Dave Apollon
Encyclopedia
Dave Apollon was a Russian mandolin
player.
Today Dave Apollon is regarded as one of the most innovative and influential mandolinists of the Twentieth Century, whose more notable recordings/performances include Two Guitars, Hora staccato
by Grigoraş Dinicu
and Zigeunerweisen
aka "Gypsy Airs" by Pablo de Sarasate
. His styles include Gypsy and various kinds of European Folk Music
. He is also regarded as one of the first jazz mandolinist, with such memorable recordings as Who and St. Louis Blues.
which was, at the time, part of Russia. At an early age he played the violin
but abandoned the instrument after taking a fervent interest in an old bowl back mandolin his father kept in the house.
In 1919 he moved to New York City and almost immediately got a job in Vaudeville
, where he floored audiences with stunning virtuosity.
In 1929 he made the first of his musical shorts, something he would continue with for much of his career. In 1941 he was a member of the touring company of "Boys and Girls Together". In 1946 he met and played with Django Reinhardt
while the legendary guitarist was on tour with Duke Ellington
in New York. Apollon died in 1972, after a career that spanned over fifty years.
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
player.
Today Dave Apollon is regarded as one of the most innovative and influential mandolinists of the Twentieth Century, whose more notable recordings/performances include Two Guitars, Hora staccato
Hora staccato
Hora staccato is a virtuoso violin showpiece by Grigoraş Dinicu. It is a short, fast work in a Romanian hora style, and has become a favorite encore of violinists, especially in the 1932 arrangement by Jascha Heifetz. The piece requires an exceptional command of both upbow and downbow staccato...
by Grigoraş Dinicu
Grigoras Dinicu
Grigoraş Ionică Dinicu was a Romanian composer and violinist or violin virtuoso. He is most famous for his often-played virtuoso violin showpiece "Hora staccato" and for making popular the tune Ciocârlia, composed by his grandfather Angheluș Dinicu for "nai"...
and Zigeunerweisen
Zigeunerweisen
Zigeunerweisen , Op. 20, is a musical composition for violin and orchestra written in 1878 by the Spanish composer and virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate and premiered during the same year in Leipzig...
aka "Gypsy Airs" by Pablo de Sarasate
Pablo de Sarasate
Pablo Martín Melitón de Sarasate y Navascués was a Navarrese Spanish violinist and composer of the Romantic period.-Career:Pablo Sarasate was born in Pamplona, Navarre, the son of an artillery bandmaster...
. His styles include Gypsy and various kinds of European Folk Music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. He is also regarded as one of the first jazz mandolinist, with such memorable recordings as Who and St. Louis Blues.
Early life
Apollon was born in the city of KievKiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
which was, at the time, part of Russia. At an early age he played the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
but abandoned the instrument after taking a fervent interest in an old bowl back mandolin his father kept in the house.
Career
By age 14 Apollon had already founded an ensemble and was performing professionally in a local movie theatre.In 1919 he moved to New York City and almost immediately got a job in Vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
, where he floored audiences with stunning virtuosity.
In 1929 he made the first of his musical shorts, something he would continue with for much of his career. In 1941 he was a member of the touring company of "Boys and Girls Together". In 1946 he met and played with Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt was a pioneering virtuoso jazz guitarist and composer who invented an entirely new style of jazz guitar technique that has since become a living musical tradition within French gypsy culture...
while the legendary guitarist was on tour with Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
in New York. Apollon died in 1972, after a career that spanned over fifty years.