Three Preludes on Occitan Songs

The single download comprises of an Introduction with performers' notes, a score with TAB underneath (to aid with the DADGBD tuning) and a score with notes only.

In performance, the guitar is tuned DADGBD (with both strings 1 and 6 tuned to D).

Icomposed Three Preludes on Occitan Songsduring the years I spent living and working in South West France.
I hadthe pleasure of seeing Occitan bands performing at village festivals. The styleof music was coarse and rhythmic with lyrics telling timeless stories. I borrowed the mostsimple of melodic fragments and use them to create contemporary guitar workssuitable for concert performance.

The Cancion de Hialara translates as ?The Spinner?sSong?. In this, I have imitated the rustic drones of the hurdy-gurdies found inOccitan bands through the use of tremolo patterns.

Som Som is a lullaby. This melody isfamiliar to many cultures across Europe and beyond.

L� NostreAse translatesas ?Our Donkey?. It is a comic song which tells of the antics of a stubbornrustic animal. Players should enjoy the hemiola rhythms where 3/4 is set again6/8.

For other solo compositions, arrangements, and teaching scores, see: www.danjonesguitarist.com.

This cancause some difficulty in reading. Also, to take advantage of the sonority ofthe instrument when tuned this way, the unusual playing positions and fingeringare critical. It is for these reasons that I have provided the score in justnotes but also with notes and tablature below.

Thankyou and I hope you enjoy Three Preludes on Occitan Songs.

Internationally acclaimed guitarist Ellsworth ("El") McMeen has done over 220 solo fingerstyle guitar arrangements and compositions in the last 30 years. He has numerous recordings, books,
and DVD lessons and has concertized throughout the United States.

Of his work, he has selected for this voluminous book
60 pieces with his favorite melodies. (Among them is an instrumental
he composed for his wife, called "Song for Sheila.")

The music is diverse in genre and mood, but each piece is compelling in its own way.
Included are folk tunes, a classical piece, hymns, a patriotic song,
ancient Celtic harp music, lullabies, El's favorite Christmas song
("In the Bleak Midwinter"), El's favorite Irish jig ("The Kid on the Mountain"),
laments, love songs, and Irish airs.

El is included in the Digitaldreamdoor listing of the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists.
https://tinyurl.com/GreatestGuitarists Several of his recordings are referenced here:
https://elmcmeen.bandcamp.com/

The audio sampler contains all or part of the following selections, in the CGDGAD tuning
except as otherwise indicated. (When El has recorded some of this music, he has used a capo,
usually at fret II or IV, for tonal atmosphere.)

1. America the Beautiful
2. Be Still, My Soul
3. Be Thou My Vision
4. Carolan's Concerto
5. Carolan's No. 179
6. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
7. Give Me Your Hand
8. Hector the Hero
9. In the Bleak Midwinter
10. Jerusalem (Drop D)
11. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
12. Kid on the Mountain
13. My Mary of the Curling Hair
14. Niel Gow's Lament for the Death of His Second Wife
15. Rose of Allendale
16. Song for Sheila