Lute, Guitar & Theorbo Facsimile

19 Easy to Early Intermediate Pieces for Baroque Guitar from French and Iberian Manuscripts edited by Monica Hall; little-known pieces from manuscript sources, addding to the stock of easy and intermediate music available to baroque guitarists. Ten pieces, including works by Le Cocq and Corbetta, are in French tablature, and nine more, all by ’anon’ are in Italian tablature. 24 pages.

The First Booke of Songs or Ayres of foure parts with Tableture for the Lute. So Made, That all the parts together, or either of them severally, may be sung to the Lute, Orpherian, or Viol de gambo (London, [rev edn] 1613)

Newly composed to sing to the Lute, Orpharion, or viols, and a dialogue for a base and meane Lute with five voices to sing thereto (London, 1603)

The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres, of 2. 4. and 5. parts: With Tableture for the Lute or Orpherian, with the Violl de Gamba (London, 1600)

The Welde Lute Book for 6 to 7-course lutes, edited by Ian Harwood, John H. Robinson, Martin Shepherd and Stewart McCoy. A manuscript of c.1600, with 60 facsimile pages containing 39 pieces of music by Dowland, Bacheler, Collard, Holborne, Byrd, John Johnson and Robert Johnson. With introduction and concordances. 96 pages

The Folger 'Dowland' Manuscript for 6 to 7-course lute (mostly 6-course), edited by Ian Harwood, John H. Robinson and Christopher Goodwin. A manuscript in use from before 1594, to the early 17th century, 78 facsimile pages with 75 pieces of music, including autograph works by John Johnson, and John Dowland. With introduction and concordances. 114 pages

Herbert of Cherbury's Lute Manuscript. A colour facsimile of the last great English lute manuscript, compiled c.1616-1640, with 242 of the highest quality pieces for lutes from 6 to 10 courses, by French, English and Italian composers including Gaultier, Bacheler, Despont, Perrichon, Saman, Robert Johnson, amd Dowland amongst others. Two volumes: 180 pages of tablature, plus introduction volume scholarly introduction with index and concordances by Francois-Pierre Goy, Craig Hartley and John H. Robinson.

Wickhambrook Lute Manuscript The Wickhambrook Lute Manuscript is no. 6 in our series of lute book facsimiles. It is a large folio-sized manuscript compiled in the 1590s, perhaps to collect and preserve lute music by John Johnson, who died in 1594, and whose works predominate in this source. It contains what seems to be an autograph of his son, Robert Johnson. It contains 24 pieces, all for 6-course lutes, including two duets; 11 by John Johnson, 4 by Dowland (this is the unique source of ‘Tarleton’s Resurrection’), 2 by Philip van Wilder, one each by Holborne, Peter Philips, and Lassus, and 5 by anon. The original hands are beautifully clear and easy to play from. An extremely detailed introductory study by Ian Harwood considers the manuscript’s provenance and known history, with exhaustive lists of concordances and cognates from John H. Robinson. 56 pages. US-NH - New Haven (CT) Yale University Irving S. Gilmore Music Library Music Deposit 1 (formerly Rare Ma21 W632)

John Wilson, Cheerfull Ayres or Ballads (1659/60) This new edition by Matthew Spring of 69 charming, short and easy songs by a famous 17th century lutenist provides a perfect, gentle introduction to playing from a bass line (with figures added by the editor). These versatile songs (some from Shakespeare plays) can be performed by one, two or three singers or instruments (two trebles and a bass) or indeed for three voices without lute. A PDF of tablature accompaniments of 20 of the easiest songs is also available on request for those who don't want to attempt playing from the bass line. Two volumes, one for solo performance and one for thee voices, xxii + 80pp, iv + 140pp.

The Mathew Holmes Manuscripts I: Cambridge University Library MS Dd.2.11 The crown jewels of the English renaissance lute repertoire, in a beautiful full-colour facsimile. 324 pieces, 200 pages of music, mostly for 6-course lute, some for 7-course lute or bandora, by Dowland, Holborne, Cutting, Pilkington, Bacheler, Allison, Ferrabosco, Francesco da Milano and others. The unique source of 5 pieces by Dowland, and some remarkable anonymous works. A must for any serious devotee of the lute; and even includes some easy pieces for beginners, added by the scribe as page-fillers! Three volumes in hardback slipcase: 200 page full colour facsimile, plus 70 page commentary, and 8 page fascicle of reconstructions of obscure staves.