The name of this book is no exaggeration. It includes some of the most gorgeous music that the authors El McMeen and Sandy Shalk know. To make things even more interesting, none of the music was originally written for guitar!

In addition to Celtic favorites, El includes his arrangements of two of the most beautiful arias in all of opera: "Che Gelida Manina" from Puccini's "La Boheme" and "My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice" (“Mon Coeur S'ouvre à ta Voix”) from "Samson and Delilah" by Camille Saint-Saëns. Sandy's contributions range from Celtic to French love songs to Stephen Foster, manifesting Sandy's gift for chordal subtleties and innovation.

Each piece is in either standard tuning (EADGBE) or Dropped D tuning (DADGBE).

Written in standard notation and tablature with computer generated audio files of each arrangement.

 Preface

Tab/Music Presentation

The Music

Once to Every Man and Nation (Thomas J. Williams)  

Castle of Dromore  

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (J S Bach)  

Hector the Hero (J Scott Skinner)  

Niel Gow’s Lament for the Death of His Second Wife  

Che Gelida Manina (Giacomo Puccini)  

Plaisir D’Amour (Jean-Paul-Égide Martini)  

El Noi de la Mare

Beautiful Dreamer (Stephen Foster)  

My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice (Camille Saint-Saëns)  

Pavane, Op No 50 (Gabriel Fauré)  

The Fairy Queen (Turlough O’Carolan)