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

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 Noël); 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.

Merry Christmas and get your greenery here!
You'll find this a light, whimsical prelude for recital, Winter gathering, or church service. The melody passes between the instruments, allowing each one plenty of opportunity to shine.

Included in this medley are:

The Holly and the Ivy
Greensleeves
Sing We Noel Christmas (which is not green, but it weaseled its way into the arrangement, nonetheless)
Playtime is 3:40
The music is fairly straightforward and easy follow.

History: This piece was arranged to serve as a yuletide prelude during Advent. It has since proven a delightful addition to the Christmas playlist.

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