Early Music Gems

This collection of 35 arrangements of early music from Medieval and Renaissance Europe presents familiar pieces like Greensleeves, Canarios, Wilson’s Wild and Kemp’s Jig, as well as pieces that you have probably heard but never knew their origins. Then too, the book includes pieces that reach deep into the repertoire and are new to most listeners and players.

This volume contains a mix of vocal and instrumental compositions, all treated with the same melodic emphasis, using both traditional and modal harmonic accompaniment. When appropriate, the use of polyphony to create interesting harmonic structures and modal passing tones were used—a common practice in vocal music of the era. While keeping these arrangements within the language of the period, occasionally a harmonic twist was added for freshness and interest.

The arrangements are in standard or dropped-D tuning and are suitable for both steel and nylon-string guitar performance. In addition, the pieces appear in standard notation and tablature so are easily accessible to the intermediate guitarist. To facilitate performance, this book includes access to online audio of every tune, expertly recorded by the author.

Adoro Devote

Allegro

Alman

An Italian Rant

Andante

Ballade

Bear Dance

Branle Double

Canarios

Childgrove

Come With Me, My Giselle

Dont vient cela

Fortune My Foe

Chestnut

Gavotte

Greensleeves

Greensleeves (with key change)

Guardeme las vacas

Grimstock

Kemp’s Jig

La Folias

Moderato

O Esca Viatorum

Packington’s Pound

Pastourelle

Rendez À Dieu

On the Cold Ground

Saltarello

Si Pour

Spagnoletta

To Drive the Cold Winter Away

St Martin’s

Tutte Venite Armati

Wilson’s Wilde

Volte