Full Orchestra - Level 4 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.1470001
By The Carpenters. By Frank Pooler and Richard Carpenter. Arranged by John Langley / Studio Orchestrations. Christmas,Holiday,Pop,Singer/Songwriter,Standards. 95 pages. Www.studio-orchestrations.com #1047742. Published by www.studio-orchestrations.com (A0.1470001).
Merry Christmas, Darling is a Christmas song by the Carpenters (music by Richard Carpenter, lyrics by Frank Pooler), and originally recorded in 1970. It received a number of remixes, most notably in 1978 in a newly recorded vocal version by Karen Carpenter, which was done at her request. Richard Carpenter himself called the original recording one of his sister's very best.
Hearing this song today with knowing ears and the knowledge of Karen Carepenter's mental health problems it makes a beautiful, sentimental song all the more bitter sweet and precious. It is a perfect little gem.
In this orchestration - in the original Karen Carpenter key - there is never any heavy brass apart from 4 horns used very sparingly, and the optional original alto saxophone solo is also cued (as an alternative) for a Trumpet or Flugel horn if a sax is not available.
A guitar in this texture is always desirable but can be traded off as long as there is bass guitar, light kit and percussion to support the soupy lush string lines.
The backing vocals are a significant part of the song's haunting beauty and are also highly desirable however their harmony lines are covered by alternative wind instrument figures so this can be performed with or without backing vocals.
INSTRUMENTATION:
2 Flutes
Oboe
Cor Anglais
2 Clarinets
2 Bassoons
4 Horns
Alto Saxophone solo (Can be played on alt. Flugel/Trumpet part)
2-3 Percussion
Harp
Piano
Electric Guitar [Optional]
Bass Guitar
Drum Kit
Vocal female soloist
SATB Backing Vocals [Optional, cued to alt. instruments]
Strings
Look out for other arrangement/orchestrated titles by John Langley and writing partner Paul Campbell at www.studio-orchestrations.com.
