Mel Bay's Complete Irish Fiddle Player

Rating:
Summary: Tommy Peoples Here I Come!
Review: Well, I can dream can't I? Peter Cooper had me playing--using the term loosely--the Irish Washerwoman in no time. Each song introduces a new element to add to your arsenel of Irish fiddling technique: slurs, grace notes, variations, combining tunes into sets, bowing patterns, and on and on. Most tunes are preceded by a brief lesson: advice, a description of what's coming in the next tune, a breakdown of the patterns, or bars or techniques to practice before trying the tune, etc. Tunes progress in difficulty quite quickly for a beginner. I've got a lot to work on already and I'm only up to tune #6. But I'm having a great time and enjoying Mr. Cooper's selections and advice. There are at least seven tunes in this volume that can be found on Bothy Band albums, such as Butterfly (a version of which is also the haunting tune in the film Secret of Roan Inish). In other words, if you like traditional Irish fiddle music, you'll find some of your favorites in this book. Be sure to purchase this book with its companion cd. Cooper plays each tune in the book: it is invaluable to listen to the rhythms and intonation of the tunes played by a real musician. While I'm no expert, it's difficult to imagine a better organized, more inspiring, collection of tunes. If you're in the mood to fiddle, this is a book to try.