John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra (Mini Scores) [Paperback]

John McLaughlin (Author), Roy Perdue; John Curtin; Mark Podolnick (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 20, 2006

Arranged for Miniature-Score by John McLaughlin. In addition to the scores, McLaughlin provides a vocabulary of modes and synthetic modes to help in the improvisation of the music. Most pieces are arranged for Guitar, Violin, Keyboard, Bass and Drum. 28 titles from the recordings: Inner Mounting Flame, Birds Of Fire, Visions Of The Emerald Beyond, Between Nothingness & Eternity. Contents: A Lotus On Irish Streams, Awakening, The Dance Of Maya, Dawn, Meeting Of The Spirits, Noonward Race, Vital Transformation, You Know, You Know, Birds Of Fire, Celestial Terrestrial Commuters, Hope, Miles Beyond, One Word, Open Country Joy, Resolution, Sanctuary, Sapphire Bullets Of Pure Love, Thousand Island Park, Be Happy, Earth Ship, Eternity's Breath, Faith, If I Could See, Lila's Dance, On The Way Home To Earth, Opus I, Pastoral, Dream. Also includes a foreword by John McLauglin, photos and Music Vocabulary.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Alfred Publishing (November 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0739042556
• ISBN-13: 978-0739042557
• Product Dimensions: 0.2 x 9 x 12 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,149 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Instrumentation > Orchestra

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last, September 20, 2007

By 

Jerrold Baldwin (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra (Mini Scores) (Paperback)

I have been waiting for this book for thirty years. I missed it the first time around when it was published in the late 1970s. Luckily it has been reprinted.

It is fairly complex due to the nature of the music and the mini score notation. However, should you want to play some of John McLaughlin's music and or understand its structure this book is a good place to start.

The scores have been produced with a great deal of care. Most of the scores are laid out with the 'normal' early Mahavishnu Orchestra instrumentation (bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, and violin). The scores seem to have been faithfully produced from the original recordings, and additional parts have been given where necessary. Useful key/mode guides for ad libbing have also been given.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Complex Music Ever, October 20, 2007

By 

Peter Formiller - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra (Mini Scores) (Paperback)

Birds of FireThe Inner Mounting FlameBetween Nothingness and EternityVisions of the Emerald Beyond

This is the sheet music for The Inner Mounting Flame, Birds of Fire, Visions of the Emerald Beyond, and the song "Dream" from Between Nothingness and Eternity. The music is an exact reprint of the book originally printed in the 1970s and it has the same photos inside. It has a new cover and the text has been reset, but they tried to make it as close in appearance to the original as possible. (Oddly, they misspelled the word "album"--perhaps too young to know what albums were?)

As to the music...well, if you ever tried to tap along with a Mahavishnu song trying to figure out what time signature it is in, this book is the answer key. It also includes some notes from John McLaughlin concerning modes, including some that weren't actually used in the songs.

If you are fascinated by the music on these albums, you know you need this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Reprint of this Musical Treasure Map, February 25, 2008

By 

M. T. Ghio "Smavis" (LJ/PB) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra (Mini Scores) (Paperback)

Anyone who might be looking to emulate the MO should know this book is where it all begins. This is an exact reprint of the original scorebook and maintains all original dimensions except for a stronger spine and a gloss cover on the front and back. My dad's original copy of this songbook has seen better days so I was excited to discover and order this new printing.

Guru McLaughlin has included nearly every MO song within this book. The mini-scores give an excellent musical vantage from which one can start to understand the complicated nature of creating this incredible music. Even the most avid sightreader will need to take some time to work out all those insane 64th note arpeggios in 13/8, 9/8, 7/4, 6/4, 5/4, etc...

Of course, included in the front of the book is the key to this treasure map. McLaughlin has laid out the modal structures one can use to derive, create, and exploit in the many areas calling for improvisation. The theory page is an excellent reference for practicing and deriving modes that are crucial if you're gonna try to sound like these masters. Even those with little theory knowledge or experience can begin to utilize and understand some of the basic functions of these modes after studying this page.

If you're a musician, and you like the MO, there is absolutely no reason to not buy this book. It's perfect, they're perfect, and you'll be on the road to perfection if you spend enough time studying this glorious masterpiece.