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 9781610659444. Brazilian Choro: A Method for Mandolin focuses on teaching bandolim technique for playing Choro. The combination of method book and online audio offers a great opportunity to add performance practice to the black-and-white notes on the page. The book, presented in both English and Portuguese, is written for two different groups--Brazilians learning to play bandolim in the Choro tradition, and non-Brazilians who play other styles and want to learn Choro. Mr. Sa, a native Carioca who as played Choro since childhood, understands Choro intuitively and brings a Brazilian perspective to the project. Ms. Mair, a classical mandolinist who has spent much of the past four years refining her Choro technique in Rio, brings an outsider's viewpoint, recognizing the subtle distinctions that make Choro style unique. Together these renowned performers and university professors have created a pathway to help you play Choro with a true Carioca accent. Music presented in standard notation. Online audio available for download.

ISBN 9781609742959. Most of the music in this book comes from editions or manuscripts from England in the late 1500ICOs. There are also a few French pieces. The cittern was popular in Italy, England and France. Aside from various tunings, there were two main kinds of instruments being played during the 16th and 17th centuries: the 4 course (four sets of doubled strings), and the 6 course cittern with several editions of music to go along with both. The pieces I have chosen for this book were all written for the 4 course instrument and fall into three main categories: dance music, song arrangements and free pieces. The free pieces are basically preludes that explore the melodic range of the instrument. As the title suggests these pieces can be played very freely and need not have a very strict tempo. The dance pieces are not really meant to be danced to, but rather take their form and rhythm from the popular court dances of the time. These can be played with a wide range of overall tempo, but once a tempo is chosen, should be strictly adhered to. The song arrangements are settings of popular songs of the time as well as more formal vocal settings. Care should be taken in making the melody clear and singing. Since the range of the cittern and mandolin are the same, John Holenko has kept the melodies intact. Because of the difference in tuning however, the voicing of the harmonies have been changed so as to fit on the mandolin.

ISBN 9781609745912. 50 studies designed to improve right and left-hand technique for mandolin players of all levels and abilities. This book provides further practice material to build on the aspects of technique introduced in Mandolin Technique Studies, Vol. 1-Sequences, Arpeggios, Shifting, the Fourth Finger, Triplets, Chromatics, and Crosspicking. A great book to have on your music stand for a ready source of practice material. The book is divided into four parts. Part One is devoted to sequences, Part Two further explores the aspects of technique from Mandolin Technique Studies, Vol. 1, Part Three is devoted to scale-based exercises and Part Four contains practice etudes based on all the previous exercises. The book also includes 3 studies adapted from Rudolphe Kreutzer's 42 Studies For Violin. -50 Studies for improving right and left hand mandolin technique -Further explores the concepts of Mandolin Technique Studies, Vol.1 -Exercises involve Sequences, Arpeggios, Shifting, the Fourth Finger, Triplets, Chromatics, and Crosspicking.