Derek Hasted's News...

New Arrangement -Swipesy Cakewalk (Scott Joplin & Arthur Marshall)

This is one of perhaps the less well-known rags to come from the pen of Scott Joplin (and also Arthur Marshall).

There's more than one story about where the title came from, and there's some debate about which of the composers wrote which section of the finished music. However, it makes a fantastic duet for two intermediate guitarists - taking it in turns to play melody and accompaniment as the roles swap seamlessly back and forth in a particularly jaunty ragtime beat.

• Read more about Swipesy Cakewalk for 2 guitars here...

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New Arrangement - Liberty Bell (Monty Python Theme)

This arrangement is based on the one I made for the Hampshire Guitar Orchestra, and it was always a great crowd-pleaser in concerts. At the marked metronome speed, the piece lasts just over 3 minutes with plenty of variety for players and audience. Although suitable for 5 guitars, it's even better with a large ensemble.

The top line is a little harder than the other lines - most of the lines are somewhere between Early Intermediate and Intermediate.

Guitar 5 is supplied in both treble and bass clefs - either or both can be used. The treble clef version has the bottom string tuned down to D, but the bass clef version is suitable for a conventional acoustic or electric bass with no re-turning required.

• Read more about Liberty Bell March for 5 guitars / larger ensemble here...

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New Arrangement - 633 Squadron

So can three classical guitars really take on a piece for a military brass band?

Well, to my delight, yes they can!

My arrangement of this incredible piece, which is a veritable Kaleidoscope of Key Changes, sits surprisingly nicely under the fingers, and two of the parts play in two voices to give a big wall of sound for a modest effort.

The two arrangements in this edition have exactly the same notes - one has fixed roles for the players, and the other changes roles at each key change. In a large ensemble, one can even have different players playing different versions.

• Read more about 633 Squadron for 3 guitars / larger ensemble here...

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New Arrangement - I Can See Clearly Now

This is one of those timeless pieces that gets an audience's toes tapping. Although arranged for 4 guitars, a larger ensemble will add more power and projection to the sound.

Many singers have covered this, but my arrangement uses the textures and countermelodies of the original and perhaps most famous version, including the delicious chord changes before the final refrain.

• Read more about I Can See Clearly Now for 4 guitars / larger ensemble here...

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New Arrangement - The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

Written for the English version of a German TV series back in the sixties, the full orchestral suite comprises a large number of 8 and 16-bar "themes", and I must confess they all seem strangely familiar and I've no idea why!

This is a slightly cut-down version, but it still runs for nearly 4 minutes.

• Read more about The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe for 3 guitars / larger ensemble here...

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New Arrangement - Aquarela do Brasil (Ary Barroso)

Never heard of it?

I think you will probably recognise it - Click "See/Hear/Buy" and have a listen to a 30-second clip.

• Read more about Aquarela do Brasil for 3 guitars / larger ensemble here...
• I've also made a second arrangement with an easy Guitar 4 part in Treble & Bass clefs

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New Arrangement - A Walk In The Black Forest (Horst Jankowski)

This is one of those timeless pieces that has a habit of going round your head for days after you’ve heard it. Mind you, that makes it perfect for a concert encore - the audience will be humming it all the way home.

• Read more about A Walk In The Black Forest for 3 guitars / larger ensemble here...

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New Arrangement - Chariots Of Fire (Vangelis)

It all started with someone asking me if I'd ever arranged this piece for guitar ensemble. I hadn't, and it was one of those pieces that just didn't seem to want to work, until yesterday when a lightbulb came on and I got the sound I wanted.

You can play this in a quartet - all the top four parts are broadly the same intermediate standard. But you can add the optional fifth line, either on guitar(s), or on a bass-clef instrument and that simple addition makes the sound bigger, smoother and ever more impressive!

• Read more about Chariots of Fire for 4 or 5 guitars here...

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New Arrangement - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)

It all started when I was walking round the local supermarket before Christmas and this piece come over the shop's loudspeakers. I'd forgotten what a memorable foot-tapper it was. And here's a really accessible version for 4 (or more guitars)!

• Read more about Love Grows for 4 guitars here...

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