Achille Bocus | History, Technology and Technique of the Mandolin

It is common to think of musical instruments as immutable. In reality, musical instruments are constantly evolving and improving. The mandolin in particular has undergone a surprising evolution, which, from its baroque beginnings to its modern form, has seen changes in aspects such as its shape, wood type, ropes, and plectrums. From the flat top and bowl back shapes of the first Neapolitan eighteenth-century mandolins, to the flat top and flat back that distinguish the American mandolin, Achille Bocus will outline these changes through time with an overview of the technology and techniques that differentiate the American mandolin from the Italian one, as it came to claim its place as an essential element of American folklore.
Achille Bocus was born in Milan, where he developed a passion for the mandolin at a young age. After studying the string bass at the Civica Scuola di Musica di Milano, he played in classical orchestras for over 20 years while also developing an eclectic repertoire, performing in folk, pop, punk, and rock bands. Achille moved to the Bay Area in 2009 to teach mandolin and become the conductor of the San Francisco Mandolin Orchestra, a position he holds to this day. Since 2013 he has been teaching a method he created and named Il Tremolo. He plays the mandolin throughout the Bay Area, and in 2017 took part in SF Ballet's production of Agon, a ballet set to Igor Stravinsky's score. In his spare time, Achille studies history at UC Berkeley.
This event is organized in collaboration with Franco Folini and ItaliaGeeks.
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