Cello,Piano - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.548655

Composed by James Pierpont. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas. Score and part. 8 pages. Jmsgu3 #3408191. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548655).

Jingle Bells arranged for cello & piano with a fancy final verse. Jingle Bells is perhaps the most famous songs in American music history. James L. Pierpont published the song as One Horse Open Sleigh in the late 1850’s. Since its introduction, people began to insist that Pierpont wrote it for a Sunday school choir. However, it seems unlikely that such a secular song would be considered appropriate during that historical period for Sunday school.

Christmas Repertoire

Pierpont wrote the song for the Thanksgiving holidays, but over time people began to think of it more as a Christmas song. Some choirs adopted it as part of their Christmas repertoire in the 1860s and 1870s. Jingle Bells was first recorded in 1889 on a wax cylinder.

Origins

No one knows where Pierpont composed the song. One theory suggests he wrote it in Medford Massachusetts in 1850. Sleigh races were certainly popular in 19th Century Massachusetts. To this day, a commemorative placard appears in Medford square claiming that it is the birthplace of Jingle Bells. Others suggest that he wrote it in Savannah, Georgia where he was an organist and music director at the Unitarian Church. This theory gains support from the copyright date of 1857. We know he was living in Savannah by then.

Traffic Signals

Horse-drawn sleighs are relatively quiet in the snow. Consequently, horses were usually equipped with bell-laden straps so as to avoid accidents at blind intersections. Sleigh drivers in 19th Century New England were constantly vigilant, listening for the sounds of approaching horse-drawn sleighs. The tune imitates the rhythm that the trotting horse bells produce.

Social Context

Jingle Bells was sung as a drinking song at local revelries: during the song folks would rhythmically jangle the ice in their glasses. A sleigh ride gave couples an opportunity to be alone together. The term Jingle bells is a poetic descriptive adjective referring specifically to the more accurate term sleigh bells. In many arrangements, sleigh bells are used to accentuate the rhythm during the song chorus.  

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By Coldplay. Arranged by James M. Guthrie: www.jamesguthrie.com. Score, Solo Part. 15 pages. Published by jmsgu3 (H0.258207-48478). - Score,Solo Part - - jmsgu3

Cello,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.549551

Composed by Edvard Grieg. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Concert,Instructional,Romantic Period,Standards,World. Score and part. 16 pages. Jmsgu3 #3507503. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549551).

Duration: ca. 3:20, Score: 10 pages, solo part: 2 pages, piano part: 3 pages. A delicate masterpiece, not very difficult - suitable for a recital encore.

Grieg Background

In the first place, Edvard Grieg (1843 –1907) was a Norwegian composer as well as a concert pianist. As a matter of fact, most music historians consider him one of the foremost Romantic era composers. Consequently, his music is part of the international standard classical repertoire. Grieg moreover used Norwegian folk music in his own compositions.  Consequently, he ushered Norwegian music to transnational consciousness. Furthermore, he forged a national musical identity for Norway. It is important to realize that he did this in a manner similar to Jean Sibelius in Finland, and BedÅ™ich Smetana in Bohemia.

Legacy

Grieg is especially celebrated in the city of Bergen. For example, the city has erected numerous statues depicting Grieg. Specifically, the city has named a concert hall (Grieg Hall), a music school (Grieg Academy) and a professional choir (Edvard Grieg Kor) after him. As a matter of fact, there is also a museum located at his former home in Troldhaugen.

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 (Op. 46)

Grieg wrote incidental music for the purpose of illustrating a play by Ibsen known as Peer Gynt. The play includes, in particular, the famous selection entitled, In the Hall of the Mountain King. In this composition, Grieg indeed depicts the exploits of the scoundrel, Peer Gynt. In one famous episode, for example, Peer steals a bride at her wedding. For this reason, the people chase him, but soon Peer falls, thereupon striking his skull on a boulder. He wakens forthwith in a highland bounded by angry gnomes. Consequently, the music of In the Hall of the Mountain King represents the mad gnomes taunting Peer. Therefore, each time the theme repeats it gets louder and faster. In the end, Peer surprisingly escapes from the mountain.

Holberg Suite and Misc. Summary

It must be remembered that Grieg originally wrote his Holberg Suite for the piano. In other words, he only later arranged it for strings. Further, Grieg composed by and large many songs with lyrics by famous writers such as Heine, Goethe, Ibsen, Hans Christian Andersen, Rudyard Kipling, and others. On balance, Norwegian pianist Eva Knardahl recorded altogether Grieg’s whole piano catalog on LP in 1980. These recordings were released again on CD in 2006. In any event, Grieg himself performed and recorded the bulk of these pieces toward the end of his life.

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Cello,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.549529

Composed by Edvard Grieg. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Concert,Contemporary,Romantic Period,Sacred,Standards. Score and part. 11 pages. Jmsgu3 #3505759. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549529).

Duration: ca. 3:40, Score: 5 pages, solo part: 2 pages, piano part: 3 pages. Super-famous instantly recognizable tune, not very difficult - suitable for a recital, funeral or church meditation.

Grieg Background

In the first place, Edvard Grieg (1843 –1907) was a Norwegian composer as well as a concert pianist. As a matter of fact, most music historians consider him one of the foremost Romantic era composers. Consequently, his music is part of the international standard classical repertoire. Grieg moreover used Norwegian folk music in his own compositions.  Consequently, he ushered Norwegian music to transnational consciousness. Furthermore, he forged a national musical identity for Norway. It is important to realize that he did this in a manner similar to Jean Sibelius in Finland, and BedÅ™ich Smetana in Bohemia.

Legacy

Grieg is especially celebrated in the city of Bergen. For example, the city has erected numerous statues depicting Grieg. Specifically, the city has named a concert hall (Grieg Hall), a music school (Grieg Academy) and a professional choir (Edvard Grieg Kor) after him. As a matter of fact, there is also a museum located at his former home in Troldhaugen.

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 (Op. 46)

Grieg wrote incidental music for the purpose of illustrating a play by Ibsen known as Peer Gynt. The play includes, in particular, the famous selection entitled, In the Hall of the Mountain King. In this composition, Grieg indeed depicts the exploits of the scoundrel, Peer Gynt. In one famous episode, for example, Peer steals a bride at her wedding. For this reason, the people chase him, but soon Peer falls, thereupon striking his skull on a boulder. He wakens forthwith in a highland bounded by angry gnomes. Consequently, the music of In the Hall of the Mountain King represents the mad gnomes taunting Peer. Therefore, each time the theme repeats it gets louder and faster. In the end, Peer surprisingly escapes from the mountain.

Holberg Suite and Misc. Summary

It must be remembered that Grieg originally wrote his Holberg Suite for the piano. In other words, he only later arranged it for strings. Further, Grieg composed by and large many songs with lyrics by famous writers such as Heine, Goethe, Ibsen, Hans Christian Andersen, Rudyard Kipling, and others. On balance, Norwegian pianist Eva Knardahl recorded altogether Grieg’s whole piano catalog on LP in 1980. These recordings were released again on CD in 2006. In any event, Grieg himself performed and recorded the bulk of these pieces toward the end of his life.

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Cello,Piano - Level 1 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.548509

Composed by Wade. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 4 pages. Jmsgu3 #3388103. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548509).

O Come All Ye Faithful arranged with new harmony for the final verse. Score: 3 pages, part: 1 page.

O Come, All Ye Faithful

O Come, All Ye Faithful is an English translation of the Latin Christmas carol Adeste Fideles. No one knows exactly who wrote it, but one theory is that it was originally composed by King John IV of Portugal (1604–1656) and revised by John F. Wade and John Reading. Nowadays, we usually attribute it to John Wade. The oldest manuscript from 1751, is owned by Stonyhurst College in Lancashire.

Lyrics

The English translation O Come, All Ye Faithful was certainly written by Frederick Oakeley, a Catholic priest in 1841. This translation is the most common in English speaking states. To begin with, the hymn had only four verses. Later, the verses grew to eight. Often, various verses are omitted because otherwise, the song is just too long. Some believe the first Latin lyrics were written by St. Bonaventure (13th century) or King John IV of Portugal in the 17th.  Though others think it was written by the Cistercian monks.  

King John IV

King John IV of Portugal was called The Musician King. He became king in 1640. In addition to performing the duties of a king, he was also a composer and music journalist. King John built a very large music library. Unfortunately, the library was ruined in 1755 because of the massive earthquake of Lisbon. In addition to his library, the king started a Music School that produced many accomplished musicians. The king also worked diligently to get instrumental music approved by the Vatican for use in his churches. Aside from his authorship of Adeste Fideles, he is famous for another popular choral setting of the Crux Fidelis, a prevalent Lenten hymn.

Performance in Context

As mentioned above, verses are sometimes left out because all eight verses would take too long to perform. More to the point though, some of the verses may be unsuitable for whatever of the church calendar they are intended. The eighth verse deals with the Epiphany, so it makes sense to sing this on Epiphany Sunday, but not other Sundays. Similarly, other verses are used according to whether the event is Midnight Mass or regular daytime Mass.

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Cello,Piano - Level 1 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.548485

Composed by Gruber. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas. Score and part. 3 pages. Jmsgu3 #3387043. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548485).

Silent Night arranged for Cello & Piano with new harmony for the third verse. Score: 2 pg. Part: 1 pg.

Silent Night

Origins

Father Joseph Mohr wrote the lyrics for a new Christmas Carol. He wanted the new carol for his Christmas Eve Mass. With only a couple of hours until the service, He asked organist and schoolteacher Franz Gruber to write a melody and simple accompaniment to go with the lyrics. The result is probably the most famous of all Christmas carols – Silent Night.

First Performance

Perhaps because the organ was undergoing repairs, or to make sure the accompaniment was easy enough, Mohr asked Gruber to write it for the guitar. Mohr played the guitar, and both Mohr and Gruber gave the world premiere performance at the Christmas Eve Mass in 1818 at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf in Salzburg.

Original Score

Eventually, the original score became lost, and consequently, Mohr's name was largely forgotten.  Though the public originally recognized Gruber as the composer, many people over time began rumors that a more famous composer was responsible. Thus, they floated the names of Haydn, Mozart, and even Beethoven. Authorities eventually settled the matter when a manuscript in Mohr’s handwriting turned up in 1820. Consequently, we learn that Mohr wrote the lyrics in 1816, and Gruber composed the melody in 1818.

Popularity

Nonetheless, Silent Night is still very popular. Singers have performed this song in nearly every genre and in multiple languages. Perhaps the most famous version is the one Bing Crosby crafted. This version is the third best-selling physical single recording in the history of recorded music. This particular recording was released in 1935 and sold at least 30 million copies.

Only two songs have ever sold more. Elton John released Candle in the Wind in 1997 and sold 33 million copies. The record for most copies ever sold goes to Bing Crosby. He released White Christmas in 1942 and sold 50 million physical copies. Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com

 

 

 

Cello,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1253133

By James Michael Stevens. By James Michael Stevens. Arranged by James Michael Stevens. Classical,Contemporary,New Age,Sacred,Wedding. Score and part. 8 pages. James M Stevens Music ASCAP #846887. Published by James M Stevens Music ASCAP (A0.1253133).

Written June 21, 2023, this is an original cello and piano composition in a relaxing and romantic style in the key of C major. There is a separate cello part in the score and the piano accompaniment as heard can be found under Sunrise Serenade Piano Track. The piano part can also serve as an independent solo. James Michael Stevens is a prolific composer residing in Nashville, TN and music dean of Welch College.

Cello,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1289495

By James Michael Stevens. By James Michael Stevens. Arranged by James Michael Stevens. Classical,Contemporary,Lent,New Age,Sacred. Score and part. 7 pages. James M Stevens Music ASCAP #880243. Published by James M Stevens Music ASCAP (A0.1289495).

Written September 7, 2023, this is an original cello and piano composition in a lyrical and meditative move in D minor based on Stevens’ recent organ composition. There is a separate cello part in the score and the piano accompaniment as heard is available under Evening Arioso Piano Track. James Michael Stevens is a prolific composer residing in Nashville, TN.

Cello,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.517926

By James Michael Stevens. By James Michael Stevens. Arranged by James Michael Stevens. Classical,Contemporary,Instructional,New Age,Sacred. Score and part. 8 pages. James M Stevens Music ASCAP #128652. Published by James M Stevens Music ASCAP (A0.517926).

Written December 25, 2021, this is an original cello and piano composition in an introspective style. There is a separate cello part in the score and the piano part as seen can serve as an independent solo. The piano accompaniment as heard is available under Night Visions No. 4 - Enigmas Piano Track at Sheet Music Plus. James Michael Stevens is a prolific composer residing in Nashville, TN.