Guitar,Instrumental Duet,Voice - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1144931

Composed by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini, lyrics Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian. Arranged by Simon James. Classical,Contemporary,Folk,Historic,Romantic Period. 12 pages. DML #745248. Published by DML (A0.1144931).

This became one of the best known tunes of the 20th century. The original version was published in 1785 and was an immediate success, a classical French love song written in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini (1741–1816) taking its text from a poem by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755–1794), which appears in his novel Célestine. The most famous version of the 20th century is undoubtedly that of Elvis Presley. He changed the words and only used the tune of the chorus – Plaisir D’Amour – adding in a second section to what became ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’. Joan Baez in 1966, The Seekers with Judith Durham in 2009 at their reunion concert, Nana Mouskouri, Mary Hopkins in Welsh have all recorded the song though they used different English lyrics as the basis for their versions while keeping the French Plaisir D’Amour. This arrangement uses the French lyrics and follows Martini’s original harmonies but is arranged to better suit the guitar. It is a more comprehensive song with two other sections which always return to the original Plaisir D’Amour so you might consider it a chorus. I have added a translation of the French text into English which can be sung to the Martini melody.

Guitar Ensemble Guitar - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.928264

Composed by G F Handel, anon. Arranged by Simon James. Baroque,Christmas,Standards. Score and parts. 10 pages. DML #6098171. Published by DML (A0.928264).

A popular Christmas carol, the tune usually used today is from an 1848 edition by Lowell Mason for The National Psalmist (Boston, 1848). The name of this tune was given as Antioch, and was attributed as being From Handel.  . Consequently, and with Mason's attribution to Handel, there has long been speculation over how much a part Handel's Messiah had in Joy to the World. However, resemblances between Messiah and Joy to the World, have been dismissed as 'chance resemblance' by Handel scholars today. I have combined Handelian elements with the tune that most people know to create an arrangement that works well for guitar quartet retaining the bounce and vigour of the carol.

Small Ensemble Cello,Guitar,Voice - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.928277

Composed by Thomas Morley. Arranged by Simon James. Renaissance. Score and parts. 7 pages. DML #6866071. Published by DML (A0.928277).

No 8 – Mistress Mine Well May You Fare from First Book Of Ayres by Thomas Morley

 This is a verse song, typical of the era. There are four verses and the accompaniment is repeated for each verse. Ornamentation would have been expected and I have offered with this score two possible decorations of the  guitar accompaniment one of which is an octave above the original allowing greater flexibility for the singer depending on their vocal range. Morley’s description of the publication was: Little short songs to sing and play to the lute with the base viole. I have substituted guitar for lute and cello for bass viole, chords have been re-voiced in places to better suit the guitar but no alteration has been made to the harmony.

Instrumental Duet Guitar,Instrumental Duet,Voice - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.928251

Composed by Lynieve Austin, Simon James. Contemporary,Latin,World. Score and parts. 8 pages. DML #5334941. Published by DML (A0.928251).

The lyric was created using well known coplas from traditional Spanish sources, as was Una Pena Quita Pena.  One of the best things about the Flamenco approach to lyrics - you are never tied down to just one version, you can endlessly re-invent the words, and may be applauded for a particularly good one.

 The style of this song has a suitably Spanish feel, similar to a rumba, but is based on the famous finger pick technique known as a claw hammer. It changes slightly throughout the song so read the score carefully. One point to note is that the chord changes in bars 43 to 47 and 114 to the end are anticipated by a quaver. I have indicated this using phrasing marks. The original recording, which you can access through YouTube, has solos starting at bar 84 over the A minor section with the voice returning to a strummed rhythm at bar 96, I have faded this section out on the recording until the voice returns. The score maintains finger style with lyrics throughout but you can adapt it wherever you wish.

Guitar - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1102371

Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by Simon James. Baroque,Chamber,Christmas,Classical,Instructional. 10 pages. DML #705777. Published by DML (A0.1102371).

In dulci jubilo (Latin for In sweet rejoicing) is a traditional Christmas Carol which has become a mainstay of the Christmas Nine Lessons and Carols repertoire. Johann Sebastian Bach set this melody several times: as a chorale in BWV 368; and then for organ in BWV 608 as a double canon in his Orgelbüchlein. Clearly he was fond of the tune and who can blame him. This arrangement of BWW 608 follows almost exactly the four original voices from the canon. It is not difficult to play technically but the rhythm is challenging.

Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by Simon James. Baroque,Chamber,Christmas,Clas sical. 46 pages. DML #928595. Published by DML

Guitar - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1316579

Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by Simon James. Baroque,Chamber,Christmas,Classical,Contemporary. 10 pages. DML #905303. Published by DML (A0.1316579).

Air On A G string is August Wilhelmj’s 1871 arrangement of the second movement of J. S. Bach’s Orchestral Suite No 3 in D major BWV 1068. The arrangement differs from the original in that the part of the first violins is transposed down so that the entire piece can be played on just the violin's lowest string (the G string, hence the name). In performance, that part is generally played by a single violin (instead of by the first violins as a group). This is however an arrangement of the original “Air� from the Orchestral Suite. Bach's third Orchestral Suite in D major, composed in the first half of the 18th century, has an Air as second movement. The music of the Air is written on four staves, for first and second violins, viola, and continuo. The interweaving melody lines of the high strings contrast with the pronounced rhythmic drive in the bass. I have followed this quite closely in the arrangement for guitar quartet in F major.

(3-Part Mixed) - Digital Download

SKU: HX.363392

By Carly Simon & James Taylor, Charlie Foxx, Inez Foxx, and Toby Keith Duet With Krystal. Arranged by Roger Emerson. Choral. Collection,Folk,Pop. Choral. 10 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital (HX.363392).

Solo Guitar - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1189647

Composed by Simon James. Classical,Contemporary,Instructional. Individual part. 5 pages. DML #789280. Published by DML (A0.1189647).

These short Preludes for guitar are intended to illustrate a particular technical point or points. It may be either technical or compositional or both and I would have to say that I have been influenced by Tarrega’s Preludes which he wrote mostly for his students and so have called them Preludes rather than Studies. I learnt Tarrega’s pieces such as Adelita and Lagrima early in my study of the guitar and always enjoyed their nature as both technical exercises but also performance pieces. I have tried to emulate that with these pieces. 

This Prelude is based on the use of thirds and sixths on the guitar. These intervals are the easiest to play on guitar and the sweetest sounding though they can still be used dramatically as in this work. The middle section, or B section if you prefer, uses chords with dissonance built into the chord shape and which are also not too difficult to play.

Jazz Combo - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.790309

By Carly Simon & James Taylor. By Charlie Foxx and Inez Foxx. Arranged by Nigel Hanley. Contemporary,Pop,Rock. Score and parts. 18 pages. Nigel Hanley Music #6343707. Published by Nigel Hanley Music (A0.790309).

This chart is a 7-piece band arrangement of ‘Mockingbird’ in F, written and sung by Inez and Charlie Foxx, and released in Australia by Johnny O'Keefe. The instrumentation is keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, trumpet, tenor sax, and trombone. 

(Lyric sheet included, score not included)

A rehearsal/accompaniment mp3 is also available from www.bandchartpro.com

info@nigelhanley.com     nigelhanley.com    bandchartpro.com

Suitable for: rock band with horns, little big band, funk band with horns, cover band with horns, cruise ship bands, high school & college bands, cabaret bands & cabaret artists

Guitar Ensemble Guitar - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.928275

By Ed Sheeran. By Ed Sheeran. Arranged by Simon James. Pop. Score and parts. 22 pages. DML #6858975. Published by DML (A0.928275).

Small Bump was the 5th single from the album + (plus) the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. This arrangement is for two guitars and acoustic bass, although a third guitar could play the bass part. The original key was G minor but here it is in E minor an easy key to use on the guitar, if you want G minor simply use a capo at the 3rd fret (which is what Ed Sheeran nearly always does to find the best key for his voice). The guitar accompaniment has been made consistent so that each verse/chorus is arranged in the same way. It needs the bass line in order to work as the original rhythm bounces off the bass. .

Flute,Guitar - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1173666

By Crosby Stills and Nash. By David Crosby. Arranged by Simon James. 20th Century,Chamber,Classical,Contemporary,Folk. 16 pages. DML #773814. Published by DML (A0.1173666).

Guinnevere is a song written by David Crosby in 1968. The song is notable for its serene yet pointed melody and its unique lyrics, which compare Queen Guinevere to the object of the singer's affection, referred to as mi'lady. In a Rolling Stone interview, Crosby remarked: That is a very unusual song, it's in a very strange tuning (EBDGAD) with strange time signatures. I have arranged the song in standard tuning as re-tuning your guitar can be very time consuming. In order to do this successfully I have made some changes to the original accompaniment, nothing drastic and the feel of the guitar part is still the same. The version for trio (guitar and two flutes) is taken from the various live performances and has an extended structure compared to the original song. The harmony has a deliberate mediaeval feel to it in keeping with the atmosphere of the song. You could use any two instruments for this, on the recording I made of this arrangement  for the album The Great Music Of Crosby Stills Nash And Young (2021) I used guitars for everything.

Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by Simon James. Advent,Baroque,Christmas,Class ical,Contemporary. 32 pages. DML #906853. Published by DML

Instrumental Duet Guitar,Instrumental Duet,Voice - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.928273

By Ed Sheeran. By Ed Sheeran and Jake Gosling. Arranged by Simon James. Pop. Score and parts. 12 pages. DML #6858553. Published by DML (A0.928273).

Autumn Leaves was a bonus track on the album + (plus), Ed Sheeran wrote this song about a dear friend that had passed away. This arrangement is based on Ed Sheeran’s guitar part but is not note for note. The guitar accompaniment has been adapted to suit one guitar and made consistent so that each verse/chorus is arranged in the same way. .

Instrumental Duet Guitar,Instrumental Duet,Voice - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.928262

By Henry Mancini. By Henry Mancini. Arranged by Simon James. Oldies. Score and parts. 12 pages. DML #6036557. Published by DML (A0.928262).

These arrangements are for performance and are very precise. Mercer and Mancini wrote the song for Audrey Hepburn to sing in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's who sings it accompanying herself on the guitar, while sitting on the fire escape outside her apartment. It has become a classic. In this arrangement the left hand involves some tough stretches but it’s worth it to get the gentle dissonance possible on the guitar. The right hand uses two basic patterns: the first is p p i m a giving an off beat feel from the second thumb stroke, the second is a conventional p i m a m i much used on the guitar. The YouTube link is to a version sung by Maria Ewing accompanied by Shane Hill and I. It was recorded by the BBC for their show In Tune presented by Petroc Trelawny.