ISBN 9781513459547. 8.75x11.75 inches.

This book of 53 intermediate-level guitar pieces is derived from Le Secret des Muses, a two-volume collection of lute tablature by Nicolas Vallet (c. 1583 c. 1642). Born in France, by 1614 Vallet had relocated to Amsterdam where he established a dance school and was active as a composer, lute teacher and leader of a consort that played at weddings and festivals. Le Secret des Muses is among the last published collections of French lute tablature intended for the 10-course Renaissance lute, which was ultimately supplanted by the larger 13-course Baroque model. Most of these pieces consist of traditional European dance forms, but also contains a few settings of popular lute themes and longer works suitable for concert performance are included. Written in standard notation only with occasional drop-D tuning, these pieces make excellent sight-reading and warmup material as well as historically significant concert selections.

For Kids
Suite in modern style:
I - Prelude
II - By Circle
III - Reflections
IV - Dance

ISBN 9781513455006.

Intermediate-level guitarists will enjoy playing through this varied collection of pieces, all in one volume. A wide gamut of composers from the Renaissance to the nineteenth century is included, along with a few anonymous contributions. Continuing with the techniques and carefully thought-out fingerings and notation employed in Dr. Afshars previous publication (Beginning Pieces for Classical Guitar), selections like Carcassi Study #3 and Sor Studies Nos. 5 and 6 require the execution of rest stroke technique on their melodies in order to distinguish them clearly from the concurrent free-stroke accompaniment. In the same spirit, Study No. 5 by Fernando Sor has been written out in a way that clearly shows the melody as it appears on beats one and three. The nine-movement suites by Gaspar Sanz and Robert de Visee introduce the student guitarist to Baroque dances and ornamentation.