Book excerpt: Ticino is a small area at the southernmost tip of Switzerland on the border with Italy. the Ticino region was actually part of Italy until a few centuries ago. the mandolin arrived in Ticino through immigrants and their music, and put down important cultural roots there. the mandolin style in Ticino is a link to the old Italian folk music tradition, which has been largely lost in Italy and throughout other parts of the world. This book is a collection of some of the most famous pieces from this vast historical repertoire. the collection includes lots of popular folk songs, virtuosic pieces by original mandolin composers, as well as an original Aonzo composition. the book is presented in English and in Italian while the music is in standard notation and mandolin tablature.