Derek Hasted's News...

March

March 2024

New Arrangements - The Taskmaster Theme

This is what happens when you go to see Alex Horne and The Horne Section at the start of their latest UK tour - you end up arranging perhaps their most famous (and also perhaps their shortest) piece of music - the theme to the award-winning UK TV series "Taskmaster"

Read more about The Taskmaster Theme here...

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Taskmaster - THe Horne Section - arr. for 3 guitars arr. Derek Hasted

The Taskmaster Theme
The Horne Section

The Taskmaster Theme

$4.99 Advanced Intermediate level

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February

February 2024

New Arrangement - Foot Tapper (The Shadows)

The title is absolutely spot on - it's a foot tapper for any audience, and it was The Shadows' last number one hit, way, way back!

My arrangement will suit an early intermediate trio or a large ensemble, and guitar 3 is suitable for treble or bass clef instruments.

If you listen to Radio 2 in the UK, you may know this piece - it was the opening and closing music to Brian Matthew's "Sounds of the 60s" for over 30 years!

Read more about Foot Tapper here...

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Foot Tapper - Marvin and Welch - for 3 guitars arr. Derek Hasted

Foot Tapper
The Shadows

Foot Tapper
Guitar 3 in treble & bass clefs

$4.99 Early Intermediate level

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New Arrangement - The Glory Of Love (Peter Cetera)

Just a little harder than many of my arrangements, this is still accessible to quartets and large ensembles and the strong intermediate level.

This is a long piece with an absolutely massive sound - the full range of the guitars, with double stopping and chords to lift the volume still higher.

Famous as the theme music to Karate Kid II (if you are keep on Karate films), and famous as a crowd-pleasing chart song (if you're not).

Read more about The Glory Of Love here...

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The Glory Of Love - Peter Cetera - for 4 guitars arr. Derek Hasted

The Glory Of Love
Peter Cetera

The Glory Of Love
Exciting Power Ballad

$4.99 Intermediate level

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January

January 2024

Portsmouth Music Festival

Just 10 months ago, I said goodbye to my Guitar Workshop - a group of adult guitarists that meets in Lovedean, in SE Hampshire.

I founded the group in 1988 (the story is here).

Peter Rogers has taken over the hot seat and I'm delighted to report that a small band of Workshop players competed in the Portsmouth Music Festival on Sunday 28th January, and walked away with a Distinction.

Well done everyone, and I'm pleased that Workshop is in safe hands!

Workshop at Portsmout Music Festival

New Arrangement - Hard To Say I'm Sorry (Chicago)

This power ballad fits guitar like a glove and it's such fun to play!

My arrangement (read more here) will suit a mixed ability ensemble at an intermediate standard. The bass part is supplied in both treble and bass clefs, and in a large ensemble, either or both can be played.

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Hard To Say I'm Sorry - Chicago - for 4 guitars arr. Derek Hasted

Hard To Say I'm Sorry
Chicago

Hard To Say I'm Sorry
Exciting Power Ballad

$4.99 Intermediate level

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New Arrangement - Follow You, Follow Me (Genesis)

This has become an absolute classic.

My arrangement (read more here) has been conceived to work with a variety of different guitar groups.

This will suit a mixed ability ensemble from early intermediate to intermediate, with an optional arpeggio part to suit an advanced intermediate player.

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Follow You, Follow Me - for 4 guitars arr. Derek Hasted

Follow You, Follow Me
Genesis

Follow You, Follow Me 4 guitars
with additional 5th part
Also listed under 5 guitars

$4.99 Intermediate level

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Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all my visitors - may your year be full of joy and good music!

December

December 2023

Website updates

Over the Christmas period, I have distilled, refined and bottled (see what I did there) everything that was achieved by The Guitar Workshop and The Hampshire Guitar Orchestra, both of which I created.

So now you can read of the first 35 years of The Guitar Workshop here in an archive on my website.

And you can learn of the massive achievements of The Hampshire Guitar Orchestra and its wonderful team of players.

Both archives have photos and videos too!

Christmas Wishes

Thank you to all the many people who've bought one of my guitar ensemble or guitar+woodwind arrangements in 2023 - it's certainly been my busiest year by a long, long way.

Compliments of the Season to all my visitors from across the globe. May you have a peaceful time ahead and may 2024 bring you everything you wish for!

New Arrangement - Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

I'd always regarded anything by The Smiths as guaranteed to lower my spirits instead of raising them. But just under 2 weeks ago, BBC TV's Strictly Come Dancing featured a slightly abbreviated arrangement of this piece as an upbeat Viennese Waltz, danced by Annabelle Croft and Johannes Radebe. My goodness, what a change to the piece - simple yet delightful, cheery and elegant.

So this is my arrangement, styled on the BBC version, in the same key. Guitar 2 is tuned to 6=D which means that a large number of full barré chords melt away into half barrés. As well as a concert item, this would make a lovely student/teacher duet.

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New Arrangement - In My Life (The Beatles)

My very accessible guitar quartet arrangement of this lesser-known Beatles song fits classical guitar perfectly. A rippling accompaniment supports a beautiful melody, and underneath, a rich bass line (supplied in both treble and bass clefs) provides a solid foundation under a charming piece that would grace any concert.

I have also arranged this piece for woodwind and guitar duos...

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New Arrangement - Ghostbusters

Who ya gonna call?

This is a fun and quirky piece that goes really nicely on 4 guitars (or a large ensemble). The top line is advanced intermediate when taken at tempo, but the piece sounds really good played just a little slower.

It comes complete with some eerie effects too....

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Ghostbusters (Ray Parker Junior) - arranged for intermediate guitar quartet/large ensemble by Derek Hasted

Ghostbusters
Ray Parker Jnr.

Ghostbusters
Ray Parker Jnr.

$4.99 Intermediate level

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November

November 2023

New Arrangements - One Last Wish from Casper

This is a charming melody interspersed with lush chromatic harmonies, making a delightful concert piece, whether one has seen the film or not.

I have a number of arrangements - the most straightforward is for 3 guitars, giving a big sound for not too much effort.

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New Arrangement - John Dunbar's Theme from Dances With Wolves

Before I started this arrangement, I was unsure whether guitars could ever create the same feeling as the long, sustained notes of the strings in the original film soundtrack.
Have a listen to the 30-second soundclip and I hope you like what you hear...

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John Dunbar's Theme from Dances With Wolves - for intermediate guitar quartet or large ensemble arr. Derek Hasted

John Dunbar's Theme
Dances With Wolves

John Dunbar's Theme
from Dances With Wolves

$4.99 Intermediate level

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October

October 2023

New Arrangement - Variations on "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"

Lasting almost 4 minutes, this piece presents four variations on the famous Christmas Carol, in four different styles (including Tango), with a nod to some famous music on the way too.

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New Arrangement - White Christmas

This evocative classic (first made famous by Bing Crosby, and followed by dozens more versions) makes its appearance here as a very playable arrangement for 4 early intermediate guitars, with guitar 4 in treble and bass clef. It works well as a large ensemble too.

Unlike many arrangements, the less-well-known introduction is also included, though this can be omitted if desired.

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White Christmas- easy arrangement for early intermediate guitar quartet or large ensemble arr. Derek Hasted

White Christmas
Irving Berlin

White Christmas
Simple & Evocative!

$4.99 Early Intermediate level

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Last night's Strictly Come Dancing

Last night's episode of Strictly on BBC One included a Waltz to Calum Scott's "You Are The Reason"

Click here and you'll find accessible versions I've arranged for

New Arrangements - Two Little Fugues

Many guitarists ar familiar with Domenico Zipoli's "Little Fugue" which is deceptively awkward if it's to sound relaxed. As a duet it's much more fun, and my edition also includes Zipoli's Fughetta.

Both pieces are re-working into a shared key - one in A Major and one in A minor, so that they can be played in sequence in either order.

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Two Little Fugues (Zipoli) for intermediate guitar duet Teacher/Student or performance duets arr. Derek Hasted

Two Little Fugues
Zipoli

Two Little Fugues
2 pieces in one edition

$1.99 Intermediate level

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New Arrangement - Love Of My Life

This absolute classic by Freddie Mercury and Queen makes a wonderful, intimate and charming piece of music for guitar.

My arrangement is based on Queen's official video, and keeps the same key and all of the verses.

It's of intermediate standard. There are two versions - one which is tune and accompaniment (ideal for a duo of mixed abilities) and one where each player takes the tune and accompaniment in turn - equal challenges and a wonderful crowd-pleaser as a result.

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September

September 2023

New Arrangement - Saman

Maybe this amazingly gentle, haunting piece has passed you by - well, click on the link and have a listen to the 30-second soundclip ... although there are arrangements of this piece (originally for piano) for solo guitar they are hard to make sound relaxed. But it works wonderfully as a duet, and with a key-change to bring it into the sweet spot of the guitar's range.

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Saman for intermediate guitar duet (arranged by Derek Hasted)

Saman
Olafur Arnalds

Saman
Beautiful, gentle music

$4.99 Intermediate level

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New Arrangement - Jamaica Farewell

One of the cornerstones of my arranging work is to write music that's not too demanding, simply because most amateur ensembles have limited time to meet together.

Here's an accessible arrangement of the well-known "Jamaica Farewell", made famous by Harry Belafonte - some are surprised that this isn't a public-domain folk song, but actually it's quite a recent work by Irving Burgie, and still in copyright. My arrangement has copyright clearance and royalties are paid to the copyright owner, so download and you're good to go.

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Jamaica Farewell - easy arrangement for early intermediate guitar quartet or large ensemble arr. Derek Hasted

Jamaica Farewell
Fun arrangement

Jamaica Farewell
with percussion effects

$4.99 Early Intermediate level

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New Arrangement - Lay All Your Love On Me (Abba)

Following on from the success of my arrangements of Mamma Mia and The Winner Takes It All, I'm delighted to tell you that I've arranged another crowd pleaser - a full-length version of the Abba song "Lay All Your Love On Me"
It's perfect for intermediate players, and there's plenty of interest for everyone, with a very up-beat disco/funk feel.

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Lay All Your Love On Me (Abba) for intermediate guitar quartet or large ensemble arr. Derek Hasted

Lay All Your Love On Me
Abba

Lay All Your Love On Me
Crowd pleaser!

$4.99 Intermediate level
Guitar 4 in both treble & bass clefs

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August

August 2023

New arrangements - Feed The Birds (from Mary Poppins)

This charmingly simple but haunting melody is one that concert audiences will be humming all the way home!

I've arranged this music for guitars and for guitar + flute or Bb clarinet - all the verses are present, plus the instrumental break that's in the original film score too.

These arrangements are at intermediate standard.

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New Arrangement - The Winner Takes It All

Following on from the success of my arrangement of Mamma Mia, I'm delighted to tell you that I've arranged another crowd pleaser - a full-length version of the Abba classic "The Winner Takes It All"
It's perfect for intermediate players, and there's plenty of interest for everyone!

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The Winner Takes It All (Abba) for intermediate guitar quartet or large ensemble arr. Derek Hasted

The Winner Takes It All
Abba

The Winner Takes It All
Crowd pleaser!

$4.99 Intermediate level

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New arrangement - The Sussex Carol

No, this isn't a commission from Harrry and Meghan, it''s my take on the traditional English Carol collected by Cecil Sharp and Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Suitable for early intermediate players, there's plenty of interest for everyone!

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the Sussex Carol - Trad Christmas Carol for 3 early intermediate guitars or large ensemble arr. Derek Hasted

The Sussex Carol
(Trad. English)

The Sussex Carol
Joyful accessible piece!

$1.99 Early Intermediate level

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New arrangement - Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella

Inspired by a simple arrangement I made, this one is for players with a little more experience, and has three verses each with a different orchestration.

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Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella - Trad Christmas Carol for 3 intermediate guitars or large ensemble arr. Derek Hasted

Bring A Torch,
Jeanette, Isabella

Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Trad French Carol

$1.99 Intermediate level

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New arrangement - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Lennon and McCartney)

Here's a very straight-forward crowd-pleaser that will get toes tapping in all age groups! Ideal for School concerts or for a fun item in an Adult concert.

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Obladi Oblada by The Beatles arr. for 4 guitars/large ensemble by Derek Hasted

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Lennon & McCartney

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
4 Guitars/Large Ensemble

$4.99 Early Intermediate level

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New arrangements - Mark Knopfler's "Wild Theme"

Sometimes rightly described as the most beautiful melody, this is an astonishingly lovely and substantial Concert item that players and audience will enjoy in equal measure - confortable under the fingers and with a wonderful sound that really suits classical guitar well.

I've arranged this music for guitars and for guitar + a variety of other melody instruments.

These arrangements are at either intermediate standard or advanced intermediate - something for everyone who wants to play this spectacular piece of music.

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