The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, Volume One: Volume 1

I probably will not play extensively from this work but having it allows me to see what Schott ("Playing the Harpsichord") is talking about. I'm well past the age of adding much of this to my repertoire but I will certainly use some of the forward and several examples in what I do. I'm happy Dover provides works like this but I really dislike the binding which must be 'broken' in order to use the book on any kind of a key desk. I'd love to have it spiral bound but that would likely add more to the cost of what is probably a pricey sometime reference work for most new harpsichordists

This and its companion volume The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book: Volume Two are the foundation of any early keyboardist's repertoire. I don't have the version with the CD, having bought mine some 10 years ago, but my students and I play from this book all the time, and it's a lot of fun if you love early English music. The selections are typical of the period and represent both well-known and lesser-known composers, and the critical notes are excellent. This book inspires me to practice!

Vol. 1 is, for me, a `follow along to the CD text and vol. 2 is a `I can play that' .... well, at least `hit most of the notes and just about get the timing'. Funny thing is most of my `favorites' are in vol. 1. That is must like because I like Byrd's music and my favorite Byrd's, less 1, are all in the first volume but it is a lot better to listen to the Hyperion set of Byrd [you can get here [01- 02 - 08] ... I mean there are things which should not be butchered.I recommend both volumes ... the first because it contains wonderful things you can play, if you are a much better keyboardest than I or follow a CD and the second because one can, even at my level of keyboard playing, Delight yourself, awe strike the dog and make totally miserable the local 12 year old with green spiked hair whose LIFE is punk rock

Being just an `average' 'Tudor period' keyboardist I can play 3, maybe 4, songs in this book. That beats the kids who can play 1, [kinda]. ... no-one I know can `batter' more than 5. Worthwhile if you like to `follow' CDs, and I do, but most folks will get so discouraged by trying to play this music they would have to look up to see a lizard's belly ... the Rodgers Virginal Book, also by Dover, is a whole lot more realistic to play music from ... oh, it is not the `high falooten' stuff in this but it doesn't drive one to strong drink in the knots of frustration as fast, either.

This is a must for all classical keyboardists. I say keyboardists because the music is meant for a harpsichord or virginal. I love it and play through it all the time.