ISBN 9781619117334.

From 1651 to 1728 John Playford, his son Henry, and John Young published multiple editions of the Dancing Master-collections of dance instructions and musical accompaniment. Over 500 distinct tunes were printed in these volumes and they give us one of the best pictures of English popular dance music in the 17th and early 18th centuries. This book presents 121 of these tunes adapted for the mandolin-all are written in standard notation and tablature, with chord symbols. Several pieces have been transposed into more mandolin-friendly keys. Suitable for use in teaching and performance, many of these tunes are still played by musicians today both for pleasure and dance accompaniment.

ISBN 9781619118164.

Many great Scottish traditional tunes such as Flowres Of The Forrest can be traced back to the 17th centuryaa period when writing down tunes in manuscript collections for the lute was of high interest. Rob MacKillop has created very playable arrangements for the mandolin featuring 25 popular tunes from the Skene, Balcarres, Panmure and Straloch manuscripts. This is a wonderful collection of dance tunes and airs, most of which have not been available for the mandolin until now. The notation is in treble clef with tablature for GDAE tuning. Includes access to online audio featuring Rob Mackillopas performance of each piece. Get ready to explore a wonderful new take on old repertoire!

ISBN 9781619118416.

Between 1755 and 1761 James Oswald composed and published two sets of 48 Airs for the Seasons, 96 pieces in all. Each air included from two to four separate movements in different time signatures and tempos, almost always in the same key. Each was printed on a single page with the melody on one staff and a bass line (with figures) on a second staff. Additionally, each piece was named after a plant and organized into groups of twelve for each season. This book contains a selection of 24 Oswald airs, 6 for each season, in standard notation and arranged for solo mandolin. Originally intended for the flute or violin, in most cases the original key has been changed to better accommodate the modern mandolin. Oswaldas Scottish heritage is evident in the number of movements that are actually slow airs, jigs, reels or menuets. Altogether, this is a delightful collection of 18th century melodies suitable for solo performance, teaching or private enjoyment.

ISBN 9781619117815.

The German Baroque period featured three virtuosiaBiber, Westhoff and Johann Jakob Walther. Walther (1650-1717) performed as a violinist in the orchestra of Cosimo III from 1670 to 1674 (Medici dynasty) and served as concertmaster at the court in Dresden. Waltheras compositions are contained in two books: Scherzi da Violino solo con il basso continuo (1676) and Hortulus Chelicus (1688). This book presents six sonatas for violin from Hortulus Chelicus transcribed for the mandolin. The collection is a wonderful addition to the classical mandolin repertoire. All the sonatas are written in standard notation and tablature.

ISBN 9781619117242.

Anyone who is serious about learning Irish traditional music will eventually come across O'Neill's Music of Ireland, a collection of well over 1000 tunes. This book contains a selection of one hundred tunes from this collection, arranged into sets for mandolin which can be used at sessions, and for dancing. The book includes hints, tips and comments for playing the tunes and some of the tunes also have alternative melodies and harmonies for added variety and interest. At the back of the book, there are guitar chords with standard and open D tuning, and a mandolin fretboard chart that you might find useful.