Brass Ensemble Trombone - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.813974 Composed by Franz Xaver Gruber. Arranged by Regis Bookshar. Christmas,Concert,Instructional,World. Score and parts. 7 pages. Regis Bookshar #6635873. Published by Regis Bookshar (A0.813974). Trombone Quintet - Intermediate - Digital Download. This arrangement of Silent Night, or in German, Stille Nacht, would be a wonderful addition to any music library and could be performed for Christmas concerts, recitals, and, especially, church services. It is equally suitable for junior and senior high school students and even older musicians. Depending on their ability, younger musicians would also enjoy playing this selection. Included are a score and a complete set of parts (7 pages). This selection is one of the many arrangements from The Regis Bookshar Trumpet Ensemble's extensive music library which are being made available for the first time.Silent Night is probably the most popular Christmas carol ever written. It was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr and was first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a small village in present-day Austria. A young Catholic priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had written the poem, Stille Nacht, in 1816 and had gone to Oberndorf in 1817. The melody was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, schoolmaster and organist in the nearby village of Arnsdorf. On Christmas Eve, 1818, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for that night's mass, after river flooding had possibly damaged the church organ. The church was eventually destroyed by repeated flooding and has since been replaced with the Silent-Night-Chapel.According to Gruber, Karl Mauracher, an organ builder who serviced the instrument at the Oberndorf church, was enamored with the song, and took the composition home with him to the Ziller Valley in Tyrol, Austria. From there, two traveling families of folk singers, the Strassers and the Rainers, included the tune in their shows. The Rainers were already singing it around Christmas, 1819, and once performed it for an audience that included Franz I of Austria and Alexander I of Russia. They also gave the first performance of the song in the United States in New York City in 1839. By the 1840's, the song was well known and was reported to be a favorite of Frederick William IV of Prussia. During this period, the melody changed slightly to become the version that is commonly heard today. The version of the melody that is generally used today is a slow, meditative lullaby, or pastoral, differing slightly from Gruber's original which has a moderate tempo. The song has been translated into about 140 languages and has been recorded by many singers across many music genres. The version sung by Bing Crosby in 1935, has sold over 10 million copies as a single.In this arrangement of Silent Night, Regis Bookshar has kept the basic form of this familiar Christmas carol, but has also included a descant during the third verse. Also, in addition to this version for a Trombone Quintet, there are other arrangements of Silent Night available for a variety of instrumental ensembles. There are Quintets and Octets readily available for purchase. Please take the time to look for other versions of this composition. You may find something else that might also suit your needs.I would also encourage you to search for other arrangements by Regis Bookshar, as well, as there are numerous arrangements in a wide variety of styles, also available for purchase. You may find something else which might interest you. Please continue to check periodically because new arrangements are being added as often as possible. I'm certain that this wonderful arrangement of Silent Night will continue to entertain both performers and audiences alike for years to come.

Choral Choir,Choral (SATB Chorus) - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1510473 By Christopher Alexander. By Cameron Henry and Christopher Alexander. A Cappella,Contest,Festival,Multicultural,World. 12 pages. Christopher Alexander #1085670. Published by Christopher Alexander (A0.1510473). This is the second movement from the extended choral work Rising from the Ashes: Stories of Lahaina.After the horrific Maui wildfires, many residents of Lahaina (like many of us after a devastating event) became distraught and hopeless that their homeland was destroyed. This prayer gives solemness to this moment in the aftermath with the wish to bring their houses and livelihoods back again. A solo opportunity with an accompanying aleatoric choir creates a unique sound illustration that will astound your audience in performance. A closing statement gives renewed hope for a better tomorrow.Full score and other movements (On That Night, Finding Strength in Shadows, Kama'aina) also available for purchase.

Brass Ensemble Euphonium - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.813966 Composed by Franz Xaver Gruber. Arranged by Regis Bookshar. Instructional,Multicultural,World. Score and parts. 7 pages. Regis Bookshar #6635847. Published by Regis Bookshar (A0.813966). Euphonium Quintet - Intermediate - Digital Download. This arrangement of Silent Night, or in German, Stille Nacht, would be a wonderful addition to any music library and could be performed for Christmas concerts, recitals, and, especially, church services. It is equally suitable for junior and senior high school students and even older musicians. Depending on their ability, younger musicians would also enjoy playing this selection. Included are a score and a complete set of parts (7 pages). This selection is one of the many arrangements from The Regis Bookshar Trumpet Ensemble's extensive music library which are being made available for the first time.Silent Night is probably the most popular Christmas carol ever written. It was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr and was first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a small village in present-day Austria. A young Catholic priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had written the poem, Stille Nacht, in 1816 and had gone to Oberndorf in 1817. The melody was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, schoolmaster and organist in the nearby village of Arnsdorf. On Christmas Eve, 1818, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for that night's mass, after river flooding had possibly damaged the church organ. The church was eventually destroyed by repeated flooding and has since been replaced with the Silent-Night-Chapel.According to Gruber, Karl Mauracher, an organ builder who serviced the instrument at the Oberndorf church, was enamored with the song, and took the composition home with him to the Ziller Valley in Tyrol, Austria. From there, two traveling families of folk singers, the Strassers and the Rainers, included the tune in their shows. The Rainers were already singing it around Christmas, 1819, and once performed it for an audience that included Franz I of Austria and Alexander I of Russia. They also gave the first performance of the song in the United States in New York City in 1839. By the 1840's, the song was well known and was reported to be a favorite of Frederick William IV of Prussia. During this period, the melody changed slightly to become the version that is commonly heard today. The version of the melody that is generally used today is a slow, meditative lullaby, or pastoral, differing slightly from Gruber' s original which has a moderate tempo. The song has been translated into about 140 languages and has been recorded by many singers across many music genres. The version sung by Bing Crosby in 1935, has sold over 10 million copies as a single.In this arrangement of Silent Night, Regis Bookshar has kept the basic form of this familiar Christmas carol, but has also included a descant during the third verse. Also, in addition to this version for a Euphonium Quintet, written in Treble Clef, there are other arrangements of Silent Night available for a variety of instrumental ensembles. There is also a version for a Euphonium Quintet written in Bass Clef, if you prefer. There are Quintets and Octets readily available for purchase. Please take the time to look for other versions of this composition. You may find something else that might also suit your needs.I would also encourage you to search for other arrangements by Regis Bookshar, as well, as there are numerous arrangements in a wide variety of styles, also available for purchase. You may find something else which might interest you. Please continue to check periodically because new arrangements are being added as often as possible. I'm certain that this wonderful arrangement of Silent Night will continue to entertain both performers and audiences alike for years to come.

Piano Solo - Level 5 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1000666 Composed by Nicholas Yandell. 20th Century,Contemporary. Score. 12 pages. Nicholas Yandell Music #6324367. Published by Nicholas Yandell Music (A0.1000666). This piece explores the whole range of the piano, as well as the instrument's more percussive side in a work that's rhythmically rich, with accessible melodic material and harmonic contrasts. This is a high-concept, expressive show piece, which is perfect as a recital piece for a college student or professional and an average performance of this piece lasts just over 6 minutes. First performed (studio recording) in Scotland by Edward Cohen in August of 2020, this work explores the concept of Extant Art. The definition of Extant is: still in existence, surviving, what’s not destroyed or lost; focusing on what remains after the surface of a person, object, or idea is stripped away. Musically, this concept is expressed through breaking down melodies and harmonies to their simplest elements, exploring spacious and percussive textures, clusters and jarring contrasts, moments of shrill dissonance, and using fragmented and jagged rhythms to form the parts of a shattered whole. Ultimately, this work is about breaking down the outside emotional skin and then penetrating the depths of an individual, until left with just their extant core. It’s a thrashing musical journey of catharsis.Performing Rights Organization: ASCAPComposer's website: https://www.nicholasyandell.com

Full Orchestra - Level 5 - Digital Download SKU: A0.751143 Composed by Benedikt Brydern. 20th Century,Contemporary. Score and parts. 25 pages. ConSordino Music Publishing #4633239. Published by ConSordino Music Publishing (A0.751143). Ikarus started life as a composition for 9 solo string instruments but soon grew into a fully orchestrated piece. On one hand it tells the classic story of Ikarus who, ignoring the warnings of his father, flew too close to the sun and died. On the other hand it pays homage to the inventiveness of the human spirit and embraces mankind’s ability, through the creation of complicated machines, to achieve more than our mortal bodies would allow.The music starts softly with Ikarus preparing for his take-off. Slowly the huge wings unfold and the piece lifts off with a majestic theme/motif. The nervous sixteen notes in the string section symbolize the constant flow of air and motion needed by Ikarus to fly.The joy of movement is mirrored by the cellos and bassoons, gliding in and out of the orchestra. Sounds of birds, clouds and impressions of earth from above are represented by various short melodic or rhythmic fragments throughout the first phase of his flight.Slowly the intensity and excitement builds until we are completely swept away and have lost all sense of reason or danger. Then, in the climax of the composition, Ikarus and his wings crash to the ground and the orchestra brakes down with him, loosing feather after feather until all has been destroyed. After this violent moment, the compositions quiets down gradually and reflects on the failure of Ikarus.Performed and recorded by Robert Ian Winstin and the Kiev Philharmonicon July 14, 2005Orchestral Material for Performance available as Rental Only.

Saxophone Ensemble,Woodwind Ensemble Alto Saxophone,Tenor Saxophone - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.813993 Composed by Franz Xaver Gruber. Arranged by Regis Bookshar. Christmas,Instructional,Multicultural,World. 11 pages. Regis Bookshar #6636643. Published by Regis Bookshar (A0.813993). Saxophone Octet - Intermediate - Digital Download. This arrangement of Silent Night, or in German, Stille Nacht, would be a wonderful addition to any music library and could be performed for Christmas concerts, recitals, and, especially, church services. It is equally suitable for junior and senior high school students and even older musicians. Depending on their ability, younger musicians would also enjoy playing this selection. Included are a score and a complete set of parts (11 pages). This selection is one of the many arrangements from The Regis Bookshar Trumpet Ensemble's extensive music library which are being made available for the first time.Silent Night is probably the most popular Christmas carol ever written. It was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr and was first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a small village in present-day Austria. A young Catholic priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had written the poem, Stille Nacht, in 1816 and had gone to Oberndorf in 1817. The melody was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, schoolmaster and organist in the nearby village of Arnsdorf. On Christmas Eve, 1818, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for that night's mass, after river flooding had possibly damaged the church organ. The church was eventually destroyed by repeated flooding and has since been replaced with the Silent-Night-Chapel.According to Gruber, Karl Mauracher, an organ builder who serviced the instrument at the Oberndorf church, was enamored with the song, and took the composition home with him to the Ziller Valley in Tyrol, Austria. From there, two traveling families of folk singers, the Strassers and the Rainers, included the tune in their shows. The Rainers were already singing it around Christmas, 1819, and once performed it for an audience that included Franz I of Austria and Alexander I of Russia. They also gave the first performance of the song in the United States in New York City in 1839. By the 1840's, the song was well known and was reported to be a favorite of Frederick William IV of Prussia. During this period, the melody changed slightly to become the version that is commonly heard today. The version of the melody that is generally used today is a slow, meditative lullaby, or pastoral, differing slightly from Gruber's original which has a moderate tempo. The song has been translated into about 140 languages and has been recorded by many singers across many music genres. The version sung by Bing Crosby in 1935, has sold over 10 million copies as a single.In this arrangement of Silent Night, Regis Bookshar has kept the basic form of this familiar Christmas carol, but has also included a descant during the third verse. Also, in addition to this version for a Saxophone Octet, consisting of 4 Alto Saxophones and 4 Tenor Saxophones, there are other arrangements of Silent Night available for a variety of instrumental ensembles. There are Quintets and Octets readily available for purchase. Please take the time to look for other versions of this composition. You may find something else that might also suit your needs.I would also encourage you to search for other arrangements by Regis Bookshar, as well, as there are numerous arrangements in a wide variety of styles, also available for purchase. You may find something else which might interest you. Please continue to check periodically because new arrangements are being added as often as possible. I'm certain that this wonderful arrangement of Silent Night will continue to entertain both performers and audiences alike for years to come.

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quartet Bassoon,Clarinet,Flute,Oboe - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.811756 Composed by Roman Hoffstetter (1742 - 1815). Arranged by Pat Spence. Classical,Concert,Graduation. 52 pages. Piper Publications #5889541. Published by Piper Publications (A0.811756). Roman Hoffstetter was a great admirer of Joseph Haydn and so good an imitator of his style that his six opus 3 quartets were thought to be by Haydn and were catalogued as such (Hob. III: 13 - 18). The four movements, Presto, Andante Cantabile (which has always been very popular), Minuet & Trio and Scherzando, have been arranged for flute, oboe, clarinet & bassoon for players of advanced intermediate standard or higher.  Hoffstetter invariably wrote good tunes - the Andante has remained popular since he composed it.  Most of his other compositions were unfortunately destroyed in a fire.

Piano Solo - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.922314 Composed by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov. Arranged by Lana Smith. Romantic Period,World. Score. 2 pages. Svetlana J Smith #6011451. Published by Svetlana J Smith (A0.922314). This is a Lullaby from the fairy-tale opera Sadko by Russian composer N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov. Volkhova was a daughter of the King of Sea. She fell in love with an adventurer, merchant and a singer Sadko. He wins her heart with his songs; and the whole Underwater kingdom goes wild when they hear his music. The sea is storming and many boats are destroyed. God had to stop this and punished the Underwater kingdom. Volkhova is singing the Farewell lullaby to her beloved sleeping Sadko: she is turning into a river and he will never see her again as a Princess.

Piano Trio,String Ensemble - Digital Download SKU: A0.1032816 Composed by MT Paul. Contemporary. Score and parts. 16 pages. MT Paul #5769505. Published by MT Paul (A0.1032816). Arnside is the name of a real location in the UK, rumored to once have contained a castle, during the middle ages. This piece of music centers upon a knight who grew up in Arnside but had to leave for war. His memories of the castle's grandiose yet nurturing atmosphere are portrayed in the music. Yet when the knight returns from war, his complex emotions are displayed as he sees his home lies in ruins, destroyed by the enemy forces. Near the end of the piece comes a call of hope and action which rises within the knight - a call to rebuild and to press forward, no matter the difficulty.

Woodwind Ensemble Bassoon,Clarinet,Flute,Horn,Oboe - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.814536 Composed by Franz Xaver Gruber. Arranged by Regis Bookshar. Christmas,Instructional,Multicultural,World. 12 pages. Regis Bookshar #6636673. Published by Regis Bookshar (A0.814536). Woodwind Octet - Intermediate - Digital Download. This arrangement of Silent Night, or in German, Stille Nacht, would be a wonderful addition to any music library and could be performed for Christmas concerts, recitals, and, especially, church services. It is equally suitable for junior and senior high school students and even older musicians. Depending on their ability, younger musicians would also enjoy playing this selection. Included are a score and a complete set of parts (12 pages). This selection is one of the many arrangements from The Regis Bookshar Trumpet Ensemble's extensive music library which are being made available for the first time.Silent Night is probably the most popular Christmas carol ever written. It was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr and was first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a small village in present-day Austria. A young Catholic priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had written the poem, Stille Nacht, in 1816 and had gone to Oberndorf in 1817. The melody was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, schoolmaster and organist in the nearby village of Arnsdorf. On Christmas Eve, 1818, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for that night's mass, after river flooding had possibly damaged the church organ. The church was eventually destroyed by repeated flooding and has since been replaced with the Silent-Night-Chapel.According to Gruber, Karl Mauracher, an organ builder who serviced the instrument at the Oberndorf church, was enamored with the song, and took the composition home with him to the Ziller Valley in Tyrol, Austria. From there, two traveling families of folk singers, the Strassers and the Rainers, included the tune in their shows. The Rainers were already singing it around Christmas, 1819, and once performed it for an audience that included Franz I of Austria and Alexander I of Russia. They also gave the first performance of the song in the United States in New York City in 1839. By the 1840's, the song was well known and was reported to be a favorite of Frederick William IV of Prussia. During this period, the melody changed slightly to become the version that is commonly heard today. The version of the melody that is generally used today is a slow, meditative lullaby, or pastoral, differing slightly from Gruber's original which has a moderate tempo. The song has been translated into about 140 languages and has been recorded by many singers across many music genres. The version sung by Bing Crosby in 1935, has sold over 10 million copies as a single.In this arrangement of Silent Night, Regis Bookshar has kept the basic form of this familiar Christmas carol, but has also included a descant during the third verse. Also, in addition to this version for a Woodwind Octet, consisting of 3 Flutes, 1 Oboe, 2 Clarinets, 1 French Horn and 1 Bassoon, there are other arrangements of Silent Night available for a variety of instrumental ensembles. There are Quintets and Octets readily available for purchase. Please take the time to look for other versions of this composition. You may find something else that might also suit your needs.I would also encourage you to search for other arrangements by Regis Bookshar, as well, as there are numerous arrangements in a wide variety of styles, also available for purchase. You may find something else which might interest you. Please continue to check periodically because new arrangements are being added as often as possible. I'm certain that this wonderful arrangement of Silent Night will continue to entertain both performers and audiences alike for years to come.

Choral Choir (SATB) - Level 5 - Digital Download SKU: A0.866636 Composed by Wayland Rogers. 20th Century,A Cappella. Octavo. 6 pages. WR Editions #3048915. Published by WR Editions (A0.866636). Ee cummings poem portrays a world full of dread and destruction, even to the point of an apocalypse. Even if everything is destroyed, he says, the single secret will still be man. Musically it is based of quartal harmony. A cappella.

2 · 2 · 2 · 2 - 2 · 2 · 0 · 0 - 2 P. - Str. violin and orchestra - difficult - Digital Download SKU: S9.Q7251 Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor. Composed by Robert Schumann. This edition: piano reduction with solo part. Downloadable, Piano reduction with solo part. WoO 1. Duration 32 minutes. Schott Music - Digital #Q7251. Published by Schott Music - Digital (S9.Q7251). Key: D minor.New performance material of this 19th-century key work is now published as part of the complete critical edition of the works by Robert Schumann, in an excellent notation and with a high editorial standard. For reasons that we still cannot comprehend today, Clara Schumann, supported by Joseph Joachim and Johannes Brahms, suppressed the late works of Robert Schumann and even destroyed some of them. It was not until 1937 that the Violin Concerto in D minor, Schumann's last major work, was brought to the public's attention. With its very own mixture of neo-Baroque style and ambiguous virtuosity, it stands for the unfathomable sides of German Romanticism and already portends the concert aesthetics of the 20th century. Christian Tetzlaff's note on his bowings and fingerings are included in both, the piano redution and the solo part.

Brass Ensemble Trombone,Trumpet - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.814534 Composed by Franz Xaver Gruber. Arranged by Regis Bookshar. Christmas,Instructional,Multicultural,World. Score and parts. 12 pages. Regis Bookshar #6636623. Published by Regis Bookshar (A0.814534). Brass Octet - Intermediate - Digital Download. This arrangement of Silent Night, or in German, Stille Nacht, would be a wonderful addition to any music library and could be performed for Christmas concerts, recitals, and, especially, church services. It is equally suitable for junior and senior high school students and even older musicians. Depending on their ability, younger musicians would also enjoy playing this selection. Included are a score and a complete set of parts (12 pages). This selection is one of the many arrangements from The Regis Bookshar Trumpet Ensemble's extensive music library which are being made available for the first time.Silent Night is probably the most popular Christmas carol ever written. It was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr and was first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a small village in present-day Austria. A young Catholic priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had written the poem, Stille Nacht, in 1816 and had gone to Oberndorf in 1817. The melody was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, schoolmaster and organist in the nearby village of Arnsdorf. On Christmas Eve, 1818, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for that night's mass, after river flooding had possibly damaged the church organ. The church was eventually destroyed by repeated flooding and has since been replaced with the Silent-Night-Chapel.According to Gruber, Karl Mauracher, an organ builder who serviced the instrument at the Oberndorf church, was enamored with the song, and took the composition home with him to the Ziller Valley in Tyrol, Austria. From there, two traveling families of folk singers, the Strassers and the Rainers, included the tune in their shows. The Rainers were already singing it around Christmas, 1819, and once performed it for an audience that included Franz I of Austria and Alexander I of Russia. They also gave the first performance of the song in the United States in New York City in 1839. By the 1840's, the song was well known and was reported to be a favorite of Frederick William IV of Prussia. During this period, the melody changed slightly to become the version that is commonly heard today. The version of the melody that is generally used today is a slow, meditative lullaby, or pastoral, differing slightly from Gruber's original which has a moderate tempo. The song has been translated into about 140 languages and has been recorded by many singers across many music genres. The version sung by Bing Crosby in 1935, has sold over 10 million copies as a single.In this arrangement of Silent Night, Regis Bookshar has kept the basic form of this familiar Christmas carol, but has also included a descant during the third verse. Also, in addition to this version for a Brass Octet, consisting of 4 Trumpets and 4 Trombones, there are other arrangements of Silent Night available for a variety of instrumental ensembles. There are Quintets and Octets readily available for purchase. Please take the time to look for other versions of this composition. You may find something else that might also suit your needs.I would also encourage you to search for other arrangements by Regis Bookshar, as well, as there are numerous arrangements in a wide variety of styles, also available for purchase. You may find something else which might interest you. Please continue to check periodically because new arrangements are being added as often as possible. I'm certain that this wonderful arrangement of Silent Night will continue to entertain both performers and audiences alike for years to come.

Concert Band - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1416986 By Owen Lai. By Owen Lai. Arranged by Owen Lai. Classical. 57 pages. Owen Lai #998576. Published by Owen Lai (A0.1416986). This is a symphonny about the rise and fall of Melacca kingdom, an ancient and strong kingdom in Southeast Asia but lastly destriyed by Portugese. the is the first movement of the symphony which the story is about the first king of the Parameswara (the later king of Melacca Empire), prince of Palembang need to leave his old kingdom which destroyed by war.

String Ensemble,String Quintet Violin - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.813977 Composed by Franz Xaver Gruber. Arranged by Regis Bookshar. Instructional,Multicultural,World. Score and parts. 7 pages. Regis Bookshar #6635881. Published by Regis Bookshar (A0.813977). Violin Quintet - Intermediate - Digital Download. This arrangement of Silent Night, or in German, Stille Nacht, would be a wonderful addition to any music library and could be performed for Christmas concerts, recitals, and, especially, church services. It is equally suitable for junior and senior high school students and even older musicians. Depending on their ability, younger musicians would also enjoy playing this selection. Included are a score and a complete set of parts (7 pages). This selection is one of the many arrangements from The Regis Bookshar Trumpet Ensemble's extensive music library which are being made available for the first time.Silent Night is probably the most popular Christmas carol ever written. It was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr and was first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a small village in present-day Austria. A young Catholic priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had written the poem, Stille Nacht, in 1816 and had gone to Oberndorf in 1817. The melody was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, schoolmaster and organist in the nearby village of Arnsdorf. On Christmas Eve, 1818, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for that night's mass, after river flooding had possibly damaged the church organ. The church was eventually destroyed by repeated flooding and has since been replaced with the Silent-Night-Chapel.According to Gruber, Karl Mauracher, an organ builder who serviced the instrument at the Oberndorf church, was enamored with the song, and took the composition home with him to the Ziller Valley in Tyrol, Austria. From there, two traveling families of folk singers, the Strassers and the Rainers, included the tune in their shows. The Rainers were already singing it around Christmas, 1819, and once performed it for an audience that included Franz I of Austria and Alexander I of Russia. They also gave the first performance of the song in the United States in New York City in 1839. By the 1840's, the song was well known and was reported to be a favorite of Frederick William IV of Prussia. During this period, the melody changed slightly to become the version that is commonly heard today. The version of the melody that is generally used today is a slow, meditative lullaby, or pastoral, differing slightly from Gruber's original which has a moderate tempo. The song has been translated into about 140 languages and has been recorded by many singers across many music genres. The version sung by Bing Crosby in 1935, has sold over 10 million copies as a single.In this arrangement of Silent Night, Regis Bookshar has kept the basic form of this familiar Christmas carol, but has also included a descant during the third verse. Also, in addition to this version for a Violin Quintet, there are other arrangements of Silent Night available for a variety of instrumental ensembles. There are Quintets and Octets readily available for purchase. Please take the time to look for other versions of this composition. You may find something else that might also suit your needs.I would also encourage you to search for other arrangements by Regis Bookshar, as well, as there are numerous arrangements in a wide variety of styles, also available for purchase. You may find something else which might interest you. Please continue to check periodically because new arrangements are being added as often as possible. I'm certain that this wonderful arrangement of Silent Night will continue to entertain both performers and audiences alike for years to come.