Pettine (1874-1966) - His method, called the Pettine Method, is regarded as one of the most comprehensive works for mandolin ever published.

Silvio Ranieri (1882-1956) - Contributed to the immense popularity of the mandolin in the 1920's.

Giovanni Gioviale (1885-1949) - Considered one of the greatest mandolin virtuosos of all time.

Bernardo de Pace (1886-1966) - Called the “Wizard of the Mandolin”.

Carmine de Laurentiis (19th century) - One of the principal pioneers in the revival of the mandolin.

Giuseppe Anedda (1912-1997) - Helped the mandolin gain more importance in the classical music world in the 20th Century.