In his quest to compile an anthology of the best pieces by vihuela composers, David Grimes encountered the rich complexity of the music of Luys Milan. He also noticed many discrepancies in fingering and in the notes themselves in various existing transcribed editions. Following a period of exhaustive research the author prepared this authoritative guitar edition of the fifty fantasias in Milan's seminal 1536 book, El Maestro. The resulting edition provides a more accurate sense of the virtuosity of this music. These extraordinary pieces are presented here in standard notation only with extensive historical and performance notes. Of this collection the author writes," It is my sincere hope that this new edition will help bring this glorious repertoire to the attention of more of today's many outstanding performers, and that Milan's fantasias will more often take their deserved place on recital programs, alongside the masterworks of John Dowland and Francesco da Milano."

By the year 1500, the lute's almost universal appeal throughout Europe had made it a unifying element of Western music and culture. Renaissance composers, singers and dancers all found in the lute a perfect tool for the musical development and maturation of their art. In fact, the lute's unique musical and physical characteristics inspired artists and poets alike to elevate it to a place of such high honor that the lute's image has come to symbolize music itself. This traces the lute's development from the early instruments of Classical Greece to its glorious flowering in Renaissance Europe's golden age of polyphony. This illustrated and comprehensive book explores the historical and cultural reasons behind the lute's importance as the preeminent musical instrument of the Renaissance. With its lengthy bibliography, index, 74 illustrations and 55 musical examples, the author has told the lute's story with a scholarly and visual depth.

The first book-length study in any language dedicated specifically to lute, guitar, and vihuela.

This classic reference work, the best one-volume music dictionary available, has been brought completely up to date in this new edition. Combining authoritative scholarship and lucid, lively prose, the Fourth Edition of The Harvard Dictionary of Music is the essential guide for musicians, students, and everyone who appreciates music. The Harvard Dictionary of Music has long been admired for its wide range as well as its reliability. This treasure trove includes entries on all the styles and forms in Western music; comprehensive articles on the music of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Near East; descriptions of instruments enriched by historical background; and articles that reflect today’s beat, including popular music, jazz, and rock. Throughout this Fourth Edition, existing articles have been fine-tuned and new entries added so that the dictionary fully reflects current music scholarship and recent developments in musical culture. Encyclopedia-length articles by notable experts alternate with short entries for quick reference, including definitions and identifications of works and instruments. More than 220 drawings and 250 musical examples enhance the text. This is an invaluable book that no music lover can afford to be without.