"Renaissance Music for Flute & Guitar" by Allan Alexander and Jessica Walsh. There is great music to be found in all times and from all countries. This is what we are always looking for... pieces that surprise us (pleasantly of course), tunes that make us say, "I want to hear that again," and music that we can't stop playing. Allan & Jessica have compiled a tremendous collection of Renaissance and Medieval duos for flute and guitar. If you love playing independent, interesting parts and if you like communicating with your musical partner, this is the book for you.
This music captures the feeling of the Medieval and Renaissance times. It comes alive when you play it. During the Renaissance, it was the performers who wrote the music. Often they added variations; they were excited about the melodies. Allan & Jessica bring some of this approach to the music in this book. Good music need not be difficult to play. When doing arrangements, they make sure that the pieces lay well on the instruments. A few of the pieces in this book are composed by Allan & Jessica, because they also love to write. Nothing is more satisfying, nothing gives us greater pleasure than creating a tune that they want to come back to over and over again... and this is truly in the spirit of the Renaissance.
There are almost seventy minutes of music on the included CD, and 29 pieces in the book. This book is perfect to take on gigs, or just to play with a friend. The point is, the music is great. You have to play the tunes in this book to appreciate what Allan & Jessica are talking about. The CD will give you insights into the music, and it will be enjoyable to listen to on its own merit.
Songs include Dance of the Washerwoman, I Serve a Worthie Ladie, Saltarello, A Fancy, A Merry Ronde, A Child's Ronde, A Winter's Ronde, Ronde, Medieval Song No. 3, The Troubadour Song, Italiana, Medieval Song No. 1, The English Hunts Up, Sumer is Icumen in, Kemp's Jig, Out in the Meadowe, Song of the Ass, Medieval Song No. 2, Bransle Charlotte, Cantiga de Santa Marķa, Untitled from Rowallan, The Gypsy's Lilt, Volta No. 1, Kalenda Maya, Angelus ad Virginem, Canaries, Blind Mary, Two Medieval Dances, Adew Dundie.