Guitar - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1120784

By Simon James. By G. F. Handel. Arranged by Simon James. Baroque,Chamber,Christian,Christmas,Contemporary. Full Performance. Duration 91. DML #721999. Published by DML (A0.1120784).

A popular Christmas carol, the tune usually used today is from an 1848 edition by Lowell Mason for The National Psalmist (Boston, 1848). There has long been speculation over how much a part Handel's Messiah had in Joy to the World. However, resemblances between Messiah and Joy to the World, have been dismissed as 'chance ' by Handel scholars today. It seems likely that the tune as we know it was probably from an 1833 publication by Thomas Hawkes with the title “Comfort�, Author Unknown. I have combined Handelian elements with the tune that most people know to create an arrangement that works well for guitar quartet retaining the bounce and vigour of the carol. Score available.

Guitar - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1120782

By Simon James. By Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by Simon James. Baroque,Chamber,Christmas,Classical,Contemporary. Full Performance. Duration 77. DML #721997. Published by DML (A0.1120782).

In dulci jubilo (Latin for In sweet rejoicing) is a traditional Christmas Carol. Johann Sebastian Bach set this melody several times: as a chorale in BWV 368; and then for organ in BWV 608 as a double canon in his Orgelbüchlein and in BWV 729 as a chorale prelude. Clearly he was fond of the tune and who can blame him. This arrangement of BWW 368 follows almost exactly the four original voices from the chorale. The score is also available.

Guitar - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1143138

By Simon James. By Joan Cererols. Arranged by Simon James. Baroque,Chamber,Christmas,Classical,Contemporary. 18 pages. DML #743497. Published by DML (A0.1143138).

Joan Cererols (1618 – 1680) was a Spanish composer and Benedictine monk. Cererols was born in Martorell. He entered the choir school Escolania de Montserrat around 1626. Cererols took his first steps in music under the direction of Father Joan Marc, a famous organist. He is known today chiefly for a single villancico, the beautiful marizápalos a lo divino - Serafín que con dulce armonía . The marizápalos was a song with a special harmonic pattern that often served as a framework for improvisation. This arrangement is for guitar quartet and solo guitar (Guitar 5). The quartet parts are easy, the solo guitar part is more challenging. The piece is fascinating, at times a dialogue between the solo guitar and the quartet but at other times the quartet splits into two giving a dialogue between three groups.

Solo Guitar - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1147461

By Simon James. By Simon James. Classical,Contemporary,Instructional,Multicultural,World. Individual part. 6 pages. DML #747697. Published by DML (A0.1147461).

These short Preludes for guitar are intended to illustrate a particular technical point or points. It may be either technical or compositional or both. This piece is based on the simple idea of an A major chord, a D major7 chord and an E9 chord in 5th position played with an unusual right hand pattern giving a time signature of 10/8. Don’t panic, if you play the right hand pattern correctly, as indicated, it automatically comes out correctly. You will find all the techniques you need in my book The Art Of Accompaniment On The Guitar. I have given considerable technical guidance both in fingering and the use of different strings as these pieces are intended to be instructional. The score is available on Sheet Music Plus and Sheet Music Direct.

Solo Guitar - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1101385

Composed by Gustav Holst. Arranged by Simon James. 20th Century,Christmas,Classical,Contemporary,Instructional. Individual part. 5 pages. DML #704780. Published by DML (A0.1101385).

In the Bleak Midwinter is a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti, commonly performed as a Christmas carol. The poem was published, under the title A Christmas Carol, in the January 1872 issue of Scribners Monthly and was first collected in book form in Goblin Market, The Prince's Progress and Other Poems (Macmillan, 1875). In 1906, Gustav Holst composed a setting of Rossetti's words (titled Cranham) in The English Hymnal which is sung throughout the world and is the basis of this arrangement. A wonderful tune that works well on the guitar as a solo piece. The arrangement makes extensive use of open strings and I have indicated this wherever it is important.

Solo Guitar - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1189167

Composed by Simon James. Classical,Contemporary,Instructional. Individual part. 6 pages. DML #788788. Published by DML (A0.1189167).

These short Preludes for guitar are intended to illustrate a particular technical point or points. It may be either technical or compositional or both and I would have to say that I have been influenced by Tarrega’s Preludes which he wrote mostly for his students and so have called them Preludes rather than Studies. I learnt Tarrega’s pieces such as Adelita and Lagrima early in my study of the guitar and always enjoyed their nature as both technical exercises but also performance pieces. I have tried to emulate that with these pieces. 

The piece makes extensive use of open strings but is essentially a set of variations. The melody keeps returning but with small alterations as does the accompaniment. There is also a B section in E minor before a return to the opening melody. The return to the opening section has, as a variation, a change in bass and harmony. The original C major7 chord becomes E minor by changing the bass and the E minor chord becomes C major7 in the same fashion. The effect is subtle but attractive and is no harder to play.

Guitar - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1116681

Composed by Howard Blake. Arranged by Simon James. Chamber,Christmas,Classical,Contemporary,Film/TV. 21 pages. DML #718336. Published by DML (A0.1116681).

Walking in the Air is a song written by Howard Blake for the 1982 animated film The Snowman based on Raymond Briggs 1978 children’s book of the same name. The song forms the centrepiece of The Snowman, which has become a seasonal favourite on British and Finnish television. This version for guitar quartet has its structure based on the Aled Jones recording and takes some inspiration from that orchestral arrangement. Guitar quartets are enormous fun especially as there is so little ensemble music for guitar that is easy to play but also rewarding to listen to. All the parts are very straightforward except Guitar 2 which has a little more to do than the others.

Solo Guitar - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1185160

Composed by Simon James. 20th Century,Classical,Contemporary,Instructional. Individual part. 5 pages. DML #784842. Published by DML (A0.1185160).

These short Preludes for guitar are intended to illustrate a particular technical point or points. It may be either technical or compositional or both and I would have to say that I have been influenced by Tarrega’s Preludes which he wrote mostly for his students and so have called them Preludes rather than Studies. I learnt Tarrega’s pieces such as Adelita and Lagrima early in my study of the guitar and always enjoyed their nature as both technical exercises but also performance pieces. I have tried to emulate that with these pieces. 

The piece is written as a Fugue with two voices. The idea was to explore counterpoint on the guitar and how to handle it. The time signature is 6/8 which suits the guitar well as it gives a very lyrical feel. The first voice opens the piece with the subject and then at bar 8 the second voice enters in the bass while the first voice plays the countersubject. I have given considerable technical guidance both in fingering and the use of different strings as these pieces are intended to be instructional, if in doubt you will find all the techniques you need in my book The Art Of Accompaniment On The Guitar available from Amazon.

Guitar - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1102371

Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by Simon James. Baroque,Chamber,Christmas,Classical,Instructional. 10 pages. DML #705777. Published by DML (A0.1102371).

In dulci jubilo (Latin for In sweet rejoicing) is a traditional Christmas Carol which has become a mainstay of the Christmas Nine Lessons and Carols repertoire. Johann Sebastian Bach set this melody several times: as a chorale in BWV 368; and then for organ in BWV 608 as a double canon in his Orgelbüchlein. Clearly he was fond of the tune and who can blame him. This arrangement of BWW 608 follows almost exactly the four original voices from the canon. It is not difficult to play technically but the rhythm is challenging.

Guitar - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1316579

Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by Simon James. Baroque,Chamber,Christmas,Classical,Contemporary. 10 pages. DML #905303. Published by DML (A0.1316579).

Air On A G string is August Wilhelmj’s 1871 arrangement of the second movement of J. S. Bach’s Orchestral Suite No 3 in D major BWV 1068. The arrangement differs from the original in that the part of the first violins is transposed down so that the entire piece can be played on just the violin's lowest string (the G string, hence the name). In performance, that part is generally played by a single violin (instead of by the first violins as a group). This is however an arrangement of the original “Air� from the Orchestral Suite. Bach's third Orchestral Suite in D major, composed in the first half of the 18th century, has an Air as second movement. The music of the Air is written on four staves, for first and second violins, viola, and continuo. The interweaving melody lines of the high strings contrast with the pronounced rhythmic drive in the bass. I have followed this quite closely in the arrangement for guitar quartet in F major.

Solo Guitar - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1189647

Composed by Simon James. Classical,Contemporary,Instructional. Individual part. 5 pages. DML #789280. Published by DML (A0.1189647).

These short Preludes for guitar are intended to illustrate a particular technical point or points. It may be either technical or compositional or both and I would have to say that I have been influenced by Tarrega’s Preludes which he wrote mostly for his students and so have called them Preludes rather than Studies. I learnt Tarrega’s pieces such as Adelita and Lagrima early in my study of the guitar and always enjoyed their nature as both technical exercises but also performance pieces. I have tried to emulate that with these pieces. 

This Prelude is based on the use of thirds and sixths on the guitar. These intervals are the easiest to play on guitar and the sweetest sounding though they can still be used dramatically as in this work. The middle section, or B section if you prefer, uses chords with dissonance built into the chord shape and which are also not too difficult to play.

Guitar - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1318113

Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by Simon James. Advent,Baroque,Christmas,Classical,Contemporary. 19 pages. DML #906815. Published by DML (A0.1318113).

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring is the popular English title of the chorale from the 1723 Advent cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life), BWV 147. This arrangement for guitar quartet follows Bach’s original orchestration as far as possible so the choral sections co-exist with the string parts and basso continuo. It does involve a certain amount of reduction in the original voicings but has retained the cross rhythms in the choral section and bass. It makes this arrangement quite complex to perform but very definitely worth it. The 2nd guitar and 1st guitar do cross over each other but that is in Bach’s original writing and I have not changed it.

Solo Guitar - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1305680

Composed by Traditional. Arranged by Simon James. Christmas,Classical,Contemporary,Historic,Medieval. Individual part. 5 pages. DML #895135. Published by DML (A0.1305680).

The Coventry Carol is an English Christmas carol dating from the 16th century. The carol was traditionally performed in Coventry in England as part of a mystery play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors. The play depicts the Christmas story from chapter two in the Gospel of Matthew: the carol itself refers to the Massacre of the Innocents, in which Herod ordered all male infants under the age of two in Bethlehem to be killed, and takes the form of a lullaby sung by mothers of the doomed children. The music contains a well-known example of a Picardy third. The melody sits well on the guitar, so much so that this arrangement is based on changing key from E minor to A minor to D minor and back again to E minor with the melody always present. In the D minor variation the tune is in the bass.