Free Guitar Music

Guitar Ensemble School

www.derek-hasted.co.uk

Free Guitar Ensemble Music

2,3, 4 or 24 (yes 24!) Guitars - Tallis's Canon

Download and print this easy ensemble piece with my compliments. Help on printing

PDF - Click here

GIF - Click here

Brief Study Notes

Yes, this will genuinely work with any number of guitars from 2 to 24. Above this, you'll have to share parts, but I thought 24 different parts at once might do for now...
So print off the music and read on.

Don't dismiss this till you actually played it in an Ensemble - you may well be pleasantly surprised what can be achieved in a few minutes, and I emphasise surprised. This can be most delightful if you tackle it enthusiastically. Simple yes, boring no!
 
I believe the expression is hear me out. Humour me.
Humor me without the 'u', if it helps.
(That's without the second 'u' - leaving out the first one is just stupid, or even jst stpid...)
 
It's the world's easiest piece, but it seems to have the world's longest explanation. Here goes....
 
The first two lines constitute an octet. These two lines are all we need for the moment, and it doesn't matter whether you have 2,3 or 7433 players - there are two ways to start.

Firstly, decide on a number of times to play through, without a break. Then...

1. Either begin one at a time, and when the most recent starter reaches the Two in the box, the next begins at One. And then, as that person reaches Two, the previous has reached Three, when the next starts at One. Or am I making it worse?
    
2. Or... you each start from a different number, and play round to the same point. Which is much better because no-one is the poor soul who has to go first, all by themselves.

So what can we do to pep this up? Here are some ideas, and I really would like you to try some. A Canon or Round has no part which is more difficult, no part which is more boring, no part which is musically duff. And yet we can do a lot. Try these ideas...

1. With less than 8 players, consider starting at points in the piece which aren't adjacent.
    
2. With more than 8 players, add lower and higher versions from the other two arrangements on the page.
    
3. Pick a couple of versions from each of the three arrangements.
    
4. Play version 2 in the fourth position (except the low F#) for a more rounded and controlled bass.
    
5. Play version 1 as high up the neck as your fingerboard knowledge lets you for a more mellow sound.
    
6. As each part comes in, alternate sul ponti and sul tasto for each subsequent entry.
    
7. Add vibrato to each part - you'll need to be up round fret 7, but the effect is glorious!
    
8. Play as loudly or as quietly as you can.
    
9. Play legato, and play staccato

If you tackle these ideas conscientiously, you'll experience just how rich and varied the sound of Guitars in Ensemble can be. The range of volume, tone and articulation is wide, and easy to do. The effects are dramatic and stylish. And many of these hints and tips can be embedded in the other music here and in my catalogue of published material.

Oh - and I missed the most important point of the lot.
Listen to what you play. LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN!
Concentrate to keep in step, at the right volume, with the correct tone.

And smile!