Which Allen Alexander book do you recommend?

[sherrie]

Hi all,

I'm a fairly novice mandolin player, and I want to play more at my local renaissance faires. I can read and play music in standard notation.

I would like to get or (or two) of the Allen Alexander books - which should I get first? My requirement is: Novice-Intermediate, fun, catchy tunes. I don't care if their renaissance or medieval in era.

Just soliciting opinions!

[sherrie]

Gah, I just realized I posted this in the wrong section. Sorry all.

[Martin Jonas]

Hi all,

I'm a fairly novice mandolin player, and I want to play more at my local renaissance faires. I can read and play music in standard notation.

If you can read standard notation, there's no need to go for Allen's books at all: a good source for simple medieval and renaissance tunes is the attached PDF file, which is a conversion of an ABC file that has been circulating online for several years. I have some (by now very old) recordings of quite a few of these tune in this thread.

These are almost all very easy to play and very effective.

Another excellent free source is Steve Hendrick's SCA dance music page:

Link

These are intended to be played with others, but in many cases the top voice works solo as well (e.g. all the Playford dances, which were originally published as single voice tunes anyway).

Martin

[Bren]

Allan's books are beautifully presented with simple arrangements and I'd most recommend the one of Spanish and South American tunes with accompanying CD.

[Gelsenbury]

I recommend "Mandolin music for mediaeval faires". It has some tunes suitable for beginners, some that you can leave for later - all in both standard notation and tab, with accompanying guitar chords and beautifully played on the enclosed CD.

[Jim Roberts]

I love his books...especially those that have accompanying guitar books. I have four of them. Fun stuff.

[JEStanek]

I have several of his books as well. Medieval and Renaissance Music and a couple others. You really can't go wrong. His arrangements are pretty straight forward and as you know the style they are easy to embellish with your own bits.

Jamie

[sherrie]

I ordered the Mandolin Music for Medieval Faires book! I hope it arrives soon - I'm excited to try it.

I've been playing quite a bit out of Cantiga's Renaissance Faire favorites - http://www.amazon.com/Mel-Cantigas-R.../dp/078664432X

It's nice for the whistle and flute too.

[hokelore]

Kitchen Musician has a small collection titled something like Medieval & Renaissance Faque Book. I've learned some good tunes from there. I've also drawn some good tunes from Cantiga's book.

What faires are you looking at? Just wondering if we might cross paths. I play or have played at some in Indiana and Michigan.

Tim

[Caleb]

AA's books are my favorite tunebooks. I highly recommend his Celtic Music for Mandolin, Early Dance Music for Mandolin, and Airs of the Scottish Renaissance - all truly excellent resources.

[JayA]

I also have the Mandolin Music for Mediaeval Faires. It has some great tunes in it. Cantiga 119 is one of my favourites. I'm planning to grab a few more books in the next month or so, too. Really good tunes to play and learn.