The Renaissance Guitar

I've owned this book for several years and have used it many times. I cannot comment on the included CD since my book did not come with one. So I can only comment on the quality of the book itself. This book is a must for those who love music of this period. The pages at the front of the book do an excellent job of discussing the vihuela, lute, and the tablature from whence the music in this book came. It's a very nice historical reading about these instruments and the time period. This book contains solos, duets and music for guitar and voice. I have played several of the solos and duets. My favorite duet is La Rossignol which can be heard here:http://www.delcamp.net/forum/en/viewtopic.php?f=45 & t=36837 being played by myself and my duet partner. The book progresses from easy to difficult so it has something for everyone. The music is very well notated giving good left hand fingering suggestions and sometimes even pictures of old tablature which is very interesting to study. Playing suggestions or other information are given at the beginning of each piece. For example, "Guardame Las Vacas" has a short blurb of it's historical information, tempo speed suggestion, and some fingering ideas to make it easier to play. It's not the full version of Guardame, but it's still quite nice. Guardame Las Vacas is actually a theme and variations which has several more variations than what is in this book. I have no complaints about this book. I teach classical guitar and have used numerous pieces from this book for myself and for my students. It's money well spent.

For anyone trained in reading classical guitar notation, this book is excellent. The pieces are wonderful, the fingering and suggestions are just enough to make things easy and not overly done. The selection ranges from late beginner to advanced, but even the advanced stuff is readable. Only complaints are that the CD does not include all the selections and the singer on the CD for the few selections with vocals is an awful classical style singer with a disgusting amount of vibrato. Besides the fact that this level of vibrato being generally distasteful in any context, it is particularly inappropriate to this era when vibrato was definitely not encouraged. But the book is excellent and deserves 5 stars. The CD is just bonus and it is overall quite good.

Noad's books in this series have a very tasteful presentation of staples of the repertoire mixed with more obscure pieces, illustrations, and history. Highly recommended!

As far as guitar sheet music/song books go, Frederick Noad was and is a name to be trusted. This collection is no different from his others. A first rate compilation. I rarely have problems with his fingering suggestions. The selections are top notch and always include a few surprises! Mr. Noad was truly one of the finest classical guitar teachers of the 20th century (and a top flight guitarist to boot). His legacy lives on in his songbooks. I own everything he published and recommend him most highly to beginner, intermediate and advanced students alike.

I've had this book for almost 20 years and have been getting back into it quite a bit lately. The reviewer that complained about the tablature notation is a little confused. The numbering on the notes are left hand fingerings, not tablature, and is standard for classical guitar notation. Sometimes I find myself playing just the notes and paying less attention to the fingering.. or I might question the fingering... but time and time again I find the fingering offered is utlimately the best solution.Not only is the music expertly presented but the selections are incredible. Years ago I bought the tapes of this book as well as Noad's Baroque, Classical and Romantic books. I learned many of the pieces that were on the tapes that I found interesting.. but for the most part with this book and the Romantic book I think all of the tunes are quality. I have even learned the pieces that were not on the tape and have found a number of gems. I am an amatuer so I don't appreciate spending what little time I have to learn a piece and then having the piece turn out uninteresting... but I think you will find ALL of the pieces in this book to be fascinating.This was the first Noad book I bought... and had it for a few years before I bought the others. However... I still find this one to be my favorite. And the four book collection has to be the greatest collection of classical guitar music ever assembled.I may have to order another copy of this book because I've worn mine down.