Product Details

• Actors: Bill Monroe
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Homespun Tapes
• DVD Release Date: September 21, 2004
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0002Y4TR4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,184 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

The legendary Father of Bluegrass plays 25+ tunes from his repertoire, demonstrating the amazing technique that's made him world-famous. A must for his fans and all mandolinists. 90 MIN. · ALL LEVELS

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tremendous lesson from the father of bluegrass, November 13, 2006

By 

Super_400 "super_400" (Snohomish, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mandolin of Bill Monroe, Vol. 1 (DVD)

Watching Bill Monroe up close in a one on one conversation with John Hartford is a pleasure and a lesson that will not be forgotten. It is not a typical instruction film, to be sure. But, the lessons learned here are most certain to be more lasting.

John Hartford does a great job of staying out of the way and allowing Bill Monroe to show his technique without interruption or opinion. You can see John just wanting to push further and get a more descriptive lesson, but he is also wise enough to understand that Bill Monroe is a great talent, but not a teacher. Let him play and see what you can learn is the best approach. It's interesting to see John ask Bill to "play that section a little slower" and Bill graciously plays the section over - at the pace he just played it. Funny, but very telling.

There are some very poignant monents as well. When Mr. Monroe talks about going back home to an empty house while discussing one of his compositions will bring tears to your eyes. And, when he addresses "Last Days on Earth" one cannot help but be moved by the sincerity and emotion in his playing and his demeanor. It touches your soul.

Personally, I learned much more from this Volume One than I did from Sam Bush's more instructional Volume 2 of the same title. While Sam's is more nuts and bolts, just watching Bill was much more earthy and sticking than Volume 2. It may be best to get both, but if you have to choose, I would highly recommend Volume One as, by far, the best.

Thank you Bill for leaving this for us. Lessons I will never forget.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Companion to Mandolin of Bill Monroe Volume 2, April 21, 2005

By 

Mark Druziak (western ny) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Mandolin of Bill Monroe, Vol. 1 (DVD)

This DVD is not a mandolin lesson. However, it offers some great music and insight to Bill Monroe's life and playing style as told by Mr Monroe himself.

It is nice to have Volume 2 of this set to see Sam Bush disect a some of the music on this DVD.

This DVD is fun to watch even if you aren't a mandolin player. It's great for any bluegrass fan.

If you are a mandolin player, you are better off getting both Volume 1 and Volume 2 of this set.