ISBN 9781619117792.

While one of a kind is a hard rating to achieve at Mel Bay Publications, Kevin Allison has done it with The Ceilidh Dance Book. A ceilidh is a traditional Scottish gathering where people share songs, stories, music, and dancing that is very much alive today. In Scotland, there are hundreds of ceilidh bands, each of which has their own trademark tune sets, making it possible for a man in a kilt to make a living as a performing musician. This book not only provides 85 Scottish tunes in sets as they might be used in a ceilidh eventait also offers detailed, beat-by-beat descriptions of the dance steps for twenty-four dances! From The Highland Scottish to The Mooncoin Jig, with this book in hand, youall be able to both play in the band and step to the music with the locals. The kilt is optional. Arranged for mandolin or fiddle with suggested chord backup, in standard notation only.

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 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.