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Old-Time Festival Tunes for Fiddle and Mandolin, by Dan Levenson
Reviewed by Timothy Jones

This substantial (248-page) wire-bound compendium, along with its two included CDs, makes for a great tune repertoire book. All of the 117 tunes appear with two lines of notation (both beginner and advanced versions) along with a single tablature (related most closely to the beginner's version).

The CDs' recorded tracks follow by turns the easier version, the advanced version and sometimes a combination for what the author calls a "single interpretive composite version." As Levenson writes in the book's helpful introductory notes, "The advanced version will require more time, finesse and likely more than basic skill … as it is usually more ornamental (more than just melodic) and may include some less-than-intuitive ways of playing some passages."

All versions, though, feature Dan Levenson on his Red Diamond F-4 mandolin, and the publisher's web site also offers a down-loadable version of his playing all of the tunes on fiddle.

Festival stand-bys such as Billy in the Lowground, Black-eyed Susie, Flop-Eared Mule, Ragtime Annie and Sugar in the Gourd appear alongside lesser-knowns such as the nifty Roscoe or Joke on the Puppy. Some songs warrant three versions (Lost Indian) or two (Bonaparte's Retreat and Old Joe Clark and Sandy Boys).

Dan Levenson is clear to point out in the introduction that this is not a primary instructional manual. Indeed, while his mandolin playing comes across clearly as both competent and accurate, his technique suggest his main instruments are fiddle and old-time banjo. (This book actually follows up his earlier book, Old-Time Festival Tunes for Clawhammer Banjo, with identical tunes, and Levenson is known best for his accomplished playing and teaching on those instruments).

Some entries in Old-Time Festival Tunes for Fiddle and Mandolin also contain lyrics, another helpful feature. And there's abundant variety and hours of riches to explore. Levenson catches admirably not only each tune's notes, but the old-time feel at each song's heart.

The charm of the recordings helps the notes and tablature on the pages come alive, making one of the best all-around resources for old-time mandolin available.

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