Derek Hasted's News...

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.

• Read more about my trio arrangement of One Last Wish here...
• I've also arranged this piece for 2 guitars (a little tougher) and
• for flute & guitar

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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...

• Read more about my arrangement of John Dunbar's Theme here...

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New Arrangement - Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer

Here's an easy and fun piece. What happens when not everyone wants to play this piece?

• Read more about my arrangement of Rudolph here...

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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.

• Read more about my arrangement of God Rest Ye here...

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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.

• Read more about my arrangement of White Christmas here...

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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.

• Read more about my arrangement of Two Little Fugues here...

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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.

• Read more about my arrangement of Love Of My Life here...

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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.

• Read more about my arrangement of Saman here...

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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.

• Read more about my arrangement of Jamaica Farewell here...

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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.

• Read more about my arrangement of Lay All Your Love On Me here...

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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.

• Read more about my arrangements of Feed The Birds here...

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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!

• Read more about my arrangement of The Winner Takes It All here...

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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!

• Read more about my arrangement of The Sussex Carol here...

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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.

• Read more about my arrangement of Bring a Torch here...

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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.

• Read more about my arrangement of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da here...

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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.

• Read more about my arrangements of Local Hero - Wild Theme here...

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New arrangements - Corelli's Christmas Concerto

This is a 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 guitar well.

• Read more about my arrangement of Corelli's Christmas Concerto here...
• I've also arranged a standalone version of the well-known "Adagio" (the third movement) in a different key to make it accessible to less-experienced players
• Finally, I've also produced a string quartet arrangement

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New arrangement - Bach's Prelude from BWV 998

There's not many guitarists who don't know this very playable Prelude from Bach, but my arrangement for two guitars is that little bit easier and the phrasing a lot more dramatic - the stereo effect is a real crowd-pleaser.

• Read more about my arrangement of Bach's Prelude here...

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New arrangement - Mika's The Origin Of Love

This very accessible guitar trio is an arrangement Mika's "Origin Of Love", inspired by Mika's appearance on the TV Series "The Piano"

• Read more about "Origin Of Love" here...

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New arrangement - Song For A New Beginning

This very accessible guitar trio is an arrangement of the beautiful melody by Rolf Løvland, performed by Secret Garden.

I chose this music as my final arrangement for The Guitar Workshop, which I have been running for 35 years, and which will have a New Beginning with a new leader very soon - watch this website for more information!

• Read more about "Song For A New Beginning" here...

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New arrangements - Old Ned (Steptoe & Son TV Theme)

This accessible duet version of the famous theme from TV's "Steptoe & Son" is great fun to play. A little bit of trickery makes it sound like the original without being anything like as scary to play!

• Read more about Old Ned here ...
• There's also a version for Flute and Guitar on sale here...

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New arrangement - The Easy Winners (Scott Joplin)

For 3 guitars or a large ensemble, this early intermediate piece captures what many say is Joplin's finest Ragtime piece. Guitar 3 is tuned to 6=D and the whole arrangement is in guitar-friendly keys

• Read more about Joplin's The Easy Winners here ...

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New arrangement - March Slav (Tchaikovsky Op 31)

For 4 guitars or a large ensemble, this early intermediate piece contains the main theme of this evocative piece.

• Read more about March Slav for guitar ensemble here ...

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New arrangement - Maxwell's Silver Hammer (Beatles)

For 4 guitars or a large ensemble. Guitar 4 is in treble and bass clefs.
This might not be one of the most famous Beatles pieces, but it's definitely an audience toe-tapper!

• Read more about Maxwell's Silver Hammer for guitar ensemble here ...

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NEW - Albatross (Fleetwood Mac) - 4 Guitars/large ensemble

Albatross has become one of the great classics - a Top 40 instrumental that's slow and easy to play. My new arrangement for 4 guitars (or a larger ensemble) is a real crowd pleaser.

• Read more about Albatross for guitar ensemble here ...

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Ding Dong Merrily On High

There's just time to publish one more Christmas arrangement for your Christmas concert or event - it's Ding Dong Merrily On High, a gloriously busy (but very playable) arrangement that begins with chimes and peals of bells and ends with ... Big Ben.

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El Noi de la Mare

This beautiful, haunting, Catalan carol makes a really moving yet very accessible concert piece.

Read more about my flute and guitar and my guitar duet arrangements here

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Rhythm Of Life - 4 guitars/large ensemble

This arrangement is based on a real crowd pleaser that was played by the Hampshire Guitar Orchestra - a real foot-tapper.

It's a little tougher for Guitar 1 than many of my arrangements, but there is an alternative for the hardest 8-bar section which is easy to play.

Read more/see/hear Rhythm Of Life here ...

Carol Of The Bells - 4 guitars

My easy-to-play arrangement by Ukrainian composer Leontovych is currently my fastest selling piece.

If you teach or lead an ensemble, this Christmas piece comes together really quickly, so there's still time to squeeze it into your Christmas Concert!

Read more/see/hear Carol Of The Bells here ...

La Bamba - 4 (or 5) guitars

This arrangement is based on a real crowd pleaser that was played by the Hampshire Guitar Orchestra - a real foot-tapper.

It's easy to play, and the optional fifth guitar part would suit a beginner guitarist or a bass instrument (it's supplied in treble and bass clef versions).

Easy to put together, it makes a massive wall of sound!

Read more/see/hear La Bamba here ...

Vianne Sets Up Shop - 4 guitars

This arrangement is based on a real crowd pleaser that was played by the Hampshire Guitar Orchestra - a real foot-tapper.

Read more/see/hear Vianne Sets Up Shop here ...

O Holy Night - 3 guitars

Here's a very accessible and comfortable arrangement of this famous Christmas piece and at a great price too. Ideal for a large ensemble too, and the parts are suitable for those with limited experience of guitar.

Read more/see/hear O Holy Night here ...

Mary Did You Know? 3 guitars

This arrangement is by popular request! It's a very accessible and comfortable arrangement of this lovely modern Christmas piece.

Read more/see/hear Mary Did You Know here ...

Carol Of The Drum - 6 guitars

This arrangement of the well-known piece (often called Little Drummer Boy) suits 6 guitars or a large ensemble, and it's not at all taxing to play!

Guitar 6 requres 6=D but is suitable for a player with limited experience. The other lines are slightly more busy but are early intermediate standard.

This piece builds and builds!

Read more/see/hear Carol of The Drum here ...

Elizabethan Serenade - 6 guitars (or 5+bass)

This arrangement suits 6 guitars or a large ensemble, and it's not at all taxing to play!

Guitar 6 is supplied in treble and bass clefs, so it can be played on guitar, bass guitar or double bass, or on a mixture.

The piece is early intemediate (the top line is perhaps intermediate), but more experienced players will find that a slightly faster tempo helps the tune's sustain. There are plenty of dynamics and these make the piece come alive.

Read more/see/hear Elizabethan Serenade here ...

The Teddy Bears' Picnic

First published in 1907, this is a real crowd-pleaser in concert - ideal to close the first half or as an encore.

It suits 2 advanced-intemediate guitarists, more for the speed than the notes.

My arrangement, in the same keys as the original, is deliberately straightforward so that the piece works and can be played with the confidence and volume that the original demands.

This will be a concert item the audience doesn't forget!

Read more/see/hear The Teddy Bears' Picnic here ...

Christmas Ensembles

These pieces were originally only available in printed form. Now, by popular demand, here they are as instant downloads - a total of 12 less-familiar Christmas pieces.

• Read more/see/hear 6 Christmas Crackers for THREE guitars here...
• Read more/see/hear 6 Christmas Crackers for FOUR guitars here...
• Both editions work equally well with a large ensemble!

As the weather here in the UK starts to feel distinctly autumnal, many Guitar teachers are already preparing for their Christmas concerts by trying one or more of my Christmas Ensemble arrangements ...

Especially popular is "Carol Of The Bells", the tune of which is a Ukrainian folk tune, and it's made August my busiest month for music sales so far in 2022.

Thank you all - I hope your concerts go well!

Raymond Briggs - The Snowman

RIP Raymond Briggs, prolific author, and famous for writing The Snowman, the basis of the now classic Christmas film.

One of my first published arrangements was "Walking In The Air" - a fantastically popular and haunting Christmas piece.

Read more/see/hear Walking In The Air here...

Portsmouth - Guitar Quartet/large ensemble

Made famous by Mike Oldfield, this traditional Hornpipe was actually first published in 1701. My arrangement sneaks in a little bit of "What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor" and makes a spectacular concert item, running to about 5 minutes and building up as the piece progresses.

Read more/see/hear Portsmouth here...

Planxty Three - Guitar Trio/large ensemble

Turlough O'Carolan, the blind Irish Harpist, wrote arguably some of the finest melodies one can enjoy.

Here are three of his pieces - Planxy Irwin, Planxty Sir George Brabazon and the wonderfully titled Planxty Sir Festus Burke. Together they form a contrasting suite - three distinct moods, and all at the early intermediate to intermediate standard.

Read more/see/hear Planxty Three here...

The Only Living Boy In New York

Written by Paul Simon when he was in New York without Art Garfunkel, this slightly poignant song makes a wonderful guitar and woodwind duet.

My arrangements are somewhere between Early Intermediate and Intermediate.

Read more about (and hear an excerpt of) my flute & guitar (and clarinet & guitar) arrangements here.

At the time of writing, my catalog has over 270 items. Check back here for future additions...