Composed by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn. Arranged by Austin Ralphson. Christmas,Romantic Period,Standards,Wedding. Score and parts. 66 pages. Austin Ralphson #4350601. Published by Austin Ralphson

String Quartet String Quartet - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.505502

By The Chapel Hill Duo. By Tradtional. Arranged by Sarah James & Jaya Hanley of The Chapel Hill Duo. Christmas,Folk,Jazz,Sacred. Score and parts. 14 pages. The Chapel Hill Duo #3908935. Published by The Chapel Hill Duo (A0.505502).

The Chapel Hill Duo’s series of Christmas arrangements features traditional carols and popular Christmas themed songs arranged for violin and cello and now also for String Quartet. Unlike most arrangements of traditional carols, the Chapel Hill Duo have used their expertise to develop these carols into unique pieces each with their own artistic merit. Each arrangement is a full-length work, not just 32bars! Many of the arrangements incorporate Jazzy twists and take influences from folk music and pop music as well as utilising exciting virtuosic instrumental techniques.

As full-length arrangements, the Chapel Hill Duo’s Christmas series is perfect for educational purposes such as teaching and workshops and has the potential to be used as part of School concerts, for Christmas parties and as encores in seasonal concerts.

Suitable for intermediate to advanced musicians, these arrangements could be used as a seasonal project for young students or as repertoire for more advanced musicians.

In 2015 the Chapel Hill Duo recorded their own versions of these arrangements, you can buy the album ‘A Traditional Christmas’ at https://chapelhillduo.bandcamp.com/releases and most other online distributors.

Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/a-traditional-christmas/1053382349

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2O8vN7BcTK7hCvpqoaROgS

For more information please visit www.ChapelHillDuo.co.uk.

Or get in touch on Facebook or Youtube at www.Facebook.com/ChapelHillDuo and www.Youtube.com/TheChapelHillDuo

 

String Quartet String Quartet - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1170644

Composed by Traditional Russian. Arranged by Robert Debbaut. Christian,Christmas,Classical,Holiday,Multicultural,World. Score and parts. 5 pages. ROBERT DEBBAUT #770995. Published by ROBERT DEBBAUT (A0.1170644).

Adapted from a published lead sheet, this traditional carol is adapted for young string orchestra.  It is accessible by good junior high, or average high school players, and is an example of Christmas music from other countries.  If you purchase, please write to the arranger at debbaut@gmail.com, subject Yolichka QT and I will send you a copy of the parts at no charge.

String Quartet Cello,String Quartet,Viola,Violin - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.749239

By Justin Bieber Duet With Mariah Carey. By Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff. Arranged by HELEN MARPLE-HORVAT. Contemporary. 39 pages. Helen Marple-Horvat #6196305. Published by Helen Marple-Horvat (A0.749239).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSx1esb0D0w

Mariah Carey released this critically acclaimed song in 1994 and it has remained a popular snowy-season Christmas standard ever since. I originally arranged it for Voice with Quartet accompaniment in F, with my daughter, Alice Rose Wild, who sings on the live recording. You can hear our recording of the whole song on my channel if you type in Skinny Black Dogs, Capriccio Quartet, ‘All I want for Christmas’ into Youtube. More recently I have created this version for String Quartet in the key of G.  At the moment I have only the Sibelius computer score, and hope to record it with Capriccio Quartet once the covid pandemic is at an end. Suspend your disbelief!

Why choose my Arrangement?

The arrangement is in a great key for strings and most of the double stopping includes an open string. In one or two places the double stopping is a bit more tricky, so for younger players it would be better perhaps to miss out one of the notes, or to play them consecutively.

The Intro.

For the first violinist I include two versions of the intro and recommend that the quartet listen to the original, or to Alice’s recording for speed and performance tips. It is quite difficult to get the computer to do it musically, so the video intro is only intended as a rough guide. One of the enclosed options is intended as a rehearsal version, and has the lyrics to help. I have bowed it to include lots of downbows, and recovery of bows, which will help the other members to follow. The tricky sextuplet and triplet ornament at bar 10 can be omitted altogether. Simply pause on the ‘C’ and then recover the downbow for the next bar.

I also include two versions of the violin two and viola parts. One is on two pages as a smaller font, and one on three pages with a larger font.

For cellists who are a bit daunted by the solo at letter A , simply  play the fourth position semi breve Gs at bar 12 and at bars 13 and 14 too, and revert to the original score at bar 15. ie Six semibreve Gs. Perhaps a harmonic D at bar 15 would be easier than a shift at this point, and then join in unison with the rest of the band.

The song moves between a straight crotchet pulse and lots of syncopated lines. This will be difficult to read on paper, but I always recommend listening to the song many times and then doing it by ear, using the notes on the page as a guide. Try not to play them too literally.

Printouts
Pages 1 - 10 are for Look Inside Options only.
Pages 11 - 28 includes all Parts
Page 29 onwards is the optional Score for rehearsals.
 
The vocal version is proving popular, but for a standard quartet Wedding and Events repertoire I hope that people will enjoy this arrangement. Send me recordings on facebook, even if they are phone rehearsals. I love to hear them, and to make contact with quartets around the world!

String Quartet Cello,String Quartet,Viola,Violin - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.553941

Composed by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. Arranged by Ray Thompson. Baroque,Christmas,Classical,Renaissance. Score and parts. 30 pages. RayThompsonMusic #6286665. Published by RayThompsonMusic (A0.553941).

Charpentier wrote a lot of music for Christmas: oratorios on Christmas themes, pastorals, noels, and a lovely Midnight Mass for Christmas.

He arranged a lot of French Christmas Carols (Noels) as 2 suites _ Noels sur les instruments and Noels pour les instruments for a string orchestra and 2 flutes/recorders.

This is my transcription of the Noëls sur les instruments for standard string quartet.

They are 6 pieces :

Les Bourgeois de Chastre (The Townsfolk of Chastre)

 Où s'en vont ces gais bergers (Where have the merry shepherds gone?)

 Joseph est bien marié (Joseph is well married)

 Or nous dites Marie (But, tell us Mary)

 A la venue de Noël (With the coming of Christmas)

 Une jeune pucelle (A young virgin girl)

This is purely the order they are shown in his manuscript.

They appear in his Midnight Mass in the following order:

(This follows the Christmas Story)

Joseph est bien marié (Joseph is well married)

Or nous dites Marie (But, tell us Mary)

Une jeune pucelle (A young virgin girl)

Les Bourgeois de Chastre (The Townsfolk of Chastre)

 Où s'en vont ces gais bergers (Where have the merry shepherds gone?)

A la venue de Noël (With the coming of Christmas)

String Orchestra - Level 1 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.835529

Composed by Traditional. Arranged by Vincent Vitale. Christmas. Score and parts. 10 pages. Vincent Vitale #2919755. Published by Vincent Vitale (A0.835529).

We Wish You A Merry Christmas is an old 16th Century Christmas carol.  The tradition of carolers being handed treats for their singing to the wealthy is reflected in this Christmas carol.

Music does not have to be difficult to sound good. If you are looking for something playable and full sounding you found it in this string orchestra series for young players composed by a retired music teacher who actually worked with young players. Written for Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello and String Bass with full score. There can be as little as one player per part or placing numerous players on each part will produce a bigger and fuller sound. Even advanced players will find these pieces fun to play. These compositions contain flowing melodies with unique harmonies, easy key signatures and have generated great audience appeal. Counterpoint is also incorporated into many of the compositions. Bow markings are indicated. Enjoy these pieces along with your students and audience.

String Quartet Cello,String Quartet,Viola,Violin - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.563648

Composed by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn. Arranged by Austin Ralphson. Christmas,Concert,Romantic Period,Standards,Wedding. Score and parts. 15 pages. Austin Ralphson #4350571. Published by Austin Ralphson (A0.563648).

Mendelssohn composed these six short piano pieces as Christmas presents for various young members of his family whilst visiting London in 1842. They translate very well to a small ensemble arrangement and can be performed successfully by a competent group without a problem. This is number five of the six.

Complete string catalogue arr. Austin Ralphson is here (copy and paste to new tab):
www.ralphsonstrings.com

String Quartet Cello,String Quartet,Viola,Violin - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.563634

Composed by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn. Arranged by Austin Ralphson. Christmas,Concert,Romantic Period,Standards,Wedding. Score and parts. 9 pages. Austin Ralphson #4349989. Published by Austin Ralphson (A0.563634).

Mendelssohn composed these six short piano pieces as Christmas presents for various young members of his family whilst visiting London in 1842. They translate very well to a small ensemble arrangement and can be performed successfully by a competent group without a problem. This is number one of the six.

Complete string catalogue arr. Austin Ralphson is here (copy and paste to new tab):
www.ralphsonstrings.com

String Quartet Cello,String Quartet,Viola,Violin - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.563637

Composed by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn. Arranged by Austin Ralphson. Christmas,Concert,Romantic Period,Standards,Wedding. Score and parts. 9 pages. Austin Ralphson #4350569. Published by Austin Ralphson (A0.563637).

Mendelssohn composed these six short piano pieces as Christmas presents for various young members of his family whilst visiting London in 1842. They translate very well to a small ensemble arrangement and can be performed successfully by a competent group without a problem. This is number four of the six.

Complete string catalogue arr. Austin Ralphson is here (copy and paste to new tab):
www.ralphsonstrings.com

String Quartet Cello,String Quartet,Viola,Violin - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.563635

Composed by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn. Arranged by Austin Ralphson. Christmas,Concert,Romantic Period,Standards,Wedding. Score and parts. 9 pages. Austin Ralphson #4349995. Published by Austin Ralphson (A0.563635).

Mendelssohn composed these six short piano pieces as Christmas presents for various young members of his family whilst visiting London in 1842. They translate very well to a small ensemble arrangement and can be performed successfully by a competent group without a problem. This is number two of the six.

Complete string catalogue arr. Austin Ralphson is here (copy and paste to new tab):
www.ralphsonstrings.com

String Quartet Cello,String Quartet,Viola,Violin - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.563636

Composed by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn. Arranged by Austin Ralphson. Christmas,Concert,Romantic Period,Standards,Wedding. Score and parts. 9 pages. Austin Ralphson #4350297. Published by Austin Ralphson (A0.563636).

Mendelssohn composed these six short piano pieces as Christmas presents for various young members of his family whilst visiting London in 1842. They translate very well to a small ensemble arrangement and can be performed successfully by a competent group without a problem. This is number three of the six.

Complete string catalogue arr. Austin Ralphson is here (copy and paste to new tab):
www.ralphsonstrings.com

String Quartet Cello,String Quartet,Viola,Violin - Level 5 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.563639

Composed by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn. Arranged by Austin Ralphson. Christmas,Concert,Instructional,Romantic Period,Wedding. Score and parts. 16 pages. Austin Ralphson #4350597. Published by Austin Ralphson (A0.563639).

Mendelssohn composed these six short piano pieces as Christmas presents for various young members of his family whilst visiting London in 1842. They translate very well to a small ensemble arrangement and can be performed successfully by a competent group, although this one is trickier than the others. This is number six of the six.

Complete string catalogue arr. Austin Ralphson is here (copy and paste to new tab):
www.ralphsonstrings.com

String Quartet String Quartet - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.847543

Composed by Brock Berryhill, Chris Young, Christopher Young, Jason Brunswick, Jay Brunswick, and Johnny Bulford. Arranged by Susan Steffens. Contemporary. Score and parts. 10 pages. Steffens Creative #4847759. Published by Steffens Creative (A0.847543).

An accessible upbeat arrangement for string trio or string quartet of Owl City's When Can I see You Again? from Disney's Wreck-It Ralph.  Includes violin 3 sub. for viola part.  Perfect for weddings, recessionals, receptions, parties, graduations, etc.

String Quartet Cello,String Quartet,Viola,Violin - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1491194

Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie. Chamber,Christmas,Historic,Holiday,Traditional. 20 pages. Jmsgu3 #1067931. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.1491194).

Good King Wenceslas is a well-known Christmas carol that narrates the story of a kind-hearted ruler who braves winter weather to help a poor peasant. The carol is inspired by the historical figure of Saint Wenceslas I, Duke of Bohemia, who lived from approximately 907 to 935 AD. Although he is referred to as a king in the carol, he was a duke during his lifetime; the title of king was conferred upon him posthumously by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I.

Historical Context

Wenceslas was born into a Christian family and raised primarily by his grandmother, Ludmila, who significantly influenced his faith. His mother, Drahomíra, was aligned with paganism and ultimately had Ludmila murdered to gain power. Upon becoming Duke at 18, Wenceslas sought to promote Christianity and was known for his charitable acts, especially towards the poor and marginalized. His reign was marked by efforts to end religious conflicts and to build churches, including part of what is now St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. However, his commitment to Christianity and his benevolent nature made him a target for his jealous younger brother, Boleslav, who ultimately conspired to murder him in 929 or 935 AD.

The Carol

The carol Good King Wenceslas was written in 1853 by English hymn-writer John Mason Neale, set to a melody from a 13th-century spring carol. It was designed to encourage Christian charity, particularly during Christmas, and is traditionally sung on the Feast of Stephen, December 26. The lyrics depict Wenceslas and his page witnessing a poor man gathering firewood and deciding to help him by bringing food and supplies. This story reflects the historical Wenceslas's reputation for generosity and compassion, which has led to his veneration as a saint and the patron saint of the Czech Republic. His legacy is celebrated in the Czech Republic, where he is known as Václav, and he is commemorated on September 28, known as St. Wenceslas Day.

Cultural Significance

The carol has become a staple of Christmas music in the English-speaking world, performed by various artists and choirs. It serves not only as a festive song but also as a reminder of the values of charity and kindness, echoing the life and virtues of the historical Wenceslas.