Mel Bay Cantiga's Renaissance Festival Favorites [Spiral-bound]

Robert Bielefeld (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 17, 2006

Players of all kinds of instruments including flute, fiddle, mandolin, recorder, whistle, guitar, harp and more can use this collection of music which is popular at modern renaissance festivals. The music is presented simply, with melody lines and chord symbols, allowing for a wide range of interpretation. In addition to many period dance tunes, the book contains a selection of vocal numbers with lyrics included. Each selection is accompanied by text to suggest ideas for performance, place the music in a modern festival context and provide useful information to those interested in studying historical sources of early music. Cantiga's arrangements of some of the tunes in this book can be heard on the companion recording. They are played at a listening tempo by the ensemble: Wooden flute or recorder, fiddle, cello, harp and percussion.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 152 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (October 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078664432X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786644322
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Folk Music Collection, February 19, 2011

By 

sally shopper (AZ) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mel Bay Cantiga's Renaissance Festival Favorites (Spiral-bound)

I bought this book while I was playing in a Medieval/Renaissance recorder ensemble and wanted to expand my repertoire. Even though I have dozens of folk music collections, this is one that I reach for over and over again. I appreciate the spiral binding that allows me to set the book open on a music stand without struggling to keep the pages open. I love that the songs are arranged in alphabetical order, so I can always find what I'm looking for. The CD that comes with it is great, too, with the tunes being performed by several instruments in clever arrangements that really demonstrate what is possible from even the simplest melody. There are also some source and performance notes included with each song, which I really appreciate since as a historic reenactor I always like to research my sources. I have been playing from this book for over three years, now, with soprano recorder and fiddle, and I am still enjoying it. If the book ever falls apart, I'm buying another one for sure!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hours of enjoyment!, May 22, 2010

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This Customer. (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mel Bay Cantiga's Renaissance Festival Favorites (Spiral-bound)

Amazing collection of a variety of tunes that can be played by a beginning recorder player or, with the suggested embellishments and variations, by a more advanced player. The historical notes about the songs add a new perspective on Renaissance music and period dances. Even to the beginner, the chord and percussion notations are helpful to presenting a polished and lively performance.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cantiga's Renaissance Festival Favorites, April 7, 2009

By 

Gloria O. Garcia - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Mel Bay Cantiga's Renaissance Festival Favorites (Spiral-bound)

Very good Renaissance music book jam packed with 143 tunes in Lead Sheet form. The tunes allow the musician to get really creative in adding/changing the chords, and the CD that comes with this book, provides a way to actually hear some of these wonderful melodies, as performed by Cantiga, the group who put this book together...Highly recommended!