SKU: A0.505511

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

SKU: A0.549906

Christmas String Quartet Book

Christmas Reharmonizations by James M. Guthrie. The Christmas String Quartet Book is a collection of the 18 Most Famous Christmas Songs with new and surprising harmony.

Format

First, your string quartet can perform the Christmas String Quartet Book directly from the score. This is easy because each song is only two pages long; hence, there are no page turns. Alternatively, this download includes a complete set of parts. So various combinations are also possible: e.g., violins read from the score on one stand, while the viola & cello each use the parts on separate stands. The Christmas String Quartet Book is available in whatever format works best for your ensemble.

Performance

This collection of the most famous 18 Christmas songs can be performed as a medley as written. Moreover, selected songs from the Christmas String Quartet Book could be chosen as the last verse of a hymn presentation. In this case, play the usual arrangement from the hymnal for the first verses, then switch to this arrangement for the final verse. This adds a great deal of energy and unexpected adventure to your performance. Each song could be repeated depending on the length of time required. This is a very versatile collection. Suitable for Christmas parties or receptions, church services and receptions, nightclubs, and school presentations. Also, they are very easy to perform or even sight-read.

Music

Each Christmas String Quartet Book song is adventurously reharmonized, but the melody always remains perfectly intact. This makes it easy for anyone to sing along. Moreover, the songs end correctly in the correct key to add an element of familiarity and closure. Tempo markings occur at the beginning of each piece, but you can adjust these to your liking.  Phrase markings appear throughout as a guide for bowing. Articulations are carefully calculated to emphasize the characteristics of the string instruments.

Contents

1. Veni, veni, Emmanuel (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel)
2. Helmsley (Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending)
3. Antioch (Joy to the World)
4. Carol (It Came Upon a Midnight Clear)
5. Es ist ein Ros (Lo, How a Rose)
6. Gloria
7. God Rest You Merry
8. Greensleeves
9. In dulci jubilo (In Thee is Gladness)
10. Mendelssohn (Hark the Herald Angels Sing)
11. Personet hodie
12. The First Noel
13. Salzburg (At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing)
14. Three Kings of Orient
15. Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
16. St Louis (O Little Town of Bethlehem)
17. Away in a Manger
18. Stille Nacht (Silent Night)

Score: 36 pages, Parts: 6 pages. Total duration with no repeats: ca. 14:00

SKU: A0.1127419

This traditional carol has been arranged for string quartet with a whole step modulation between the two verses.