Here Comes the Sun first appeared on The Beatles? 1969 album, Abbey Road. It was written by George Harrison on a warm spring day whilst walking around Eric Clapton?s garden. The recording of Here Comes the Sun was one of the first British songs to feature a Moog synthesiser. In the digital age, Here Comes the Sun is the most streamed Beatles song by some distance.

This version of Here Comes the Sun is arranged as a duet for two Trumpets.

This arrangement of Here Comes the Sun is ideal for musicians at an intermediate level. There are syncopated rhythms in both parts throughout and the changing time signatures may present a challenge for some. The overall performance time is around three minutes. The full length YouTube performance above is the Clarinet version of this duet.

Trumpet Pro Pentatonic Tonalization
Introduction
Pro Pentatonics is a new book from the constantly growing Total Tonalization Series. It is book number five in the pentatonic series.

Technique in the form of pentatonic scales is most enthusiastically sought after by jazz musicians. Although the scale and its compositional uses are not limited to jazz, the practice of those scales is almost exclusively a "jazz thing." Not only is the pentatonic scale the root of the blues scale, but it is also used to varied degrees by most modern jazz musicians.

That said, there are certain benefits to practicing pentatonic scales that apply to all musicianship. For example, I believe that the best way to begin to learn and understand quartal harmony is via practicing the pentatonic scales. Pentatonic scales are constructed in perfect fourths. Let's look at the C pentatonic as an example:

E - A - D - G - C

Five notes a fourth apart from each other, beginning on E, produces all of the notes of the C pentatonic scale:

C - D - E - G - A

For this reason, the traditional scale patterns come alive with the sound of perfect fourths when applied to the pentatonic scale.

Quartal harmony is not limited to jazz compositions or improvisation. Many musicians since the early twentieth century have written compositions utilizing quartal harmony, and I believe that the first step to understanding those compositions and performing them is in practicing the pentatonic scales.

Aside from the theoretical applications of the pentatonic scale, there are also technical reasons to practice them. The removal of the fourth and seventh scale degrees (the tritone) creates a scale and inherent patterns which become far clumsier to perform than the traditional major scales. The agility and flexibility required offer the diligent practicer an edge over those who do not practice such things.

Here's a list of the 20 duets included in this collection: DECK THE HALLS JINGLE BELLS WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS SILENT NIGHT O CHRISTMAS TREE HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING JOY TO THE WORLD OH! COME ALL YE FAITHFUL O HOLY NIGHT AWAY IN A MANGER GOD REST YOU MERRY GENTLEMEN AMAZING GRACE GOOD KING WENCESLAS THE FIRST NOEL IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS COVENTRY CAROL GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN I SAW THREE SHIPS THE HOLLY AND THE IVY.

Many have loved the duet arrangements found in the original collection of 12 Christmas Duets for Trumpets arranged by Kenneth Baird. Volume 2 is now available! As in the original collection, this is a delightful collection of intermediate to advanced-intermediate level duets based on traditional Christmas carols. They are challenging at times (not for beginners) without being overwhelming; at times joyful, at times uplifting, at times serene. There's even a very jazzy version of Go Tell It on the Mountain! In addition to being a joy for friends to play together, they are a great resource for teachers to play at lessons with their students, they are are suitable for informal Christmas performances, and many are appropriate for church services. Note: the duets in this collection have NOT been arranged to be fully compatible with Mr. Baird's duet collections for other instruments. Instead, these have been arranged specifically for trumpets. This collection does include the duets found in previously released Five More Christmas Duets for Trumpets by Mr. Baird. Included in Christmas Duets, Volume 2, are: Carol of the Bells, Ding Dong! Merrily on High, the First Noel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Jingle Bells, Joy to the World (a more traditional version than found in the original duet collection), We Three Kings, Angels We Have Heard on High, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and In Dulci Jubilo (Good Christian Men Rejoice). If you are looking for simple harmonizations of Christmas Carols, this collection is not for you. If you are looking for something more, you've come to the right place.