The Irish Fiddle Book: The Art of Traditional Fiddle-Playing [Paperback]

Matt Cranitch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1988

A comprehensive tutor covering all aspects of Irish Fiddle-playing, dance music and slow-air playing. None better than Matt to teach you, with his enormous experience both as a teacher and player.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Matt Cranitch, who lives in Cork, is renowned as a fiddle-player and teacher, both at home in Ireland and abroad. He has performed extensively at concerts and festivals, on radio and television, and has also presented lectures, master-classes and workshops on various aspects of Irish music, particularly fiddle-playing. As a founder member of Na Fili, he featured on all their records, and has made a number of solo albums and varios other recordings. He is a graduate in electrical engineering and in music of University College Cork, and he lectures at Cork Institute of Technology, where his subject areas and interests include electronic engineering and music technology. Matt has a particular involvement in the music of Sliabh Luachra, on the Cork/Kerry border, and is engaged in on-going research on the fiddle-playing style of this region at the Irish World Music Centre, University of Limerick. As a highly accomplished musician and experienced teacher, he brings to this book a deep knowledge and keen understanding of all aspects of fiddle-playing. He has also contributed to a number of other books on Irish traditional music. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: Ossian; Revised edition (January 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1900428903
• ISBN-13: 978-1900428903
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A necessary addition to your collection, April 9, 2000

By 

Susan Hinojoza "It's a full life." (Union City, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Irish Fiddle Book: The Art of Traditional Fiddle-Playing (Paperback)

If you're interested in learning Irish fiddling you can't go wrong buying this book. Matt Cranitch is a true Irish fiddler and his book and tape set reflect his vast knowledge of the form. There is a section in this book for new fiddlers, but I wouldn't recommend it for absolute beginners because the pace of the book is rapid and the initial tunes are fairly difficult to play. However, if you've been playing Old Time or any other type of fiddling for awhile, you'll have no trouble.

Matt Cranitch excells at explaining and intorducing bowing and rhythmic styles as well as ornamentation. The last section of the book features 100 tunes so you'll have new stuff to play for a long time. The main section is broken down into chapters based on the type of tune--jig, reel etc., and each chapter introduces a new technical aspect for you to master. The section on slow airs is lovely, but I wish Matt would have provided some tips on vibrato rather than refer his readers to a teacher.

I recommend this book wholeheartedly. I also recommend that you buy Mel Bay's Complete Irish Fiddle Player by Peter Cooper, which is another excellent book. The two together should provide you with a good grounding in Irish fiddle.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the Best, June 30, 2002

By 

Edward (The Woodlands, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Irish Fiddle Book: The Art of Traditional Fiddle-Playing (Paperback)

I have purchased a number of Irish fiddle materials over the last four years. I have played guitar for over 30 years and thought that I would try Irish fiddle. Of all the books and materials I have purchased, this is simply the best. The tunes are challenging, yet playable, (if you put some time in} even for a beginner. Mr. Cranitch's playing on the accompanying cassette is excellent, and the cassette makes for good listening on it's own. I would assume that an intermediate to accomplished violinist who wants to play Irish fiddle would find this book less challenging, but I am confident that he or she would enjoy it. For someone with no knowledge of the violin, it will be very challenging, and maybe discouraging. But, once you have the ability to play in tune in first position, and are comfortable and relaxed with your bowing, this is the book to buy.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Learning Tool, November 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Irish Fiddle Book: The Art of Traditional Fiddle-Playing (Paperback)

I have this fiddle book and it is very thorough. Matt is an excellent fiddle teacher. There is a CD and a cassette that goes with it, sold separately, usually at music stores. The CD is recommend so you can just hit the track button and replay a tune you're practicing rather than rewinding the tape cassette. Highly recommended for learning Irish fiddle.