books

Recommendeded reading material

Database with books, video's, tutorials, etc. relevant to playing cittern, or Celtic music in general.

Exploring the Bouzouki by Jim Cowdery
The Irish Bouzouki by Niall O Callanain and Tommy Walsh
Celtic Backup for all Instrumentalists by Chris Smith
Accompanying Irish Music On Guitar by Frank Kilkelly
121 Favourite Irish Session Tunes by L.E. McCullough

Author: Jim Cowdery Title: Exploring the Bouzouki

Contributor: A. de Waal Medium: Book + cassette Number of pages: 16 ISBN: n/a

Publisher: Front Hall Records Catalog Nr: FHR BP-1001 Year: 1981, 2nd printing 1992 ID of this entry: 13

Remarks: The focus of this book is for bouzouki or octave mandolin tuned Gdae. It is only a small booklet, but may be this is the best around. Especially with the cassette it is well worth buying. The tape is recorded with bouzoukis made by Carstanjen and Rich Westerman.

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Author: Niall O Callanain and Tommy Walsh Title: The Irish Bouzouki

Contributor: A. de Waal Medium: Book + cassette Number of pages: 50 ISBN: n/a

Publisher: Waltons Music Inc. Catalog Nr: ? Year: 1989 ID of this entry: 14

Remarks: Written mostly for Gdad bouzouki. The cassette contains nice music. The transcriptions are only for the melody line, with guitar chords above that do not accurately reflect what's being played. The book contains nice pictures and biographies of players, and pictures and descriptions of the Irish Bouzouki. Don't hold your breath when you expect to buy a tutor.

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Author: Chris Smith Title: Celtic Backup for all Instrumentalists

Contributor: A. de Waal Medium: Book + CD Number of pages: 103 ISBN: 0-7866-4065-0

Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. Catalog Nr: 97205BCD Year: 1999 ID of this entry: 15

Remarks: Not written with any instrument in mind, the CD features some cool bouzouki licks. The examples are a joy to listen to. One thing only to keep in mind: Chris is a firm believer of hard work and commitment, he is not just showing you any shortcuts. I just didn't find the time and solitude to really get to work with it. If you do have the time: this is the book to get. If you have a choice: buy directly from Chris (smithcj@indiana.edu), it is cheaper and faster.

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Author: Frank Kilkelly Title: Accompanying Irish Music On Guitar

Contributor: S. Colby Medium: Book + optional CD Number of pages: 40 ISBN: n/a

Publisher: ? Catalog Nr: Book: A184 - Ł 8.95/CD: A185 - Ł 9.99 Year: 2000 ID of this entry: 16

Remarks: Having heard and seen Frank Kilkelly on Simon Mayor's "New Celtic Mandolin" Video, I didn't hesitate to order the set when it was mentioned on the list about 10 days ago. I ordered it from Mally and it only took about six days to arrive. This is a suberb effort on the part of Kilkelly to introduce a variety of tecniques and tunes suitable for all skill levels. It is a 40 page booklet (with CD which is separate from the booklet) which contains 14 pairs of tunes - each on a separate CD track. What is really nice about the tracks is that you initially hear the tune played melody left channel - backup right channel. Then you switch to another track and hear only melody so you can accompany the tune. This is certainly not an original idea but a most effective one IMHO. The book contains the usual assortment of reels, jigs and hornpipes but they are well selected to eliminate "redundancy or similarity of sound or keys". Frank also uses 4 different tunings - EADGBE/DADGBE (Drop D)/DADGBD (Double Drop D)/DADGAD - fortunately not in the same medley (just kidding). One of the nicest features of the book is the manner in which Frank shows the suggested chordal accompaniment to all of the tunes. First he gives you all the suggested chords then beneath it in a matrix he shows the chords measure by measure within each A or B part alongwith suggested variations. This is an approach I haven't seen before but it is very effective. At the top of each tune medley is a recap of all relevant info about the tune such as tuning, type of tune, keys, capo positions and right hand patterns (which are thoroughly explained). Thr subtleties of chord substitutions are discussed/used from tune to tune which is something I wanted to learn more about. The book also contains a great deal of useful info on discography, theory, practice tecniques, equipment, etc. - very well presented. He also talks about a teflon coated capo that he uses - made in the states called Quickdraw - great for quick key changes where a Kyser, Shubb or Dunlop would not function. Of course the tunes are readily adaptable to CBOM... For those of you who have used the Chris Smith publication for Celtic Backup, this is a nice addition and it is available from www.mally.com for about $30.00 American. Steve Colby

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Author: L.E. McCullough Title: 121 Favourite Irish Session Tunes

Contributor: A. de Waal Medium: Book + 4 CD's Number of pages: 50 ISBN: 0-634-01164-2

Publisher: Homespun Tapes Catalog Nr: CD-LEMIS Year: 1999 ID of this entry: 17

Remarks: This book contains 121 tunes, all played on D whistle by virtuoso L.E. McCullough. What makes it special is the separation of the whistle playing and the backing (guitar or keyboard). You can choose to play along with the melody, the backup, or both. The tunes are first played slowly with little ornamentation, to memorize the tune. Then the tune is played faster (but still relatively slow) with full ornamentation. The sessions I go to usually feature much faster playing (doesn't really improve the tunes though). Most of the tunes I really like. The guitar backing is quite nice, I do not care so much for the keyboard, but that is a matter of taste. What I found special too is the chords that are used: a lot of suspended chords. Especially the use of alternating D and Dsus (DEGA) in a D tune suggest harmonic motion where there really isn't a lot going on. An eyeopener, since now I understand why I have so much trouble in figuring out some chord sequences. Needless to say: the tunes fit well on a bouzouki or a cittern. I ordered directly from Homespun, and got it within two weeks. Before this I waited for half a year after repeated ordering in my local music store.

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Author: Jim Cowdery		Title: Exploring the Bouzouki
Contributor: A. de Waal	Medium: Book + cassette	Number of pages: 16	ISBN: n/a
Publisher: Front Hall Records	Catalog Nr: FHR BP-1001	Year: 1981, 2nd printing 1992	ID of this entry: 13
Remarks: The focus of this book is for bouzouki or octave mandolin tuned Gdae. It is only a small booklet, but may be this is the best around. Especially with the cassette it is well worth buying. The tape is recorded with bouzoukis made by Carstanjen and Rich Westerman.

Author: Niall O Callanain and Tommy Walsh		Title: The Irish Bouzouki
Contributor: A. de Waal	Medium: Book + cassette	Number of pages: 50	ISBN: n/a
Publisher: Waltons Music Inc.	Catalog Nr: ?	Year: 1989	ID of this entry: 14
Remarks: Written mostly for Gdad bouzouki. The cassette contains nice music. The transcriptions are only for the melody line, with guitar chords above that do not accurately reflect what's being played. The book contains nice pictures and biographies of players, and pictures and descriptions of the Irish Bouzouki. Don't hold your breath when you expect to buy a tutor.

Author: Chris Smith		Title: Celtic Backup for all Instrumentalists
Contributor: A. de Waal	Medium: Book + CD	Number of pages: 103	ISBN: 0-7866-4065-0
Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc.	Catalog Nr: 97205BCD	Year: 1999	ID of this entry: 15
Remarks: Not written with any instrument in mind, the CD features some cool bouzouki licks. The examples are a joy to listen to. One thing only to keep in mind: Chris is a firm believer of hard work and commitment, he is not just showing you any shortcuts. I just didn't find the time and solitude to really get to work with it. If you do have the time: this is the book to get. If you have a choice: buy directly from Chris (smithcj@indiana.edu), it is cheaper and faster.

Author: Frank Kilkelly		Title: Accompanying Irish Music On Guitar
Contributor: S. Colby	Medium: Book + optional CD	Number of pages: 40	ISBN: n/a
Publisher: ?	Catalog Nr: Book: A184 - Ł 8.95/CD: A185 - Ł 9.99	Year: 2000	ID of this entry: 16
Remarks: Having heard and seen Frank Kilkelly on Simon Mayor's "New Celtic Mandolin" Video, I didn't hesitate to order the set when it was mentioned on the list about 10 days ago. I ordered it from Mally and it only took about six days to arrive. This is a suberb effort on the part of Kilkelly to introduce a variety of tecniques and tunes suitable for all skill levels. It is a 40 page booklet (with CD which is separate from the booklet) which contains 14 pairs of tunes - each on a separate CD track. What is really nice about the tracks is that you initially hear the tune played melody left channel - backup right channel. Then you switch to another track and hear only melody so you can accompany the tune. This is certainly not an original idea but a most effective one IMHO. The book contains the usual assortment of reels, jigs and hornpipes but they are well selected to eliminate "redundancy or similarity of sound or keys". Frank also uses 4 different tunings - EADGBE/DADGBE (Drop D)/DADGBD (Double Drop D)/DADGAD - fortunately not in the same medley (just kidding). One of the nicest features of the book is the manner in which Frank shows the suggested chordal accompaniment to all of the tunes. First he gives you all the suggested chords then beneath it in a matrix he shows the chords measure by measure within each A or B part alongwith suggested variations. This is an approach I haven't seen before but it is very effective. At the top of each tune medley is a recap of all relevant info about the tune such as tuning, type of tune, keys, capo positions and right hand patterns (which are thoroughly explained). Thr subtleties of chord substitutions are discussed/used from tune to tune which is something I wanted to learn more about. The book also contains a great deal of useful info on discography, theory, practice tecniques, equipment, etc. - very well presented. He also talks about a teflon coated capo that he uses - made in the states called Quickdraw - great for quick key changes where a Kyser, Shubb or Dunlop would not function. Of course the tunes are readily adaptable to CBOM... For those of you who have used the Chris Smith publication for Celtic Backup, this is a nice addition and it is available from www.mally.com for about $30.00 American. Steve Colby

Author: L.E. McCullough		Title: 121 Favourite Irish Session Tunes
Contributor: A. de Waal	Medium: Book + 4 CD's	Number of pages: 50	ISBN: 0-634-01164-2
Publisher: Homespun Tapes	Catalog Nr: CD-LEMIS	Year: 1999	ID of this entry: 17
Remarks: This book contains 121 tunes, all played on D whistle by virtuoso L.E. McCullough. What makes it special is the separation of the whistle playing and the backing (guitar or keyboard). You can choose to play along with the melody, the backup, or both. The tunes are first played slowly with little ornamentation, to memorize the tune. Then the tune is played faster (but still relatively slow) with full ornamentation. The sessions I go to usually feature much faster playing (doesn't really improve the tunes though). Most of the tunes I really like. The guitar backing is quite nice, I do not care so much for the keyboard, but that is a matter of taste. What I found special too is the chords that are used: a lot of suspended chords. Especially the use of alternating D and Dsus (DEGA) in a D tune suggest harmonic motion where there really isn't a lot going on. An eyeopener, since now I understand why I have so much trouble in figuring out some chord sequences. Needless to say: the tunes fit well on a bouzouki or a cittern. I ordered directly from Homespun, and got it within two weeks. Before this I waited for half a year after repeated ordering in my local music store.