The Best Hymns of All Time
Arranged for Strings by Colin Kirkpatrick

Book 3

We?re really excited to present the third and last book of our collection of sixty of the best-loved hymns ever composed. The hymns are scored in four parts and could be used with virtually any combination of stringed instruments: string quartet or quintet or any size string ensemble. They are presented in a set of three books and include full four-part instrumental scores plus four separate parts for 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola and cello (and double bass). The bass part is also optional because it doubles the cello part an octave lower. There?s also an optional but useful simplified keyboard part intended for less experienced keyboard players. The left hand plays only the bass part most of the time, with the right hand part kept as simple as possible. The piano part too means that you can use the arrangements as solos, duets or trios. To make the music accessible to less experienced players, the range of the notes has been kept fairly low so that many of the arrangements can be played in first position. However, to produce a brighter and richer sound, a few of the more experienced violinists could play an octave higher. You can hear this effect in the audio samples.

These arrangements are intended either as stand-alone pieces that could be used as interludes in a service, or they could be used to accompany solo, choral or congregational singing. This is essential music for schools and many churches and contains probably all the hymns you?ll ever need. The scores and all the parts of Book 2 are contained in a single 65-page PDF file.

Book 3 contains the following twenty popular hymns: All Hail the Power of Jesus? Name (Miles Lane); All things Bright and Beautiful (Bright and Beautiful); Alleluia, Sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol); Blessed Assurance (Assurance); Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (St George?s Windsor); Father, Hear the Prayer we Offer (Sussex & Gott Will's Machen); For the Beauty of the Earth (Dix); Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken (Austrian hymn); How Firm a Foundation (Foundation); Jesu, Lover of my Soul (Hollingside); Jesus Loves Me, This I Know (Jesus Loves Me); Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Hymn to Joy); Kum Ba Yah (Afro-American folksong); Mine Eyes have Seen the Glory (Battle Hymn of the Republic); O God, Our Help In Ages Past (St. Anne); Morning has Broken (Bunessan); Praise to the Lord the Almighty (Lob den Herren); Shall We Gather at the River? (Hanson Place); The God of Abraham Praise (Leoni); When Peace Like a River (Ville du Havre).

The audio samples include (1) All things Bright and Beautiful, (2) How Firm a Foundation, (3) Kum Ba Yah and (4) Morning has Broken. The music has been set in string-friendly keys so they are not compatible with the brass collection of the same name.

Thisnew collection of Thanksgiving and Harvest hymns contains all your favorites,or at least, most of them. It?s probably all you?ll ever need for thanksgivingand harvest festivals and the arrangements can be used for virtually anycombination of stringed instruments. This is an essential title for any stringlibrary or for any string ensembles that are called upon to provide music forschools, Thanksgiving events or churches.

Thearrangements can be used with string quartet, string quintet or string ensembleor performed as solo pieces. There?s also an optional but useful simplifiedkeyboard part intended for less experienced keyboard players. The piano parttoo means that you can use the arrangements as solos, duets or trios. Thesearrangements are intended either as stand-alone pieces that could be used asinterludes in a service, or they could be used to accompany solo, choral orcongregational singing. To make the music accessible to less experienced stringplayers, the range of the notes has been kept fairly low so that many of thearrangements can be played in first position. However, to produce a brighterand richer sound, a few of the more experienced violinists could play an octavehigher. You could also use the arrangements as flute or oboe solo pieces, with thewind instrument playing the 1st violin part. Each hymn has a four-staff scoreand parts are provided for Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello and optional Doublebass. The scores and all the parts are contained in a single PDF file. Becausestring-friendly keys are used, these arrangements are NOT compatible with thosein the wind collection of the same name.

Thefollowing 25 hymns are included: AllCreatures of our God and King (Lasst uns Erfreuen); As the Sun doth Daily Rise(Innocents); All Things Bright and Beautiful (Bright and Beautiful); Bringingin the Sheaves (Sowing in the Morning); Come Ye Thankful People Come (StGeorge?s Windsor); Fair Waved the Golden Corn (Holyrood); Fill your Hearts withJoy and Gladness (Ode to Joy); For the Beauty of the Earth (Dix); For theFruits of His Creation (Ar Hyd y Nos); Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken(Austrian Hymn); Immortal, Invisible (St Denio); Let all Things now Living (AshGrove); Let us with a Gladsome Mind (Monkland); Now Thank we all Our God (Nundanket); Praise and Thanksgiving (Bunessan); Praise God for the Harvest(Stowey); Praise my Soul the King of Heaven (Lauda anima); Praise to the Lordthe Almighty (Lob den herren); Rejoice the Lord is King (Darwall?s 148th);Sing to the Lord of Harvest (Wie lieblich ist der maien); This is my Father?s World(Terra Beata); To thee, O Lord, our Hearts we Raise (Golden Sheaves); We GatherTogether (Kremser); We Plough the Fields and Scatter (Wir pflügen) and PraiseGod from whom all Blessings Flow (Old Hundredth)

Simon Mayor presents five short string quartets on themes by Turlough O?Carolan.
Also suitable for mandolin family instruments.

Turlough O?Carolan is one of Ireland?s most celebrated baroque composers, responsible for some of the strongest and grandest melodies to come out of his homeland. He was a great friend of his Italian contemporary Corelli, who spent some time in Dublin and had a significant influence on O?Carolan?s music. But traditional music was an influence too, and, stylistically, his compositions occupy a fascinating middle ground between these two genres.

Contents: Carlan?s Frolics, Hewlett, Lord Brabazon, Princess Royal, Lord Inchiquin.

The audio sample here, part of Princess Royal, is of an impromptu 'read off' by seven string players, so most lines have two instruments. It's only an extract, but gives a flavour of the music.

Sixteen fabulous arrangements and medleys of beloved holiday carols for string quartet. Includes all four parts and scores. Contents of the album:1. Bell Carol/In Dulci Jubilo (\"Good Christian Men Rejoice\") (Traditional)2. \"Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella\" (Traditional)3. \"Carol of the Drum\" (Traditional Czech)4. \"Carol of the Bells\" (Ukranian Carol) (Leontovych)5. Greensleeves (\"What Child Is This\") (Traditional)6. \"Lo, How a Rose E?er Blooming\" (Praetorius)7. \"O Holy Night\" (Adam)8. \"Silent Night, Holy Night\" (Gruber)9. \"We Wish You a Merry Christmas\" (Traditional)10. A Christmas Feast: Five ancient carols for strings(includes: \"Ding Dong! Merrily on High,\" \"Verbum Caro Factum Est,\" \"Gaudete,\" \"Carol of the Bagpipers,\" and \"Coventry Carol.\")11. Heaven and Nature Sing (Christmas Medley I) (includes \"Joy to the World,\" \"Angels We Have Heard on High,\" and \"Away in a Manger.\")12. We Come A-Caroling (Christmas Medley II)(includes: \"Shepherds Leave Your Sheep,\" \"Come, O Come Emmanuel\" and \"Here We Come A-Caroling\")13. Carols for Christmas Eve (Christmas Medley III) (includes: \"The Coventry Carol,\" \"God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen\" and \"Listen, Lordlings, Unto Me\")14. A Christmas Wassail (Christmas Medley IV)(includes: \"Adeste Fideles,\" \"Away in a Manger\" and \"The Glouchester Wassail.\")15. Christmas Angels (Christmas Medley V) (includes: \"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,\" \"The First Noel\" and \"Deck the Hall.\")16. Sing We Now of Christmas (Christmas Medley VI)(includes: \"Sing We Now of Christmas,\" \"Fum, Fum, Fum!\" and \"Il Est Né, le Divin Enfant\").

This is an essential item for any string ensemble, whether string quartet or string orchestra. The publication consists of full scores for each hymn plus separate instrumental parts and an optional simplified keyboard part. The parts include 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello and bass. You can brighten the tone quality by getting the more advanced violin players play an octave higher than the written part. (You can hear this effect in the audio demos.) The cello and bass parts appear on a single staff but there?s also a melody part provided in the bass clef should you require a cello or double bass solo. Of course, you can use any number of instruments to a particular part. Using the keyboard part, you can use the arrangements as solos, duets or trios. Because the music has been set in string-friendly keys, the arrangements are not usually compatible with the brass and wind collections of the same title.


The collection includes the following titles: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Ein? Feste Burg); All Creatures Of our God and King (Lasst uns Erfreuen); All People that on Earth do Dwell (Old Hundredth); Abide with Me (Eventide); All Hail the Power of Jesus? Name (Coronation); Amazing Grace (Trad); At the Cross (Alas and Did My Savior Bleed) (Hudson); Be Thou My Vision (Slane); Blessed Assurance (Assurance); Blest Be the Tie That Binds (Dennis - Nägeli); Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Nettleton); Come We That Love the Lord (St. Thomas); Crown Him with Many Crowns (Diademata); Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah (Cwm Rhondda); Holy, Holy, Holy (Nicea); How Firm a Foundation (Foundation); It is Well with my Soul (Ville du Havre); Jesus Christ is Risen Today (Easter Hymn); Jesus, Lover of My Soul (Hollingside); Jesus Paid it All (All to Christ); Joy to the World (Antioch); Just as I Am, Without one Plea (Woodworth); Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (Hyfrydol); Nearer my God to Thee (Bethany); Praise To the Lord, The Almighty (Lob den Herren); Rock of Ages (Top¬la¬dy); Shall we gather at the River? (Hanson Place); The Day thou Gave us, Lord is Ended (St. Clement); To God Be the Glory (To God be the Glory); There is a Fountain (Cleansing Fountain); What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Converse) and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (Hamburg).

The audio demo contains the following titles (1) Abide with Me; (2) Nearer my God to Thee; (3) Be Thou my Vision and (4) What a Friend we have in Jesus.