SKU: A0.1460953

Angels Gathering is a beautiful piano ballad capturing the helpless feeling of watching a loved one fade away.  The agony of loss is replaced with contentment driven by faith that the suffering has ended and a better place lies ahead.

This arrangement of Angels Gathering can be performed as an instrumental or with vocals on both piano or guitar.

SKU: A0.1347171

The ultimate guitar arrangement to accompany a singer performing this beautiful Christmas evergreen. It has all the right chords in all the right places. The vocal part be played by a melody instrument too.

SKU: A0.1347430

Africa's rich and varied history has been shaped by many factors, and the same could be said for Africa's captivating traditional and indigenous music styles, which in turn have influenced many other genres of music around the world.  With its early beginnings, the traditional music of Africa has walked hand-in-hand with the development of cultures and languages, each with its distinct traditions and dialects that bring a unique flavor to the African folk tunes that are so much a part of the families, clans and communities that form a music heritage within Africa.
 
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Luhya community in Kenya, where we clearly see the special relationship that exists between the Samia people, and their articulate dialect, and the delightful expression of their sacred folk music and folk music style.  We could even go so far as to say that Samia folk tunes are closely tied to their art, folklore and religious practices, and also to the artistic influences within and without the Luhya community.

Notably, what makes African folk music style special is the sense of purpose and meaning that is attributed to the music--through its use in religious practices, ceremonies, and celebrations-- where audience participation is encouraged and even expected.  The techniques and forms of the music, which give this genre a voice of its own, gives us reason to pay close attention to the characteristics that define this music.  We can briefly point out the use of polyrhythmic techniques, percussion, shimmer, improvisational instrumentation, yodeling and syncopated rhythms that comprise African folk music, but none gets our attention more than the call and response of the singers, which shows the close connection between the language (dialect) and the music, all of which involves the singers and the audience in a musical conversation.
 
This arrangement by Wilson Shitandi combines two melodies commonly used in the praise of leaders or deities--depending on the culture--that typically have no specific title, and sometimes derive their name from an instrument or type of dance.  Stylistically, this arrangement successfully weaves two themes together into one, the first being a lively and upbeat expression, and the second being more meditative and contemplative, both of which alternate throughout the music.  
 
Importantly, the text for this chorus was originally written in Swahili, and later rewritten using the Samia dialect, which the composer feels is more fitting to the melody, with words drawn from Christian traditions, which again demonstrates that music and language are indeed closely linked in the folk music of Africa, as it is in this uplifting arrangement of Mwiche Khumufumie (Come Let Us Glorify Him).

SKU: A0.945064

Music with Flexible scoring options permit creative ways for ensembles with incomplete instrumentation to be successfully performed. When instrumentation is less than ideal or when fewer performers are available, flexible scoring options can help provide solutions.

SKU: A0.1442831

This is one of the most popular and best-loved folksongs of all time, made famous by Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and many others. The song is in the Dorian mode and thought to have originated over four hundred years ago. 

 Scarborough (SKAH-buh-ruh) is an English coastal town in the county of Yorkshire. It was occupied by the Romans during the fourth and fifth centuries but today has become the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast with a thriving fishing industry.  

There are many different versions of the lyrics and by the end of the 19th century, dozens of variants existed. The repeated chorus of “parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme” is significant. In olden times, these herbs had medicinal purposes. In addition, parsley was associated with comfort, sage with strength, rosemary with love and thyme with courage. The song takes the form of a melancholy dialogue between two individuals who were once lovers but now live separate lives. Each of them asks the listener to pass on a message to the other. The young man requests impossible tasks from his former lover, saying that if she can perform them, he will take her back. In return, she requests equally impossible things of him, saying she will perform her tasks when he performs his. The fact that all the tasks are impossible seems to imply that neither of them have any intention of becoming reunited. 

This arrangement for woodwind instruments and piano stays well within the instrumental ranges and attempts to reflect the melancholy feeling of the lyrics. It would make an excellent addition to a woodwind recital.

 

 

 

 

SKU: A0.1452373

This is one of the most popular and best-loved folksongs of all time, made famous by Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and many others. The song is in the Dorian mode and thought to have originated over four hundred years ago. 

 Scarborough (SKAH-buh-ruh) is an English coastal town in the county of Yorkshire. It was occupied by the Romans during the fourth and fifth centuries but today has become the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast with a thriving fishing industry.  

There are many different versions of the lyrics and by the end of the 19th century, dozens of variants existed. The repeated chorus of “parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme” is significant. In olden times, these herbs had medicinal purposes. In addition, parsley was associated with comfort, sage with strength, rosemary with love and thyme with courage. The song takes the form of a melancholy dialogue between two individuals who were once lovers but now live separate lives. Each of them asks the listener to pass on a message to the other. The young man requests impossible tasks from his former lover, saying that if she can perform them, he will take her back. In return, she requests equally impossible things of him, saying she will perform her tasks when he performs his. The fact that all the tasks are impossible seems to imply that neither of them have any intention of becoming reunited. 

This arrangement for woodwind instruments and piano stays well within the instrumental ranges and attempts to reflect the melancholy feeling of the lyrics. It would make an excellent addition to a woodwind recital.

SKU: A0.1444898

This is one of the most popular and best-loved folksongs of all time, made famous by Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and many others. The song is in the Dorian mode and thought to have originated over four hundred years ago. 

 Scarborough (SKAH-buh-ruh) is an English coastal town in the county of Yorkshire. It was occupied by the Romans during the fourth and fifth centuries but today has become the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast with a thriving fishing industry.  

 There are many different versions of the lyrics and by the end of the 19th century, dozens of variants existed. The repeated chorus of “parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme” is significant. In olden times, these herbs had medicinal purposes. In addition, parsley was associated with comfort, sage with strength, rosemary with love and thyme with courage. The song takes the form of a melancholy dialogue between two individuals who were once lovers but now live separate lives. Each of them asks the listener to pass on a message to the other. The young man requests impossible tasks from his former lover, saying that if she can perform them, he will take her back. In return, she requests equally impossible things of him, saying she will perform her tasks when he performs his. The fact that all the tasks are impossible seems to imply that neither of them have any intention of becoming reunited. 

 This arrangement for woodwind instruments and piano stays well within the instrumental ranges and attempts to reflect the melancholy feeling of the lyrics. The clarinet part avoids awkward movement around the break. This arrangement would make a splendid encore piece for a recital.

SKU: A0.763675

Duke Street is sung to a number for festive hymn texts including Jesus Shall Reign Where'er The Sun and I Know That My Redeemer Lives. Ideal in any festive church service and especially during the Easter season, also great high school student recital repertoire. Each player has an opportunity to lead as well as accompany and the score downloads with parts attached. Enjoy browsing my extensive selection of woodwind solos, duets, trios and quartet arrangements available on SMP.