World of Celtic Fingerstyle Guitar (Book/DVD Set)

This collection of traditional music from Ireland and Scotland arranged for solo guitar is the result of a passionate study of the tradition by some of the finest musicians playing in this genre. Compiled by Stefan Grossman, this book includes arrangements by Pierre Bensusan, El McMeen, Martin Simpson, Pat Kirtley, Duck Baker, Tom Long & Steve Baughman. Looking back less than a century you would find this music performed on fiddle, pipes, button accordion, flutes and whistles, in solo and ensemble settings, but never guitar, even in its basic role of providing rhythm. The challenge for those who attempt to translate Celtic traditional music for fingerstyle guitar is to preserve the unique qualities which are the essence of the style. The popularity of alternate tunings in this music tends to come from two different directions. One is in the desire for production of tonalities of droning instruments, ß la the bagpipes, and tunings such as DADGAD and EADEAE make this effect relatively easy. On the other hand, there are guitar tunings which lend themselves easily to the melodic steps and fullness found in the diatonic Celtic harp, such as DGDGBD (open G tuning) and the CGDGAD.

PAT KIRTLEY

Planxty Irwin
Rodney's Glory
Moran's Return
South Wind
Morgan Magan
Fanny Power
Chase The Weasel
Finn MacCool's Reel

MARTIN SIMPSON

Medley: Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms/Waters of Tyne
Shepherd's Delight
Lowlands of Holland
Medley: Rosie Anderson/ The Shearing's Not For You/Bogies' Bonny Belle

STEVE BAUGHMAN

Bill Malley's Barndance
Fanny Power
Bony Crossing The Alps
Ramble To Cashel
Cullen Bay

DUCK BAKER

The Blarney Pilgrim
The Rakes of Waterloo
Medley: Sergeant Early's Dream/Chief O'Neil's Favorite
Medley: Miss Forbes Farewell/Poll Halfpenny
The Duke of Fife's Welcome to Deeside
The Golden Keyboard
The Fairie Queen
Planxty Kelly

PIERRE BENSUSAN

Medley: The Pure Drop/The Flax In Bloom
Sheebeg An Sheemor
Heman Dubh
Murtuch McKann
Flammogan Air
Medley: Merrily Kissed The Quaker/Cunla

TOM LONG

Jenny Picking Cockles
Broken Pledge
Hardiman The Fiddle
The Butterfly
Banish Misfortune

EL McMEEN

Medley: Jock O'Hazeldean/The Castle Of Dromore
Carolan's Farewell To Music
Danny Boy
Star Of The County Down