The contribution of the British Isles to the history of the violin family has been consistently under-estimated. For over 200 years England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland have produced many fine makers and an abundance of quality instruments and bows, now sought after around the world. In addition London has for over 100 years been an important centre for restoring, dealing in, collecting, and exhibiting the finest products of Stradivari, Guarneri, and other Italian masters - an important source of inspiration. Professor Harvey explains in detail the history of violin-making in Britain, from one of the earliest extant English instruments made of iron by John Bunyan in about 1647, to the extensive British craft industry of today, including within his book a comprehensive directory of violin-and-bow-makers of the British Isles, with auction prices. The book includes numerous high-quality colour and monochrome illustrations, including samples of the work of the major craftsmen involved. Throughout most of this history the scene has been dominated by the Hill family, which for over 250 years has produced instruments and bows of the highest quality, and their influence is fully assessed. The book is also a social and economic history of stringed instruments, showing how in England in particular the violin was slow to win acceptance by association with gypsies and the devil, and how the cello became the instrument favoured by royalty and the aristocracy. The demand for instruments at any particular time is gauged against musical activity in the country. The book is the first in any language to deal with the vast and fascinating subject in this way and in such depth. As such, it will be welcomed by makers, dealers internationally, auction houses, collectors, teachers, players, and students of stringed instruments.

A `hidden' instrument in the classical music world, the mandolin's repertoire of original music remains largely unknown. This book examines the lives and works of the mandolin's greatest composers, and taken together with The Early Mandolin (OUP 1989), provides the first comprehensive survey of the instrument's history. It also examines aspects of technique and looks at present-day orchestras and soloists.

This chart features chords for three of the most dominant dulcimer tunings DAD, DAC, and DAA. The most pertinent major, minor, seventh and many other chords are given for each tuning. A diagram showing all the notes of the fretboard is also given for each tuning.

Take your ukulele playing to the next level - fast - with hundreds of fun exercises, drills and practice tunesYou have a ukulele, you know just enough to be dangerous, and now you're ready to do something with it. You're in luck: "Ukulele Exercises For Dummies" helps you become a better player. This practice-based book focuses on the skills that entry-level players often find challenging and provides tips, tricks and plenty of cool exercises that will have you creating music in no time that include: - Creating rock-steady strumming patterns and rhythms- Becoming a better fingerpicker with patterns, arpeggio exercises, and solo fingerpicking pieces- Expanding your fretboard knowledge and crafting your own rock, blues and jazz riffs and solos- Playing actual songs on the ukulele - everything from the classic ukulele tunes to the 12 bar blues - Downloadable audio files of the exercises found in the book, providing you with a self-contained practice packageNo matter if you're a beginning ukulele player or you're wanting to stretch and improve your chops, "Ukulele Exercises For Dummies" puts you on your way to becoming a ukulele extraordinaire

(Book). The world's most famous guitar had a golden anniversary in 2004, and this official, authorized book/CD package offers the best photos, quotes, facts and sounds to properly celebrate this achievement. From Buddy Holly to Jimi Hendrix to today's hottest players, the Fender Stratocaster defines rock'n'roll for generations of fans and players. Special features include exclusive photos from the world's greatest guitar collection, as well as a CD with musical examples of famous Strat sounds and styles hilariously performed by Greg Koch even spoken excerpts from the author's interviews with the Strat's beloved inventor, Leo Fender. This book also recognizes that the Stratocaster's deeper significance lies in the music that guitarists have created with it. You'll hear what Strat players have to say about their instrument, their music and each other. The Fender Stratocaster both reflects and influences popular culture worldwide. The Stratocaster Chronicles focuses on the people who brought it into the world, the designers and builders who refined it, and the players who have taken it from there.

Yehudi Menuhin shares with the reader his unique store of understanding about the violin, about how to exercise and practise, about the techniques of performance. His reflections on the nature and scope of his instrument are profoundly illuminating and his theories on interpretation particularly valuable. A section on the violinist as teacher/student contains a fascinating transcript of a lesson with Yehudi Menuhin, who also writes separately about the violinist as orchestral player, leader, chamber music player, recitalist and soloist. William Primrose writes the distinguished monograph on the viola and describes the instrument as 'a violin with a college education'. He was an acknowledged technical master of the viola who, along with Lionel Tertis, was one of the finest exponents of this beautiful instrument of the 20th century. Denis Stevens, the British musicologist and specialist in early music, provides and interesting chapter on the history of the violin and looks in detail at the monumental challenge that is Bach's Six Solos for Violin without Bass Accompaniment better known as the Sonatas and Partitas for Violin.

This survey of the string quartet by ten chamber music specialists focuses on four main areas: social and musical background to the genre's development; celebrated ensembles and their significance; and string quartet playing. It reviews aspects of contemporary and historical practice, including "mixed ensembles." Informative appendixes and a full chronology of the mainstream repertory complete this compact guide.

Featuring thirteen essays covering different traditions, styles, and instruments, this study is written by influential players, teachers and guitar historians. Its coverage allows the guitarist to learn the analogies and differences between traditions and styles. The genres range from baroque, classical, country, blues and rock to flamenco, African and Celtic.

Encore Violin is the official collection of best-loved ABRSM violin exam pieces, selected from syllabuses of the past few decades. Violinists will find an appealing mix of repertoire, while teachers can be confident that the perfect balance of content has been selected at every level. Book 2 features 18 popular pieces at Grades 3 and 4. Have fun exploring modern favourites and timeless classics, like Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King or Purcell's Rondeau from Abdelazar. Footnotes provide background information, a summary of the key skills that each piece develops, and new ideas for exploring the music. Perfect for learners exploring repertoire for the own-choice piece in ABRSM's Performance Grade exams

(Guitar Method). An outstanding source for the technique and repertoire of the classical guitar, this book continues where Vol. 1 leaves off. It teaches: all notes in the upper position; tone production; advanced techniques such as tremolo, harmonics, vibrato, pizzicato and slurs; practice tips; stylistic interpretation; and more. The first half of the book deals primarily with technique, while the second half of the book applies the technique with repertoire pieces. As a special bonus, this book includes 32 previously unpublished Parkening edition pieces by composers including Dowland, Bach, Scarlatti, Sor, Tarrega and others, plus three guitar duets.

*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 Moggach From 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 poignant meditation on the power of objects, stories and music to shape individual lives and to craft entire cultures.

The Absolute Beginners award-winning method has been designed to make learning the 5-string banjo easier than ever before! Step-by-step pictures take you from first day exercises to playing your first complete songs. Absolute Beginners Banjo gives you: An 'owner's manual' approach to the banjo; Practical advice and tips covering everything you need to know about setting up, playing and maintenance; A look-and-learn course that uses clear pictures to illustrate every step of learning; CD audio tracks to let you hear how things should sound, plus full-length accompaniments so you can play along!

Does the thought of sight-reading make you groan? The ability to sight-read fluently is a vital skill, enabling you to learn new pieces more quickly and play with other musicians. The best-selling Improve Your Sight-reading! series, by renowned educationalist Paul Harris, is designed to help you overcome all your sight-reading problems, especially in the context of graded exams. Step by step you build up a complete picture of each piece, firstly through rhythmic and melodic exercises related to specific technical issues, then by studying prepared pieces with associated questions, and finally 'going solo' with a series of meticulously graded sight-reading pieces. New edition, devised to support the revised sight-reading criteria from the ABRSM from 2012.

(Musicians Institute Press). In this one-on-one lesson, MI instructor Tom Kolb unravels the mystery of the modes, giving guitarists a complete approach to soloing and a thorough, hands-on explanation of Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian. He also covers: melodic minor, harmonic minor and the blues scale; soloing over diatonic and modal progressions; superimposing modes; patterns, progressions, licks; and much more. The accompanying CD includes 83 full-band tracks.

Music through the Ages Volume 1