Here are three refreshing new modern arrangements of three popular traditional carols ?like you ain?t never heard them before?. Intended for the intermediate oboe player and a reasonably competent pianist, they are sure to brighten up your Christmas events whether at home, school, church or recital hall. The pieces could be used during a Christmas service or as stand-alone pieces at an end-of-term presentation. The audio sample includes recordings of all three pieces.

The King Rides Out (based on ?Good King Wenceslas?) starts conventionally enough but turns into a country-style song and then there?s a three-part Bach-like contrapuntal section, concluding with a wistful coda. Waltz with Holly ? or Possibly Ivy (based of course on ?The Holly and the Ivy?) turns into a dreamy waltz with long extended phrases and a good vehicle to show the oboe player?s tone quality. The Merry Gentleman go Latin is a lively rumba version of ?God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen?.

Colin Kirkpatrick studied composition, cello and piano at London?s prestigious Royal College of Music and after graduation followed a career in music education. He was a High School Music Director in London for about fifteen years and later became a Music Education Adviser for local government, with the added responsibility for training teachers and directing the instrumental teaching service.

He has been published by Boosey & Hawkes, Novello, Paxton, Schott, Oxford University Press, Chester and Belwin Mills. He holds MA and PhD degrees and his other interests include reading, photography, travel, cooking and wine tasting.

15 Favourite Hymns for Thanksgiving and Harvest for Oboe and Piano is a beautiful collection of well-known traditional Thanksgiving and Harvest hymns, carefully chosen to help you celebrate this special time of year with music. Each hymn is arranged for solo Oboe and Piano. The file contains both the piano score and a separate part for the solo instrument.

15 Favourite Hymns for Thanksgiving and Harvest are simply arranged in easy keys and are fun to play for musicians with a year or two?s experience and above. Teachers and students alike will find 15 Favourite Hymns for Thanksgiving and Harvest useful for building reading, rhythmic and expressive skills.

The hymns are in alphabetical order and are as follows?

· All Things Bright and Beautiful, (The 29thMay)

· Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, (Nettleton)

· Come, Ye Thankful People Come, (St George?s, Windsor)

· Count Your Blessings, (Blessings)

· For All the Blessings of the Year, (Oldbridge)

· For the Beauty of the Earth, (Dix)

· Now Thank We All Our God, (Nun Danket)

· O Store Gud, (Trad. Swedish, also used for How Great Thou Art)

· Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow, (Old Hundredth)

· Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven, (Laude Anima)

· Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, (Lobe den Herren)

. Rejoice Today with One Accord, (Ein Feste Burg)

· We Gather Together, (Kremser)

· We Plough the Fields and Scatter, (Wir Pflügen)

· When Morning Gilds the Skies, (Laudes Domini)