ISBN 9781609742317. The complete set of Twelve Spanish Dances transcribed and arranged for guitar. The transcriptions remain true to the original piano score, but have been arranged in an idiomatic style for the guitar. The Spanish Romantic compositional style of Enrique Granados comes through in these elegant dances. The simplistic and intimate nature of the melodies make them very accessible for the guitar. These arrangements are a fresh approach to the familiar dances and an incentive to play some of the lesser known. A valuable addition to any guitar library. The edition includes a composer bio and program notes about each of the dances. Written in standard notation.

ISBN 9781609744724. Traditionally the classic guitar has been either excluded or inadequately represented in orchestration textbooks, resulting in much misinformation about its technique, its practicality in various performance contexts, and its character. The guitar's unique tuning, broad timbral variety and intimate nature pose a formidable challenge to non-guitarist composers, for whom an extensive amount of time would be required to gain even a minimal hands-on acquaintance. For most composers this is an unrealistic expectation, leading to time-consuming consultations and extensive drafting or rewriting. The purpose of this book is to provide the non-guitarist composer with the fundamental tools needed to write idiomatically for the guitar. The first of its kind for the guitar, the reference was written in consultation with dozens of composers and conceived with three types of end users in mind: Experienced composers with a concern for writing idiomatically for the guitar. Guitarists who are commissioning a work from a composer who has never written for the instrument. Libraries that wish to add this essential sourcebook to their music reference section.The very structure of the book reflects the composer's own intuition by addressing such questions as: How is the guitar constructed? What does successful guitar music look like? How is the guitar played? How does the guitarist interpret music and express emotion? Which musical elements and gestures are most effective? How do these elements combine to create an effective pacing of idioms? By examining the parameters of successfully written pieces, The Composer's Desk Reference for the Classic Guitar provides an expedient resource of ideas and illustrations contributing to the fluency of both first-time and seasoned guitar composers.

ISBN 9781619117549.

The arts flourished in the Baroque period. Music from that time is still performed worldwide by symphonies, opera companies, choirs, chamber ensembles and soloists on many instruments. The period was characterized by the works of such great artists as J. S. Bach (b. 1685), Handel (b. 1685), Telemann (b. 1681) and many others. These composers defined the rich, ornate and melodic Baroque style of music which we categorize in the classical realm. There was another genre of music flourishing during this period, and that was the common or folk music style characterized by such composers as Ireland's legendary harpist, Turlough O'Carolan (b. 1670).In composing music for this book the author recreated harmonic and melodic elements of this great musical age, while adding some contemporary twists. All of the etudes are original and will serve to enhance guitar technique, phrasing, expression, note- reading ability, and knowledge of the entire guitar fingerboard. Fingering and string markings are included where appropriate.In addition to facilitating the many technical and aesthetic aspects of performing at an advanced level on the guitar, these etudes may be used successfully in concerts or recitals. This book is an ideal companion for the other books in the Mel Bay Achieving Guitar Artistry series, which is designed to condition and guide the developing guitarist to an advanced level of proficiency, regardless of the style of music performed.

ISBN 9781619117266.

This book of triadic concepts is as much for the ears as it is for the hands. Playing harmonized scales in triadic form is very helpful for the progressing guitarist. By working through these exercises, the guitarist will learn the harmonic sound of each key and develop a strong sense of melodic and harmonic voice leading. These studies contain interesting melodic content and are very fun to play. The keys are presented in tonic major and tonic minor rather than tonic major and relative minor. This is the second book in Mel Bay's Achieving Guitar Artistry series and follows the initial Linear Etudes text. Readers should develop a routine of practicing one key per day for the best results. Mastery of this book will do much to enhance the guitarist's sense of voice leading, note reading and improvising.

ISBN 9781609743260. This collection is drawn from the Portefeuille Guitarre-Spieler series and is intended for intermediate to advanced guitarists.The works in this collection:Fantasy on themes from Don Giovanni, Op. 28Don Giovanni has long been famous among enthusiasts of fretted instruments for Mozart's sublime use of the mandolin in Don Juans' aria Deh, vieni alla finestra. Mertz himself took note of Mozart's 'mandolin serenade' for he employed as a catalyst a brief quote of the mandolin introduction in his Op. 28 for a modulatory transition based upon the theme. Mertz also included a simple arrangement of the aria as number 76 in his Kukuk, a 'musical panorama' of 136 short pieces.Martha, Op. 16Martha, oder Der Markt zu Richmond by German composer Friedrich Flotow (1812-1883) was first produced in Vienna in 1847. In the second act of Martha Flotow incorporates 'Tis the Last Rose of Summer (Qui sola, verginrosa), a traditional Irish melody to which the poet Thomas Moore wrote lyrics. It was one of the most popular songs of the nineteenth century. In addition to Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Thalberg, guitar composers to produce works based upon the famous song include Giuliani, Ferranti, Holland, and Foden. Preceding Ah! che a voi perdoni Iddio in his Op. 16, Mertz quotes a brief passage from his Elegie.The Prophet, Op. 21Giacomo Meyerbeer was the leading composer of French grand opera during Mertz's professional career. Following studies in Italy, the German composer was chiefly active in Paris and Berlin, although he traveled Europe extensively producing his operas. Le prophete premiered in Paris in 1849 after a long delay due to casting problems. Mertz's Op. 21 was published shortly thereafter.Nabucco, Op. 62 and Rigoletto, Op. 63Giuseppe Verdi's first major triumph as an opera composer was with the biblical opera Nabucodonosor (more commonly known as Nabucco). The opera was premiered in Milan in 1842 and its subsequent revivals throughout Europe spread Verdi?s fame at an astounding rate. Consequently, Verdi was commissioned to compose 14 operas in the following decade. Among these operas was Rigoletto, first produced in Venice in 1851. Mertz frequently turned to the music of Verdi for his operatic fantasies, producing no fewer than four distinct works based on themes from Rigoletto alone.

ISBN 9781609748883. Joseph Castle has compiled and edited 76 time-honored classic guitar solos, reflecting his comprehensive knowledge of the guitar and of music in general. Selections range in time from 1500 through the Romantic period. Composers include Mozart, Carcassi, Beethoven, Gluck, and many others. Standard notation only.