The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, Vol. 1 (Fitzwilliam Virginal Book 2 Vols)

Book Overview

The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book is "the most remarkable, and in many respects the most valuable collection of Elizabethan keyboard music," according to Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486210685
• ISBN13: 9780486210681
• Release Date: June 1963
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 2.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.3" x 1.0" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Indispensable for the early keyboard musician

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!

wonderful things

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

This is a beautiful music book

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.