50 Renaissance Solos for Classical Guitar (Book & CD) [Paperback]

Mark Phillips (Author)

Book Description

Series: Book & CD | Publication Date: August 1, 2005

This book/CD pack features 50 classical solos arranged for solo guitar with tablature. Includes music by composers such as Thomas Campian, Francis Cutting, John Dowland, Orlando Gibbons, Michael Praetorius, and many others.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Founded in 1947, Hal Leonard Corporation has become the worlds largest print music publisher, representing some of the greatest songwriters and artists of all time. We are proud to publish titles of interest to all musicians as well as music lovers, from songbooks and instructional titles to artist biographies and instrument price guides to books about the music industry and all the performing arts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: Cherry Lane Music (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575608359
• ISBN-13: 978-1575608358
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark Phillips is an author, guitarist, arranger, and editor with more than 35 years in the music publishing field. He earned his bachelor's degree in music theory from Case Western Reserve University, where he received the Carolyn Neff Award for scholastic excellence, and his master's degree in music theory from Northwestern University, where he was elected to Pi Kappa Lambda, the most prestigious U.S. honor society for college and university music students. While working toward a doctorate in music theory at Northwestern, Phillips taught classes in theory, ear-training, sight-singing, counterpoint, and guitar.

During the 1970s and early '80s, Phillips was Director of Popular Music at Warner Bros. Publications, where he edited and arranged the songbooks of such artists as Neil Young, James Taylor, the Eagles, and Led Zeppelin. Since the mid-'80s he has served as Director of Music and Director of Publications at Cherry Lane Music, where he has edited or arranged the songbooks of such artists as John Denver, Van Halen, Guns N' Roses, and Metallica, and has served as Music Editor of the magazines Guitar and Guitar One.

Phillips is the author of several books on musical subjects, including Guitar for Dummies, Metallica Riff by Riff, Sight-Sing Any Melody Instantly, and Sight-Read Any Rhythm Instantly. In his non-musical life, Phillips is the author/publisher of a series of 'fun' high school English textbooks, including The Wizard of Oz Vocabulary Builder, The Pinocchio Intermediate Vocabulary Builder, Tarzan and Jane's Guide to Grammar, and Conversations in Early American History: 1492-1837.

Phillips' publishing company, A. J. Cornell Publications, was named in honor of, and publishes selected works by, two favorite early 20th century authors, A. J. Cronin and Cornell Woolrich.

For the reference value of his numerous publications, Phillips is profiled in Who's Who in America.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good stuff..., August 25, 2007

By 

Sulla - See all my reviews

This review is from: 50 Renaissance Solos for Classical Guitar (Book & CD) (Paperback)

This is a great tab book for those who are interested in learning Renaissance guitar. The cd that comes with it is very nice, almost worth the price itself. If you're into that Bard/tavern music/medieval type stuff, you'll love it.

I only recently became interested in Renaissance guitar, and this book has been extremely helpful. Some really nice, slow beginner pieces in here, and others are a bit more challenging. Think of it as a baby step toward learning more complex classical pieces.

So, if you're looking to learn this style, I recommend it, it's great fun and very pretty. Also, having a classical guitar isn't required obviously, but if you want the appropriate sound it's highly recommended.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction, September 29, 2009

By 

Bruce Horner (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 50 Renaissance Solos for Classical Guitar (Book & CD) (Paperback)

The music here is in tablature and standard notation printed in a stapled book. The print quality is excellent, with the staff lines fainter than the tablature itself, making this very easy to play from. Many pieces fit on one page, or a two page spread, with just one page turn needed. The CD has very good sound quality. Few of the selected pieces are instantly memorable, but they are easy to play and provide a good general introduction to this type of music. The arrangements are simple, and comparing the John Dowland pieces with the original lute shows the author has removed many harmonizing notes to simplify playing. However, I wanted to expand my knowledge of the genre and this book achieves that. If you're looking for intermediate/advanced works then you'll be disappointed with this. For excellent print quality and book design, good CD, 50 pieces from 21 composers (including 12 anonymous pieces) this gets 5 stars from me.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well, July 28, 2011

By 

Simen Kjaersdalen - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 50 Renaissance Solos for Classical Guitar (Book & CD) (Paperback)

the tunes are good, and the CD is fine. But why make new arrangements of tunes that are even better in the original lute-scripts? Originals that are mostly just as easy to play? Go for the Frederick Noad-book, if you don't need the tab. There you will get much closer to the oiriginal music. This is a "Renaissance light" product, not the real thing. But yes, you can use it for beginners and as an introduction to this music.