Friday 26 October 2018

Christmas Carol: To Drive The Cold Winter Away

Time to start practicing for those end of the year concerts? Why not try this lovely old carol: «To Drive The Cold Winter Away», also known as «All Hail To The Days» or «In Praise Of Christmas». This Elizabethan carol is a praise of all the comfort there is to be had in the darkest time of the year:

«This time of the year is spent in good cheer,
And neighbours together do meet,
To sit by the fire, with friendly desire,
Each other in love do greet;
Old grudges forgot, are put in the pot,
All sorrows aside they lay,
The old and the young doth carol his song,
To drive the cold winter away.»

This pleasant theme of midwinter comforts makes this piece a good choice for winter events such as school parties and New Year festivities as well as for Christmas concerts.

In this arrangement for string orchestra with piano, all the parts have significant and interesting roles to play (although it's possible to do without the piano, if you skip the intro). The difficulty level is fairly easy, but the players must of course be able to play in the D minor/F major key.

Separate parts available at Sheet Music Plus.



Monday 9 July 2018

Wedding March from Lødingen for String Duet

Yay, more duet music for viola and cello! 😁

This wedding march is a lovely folk tune that has been played at weddings in Norway for generations. It originates in Lødingen in Nordland, but is well known all over the country. You can listen to a sound clip here!

Download this duet together with two other traditional Norwegian wedding tunes at Sheet Music Plus. Also available for violin and viola or violin and cello!



Thursday 31 May 2018

Copyrighted arrangement: Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen for string duet

There are not enough duets for viola and cello in the world!

At least, that's what I think. But then I am a cellist with a violist brother 😁
Anyway, I am currently working to rectify this. Among other things, that involves making a duet arrangement of Leonard Cohen's beautiful song Hallelujah, and putting it up for sale on Sheet Music Plus. Check it out here!

All right, I admit it - I made versions for viola duet, cello duet and violin/viola duet as well. After all, not everyone has a cellist sister. You'll find them all on my Publisher Page at SMP.

Enjoy!

Screenshot from Sheet Music Plus


Thursday 10 May 2018

Anglais from Skåne - Swedish folk dance for children's string orchestra

A fun little piece for the youngest string students! This lively Swedish folk dance is a great addition to the repertoire of any children's string orchestra. The rhythmic patterns are easy to learn and fun to play for everyone. The second violin and double bass parts are written with beginners in mind, and the double bass part may be played on the cello, too.

Celebrate Midsummer the Swedish way this year! :D

Parts available here - including viola part (second violin part in alto clef).



Sunday 22 April 2018

The Banks Of Allan - Scottish Jig

Jigs and reels and other lively folk dance tunes are always popular in my youth orchestra. This one is a jig from Scotland, and a lot of fun to play! I have tried to give all of the parts some interesting challenges. The piano part is optional.

You can download the parts on Sheet Music Plus - in which case you'll get an Irish jig into the bargain :)



Monday 16 April 2018

Copyrighted arrangement: Another Day In Paradise by Phil Collins

Another of my arrangements is now available at Sheet Music Plus: Phil Collins' lovely 1989 pop ballad "Another Day In Paradise". The song deals with poverty and homelessness, and how we treat our fellow humans. It's a sweet melody that works beautifully as an instrumental piece.

Buy it here: Another Day In Paradise for String Quartet
Available for string quartet, string quintet with piano, viola and piano, cello and piano.

Screenshot from Sheet Music Plus

Thursday 12 April 2018

Strawberry Song for Junior Strings

This is a nostalgic little melody from my composition for children's string orchestra: A Very Berry Suite. It's a flexible piece in that both the viola and double bass parts are optional - the piece will work well with as small an ensemble as two violins and a cello. That being said, it will obviously sound better with violas and double basses!

Don't ask me why the strawberries are so sad... Maybe they just like melancholy tunes? It can't be because the song is too difficult, because this piece is pretty easy for anyone to play :)


Complete parts for Strawberry Song and the rest of A Very berry Suite are available at Sheet Music Plus: A Very Berry Suite for Junior Strings.
Listen to one of the other movements: Blueberry Blues.