String instruments Books

Book SynopsisIn A Notebook for Viola Players, Ivo-Jan van der Werff offers a guide to playing the viola with the greatest freedom, dexterity, and ease. It includes right and left hand exercises to build a sound technique, sections on how to practice them, how to hold the viola and bow, how to think about good posture, how to create a good sound, how to play with the least amount of tension, how to deal with anxiety, and thoughts on wellness and practice techniques. Alongside these are photographs and a companion website of video demonstrations of the exercises played by the author, as if in a lesson. Interspersed throughout the book are lively and illuminating anecdotes of van der Werff''s own experiences as a student and as a professional musician, as well as a number of blank pages and staff paper for the student to literally ''make notes'' and write down their own ideas, offering a space for creative expression using the skills they learn in reading and playing along with the text. Bringing togeTrade ReviewA highly recommended book for supporting ambitious secondary school viola students, tertiary viola students, viola professionals at every stage, and teachers. * Helen Tuckey, Stringendo *A Notebook for Viola Players is a wonderful addition to the world of viola technique. Expertly offered with clarity, wit and elegance, it is eminently practical and compassionate! * James F. Dunham, Professor of Viola, Rice University, Shepherd School of Music *This is such a valuable fund of exercises, thoughtfully devised to build and maintain a foundation of technical security and quality. Players at all stages of their development will find both useful warm-ups and technique-enhancing challenges, presented in Ivo-Jan van der Werff's articulate, reassuring style. * Roger Tapping, Professor of Viola, Juilliard School *This book gives a truly grounded and open approach to viola technique, imparting wisdom without unnecessary fuss. There is a balance between individual needs and the fundamentals of a strong string player's technique. The conclusion gives every instrumentalist food for thought: basics that all players should think of every day. * Edward Vandespar, Principal Viola, London Symphony Orchestra *Ivo-Jan van der Werff has cleverly and clearly set out his ideas about basic technique in a way that can relate to many kinds of violists- unique achievement. I am certain the Notebook will become an important and useful resource for many players. * Simon Rowland-Jones, violist and composer *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction How to Practice Performance Anxiety Wellness Perfection? Posture Right Hand Left Hand Conclusion Afterword

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Book SynopsisIn Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster, guitar historian Dave Hunter profiles these two beloved guitars' conception, design, numerous variations, and famous players. This amazing story, updated for the brand's 75th anniversary, is illustrated with exclusive archival images, studio shots, and memorabilia.Table of ContentsIntroduction by Tony Bacon PART I: LEO AND THE ORIGIN OF FENDER PART II: THE TELECASTER History of the Telecaster Telecaster Tone and Construction Artist Profiles Jimmy Bryant, Paul Burlison, James Burton, Luther Perkins, Muddy Waters, Albert Collins, Steve Cropper, Michael Bloomfield, Roy Buchanan, Waylon Jennings, Roy Nichols & Merle Haggard, Buck Owens & Don Rich, Clarence White, Jimmy Page, Syd Barrett, Keith Richards, Wilko Johnson, Bill Kirchen, Mike Campbell, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Strummer, Andy Summers, Danny Gatton, Redd Volkaert, Pete Anderson, Jerry Donahue, Chrissie Hynde, Jim Campilongo, Marty Stuart, Bill Frisell, Vince Gill, D. Boon, G.E. Smith, Brent Mason, Duke Levine, Frank Black (a.k.a. Black Francis), Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke, Graham Coxon, John 5, Brad Paisley PART III: THE STRATOCASTER History of the Stratocaster Stratocaster Tone and Construction Artist Profiles Bill Carson, Eldon Shamblin, Pee Wee Crayton, Mary Kaye, Ike Turner, Buddy Guy, Buddy Holly, Dick Dale, The Ventures, Hank Marvin, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, David Gilmour, Rory Gallagher, Robbie Robertson, Wayne Kramer, Lowell George, Randy Bachman, Ronnie Wood, Robin Trower, Dave Murray, Bonnie Raitt, Mark Knopfler, Yngwie Malmsteen, Richard Thompson, Nils Lofgren, Jimmie Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Johnson, Robert Cray, The Edge, John Mayer, Sonny Landreth Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisIn this beautifully illustrated book, a master luthier and a painter tell their story of the creation of a musical instrument. The Uke Book Illustrated clearly explains every step of the process through concise notes and informative drawings in the format of a graphic novel. This artistically conceived and executed book reveals the practical aspects of an ancient trade, showing of the preparation and selection of materials, assembly and construction, the tools and jigs, and how to approach the work. Anyone who wants to use this book as a guide or manual will be able to proceed chapter by chapter and drawing by drawing during the realization of his or her own instrument. Anyone wanting to gain insight into how a musical instrument is made will appreciate the clear and informative line drawings and the beautiful watercolor illustrations that fill every page. In the end, this book is not just for crafters and woodworkers, but for musicians, artists, and anyone who enjoy a good

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Book Synopsis*A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK*''Utterly enthralling - a beautifully-written voyage of discovery that takes us deep into the heart of music-making'' Deborah MoggachFrom the moment she hears Lev''s violin for the first time, Helena Attlee is captivated. She is told that it is an Italian instrument, named after its former Russian owner. Eager to discover all she can about its ancestry and the stories contained within its delicate wooden body, she sets out for Cremona, birthplace of the Italian violin. This is the beginning of a beguiling journey whose end she could never have anticipated.Making its way from dusty workshops, through Alpine forests, cool Venetian churches, glittering Florentine courts, and far-flung Russian flea markets, Lev''s Violin takes us from the heart of Italian culture to its very furthest reaches. Its story of luthiers and scientists, princes and orphans, musicians, composers, travellers and raconteurs swells to a poignTrade ReviewUtterly enthralling - a beautifully written voyage of discovery that takes us deep into the heart of music-making. -- Deborah Moggach * author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel *A beguiling quest that draws its author from the Italian heartland of the violin to the edge of Asiatic Russia, told with a passion that is at once gentle and compelling. -- Colin Thubron * author of To a Mountain in Tibet *Elegant and ambitious ... Attlee pursues her story with honesty, diligence and open-mindedness ... An original and refreshingly unorthodox approach to history * Guardian *Attlee's love and unbounded enthusiasm for Italy shine through the pages ... She writes with zest about her sleuthing odyssey, her investigations into the art of lutherie and the dynasties dedicated to the crafting of these delightful objects. Whether it be a distant family history, the timber forests of the Dolomites or a momentary encounter, Attlee captures it in firm, fresh prose. -- Graham Elliot * Spectator *Attlee writes with rare beauty and sensitivity about music, and her love of Italian culture positively sings from the pages ... Deeply absorbing -- Kate Wakeling * BBC Music Magazine *In limpid, searching prose, Helena Attlee shows us how music can cast spells but also bridge the distance of centuries. -- Marina Benjamin * author of The Middlepause *Charming and original ... Attlee has the natural storyteller's gift. -- Stephen Walsh * author of Debussy *Charming ... Attlee tells the story in easy, luminous prose, infused with a deep understanding for the way human value accrues mysteriously in things, and in the act of making them * Telegraph *Reading Lev's Violin is like listening to a fine instrument: thoroughly relaxing but also exciting, fun yet deeply serious ... with constant surprises and charms -- Tobias Jones * author of The Dark Heart of Italy *Illuminating, engrossing ... a wide-ranging exploration of the history and cultural significance of the Italian violin * TLS *Beguiling and truly original ... An amazing journey ... one of the joys is the glimpses it affords of forgotten historical byways and of a colourful, sometimes roguish cast of characters ... Attlee has such a wonderful way with words that as a reader you almost imagine you can see, as well as hear, Lev's violin * Daily Mail *Seductive, captivating ... A book that pleases the more for so neatly resisting characterisation * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisCarefully-graded melodies and pieces from the orchestral repertoire.Trade ReviewThe spacing and layout of the scores is clear and easy to read. The dynamic markings are well placed and leave plenty of space for markings. Introductions of new left-hand techniques such as shifting into a new position, are indicated prior to each melody . . . The short pieces introduce young students to numerous classic melodies and, when chosen with care, make a refreshing and much needed change of pace supplement to methods with less inspired selections. * Magazine of the International Society of Bassists February 2004 (USA) *Two excellent volumes here from Keith Hartley . . . In short, it provides all the basics for a very secure technique without seeming to do so . . . Both Hartley and the music have been very well served by these Oxford University Press editions. * Double Bassist Spring 98 *It is a pleasure to receive some really useful double bass publications . . . These books are invaluable, being well presented, well graded, with good diagrams and clear scales. * Music Teacher May 98 *Table of ContentsThe Great Gate of Kiev ; Tortues (Le Carnaval des Animaux) ; Waltz (Roses from the South) ; Canon on Frere Jacques (Symphony 1) ; The Merry Peasant (Album for the Young) ; Entr'acte (Incidental Music to Rosamunde) ; Ode to Joy (Symphony 9 The Choral) ; Drink to me only ; Pilgrims' March (Symphony 4 The Italian) ; Minuet (12 Duets for 2 Basset Horns, K487) ; Minuet (Aires and Dances) ; The Trout (Piano Quintet, Op.114) ; Andante Cantabile (String Quartet 1) ; Lullaby (Op. 49 No. 4) ; March (Judas Maccabaeus) ; Now is the Month of Maying ; Old French Song (Album for the Young) ; Berceuse (Dolly Suite, Op.56) ; Finlandia Op. 26, No. 7 ; The Harmonious Blacksmith (Harpsichord Suite 5 in E) ; My Heart Ever Faithful (Cantata 68) ; Largo (Symphony 9 From the New World) ; March (Scipio) ; Andante (Rococo Variations, Op. 33) ; Jupiter (The Planets) ; The Gift to be Simple ; Where'er You Walk (Semele) ; Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Cantata 147) ; Greensleeves ; When I am Laid in Earth (Dido and Aeneas) ; Andante (Trumpet Concerto) ; Minuet (L'Arlesienne Suite 2) ; Sheep May Safely Graze (Cantata 208) ; Poeme (for Violin and Orchestra) ; Minuet ; Rondo all'Ongarese (Piano Trio in G) ; Intermezzo (Cavalleria Rusticana) ; Toreador's Song (Carmen) ; St. Anthony Chorale (Haydn Variations) ; Nocturne (A Midsummer Night's Dream) ; Minuet (The Anna Magdalena Notebook) ; Pavane (Op. 50) ; Valse (Coppelia) ; Allegro Vivace (Overture Rosamunde) ; Entr'acte No. 2 (Carmen) ; Agnus Dei (Requiem) ; Prelude (Op. 28 No. 20) ; Praeludium after Pugnani ; Sonatina

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Book Synopsisfor solo violin and orchestra or piano This serene romance is one of Vaughan Williams's most enduring popular works. Taking its title from a poem by George Meredith, the music perfectly evokes the lark's 'chirrup, whistle, slur, and shake'. This beautifully presented new edition of the violin and piano score includes a preface by Michael Kennedy.Trade ReviewWithin it is nostalgia for the English countryside and for the fast disappearing habitat of this symbolic summer bird. OUP's spacious printing evokes its soaring flight. The beautiful cover features Samuel Palmer's painting, The Prospect which is in the Ashmolean Museum round the corner from OUP. Keep this inspirational cover on your music stand! Mary Nemet, Stringendo, April 2010

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Book SynopsisThe Starters Teacher''s Handbook is the perfect resource for all teachers using Fiddle, Viola, and Cello Time Starters. Brimming over with creative ideas, it contains imaginative accompaniments for all tunes in the pupil books, extra pieces and warm-ups, photocopiable resources, and a fantastic CD for use with all three instruments. With clear presentation and careful pacing, this book will be welcomed by anyone looking for a helping hand with the important early stages of learning an instrument.Table of ContentsPulse and rhythm; Posture and left-hand skills; Bowing and right-hand skills; Super listeners; Reading time; Scales and arpeggios; Pieces

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Book SynopsisSolo Time for Violin is a three-volume series of concert pieces for the intermediate to more advanced violinist. Featuring arrangements and original pieces by the authors of the award-winning Fiddle Time series, these graded collections provide sophisticated repertoire from the Baroque to the modern age and introduce styles and techniques for the developing performer.Trade ReviewKathy and David Blackwell need no introduction to string teachers and students; their Fiddle Time series has gained universal appeal ... All 48 pieces are carefully chosen for their educational value as well as musical appeal. Helpful fingering and bowing suggestions together with informative notes, stylish piano accompaniments and a CD with backing tracks as well as full performances provide an admirable follow-up to the Blackwells' considerable achievements. Mary Nemet, Stringendo (AUSTA), October 15 With the introduction of this latest addition to the Fiddle Time family of publications [Solo Time], it would now theoretically be possible to go from complete beginner to ABRSM Grade 8 using only one series of books. That this is the case is a testament to the vast accumulated experience of the Blackwells, which they have so generously shared with their violin teaching colleagues ... Pieces are not arranged in chronological order, which invites a more playful exploration. There are some real gems: my choice from Book 1 would be Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and also Bohm's Little Hungarian Rhapsody - one of those pieces that sound harder than they actually are to play, worth their weight in gold for concert situations ... these carefully crafted arrangements and editions give pupils access to some interesting and occasionally challenging new repertoire. The Strad, September 2015 I love the new Solo Time books - my students are giving great feedback too. Great pieces to learn in between grades - love 'Sunayama' and its pentatonics. The pieces are pushing my students in a positive way to explore new music and create a thirst to learn new techniques to be able to play these pieces. Thanks for helping us teachers on the front line; these books will definitely be a lovely addition for my students. Sian Phillips, music teacher and performer, June 2015 Super!! A lovely collection of 16 unhackneyed and varied pieces, well presented and well thought through ... The print is beautifully clear, there is information about each piece printed on the page and a good variety of styles are represented. Anne Inglis, ESTA Arco, Summer 2015Table of ContentsGavotte: from Cello Suite No. 6, BWV 1012 ; Watkins Ale: from The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book ; Daydream: from Album for the Young, Op.39 ; Cantabile: from Requiem ; No Man's Jig ; Presto: from Six Sonatinas for violin and keyboard ; La diva de l'Empire ; Minuets 1 and 2: from Piano Sonata, Hob. XVI/43 ; Sunayama ; Passepieds 1 and 2: from English Suite No. 5, BWV 810 ; Joshua fit the battle of Jericho ; Rondeau: from Piano Sonata, K309 ; Yellow Bird ; Little Hungarian Rhapsody ; Groovin' like Grappelli ; Russian Dance: from Danse caracteristique

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Book Synopsisfor cello duet Cello Time Duets is an exciting and attractive collection for cellists of all ages by the award-winning educational composers Kathy and David Blackwell. With repertoire ranging from imaginative original compositions to arrangements of classical and folk music, there is something for everyone in this varied selection. The duets carefully progress from pieces suitable for established beginners through to repertoire ideal for students at approximately Grade 4 and beyond. In addition, there six mini duet warm-ups exploring different techniques and skills. Some duets have parts of equal difficulty, while others have an easier part and a harder part, making the book ideal for students at different levels to play together. With lively concert repertoire and fun sight-reading material, this excellent resource will develop players' ensemble skills as well as providing much to enjoy!

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Book SynopsisJ.S. Bach's sonatas and partitas for solo violin have been central to the violin repertoire since the mid-18th century. This introduction to these works explores their place within Bach's music, focusing on their structural and stylistic features as they have been perceived since their creation.Trade Review"The volume thus has a quadruple purpose, providing an analytical study and historical guide to Bach's solo-violin works, an introduction to Bach's style and its evolution and a forum for authoritative discussion of selected performance issues....will certainly assist violinists, students, scholars and other listeners to develop new perspectives on this music...and encourage the cultivation of more informed and more vivid performances." --The Strad"Serious violinists and theorists will applaud the thoroughness of Lester's work."--Choice"Joel Lester is one of America's leading theorists and analysts of music, as well as a professional violinist. He is therefore uniquely qualified to write a serious analytical and interpretive study of J. S. Bach's violin music. . . . It's quite incredible that, despite the stature and importance of this music, there has never been a serious full-length study of its repertoire. That is, until now. . . . This book is richly informative and insightful, abundantly displaying Lester's learning and analytical talents. It is also engagingly written."--Robert L. Marshall, Brandeis University"Performers will find this book's discussion of recordings invaluable, its performance-oriented analyses helpful in understanding the logic behind interpretation, and its historical excursuses informative. . . . Lester has the reputation of being an excellent performer, is a recognized scholar in the history of theory, and has written a harmony textbook. Who better to bring all of these talents and accomplishments to a book of this sort?"--Lee A. Rothfarb, University of California at Santa BarbaraTable of Contents1. The History of Bach's Solo-Violin Works ; 2. The G-minor Adagio ; 3. The G-minor Fuga ; 4. The Siciliana of the G-minor Sonata ; 5. The G-minor Presto ; 6. The Partitas ; 7. Closing Thoughts

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Book SynopsisIn Django, Michael Dregni offers a definitive portrait of the great guitarist. Born in a gypsy caravan at a crossroads in Belgium, he overcame a childhood injury to became Europe's most famous jazz musician, commanding exorbitant feesand spending the money as fast as he made it. Dregni not only chronicles his remarkably colorful lifeincluding a fascinating account of gypsy culturebut he also sheds much light on Django's musicianship. He examines themultitude of diverse musical forms to which he applied his genius, and the people with whom he collaborated. Along the way, the author offers vivid snapshots of the jazz scene in Paris, and of Django's vagabond wanderings around France, Europe, and the United States. Capturing the extraordinary life and times of one of the great musicians of the twentieth century, Django is a must-read portrait of a true original.Trade Review"One of the most satisfying jazz biographies in recent years.... Dregni writes lyrically of a place where the crosscurrents of art, music and fashion collided to produce a cultural richness that happens only once or twice a century, if humans are lucky.... Rich and rewarding."--Baltimore Sun"Extremely informative.... An important appreciation of an oft-forgotten musician.... Dregni carefully dissects Reinhardt's virtuoso playing style without resorting to technical jargon, and he spends plenty of time tending to Reinhardt's passionate soul--artistic, gypsy and otherwise."--Mitch Myers, DownBeat"A rags-to-riches story of a unique talent whose works continue to touch aspiring guitarists of all genres."--Library Journal (starred review)"A compelling portrait of this colorful musician, one that gives equal time to Reinhardt's fascinating story as well as ample musical analysis."--JazzTimes"An encyclopedic account of the Gypsy jazzman's life and times that provides an abundance of new information, finds new connections between what was already known, and clears up many misconceptions along the way."--Guitar Player"In many ways the book jazz enthusiasts have been waiting for.... Fascinating and well-written. Dregni's musical analysis will send fans running to the stereo, digging out the old recordings and listening with fresh ears. Guitarists will have a feast reading about Django's technique and his famous Selmer Maccaferri guitar. Although Django will always be a larger-than-life figure, Dregni has given us a much clearer picture of the man behind the myth. 'Django' is, for now, the definitive biography, and we are in Dregni's debt for considerably advancing our understanding of the remarkable Django Reinhardt, his music and the world he lived in."--David French, Los Angeles Times Book Review"Dregni's biography does his complex subject justice.... His immersion in the period's history enriches his storytelling and our understanding. The panoramic results present Django Reinhardt as he has never been seen.... Dregni clarifies a lot of history while weaving an illuminated web of contexts around his subject. He vividly describes Gypsy life and mores, and anti-Gypsy bigotry; unearths new aspects of Reinhardt's life and work; discusses Parisian musette, American 'hot' jazz and bebop, and classical music; and insightfully details the music Reinhardt made and the instruments and people he made it with."--Gene Santoro, The New York Times Book Review"There was only one Django Reinhardt, and Dregni supplies a vivid, detailed portrait of the man behind the guitar.... Dregni has given us Reinhardt the man--rascal, scoundrel, transcendent improviser, failed human being."--Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle"The great strength of his book is his tireless research into the world of Django's gypsy roots. He has tracked down and interviewed as many of Reinhardt's relatives as he can find, as well as older gypsies who knew and worked with him. The result is a more complete portrait of Reinhardt's inner life, including his relationships with his parents, his wife and many other women, and two sons. There is even a detailed account of the tragic fire that cost him two fingers.... Django is a remarkable book, and its outsider's perspective is part of the reason."--New York Sun"In this carefully researched biography, rich with details from interviews with family members, friends and musicians, Dregni brings legendary Gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt into the spotlight.... Dregni casts Django as a mercurial, charismatic Romany innocent, alternately transfixed by dajo life and dismissive of it. Colorful descriptions of the nightclubs of jazz-age Paris and sensitive appraisals of Django's musicianship add to the book's appeal."--Publishers Weekly"The book is alive from beginning to end, and after awhile you feel like you were there as Django's career unfolds. Dregni insures that the story behind the music will not fade. Musicians, guitarists, students of the history of WWII, and those who love a good biography will love this book."--Frank Forte, Just Jazz Guitar"Dregni...not only has managed to break into the French milieu of jazz aficionados and sects in which Django worked but has penetrated the Gypsy, or Romany, world from which Django emerged--a clannish world whose existence, well into the nineteen-fifties and sixties, was still largely furtive, outdoors, vagabond, and, occasionally, criminal. Dregni clears up the two much mystified areas of Django's life--what exactly he did during the Second World War, and what really happened on his one trip to America, in 1946--and he sorts through the music and, nice bonus, manages to suggest plots for at least three fine French movie musicals."--Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker"Uncovers the influences that helped fuse Reinhardt's unique talent and background with a developing music scene that would eventually become a lasting art form."--Vintage Guitar Magazine

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Book SynopsisBuilding an Award-Winning Guitar Program is a practical guide to assist secondary and post-secondary music educators with the tasks involved in establishing a successful music program. With the rising interest in guitar, Mariachi, rock band, handbells, bluegrass, music technology, and so on, more and more music educators are being asked to teach innovative music classes. Author Bill Swick has crafted this book to help these educators build such innovative music programs from the ground floor, based on his years of experience as a music educator specialized in guitar. The book will assist music educators with classroom management, scheduling, structure, organization, fund raising, festivals, travel, and other subjects related to teaching guitar in the classroom, but its principles are broadly relevant to any and all music educators hoping to create a unique program that stands out within their school district and state, attracting students, parents, educators and administrators alike.

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Book SynopsisBuilding an Award-Winning Guitar Program is a practical guide to assist secondary and post-secondary music educators with the tasks involved in establishing a successful music program.Trade ReviewIt's finally here! Absorb the words of a master teacher, innovative educator, pioneer, and legend, Bill Swick! He shares his decades worth of knowledge in guitar education through comprehensive and clearly explained text. Bring success to your music classroom! * Ruth LeMay, President/Founder, 3 Strings, Inc *Bill Swick, the father of modern classroom guitar instruction, has once again given an essential resource to pre-college and university instructors. If you teach guitar in a school setting, then you are part of Bill's incomparable legacy. There is no one better to guide novice and veteran guitar teachers to create successful and impactful programs in their community. * Matthew Denman, Associate Professor of Guitar, Oklahoma City University / Classen School of Advanced Studies *

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Book SynopsisThis study identifies and describes the two early types of mandolin and presents the full extent of their repertoires, including works by Handel, Scarlatti, Vivaldi, Hummel, Beethoven and Sammartini, whose recently-discovered sonata is published here for the first time.Trade Reviewelegantly-produced volume ... an essential resource for players and scholars of plucked instruments ... a fascinating and well-researched book * Tim Crawford, Early Music *

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Book SynopsisThis text detects the background to the violin fraud and explains how the law applies to it. Much of what is said applies to the antique world generally, but there are specific and pressing problems relating to string instruments with which this book is particularly concerned.Trade ReviewEssential reading for anyone who is involved in the business of musical instruments in any way, and recommended reading for those who own or purchase instruments. * The Galpin Society Journal *This book is a praiseworthy effort to shed some light on the murkier side of the violin trade. Harvey has done a commendable job of evaluating analogous cases from the art world to determine how courts might decide cases involving instruments. Violin Fraud provides an excellent overview of the pertinent legal issues for anyone contemplating the purchase or sale of a fine instrument. * Notes *Table of ContentsPART I ; PART II (CARLA SHAPREAU)

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Book SynopsisWho was the greatest of all American guitarists? Bob Dylan called Davis "one of the wizards of modern music." This book takes readers through Davis' difficult beginning as the blind son of sharecroppers in the Jim Crow South to his decision to become an ordained Baptist minister and his move to New York in the early 1940s, and more.Trade Review"Long time comin' and here at last! This fabulous book is for those who want to read, hear, and troll the depths of Americana music for incredible artists. Once you come across Rev. Gary Davis, you are forever hooked by his creative brilliance. From his earliest recordings to his last, Zack illuminates what made 'the Rev' so unique. Enjoy yourself! It's a good un'!" -Taj Mahal "Finally, the biography that Rev. Davis deserves. Ian Zack takes 'Blind Gary' out of the footnotes and into the footlights of the history of American music. Like John Coltrane, George Gershwin, Jimi Hendrix, and the rest of the very few, Davis's genius was unique and uncompromising. How he was able to take gospel and blues and create a style that was so unique and so powerful is a story that had to be told. Now, thanks to Zack's careful research and unbounded respect for his subject, we finally have insight into the art and environment that was Davis's life story. With this biography, Davis can finally take his place in the pantheon of the greatest of American musicians." -Steve Katz, cofounder of Blood, Sweat & Tears "Rev. Gary Davis had a rich and colorful but challenging life. Zack has put together the pieces of Davis's life in an exciting and detailed way. This biography reads like a novel! It details the life and times of Davis, as well as the evolution of his music and the influence he had on generations of black and white musicians. A must-read for anyone interested in the blues, the folk revival, or the life of a true American genius." -Stefan Grossman "Davis was a complex and difficult man, and it is to Zack's great credit that this comes through, along with the obvious admiration so many young musicians had for 'the Rev.' Say No to the Devil provides plenty of material to interest fans and newcomers alike." -Elijah Wald

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Book SynopsisThis is a portrait of a fiddle-based folk revival in Norway, investigating the people and events in Norwegian folk fiddling, and tracing the history of Norwegian folk music and the growth and diversification of the folk music revival. It uses a wide anthology of carefully-transcribed folk tunes.Table of ContentsList of Figures Preface and Acknowledgments Pt. 1: Fiddlers 1: Introduction 2: Reviving Folkemusikk 3: Fiddlers and Fiddle Clubs in the Late Twentieth Century 4: Contests and Concerts 5: Reconfiguring the Norwegian Folk Music World: The Gammaldans Controversy Pt. 2: Fiddle Tunes 6: Fiddle Tunes in Folkemusikk Genres: Mode and Form 7: Local and Regional Style, Genre, and the Individual Fiddle Tune 8: Musical Change and Cultural Forces Late in the Twentieth Century Tune Anthology Performance Information Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThis is a portrait of a fiddle-based folk revival in Norway, investigating the people and events in Norwegian folk fiddling, and tracing the history of Norwegian folk music and the growth and diversification of the folk music revival. It uses a wide anthology of carefully-transcribed folk tunes.

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Book Synopsis''All my life my Stradivarius had been waiting for me, as I had been waiting for her . . .''At 7 years old Min Kym was a prodigy, the youngest ever pupil at the Purcell School of Music. At 11 she won her first international prize. She worked with many violins, waiting for the day she would play ''the one''. At 21 she found it: a rare 1696 Stradivarius, perfectly suited to her build and temperament. Her career soared. She recorded the Brahms concerto and a world tour was planned.Then, in a train station café, her violin was stolen. In an instant her world collapsed. She descended into a terrifying limbo land, unable to play another note.This is Min''s extraordinary story - of a young woman staring into the void, wondering who she was, who she had been. It is a story of isolation and dependence, of love, loss and betrayal, and the intense, almost human bond that a musician has with their instrument. Above all it''s a story of hope through a journey back to musiTrade ReviewI loved Gone. It will stay with me for a long time -- Cerys MatthewsA remarkable and original memoir . . . thrilling -- Barbara Ellen * Observer *Intense, elegiac and completely mesmerizing ... a beautifully pitched memoir which hits many different registers * The Bookseller (Book of the Month) *Riveting . . . her story of bereavement and resilience, and the determination to pursue one's art no matter what obstacles stand in one's way, is as enchanting as Kym's recording of a Brahms concerto * Glamour *A remarkable story of love and loss . . . Also a gripping thriller that contains a hint of scandal, as well as money, villains and a secret -- Helen Davies * Sunday Times *Fascinating . . . a tragic musical love affair . . . told in admirably lucid and uncluttered prose -- Adam Sweeting * The Arts Desk *Riveting . . . her story of bereavement and resilience, and the determination to pursue one's art no matter what obstacles stand in one's way, is as enchanting as Kym's recording of a Brahms concerto * Harper's Bazaar *A movingly uncertain memoir of obsession, love and loss . . . Kym has an easy, elegant way of describing music * Financial Times *Deeply moving -- Sarah Foot * Daily Mail *This book makes for a devastating but ultimately redemptive read. It is much more than a story about a lost violin: it is about who we are, how we love, how we grieve -- Clemency Burton-Hill * Mail on Sunday *Gone is an extraordinary memoir of violinist and child prodigy Min Kym as she grows to understand her gift * Good Housekeeping *A story to pluck at your heartstrings * The Times *Swiftly, skilfully drawn * Spectator *The memoir is both intensely raw- Kym's agony is at times so vivid it is hard to read on- and beautifully crafted * The Lady *An incredibly moving story * Radio 3 In Tune *

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Book SynopsisThe story of the banjo''s journey from Africa to the western hemisphere blends music, history, and a union of cultures. In Banjo Roots and Branches, Robert B. Winans presents cutting-edge scholarship that covers the instrument''s West African origins and its adaptations and circulation in the Caribbean and United States. The contributors provide detailed ethnographic and technical research on gourd lutes and ekonting in Africa and the banza in Haiti while also investigating tuning practices and regional playing styles. Other essays place the instrument within the context of slavery, tell the stories of black banjoists, and shed light on the banjo''s introduction into the African- and Anglo-American folk milieus. Wide-ranging and illustrated with twenty color images, Banjo Roots and Branches offers a wealth of new information to scholars of African American and folk musics as well as the worldwide community of banjo aficionados. Contributors: Greg C. Adams, Nick BambTrade ReviewNicholas Bessaraboff Prize, American Musical Instrument Society, 2020 "Anyone with a strong interest in the early history of the banjo or in the broader history of American instrumental music in oral tradition will want a copy of this fine collection. All the work is imaginative, careful, and thoroughly documented. The essays flow smoothly." --Western Folklore"Banjo Roots and Branches is a comprehensively researched and pathbreaking piece of banjo roots scholarship. " --Music in American Life"Inspired by Dena Epstein, this is the first book to use a holistic approach in exploring the history of the banjo; it is an excellent compilation of articles for those interested in the music of Africa and the Americas."--Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje, author of Fiddling in West Africa: Touching the Spirit in Fulbe, Hausa, and Dagbamba Cultures"Winans makes a rich addition to the literature. Recommended." --Choice"As far as I know this book has no real equivalents. Several of the essays are pioneering contributions to the esoteric but intriguing field of banjo research and folklore and ethnomusicology generally."--Robert S. Cantwell, author of Bluegrass Breakdown: The Making of the Old Southern Sound"An excellent book with plenty of material for both specialist and casual readers." --Galpin Society Journal"Roots and Branches collects an extraordinary amount of research into the ongoing discovery of the banjo's Byzantine history. . . .Each essay speaks directly to all others, lending the book an unusual level of cohesion for an edited volume." --The World of Music"A significant contribution to our understanding of the history and current significance of the banjo." --Ethnomusicology

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis is a most stimulating book and one which every serious lutenist should read and understand. While Dolata may not persuade us that all or even most professional lutenists used meantone he makes a strong case that some did, and that equal temperament, while understood and widely used, was avoided by the most fastidious. He gives the reader the means to understand the issues and lots of practical advice on going beyond equal temperament towards better sound. * The Lute *While Dolata's book is aimed primarily at lutenists and gambists, the wealth of information he provides is of potential value to performers and scholars outside this limited circle. In particular, those who perform with—or conduct—lutenists and gambists can profit from learning what is involved in setting up fretted instruments in unequal systems. * Journal of Seventeenth-Century Music *[This book] handles a difficult subject with clarity and vigor, and I imagine it will find a welcome place on the bookshelf of the serious student interested in exploring the unique soundscape attainable only through meantone temperament. * Notes *There is a wealth of knowledge here for more advanced performers and those with an interest in historical temperaments. * Music Reference Services Quarterly *This is an excellent, well-written book. There is a wealth of information about how players of fretted instruments found different solutions to the problems of tuning; the section on the theory of temperaments is a good read in spite of the dryness of its subject matter; and there is much good practical advice to help us improve our playing by getting our instruments well in tune. * The Viola da Gamba Society Journal *This book is well written in a friendly style, and it fulfills its tutorial intention very well. * The Consort *Table of ContentsList of DiagramsList of TablesList of Audio FilesAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart One: PrecedentPart One Introduction1. Historical Performance, Thought, and Perspective2. Surviving Fixed Metal-Fret Instruments3. Fretting Pattern IconographyPart One ConclusionPart Two: TheoryPart Two Introduction4. Inside the Numbers: How Tuning Systems Work and Why We Need Them5. Tour through Tuning SystemsPart Two ConclusionPart Three: PracticePart Three Introduction6. Physical and Environmental Factors7. The Zen of Tuning8. Continuo9. ViolsConclusionAppendix 1: CleartuneAppendix 2: Equal Temperament Offset ChartsNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe 2007 revision of Harps and Harpists by Roslyn Rensch is the fourth in its line by the author. Even cursory glances at the precursors of the present work show her lifetime odyssey and love affair with her instrument, and make interesting comparisons with one another.June 2008 * Notes *Table of ContentsList of IllustrationsPrefacePart 1. The Harp in the Ancient World1. The Beginning2. Beyond the Earliest SourcesPart 2. The Non-Pedal Harp in Western Europe and North America3. Early Representations4. The Harp in Art, 1200–16655. The Harp in Literature and Music6. Concerning Non-pedal Harps and HarpistsPart 3. The Pedal Harp in Western Europe and North America7. Some Early Harps, Harpists, and Music8. From Single to Double Action9. The Colonies and the United States10. The Harp InternationalPart 4. Retrospection and the Future11. Some Notable Events12. Four Essays by the AuthorAppendixNotesSelected BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"I have known Maureen for many years and have watched her evolve into an excellent violinist. She has analyzed the methodology of violin playing at a phenomenal level, along with illustrations. I consider this book to be a unique and valuable asset that every serious-minded violinist should have in their library."—Max Hobart, former Boston Symphony Orchestra, Associate Concertmaster"Maureen has written a book which provides a phenomenal amount of information presented in a way that gives true insight into violin playing. Progressive Form is the most precise method out there and is without precedence in violin literature."—Victor Romanul, violinist of the Boston Symphony OrchestraTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPART ONE: Left Arm1. Left Arm Overview2. Left Arm Subdivisions3. Total Left Arm4. Left Wrist5. Left Palm6. Left-Hand Knuckles7. Left-Hand Fingers8. Left-Hand Finger Action9. Left Thumb10. Finer Balances of the Left Hand11. Left Hand Formation12. Lower Outside Corner13. Shifts14. Scales15. Trills16. VibratoPART TWO: Right Arm17. Right Forearm18. Right Wrist19. Total Right Arm20. Bow Form and Application21. The Bow Stroke: Speed, Balance, and Mental ProjectionPART THREE: Integration22. Full Body Balance23. An Expanded Approach to Scales and Arpeggios24. Mental Training and Progressive FormAppendixGlossaryIndex

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Book SynopsisLouis Kaufman (1905-1994) recorded more than one hundred major concert works and hundreds of film soundtracks. Annette Kaufman, a pianist, shared Louis's passion for music, art, and theater as they traveled the globe on performance tours. Here she reads her husband's autobiography, fifteenth CD of musical selections played by Louis Kaufman.

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Book SynopsisA young woman leaves Appalachia for life as a classical musicianor so she thinks.Trade Review"Sardonic, moving." -- The New Yorker"Brave and captivating." -- The Los Angeles Review of Books"[An] outrageously funny, shrewdly meta memoir." -- O, The Oprah Magazine

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Book SynopsisSurvey by a renowned musicologist explores the early history and construction of stringed instruments, work of the Italian masters, and bows of FranÃois Tourte. Provides contemporary glimpses of Paganini, Schumann, Berlioz.

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