Derek Hasted's News from 2021...

Have Yourself A Compound Christmas - for 3 guitars/large ensemble

Here's a little suite of 4 traditional Christmas Carols, all in compound time...

"In Dulci Jubilo", "Masters In This Hall", "Gabriel's Message" and "The Sussex Carol".

Here are 4 energetic arrangements, which build as the verses proceed, and which you can play as single items, or run the pieces into a medley.

It's suitable for a mixed-ability trio (from early-intermediate to intermediate), or two guitars and a bass instrument, or a large ensemble.

• Read more/see/hear "Compound Christmas" here ...

 

Talking Heads - Psycho Killer - for 3 guitars/large ensemble

With Hallowe'en just round the corner, here's a lovely (and slightly scary) piece - Psycho Killer. Who's behind you in the dark?

My arrangement is based both on the Talking Heads original and the wonderful cover by the A Capella group "The Flying Pickets". It's suitable for a mixed-ability trio (from early-intermediate to intermediate), or two guitars and a bass instrument, or a large ensemble.

• Read more/see/hear "Psycho Killer" here ...

 

Bette Midler's "The Rose" for solo Guitar

Arranged at the request of one of my Guitar students, this is a very accessible and satisfying version of this charming piece...

• Read more about "The Rose" for Guitar here ...
• The Guitar Quartet version is still on sale - find it here ...

Teddy Bears' Picnic - String Quartet

What a fantastic piece this is! Writen in 1907 it's instantly familiar and makes a toe-tapping concert item. I've just published a string quartet version where there are exciting countermelodies and a lush, full sound for surprisingly little effort - certainly within the grasp of an intermediate school or adult string quartet (or a larger string ensemble)

• Read more about "Teddy Bears' Picnic" for String Quartet here ...
• The Guitar version is still on sale - find it here ...

Tutu Tango - String Quartet

Tutu Tango is perhaps the most well-known of my "Diff'rent Dances" for Guitar Trio - there are a lot of YouTube videos showing the music being played in all corners of the globe.

I've re-worked it for String Quartet, with an extra countermelody line that uses the sustain on the string family to generate a bigger sound.

• Read more about "Tutu Tango" for String Quartet here ...
• The Guitar version is still on sale - find it here ...

A Nightingale Sang - String Quartet

Made famous by the mellifluous voice of Nat King Cole and revisited more recently by Manhattan Transfer, this is a lovely melody with lush chords, yet accessible to string quartets from early intermediate upwards...

• Read more/see/hear "Nightingale" for String Quartet here ...

Ben - 4 arrangements

What a wonderful performance the young Michael Jackson gave of this haunting little tune. My arrangements are deliberately straightforward and yet still capturing the poignancy of the original.

• Read more/see/hear "Ben" for guitar duet here ...
• For an easier "Ben" for 3 guitars/large ensemble click here...
• For "Ben" for flute & guitar click here ...
• For "Ben" for clarinet & guitar click here ...

Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

It's been a long time coming, but I've finally got copyright permission to arrange "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?" (by Elton John and Tim Rice) from The Lion King.

This intermediate arrangement will suit 4 guitars or a large ensemble.

• I've also arranged this piece (differently) for string quartet - see next news item
• Read more/see/hear "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?" here ...

Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

See the story above...

This intermediate arrangement will suit an intermediate string quartet. Most of the parts are in the lower positions.

• I've also arranged this piece (differently) for 4 guitars - see previous news item
• Read more/see/hear "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?" here ...

New Guitar arrangement

This is a piece that so many people will recognise, though many will be pushed to name it. Of those who name it, virtually no-one will be able to name the composer - Pietro Mascagni.

This is such a wonderfully evocative piece of music, and my arrangement brings this piece from a large orchestra onto an intermediate guitar quartet (or large ensemble). My arrangement was inspired by hearing the original orchestral version at the funeral of Bill, a fellow guitarist, and this is my tribute to him - an arrangement for 4 guitars.

Read more/see/hear Cavalleria Rusticana here ...

When You Say Nothing At All

I've made 2 arrangements of the Ronan Keating version of this charming piece which fits guitar so well! My arrangements are in the same key as Ronan Keating's version and include the same two key-changes - both seem to lift the music to a higher key, yet cleverly the second change returns us to the original key.

My arrangements capture all of the original except the long slow fade-out, and, like the original song, verse 2 has one bar less than verse 1!

 

• Read more/see/hear "When You Say Nothing At All (3 or 4 guitars)" here ...
• Read more/see/hear "When You Say Nothing At All (flute & guitar)" here ...

New Clarinet & Guitar arrangement

Just to let you know that I've arranged "Bésame Mucho" for Bb Clarinet and guitar - it will suit early intermediate players. The husky chalumeau register of the clarinet is the perfect complement for the rhythmic guitar.

Read more/see/hear Besame Mucho here ...

• Also available - Bésame Mucho for flute & guitar
• Bésame Mucho for 3 guitars

Status Quo - Rockin' All Over The World - guitar sextet

This is a real crowd-pleaser, and I can say that because I've played it in concert dozens of times. Even the most staid classical audience has been known to let out a whoop at the end of this one...

It’s easy to play, makes a fantastic sound and it’s suitable for a school concert or an unexpected item in an adult recital. It’s ideal for a mixed ability group from early intermediate to intermediate, but more skilled players will enjoy it just the same. It’s particularly effective with several guitarists on each line.

Guitar 6 can be played on a normal guitar or a bass instrument (octave bass, upright bass or electric bass) and there are treble clef and bass clef versions in this edition. In a large group you can play one or both lines - they’re simply an octave apart.

 

Read more/see/hear "Rockin' All Over The World" here ...

3 new arrangements of "If"

Bread's well-known piece has a cleverly written guitar part. The right-hand finger pattern is essentially fixed throughout the piece; the left hand builds arpeggios from a mix of stopped and open strings.

Not all arrangements in the market-place capture this neat musical device, but it makes the piece much easier to play! My score comes with an additional score & tab part that shows where to find the arpeggios on the guitar neck.

Which arrangement suits your ensemble? You can see and hear them all in the links below...

• "If" (Bread) - 2 guitars
• "If" - flute & guitar
• "If" - Bb clarinet & guitar

Take The Long Way Home (Supertramp)

This is an arrangement for 4 guitars / large ensemble of the fantastic "Take The Long Way Home" by Roger Hodgson / Supertramp.

This advanced intermediate arrangement uses the full range of the guitar to produce a big sound! Subharmonics add real depth to the bass, and harmonics add sparkle to the introduction.

The score contains the original harmonica and sax breaks, tailored to fit under the fingers of advanced intermediate players. Guitars 3 & 4 are a little easier, but skilled players can make magic happen with the articulation.

 

Read more/see/hear "Take The Long Way Home" here ...

The Vicar Of Dibley (23rd Psalm)

This piece is actually a setting of "The Lord Is My Shepherd", composed for Howard Goodall for choir, organ and orchestra. Featured as the theme music to the TV series "The Vicar Of Dibley", the gentle melody is now well-known.

 

I've written 3 arrangements - all at the intermediate level and each contains all music of the original (including the bits not normally heard on television)!

 

Which arrangement suits your ensemble? You can see and hear them all in the links below...

• Vicar of Dibley - Guitar quartet
• Flute & Guitar duet
• Bb Clarinet & Guitar duet

 

The Logical Song (Supertramp)

This edition contains an advanced intermediate arrangement for 4 guitars/large ensemble of the fantastic piece "The Logical Song", written by Roger Hodgson and performed by Supertramp.

 

This arrangement uses the full range on the guitar from the lowest note right up to the 17th fret at one point! Guitar 4 is slightly easier than the other lines, but stays faithful to the original's bass line where possible. This part is supplied in treble and in bass clef to suit either a classical guitar or a bass instrument.

 

My arrangement contains the original solo sax breaks, both as played and in a slightly simpler form too which is a bit less frantic under the fingers.

 

This is just the foot-tapping piece to get stuck in the audience's ears and to be with them all the way home after the concert!

Read more/see/hear The Logical Song here ...

Do That To Me One More Time (Captain & Tennille)

This piece, a US and UK Top 40 hit many moons ago, makes for a great contemporary concert piece.

My arrangements are in the same key as the original and have the same uplifting key changes too.

 

I've written two different arrangements - which one suits you? You can see and hear both in the links below...

• Captain & Tennille - 2 intermediate guitars
• Intermediate flute & guitar duet