According to Deutsche Grammophon recording artist Avi Avital, while the bass is not bad, it's more about that mandolin. Which is also what this whole episode is about! Avi tells all: Where did the mandolin come from? Who composes for it? Why does he advocate for such a strange instrument? And how much did he play that one REM song in high school? Learn all of this and more right here!

Audio production by Todd "Terrific" Hulslander with electric slides by Dacia Clay and editing by Mark DiClaudio.

Music in this episode:

• The Music of Brazil / Jacob do Bandolim, Vol. 1 / Recordings 1949 – 1958. "Choro de varanda".
• Mike Marshall and Chris Thile: "Fisher's Hornpipe". From Into the Cauldron.
• Hamilton ee Holanda: Choro Caprice for Caprichos.
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonatina for Mandolin and fortepiano in C Major. Diego Fasolis and Duilio Galfetti.
• Domenico Scarlatti: Mandolin Sonata in D minor Allegro. Camerata Mandolinos Classico.
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Don Giovanni, "Deh vieni alla finestra".
• Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Mandolin Concerto in G major, S. 28.
• REM: "Losing My Religion" from Out of Time.
• Antonio Vivaldi, from Avi Avital's CD Vivaldi:

• Concerto in A minor RV 356
• Largo from Converto in C major RV 443
• Concerto in G minor RV 315 "Summer" from The Four Seasons.

For more about Avi Avital: www.aviavital.com.