YourFavorite Christmas Hymns and Carols for Strings, Book 1

Arrangedfor strings by Colin Kirkpatrick

Here?sa brand new collection of best-loved Christmas hymns and carols arranged for strings,to brighten up your next Christmas event. They are presented in a set of twobooks and include full four-part instrumental scores plus parts for first violin,second violin, viola, cello and optional double bass. Both cello and bass partsappear on a single staff. The arrangements can be used with string quartet, stringquintet or string ensemble. There?s also an optional but useful simplifiedkeyboard part intended for less experienced keyboard players. The left handplays only the bass part most of the time, with the right hand part kept assimple as possible. It could be used as the basis of an accompaniment whichmeans that you can use the arrangements as solos, duets or trios.

Thearrangements are intended either as stand-alone pieces that could be used asinterludes in a concert or service, or they could be used to accompany solo,choral or congregational singing. The arrangements been written in string-friendlykeys as often as possible. While the hymns mostly use the traditionalharmonies, the carols have been treated more freely.
Book 1 includes thefollowing 19 titles: Angels from the Realms of Glory (Melody: Gloria); Awayin a Manger (Melody: Mueller); Unto Us a Child Is Born (Melody: PuerNobis); Christians Awake! (Melody: Yorkshire); Deck the Halls withBoughs of Holly (Melody: Nos Galan); Go Tell it on the Mountain; GoodChristian Men, Rejoice (Melody: In Dulci Jubilo); Good King Wenceslas(Melody: Tempus Adest Floridum); I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In; ItCame Upon the Midnight Clear (Melody: Carol); Little Jesus, SweetlySleep (Melody: Rocking); O Christmas Tree (Melody: Tannenbaum); OCome all ye Faithful (Melody: Adeste Fidelis); O Little Town ofBethlehem (Melody: Saint Louis); O Holy Night (Melody: CantiqueNo�l); Silent Night (Melody: Stille Nacht); The Holly and the Ivy;We Wish You a Merry Christmas and What Child is This? (Melody:Greensleeves)

Theaudio samples include Go Tell it on the Mountain; O Christmas Tree; O Holy Night and SilentNight. Please note that the arrangements are usually not usually compatiblewith the brass collection of the same name

This is a gig or church service-ready arrangement of Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes's "The Blessing" for string quartet. A great addition to your gig book for weddings or your musical catalog for worship/church bands that feature strings. Included with the quartet score and parts is a slash/chord lead sheet if you wish to perform this with along with guitar, piano or full band.

The form follows pretty much exactly what is on the "Radio Version" of this tune, although you may cut and/or loop the repeated sections in order to tailor it to the performance time that you require. I have also taken the liberty of transposing this from the original key of B into the much more string and band-friendly key of C (you're welcome, cellists.) While I've added a couple fun harmonics and just a bit of "rhythmic interest" into some of the inner parts, I would describe this chart as 100% sight-readable for most professional players, and still well within the technical capability of high school or recreational ensembles with just a bit of practice.

Performance time - approximately 4:30 with repeats taken, 3:30 if you skip the verse/chorus repeat. Lots of other exit/entry points can be easily incorporated at most of the rehearsal marks.

Questions? Feel free to contact me via my website, www.kylepudenz.com/ or on the 'Insta @theviolinvagabond.

These arrangements of favorite Christmas carols are sure to brighten up your next Christmas event. They include full four-part instrumental scores plus parts for 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola and cello/double bass. Most of the carols can be played in first position, but for a brighter sound, ask your more experienced violinists to play an octave higher. The double bass is optional because it uses the cello part. The arrangements can be used with string quartet, string quintet or string ensemble. There?s also an optional but useful simplified keyboard part intended for less experienced keyboard players. It could be used as the basis of an accompaniment which means that you can use the arrangements as solos, duets or trios.


Please note that because the arrangements are in string-friendly keys, they?re not compatible with the brass and wind collections of the same name. The scores and all the parts are contained in a single 79-page PDF file. This collection includes the following favorite carols: Angels We Have Heard On High (Gloria); Lo, How a Rose E?er Blooming (Es ist ein Ros entsprungen); O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel); The First Noel; Ding Dong! Merrily on High (Bransle de l?Officiel); O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis); Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn); Go Tell It on the Mountain; O Little Town of Bethlehem (St. Louis); O Holy Night (Cantique de No�l); Silent Night (Stille Nacht); Away in a Manger (Mueller); Joy to the World (Antioch); O Christmas Tree (Tannenbaum); We Three Kings (Kings of Orient); I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Waltham); What Child is This? (Greensleeves); God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen; Good King Wenceslas (Tempus Adest Floridum) and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

String Quartet // Digital Download // Intermediate // Advanced // Special Effects // Extended Techniques // Banging Tune Vibes

I bloody love this song. Reminds me of teenage-hood!

BALANCED ARRANGEMENT FOR CONCERT PERFORMANCE (or weddings/events etc.) + also an option to Record this arrangement (remotely if you're still in lockdown!)

Song played as per the original track. 'Heterophonic' Violins (play in Unison, but please vary your sound a bit from each other, to give it a jangly sound). I made this for Remote Recording, so the pull-up at the end is written out rhythmically. Saves any problems arising in rehearsal/performance in real life anyway, so thought i'd leave it in!
*I EVEN WROTE IN THE CAR SCREECH IN THE SECOND VERSE*
Interesting inner parts as per usual. Couple of nasty triple stops in the Viola. Have fun!