In this sequel to The Complete Mandolinist, world-renowned mandolinist Marilynn Mair expands on her previous method books, presenting over 100 compositions that span 5 centuries, works she has thoughtfully edited or arranged for mandolin. Each piece is accompanied by a paragraph or two of musical context, and the book also includes 24 short essays on the evolution of musical style, drawn from Marilynns decades as a Professor of Music History. Music by great composers like Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, and Beethoven mixes with interesting compositions by little-known mandolin composers like Piccone, Barbella, Leone, and Gervasio, works Marilynn has discovered during her performing and recording career. Concert pieces range from quite easy to very advanced, with most lying between those two extremes. In addition to music of the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century, Marilynn includes contemporary pieces by some of her favorite composers writing today. This book holds a musical world Marilynn has compiled and presents to you. The Complete Mandolinist, Volume 2: Music in Context, is a book you will reach for again and again.

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 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.

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 9781513455853. 8.75 x 11.75 inches.

Mandolin Picking Tunes: Early Music Gems by Dix Bruce is a collection of 34 wonderful songs from the 1200s to the 1600s especially arranged for intermediate and advanced mandolinists. The titles span the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque eras and the sounds of the individual songs reflect those years. The music includes standard notation, accompaniment chords, and tablature. Includes access to online audio recordings of each piece for listening and playing along.

ISBN 9781619117785.

Theory and Improvisation for the Modern Mandolinist is a two book series that teaches improvisation in many musical styles along with theory concepts and how they apply to the mandolin. Each book provides access to different backing tracks and solo examples to help you learn. Every chapter includes scales presented in a variety of common formats: standard notation, tablature and fretboard charts.A Volume 1, Building a Foundation, only requires that the reader can play notes and simple chords. It presents basic skills necessary for improvising over chord progressions found in all types of music. Sample solos and progressions are included at the end of each chapter to practice. Whether you play bluegrass, rock, pop or jazz, this book will take your solos to the next level.A Includes access to online audio.

ISBN 9781513459400. 8.75x11.75 inches.

This book contains 30 traditional to modern Celtic tunes arranged in either simple melodic lines with suggested accompaniment chords, or stand-alone melody/chord solos. From rollicking reels and jigs to tender ballads, these Celtic Gems will appeal to the intermediate to advanced mandolinist and their audiences. With a little imagination, the up-tempo melodic tunes could be effectively rendered with drums and electric bass a la Pentangle or Fairport Convention; conversely, three or four of the solo arrangements would provide a tasteful set within a mandolin recital. Take your pick! Presented in standard notation and tablature in mandolin and guitar-friendly keys, these settings provide a masterclass in 4-course instrumental arranging. The authors online recording of each piece is included with this stellar collection. Includes access to online audio.

ISBN 9781513455464. 8.75 x 11.75 inches.

A wealth of beautiful and joyous music has been written for the Christmas season. Some of the most enchanting melodies can be found in this solo mandolin edition of the Early American holiday repertoire. For this collection, Tommy Norris has selected eighteen lesser and better-known carols and songs from the folk, shape-note, sacred, Native American, African American spiritual, and European hymnody traditions, and arranged them for solo mandolin. Each intermediate to moderately advanced arrangement is shown in standard notation and mandolin tablature. As a learning aid, a downloadable recording of the author's performance of each piece is available online. We hope these arrangements bring the joy of the Christmas spirit to your holiday season.

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 9781610651059.

This collection of vibrant traditional and original tunes captures the variety of mandolin styles in America. The styles represented include old time country and bluegrass, ragtime, swing, Irish, Italian, and neoclassical. Some of the techniques explored are cross-picking, droning, voice-leading, double stops, and pull-offs. Of special interest are tunes that make use of the chord solo potential of the mandolin. A discussion of each tune provides lively commentary on the history and players behind the style, an outline of the arranging and composing ideas that are employed, and tips for practicing and honing technique. Tunes are shown in notation and tablature, and audio is included. This is the perfect anthology for intermediate and advanced players who want to build their skills while expanding their range of styles.

ISBN 9781619119888.

Lively Mandolin Tunes is a collection of 38 lively, up-tempo tunes arranged by Tommy Norris for mandolin. The collection includes fiddle tunes, reels, hornpipes, jigs, sea chanteys, bluegrass and old-time melodiesan ideal collection for adding to repertoire, improving picking technique or just having fun playing the mandolin. Backup chords and tablature are included. These tunes are also great for jamming and for playing in bluegrass or old-time bands. Includes access to online audio.

ISBN 9781619117891.

Marin Marais (1656-1728) was a 17th-18th century French composer and viol player for the court of Louis XIV. He is primarily known for his five books for one, two and three bass viols and continuo. The Suite in D minor comes from his first book Premier livre de pieces une et deux violes (1689). The 27 solos contained in this collection are arranged for mandolin solo and are presented in notation and tablature.

ISBN 9781619119857.

Franz Wohlfahrt (1833 1884), a violin teacher in Leipzig Germany, wrote several series of etudes including 60 Studies for Violin, Opus 45 from which this book of mandolin studies was derived. Originally composed for his own teaching purposes, over the past 100 years Wohlfahrts etudes have become standard works for beginning violin study the world over. Adapted for mandolin in standard notation and tablature, some violin techniques had to be altered to make these studies accessible to mandolinists. The resulting book contains progressively arranged compositional gems that include scale, tremolo, arpeggio, and position studies plus grace notes, double-stops and other techniquesall terrific sight-reading material at an intermediate to advanced level.

ISBN 9781619115453. 8.75 x 11.75 inches. If you've heard jazz guitarists like Joe Pass play chord melody, you may think that the style requires an encyclopedic knowledge of music theory, musical super-powers, or making a deal with the devil. But fear not! This book will show you how to create your own satisfying chord melody arrangements on the mandolin...and will do so in a practical, applicable, non stroke-inducing way. "Aaron Weinstein has many musical accomplishments. I am very proud to have played a small part with some of them. When he was only 12 he made his first recordings and asked me to play mandolin on them. I was knocked out to encounter someone that young that was conversant in both old-time or contest fiddling and Joe Venuti style jazz. Not long after that Aaron became interested in the mandolin and chords and he came by every so often to play and discuss voicings, improvisation and the like. I showed him some of the Jethro Burns chord melody arrangements that Jethro showed me. I've been teaching those for decades in hopes of one day playing them smoothly myself! Fast forward a few more years and Aaron has a Berklee degree, traveled the world playing hot violin music and is hobnobbing with the greatest NYC jazz stars. And oh yeah, one other thing: he took the art of chord-melody mandolin style to an entirely new level! The rich harmonies of the standard jazz and show tune repertoire, the swinging bass lines and connecting chords and independent voice movements (doing more than one thing at a time) are all present in Aaron's style, thanks to his great ear, open mind and gift at locating things on the fretboard. And now Aaron has documented, explained and shared his discoveries and approach with all of us in this book. Thank you Aaron! This is truly a step-by-step method that you will enjoy. You'll find yourself saying 'oh, of course!' as the author gets you playing and understanding things that sound very detailed and complex. The first section I would call the mandolinistic stuff: the how-to on getting things moving and connected on the fretboard. This part is laid out in a very logical manner with clear explanations and fun activities. After working through these etudes you will know the fretboard better and be a better mandolin playing musician regardless of what style of music is your favorite. As I looked this part over I recalled the parable about 'give someone a fish and he will have a meal. Teach him to fish and he'll eat the rest of his life..' The second part puts your new-found chops to work playing some great solo chord melody tunes Weinstein style. Again the author walks us gently into the material by providing two versions of each piece, the basic structure followed by a more developed version. In the history of mandolin playing there have been many examples of techniques, arrangements and music that might be thought of as 'chord-melody' style. Consider works by Raffaele Calace, or 'Duo' style from the early twentieth century American stylists and then again as modernized by Evan Marshall in the current era. Bach on the mandolin, as played by virtuosi such as Caterina Lichtenberg, Mike Marshall, Carlo Aonzo, Chris Thile and others also illustrates harmony and melody simultaneously. And of course Jethro Burns did so much in the way of bringing jazz and standards to life with chord-melody mandolin that it is often referred to as 'Jethro Style'. The book you have in your hand presents a unique and accessible route to these types of techniques and sounds. Bravo, Aaron! And thank you, my friend." Don Stiernberg.

ISBN 9781609749101. A master collection of mandolin music in notation and tablature. Contains classical, early country, bluegrass, fiddle tunes, blues, gospel, and ragtime music. A great source book for mandolin repertoire.