String Quartet-A collection of 12 traditional carols for easy string quartet (Grade 2) from master arranger Bruce Healey. This group of delightful arrangements will become your most valuable resource of holiday music for years to come. Eachcarol is given a fresh creative treatment yet is expertly arranged with younger players in mind. Songs include: Away in a Manger We Wish You a Merry Christmas Deck the Halls Ding Dong Merrily on High God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Greensleeves O Come All Ye Faithful Chanukah Oy Chanukah O Holy Night Pat-A-Pan Silent Night Three Holiday Songs (Medley including The DreydlSong Jingle Bells and Joy to the World).Also available for:00841986 Solo Violin and Piano 00842194 Solo Viola and Piano 00842195 Solo Cello and Piano String Orchestra: 04490308 Conductor Score 04490309 Violin 1 part 04490310 Violin 2 part 04490311 Violin 3 part (Viola T.C.) 04490312 Viola part 04490313Cello part 04490314 String Bass part 04490315 Piano 04490316 Opt. Harp 04490317 Opt. Percussion
SKU: BR.EB-6705
ISBN 9790004169063. 9 x 12 inches. German.
Though a piano can always be included, it is not an essential requirement for the performance of these settings: in some of the carols, two violins or two flutes are quite sufficient, especially if voices are used as well. The following combinations are particularly suitable for domestic music-making, whether or not voices are included as well:one violin and piano,two violins and piano,two or three violins,violins and recorders,two concert (C) flutes (and an alto flute) and - as the ideal combination for shepherds' songs - flutes, violins, cello and piano.Performing groups and music schools have the advantage of a wider choice of forces and the possibility of varying the instrumentation within the individual carols and verses. Thus large and small combinations can alternate, strings and flutes can play in turn, and finally the piano can be used by itself or to reinforce other instrumental combinations, in which case the cello can be added, too.The pieces are graded in increasing order of difficulty; the first carols are chosen so that they can be mastered by violinists after as little as 4 to 6 months of learning their instrument. The choise and sequence of the carols in this book, and also their keys, were determined, amongst other factors, by their suitability for the start of violin tuition, both in first and in third position, so that these carols make an especially good supplement of Christmas music to the violin method of Fritz and Gottfried Scharlach (with its principle of starting with the third position). The progressively increasing difficulty of the carols has resulted, for example, in the three Advent carols (nos. 23-25) being placed later in the collection.The editor hopes that these carols will be much played and sung, and thus help to fill the Christmas season with joy and splendour.Fritz Scharlach, Salzburg, December 1972Our beautiful Christmas carols, old and new, are presented here in settings, ranging from the easy to the more difficult, for various combinations of voices and instruments that may be available in domestic music-making or for a Christmas concert.
SKU: BT.YE0075
Four Double Basses. Eight well-known Christmas carols in a new guise. Score and parts.The Programme of Christmas Carols was first performed in New Orleans in 1976. In its original version, the players were required to wear Dickensian costume and a seasonal narrative preceded each of the carol arrangements. The texts appear below.Duration without text: c.20 minutesDuration with text: c.45 minutesIntroduction by Robert RoheThe introductory text, assembled with the kind assistance of Father Peacock of Loyola University of New Orleans, was designed for use where the receptivity of the audience warrants. So little is known about thebeloved Christmas carols, it is fitting that a brief sketch of the carols' past be used to enhance the familiar music.If desired, the introductory text may be omitted at the discretion of the performers.The brief text preceding each carol should be used to acquaint the audience with what to expect, from a quartet that will be playing the unexpected. The text also will pace the program and will extend performance time to around 45 minutes.In performance, the bass viol quartet of New Orleans wore peaked caps, and turtle necked sweaters to simulate the street performers of Dickens' time. The choice of four string basses for this program was to bring the closest relatives of the true viol into play.History and development of the Christmas CarolThe celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ has been observed for nearly 2,000 years, through the ritual of the Christian Church, with part of that ritual being devoted to celebration in song. In those early days, church music was sung only, no musical instruments taking part in the service.The type of song used by the church had the name 'plain-song'. It was a single line of melody, plain and unadorned, sung by one or more voices. By the year 1660 A.D., it had developed a second name, 'The Gregorian Chant', after Pope Gregory, who encouraged the use.
