Wishing all my many visitors from across the world a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Looking back over the year, I have published another 29 Acccessible Contemporary Ensembles for Guitars, Guitar & Flute, Guitar & Clarinet and for String Quartet.
It's been heart-warming to know that these have already been played in countries right across the globe!
This month has seen my Christmas Music (for 3-6 guitars or large ensembles) being downloaded all over the world!
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.
$3.99 Early intermediate level
4 traditional carols in Compound Time
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.
$4.99 Early intermediate level
See / hear / buyArranged at the request of one of my Guitar students, this is a very accessible and satisfying version of this charming piece...
$4.99 Early intermediate level
See / hear / buyThe quartet "fusion" played at Eastleigh Bandstand yesterday.
Read more here, and discover how to play some of our music, rearranged for guitars or for flute & guitar...
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)
$6.99 Intermediate level
See also my guitar version
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.
$6.99 Intermediate
See also my Guitar trio version
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...
$12.99 Intermediate
See also my Guitar quartet version
I have just two vacancies for novice/complete beginner guitar students in this Autumn Term - both on Wednesday mornings.
For more information, visit my teaching website
My Guitar Workshop is up and running in our new home at Lovedean.
The Guitar Workshop is a fortnightly get-together for intermediate guitarists - read more on our Workshop Website
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.
$4.99 Intermediate
See also Clarinet and Guitar version
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.
$4.99 Intermediate
See also String Quartet version
See the story above...
This intermediate arrangement will suit an intermediate string quartet. Most of the parts are in the lower positions.
$12.99 Intermediate
See also my Guitar quartet version
My Guitar Workshop is a group of novice & intermediate adult guitarists.
We meet fortnightly in term-time to play straightforward ensemble music for fun.
During the Covid-19 lockdowns we've been closed but in May this year, amateur music-groups were permitted to meet subject to social distancing and reduced numbers.
Unfortunately, our venue was not able to accommodate any adult groups at that point, so Workshop has now moved to Lovedean Village Hall, a few minutes from Junction 2 on the A3M.
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.
$2.99 Intermediate
See / hear / buyIt's been a long time coming, but my Guitar Workshop is back, meeting together for the first time in over a year.
Currently, we're open to existing players only, as we have strict limits on numbers, but watch this space for more news.
At our first meeting, we caught up on all the new pieces we've been playing at home, including...
Check out our videos page on the Workshop website!
Today's BMG Newsletter (the publication of the UK-based Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar Federation) contains my light-hearted look at the world of arranging guitar ensembles.
My article describes the art of arranging, with just a guitar and computer for company - it's called "The Lone Arranger".
(Image blurred to respect the copyright of the BMG Federation).
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!
$4.99 Intermediate
(Contains optional 4th gtr/bass part)
Wayne Kilcline has produced something very special as part of his work in the Rhode Island Music Education Association.
Here's part of the 2021 RIMEA Combined Junior and Senior All-State Guitar Ensembles Virtual Guitar Orchestra, cued up to play my Tutu Tango from my Diff'rent Dances book.
As the Coronavirus pandemic eases off, musicians are tentatively meeting up again, but often just to play duets.
Which is perhaps why my range of duets is starting to sell faster than my larger ensembles at the moment...
Choose from
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 ...
$4.99 Early Intermediate
See also version for flute & guitar
Guitar Workshop - my ensemble for adult intermediate players - is currently closed owing to Coronavirus restrictions
Following on from e-recital number 14 we have another new arrangement for you, crafted from soundfiles recorded in Hampshire and Sussex.
Watch the video and play along with us (or sing, if that's what does it for you) - the tune is on the screen - it takes a while to get going, as you'll see...
You can buy this 4-part arrangement for YOUR ensemble by instant download - click here
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.
$6.99 Mixed Intermediate
See / hear / buyBread'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...
$4.99 Early Intermediate
Also versions for flute or clarinet & guitar
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.
$4.99 Advanced Intermediate
See / hear / buyThis 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...
$4.99 Early Intermediate
See / hear / buyDuring lockdown I've been busy producing new and very playable arrangements of contemporary music - this showreel highlights just a few of them...
Guitar Workshop - my ensemble for adult intermediate players - is currently closed owing to Coronavirus restrictions
Following on from e-recital number 13 we have another new arrangement for you, crafted from soundfiles recorded in Hampshire and Sussex.
Watch the video and play along with us (or sing, if that's what does it for you) - the tune is on the screen - it takes a while to get going, as you'll see...
You can buy a version of this 2-part arrangement for YOUR ensemble by instant download - click here
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 ...
$4.99 Advanced Intermediate
Suits 3 guitars & bass instrument too!
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...
$4.99 Intermediate level
See also version for flute & guitar
Guitar Workshop - my ensemble for adult intermediate players - is currently closed owing to Coronavirus restrictions
Following on from e-recital number 12 we have another new arrangement for you,"Last of the Summer Wine", crafted from soundfiles recorded in Hampshire and Sussex.
Watch the video and play along with us - the tune is on the screen!
To buy a version of this 3-part arrangement of Last Of The Summer Wine by instant download - click here
The sales of my downloadable contemporary arrangements is steadily increasing - I have over 150 instantly available arrangements for 1-6 guitars and for large ensembles.
I've added a new page to my shop so that you can browse my music by title (and then click to see more details).
Wishing all you visitors to my website a New Year full of Good Health, Great Opportunities and Fantastic Music!
Let's hope we can get out there and make music for real once more!
I have no vacancies for the Spring Term from January to Easter.
Check out my teaching website for vacancies as they arise.