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: CantiqueNoël); 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

Song List: Abide with Me All Through The Night Alma Mater Aloha Oe My Country, 'Tis Of Thee (America) America, the Beautiful The Band Played On Battle Hymn Of The Republic Beautiful Dreamer A Bicycle Built for Two (Daisy Bell) Blow the Man Down Carry Me Back To Old Virginny Columbia, The Gem Of The Ocean (The Red, White And Blue) Come, Ye Thankful People, Come Cradle Song Deck the Hall (I Wish I Was In) Dixie Fairest Lord Jesus Farewell To Thee Finlandia The First Noel For He's a Jolly Good Fellow God Of Our Fathers Good Night Ladies Hail, Columbia Hail, Hail, The Gang's All Here Hail To The Chief Hark! The Herald Angels Sing HOme Sweet Home In the Gloaming It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair Jingle Bells Jolly Old St. Nicholas Joy To The World The Last Rose Of Summer Lead, Kindly Light Little Brown Jug Loch Lomond (Deis) Love's Old Sweet Song The Man On The Flying Trapeze Marine's Hymn Maryland, My Maryland A Mighty Fortress Is Our God My Faith Looks Up To Thee My Old Kentucky Home Nearer, My God, to Thee Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen Now The Day Is Over O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) O Little Town of Bethlehem Oh! Susanna Old Black Joe Old Folks At Home (Swanee River) Old Hundred Onward, Christian Soldiers Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Rock Of Ages Sailing Short'nin' Bread Silent Night Silver Threads Among The Gold Sweet and Low Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! Viennese Refrain When Johnny Comes Marching Home While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks Yankee Doodle Taps Crusaders' Hymn Forgotten Yesterdays The Star Spangled Banner Camptown Races Auld Lang Syne Home on the Range

A sweet harp solo, reminiscent of Meg?s ?Sailing on Strings? with its relaxed attitude. This piece has an airy, light and moving feel to it, kind of like watching shooting stars! Though there is a fair amount of syncopation throughout in both hands, requiring a good bit of coordination, technically not a difficult piece. Key of F, no accidentals, lowest note is F one and one half octaves below middle C.