Derek Hasted's News from 2022 ...

December

December 2022

Happy Christmas!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Workshop Christmas Concert

Christmas Concert

As you know, I run the Hampshire Guitar Workshop, and we're back to holding concerts in aid of local charities.

Our concert this year was on December 8th and raised over £460 for "Young Lives vs Cancer"

What a busy month!

November was the busiest month yet for the sales of Christmas ensembles from my shop.

November

November 2022

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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Cinema Paradiso

This lovely video has recenty appeared on YouTube playing my arrangement of Cinema Paradiso

Read more about my arrangement of Cinema Paradiso here...

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 ...

Rhythm Of Life (Sweet Charity) - for 4 guitars arranged by Derek Hasted

Rhythm Of Life
Cy Coleman

Rhythm Of Life 4 guitars
(from Sweet Charity)

$4.99 Intermediate level

See / hear / buy

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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 ...

Carol Of The Bells - for 4 guitars arr. Derek Hasted


Carol Of The Bells

Carol Of The Bells
Mykola Leontovych

$4.99 Beginner level

See / hear / buy

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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 ...

La Bamba - for 4 guitars arr. Derek Hasted

La Bamba
Ritchie Valens

La Bamba 4 guitars
with additional 5th part
Also listed under 5 guitars

$4.99 Intermediate level

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October

October 2022

Dick Barton (Ddevil's Galop music)

Devil's Galop (the Dick Barton Theme Tune)

This exciting piece, written by Charles Williams (I've also arranged his glorious "Dream of Olwen") is hard to play at full speed, but makes a wonderful concert piece.

Due to copyright restrictions, my arrangements may not always be available in every country worldwide...

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

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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 ...

O Holy Night - very accessible arrangement for 3 guitars by Derek Hasted

O Holy Night
by Adolphe Adam

O Holy Night

$4.99 Early intermediate level

See / hear / buy

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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 ...

Carol Of The Drum (Little Drummer Boy) arr. Derek Hasted

Carol Of The Drum
Little Drummer Boy

Easy Christmas Piece
6 guitars or large ensemble

$4.99 Early Intermediate

See / hear / buy

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Picture of one of my arrangements

Busy busy!

It's been a busy month just gone for sales of my Accessible Contemporary Ensembles, and I've also been busy adding to the number of arrangements you can play.

You can see and hear a little of each arrangement before you buy an instant download, to make sure it's ideal for your ensemble.

September

September 2022

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 ...

Elizabethan Serenade (Ronald Binge) arr. Derek Hasted

Elizabethan Serenade
Ron Binge

Timeless gentle music
for 6 guitars or 5+bass

$4.99 Early Intermediate

See / hear / buy

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Clearance Sale!

I'm reducing stocks of 3 titles in my printed books range - your chance to pick up 3 popular titles at half-price or less!

Visit my shop, pick the area of the world where you live (so we can calculate postage), and look for the red SALE flags...

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 ...

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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.

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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!

Carol Of The Bells - for 4 guitars arr. Derek Hasted


Carol Of The Bells

Carol Of The Bells
Mykola Leontovych

$4.99 Beginner level

See / hear / buy
August

August 2022

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...

Walking In The Air (The Snowman) - for 4 guitars arr. Derek Hasted

Walking In The Air
The Snowman

Walking In The Air 4 guitars
Howard Blake - "The Snowman"

$4.99 Early intermediate level

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July

July 2022

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...

Portsmouth - for 4 intermediate guitars arr. Derek Hasted

Portsmouth
Traditional

Portsmouth
4 guitars/large ensemble

$4.99 Intermediate level

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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...

Planxty Three - three Celtic pieces by Carolan arr. Derek Hasted

Planxty Three
3 Carolan pieces

Planxty Three
Three Celtic Trios

$4.99 Intermediate level

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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...

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June

June 2022

Mozart Presto - K522

Sometimes called "A Musical Joke", I've arranged an abridged version of the fourth movement of Mozart's suite for 3 guitars.

But if you live in the UK, you might know it better as being the basis of the theme to TV's "The Horse Of The Year Show".

 

Read more about my guitar trio arrangement here

Mozart Presto K522 (Horse Of The Year Show theme) - for 3  intermediate guitars arr. Derek Hasted

Mozart Presto K522
Horse Of The Year Show

Mozart Presto (abridged)
"The Horse Of The Year" TV theme

$4.99 intermediate level

See / hear / buy

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Fields of Gold - new arrangements

Following some great feedback at fusion's concert in May just gone, I've re-worked the versions of "Fields of Gold" that I have on sale - all of them are now the full-length Eva Cassidy version, complete with the instrumental break in the middle.

Here are the versions on sale...

Fields of Gold (String and Eva Cassidy) - for 3  intermediate guitars arr. Derek Hasted

Fields of Gold
Eva Cassidy

Fields Of Gold

$4.99 intermediate level

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The Muppets Theme - 4 guitars or large ensemble

My easy-to-play arrangement of The Muppets Theme is back - originally withdrawn from sale when copyright permission was retracted, it's now back on sale with revised copyright permission, so download and you're good to go!

Read more/see/hear "The Muppets Theme" here ...

The Muppets Theme Tune - for 4 early intermediate guitars arr. Derek Hasted

The Muppets
Jim Henson & Sam Pottle

The Muppets Theme Tune
4 guitars/large ensemble

$4.99 Early Intermediate level

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Elton John's Basque - oboe and guitar duet

My arrangements of Elton John's Basque (for flute and guitar and for guitars) are amongst my best sellers. And now I've added an arrangement for oboe and guitar.

The characteristically haunting, emotional, sound of the oboe is limited to a modest range of pitch, so my oboe arrangement is pitched in a different key. The guitar part is capo 2, so that the arpeggio shapes are accessible to those players of even quite modest ability, though more experienced players will enjoy the rich sound that comes from their guitar.

Read more/see/hear "Basque" here ...

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May

May 2022

Spanish Flea - 3 guitars / large ensemble

Here's a "blast from the past" - my arrangement of the tune made famous by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

Read more/see/hear "Spanish Flea" here ...

Spanish Flea (Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass) - for 3 early intermediate guitars arr. Derek Hasted

Spanish Flea
Herb Alpert

Spanish Flea Herb Alpert
3 guitars/large ensemble

$4.99 early intermediate level
(but intermediate if played fast!)

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fusion in concert

Here's one of the ten pieces we played in fusion's lunchtime concert at St Faith's Church Havant on May 25th - Adagio by Rolf Løvland

The Rise & Fall of Flingel Bunt - 4 guitars / large ensemble

This arrangement - based on the Hampshire Guitar Orchestra's version, which audiences always enjoyed - is an intermediate quartet (also suits large ensemble). A toe-tapping crowd-pleaser, there's a funky bass-line to die for!

The soundclip features HAGO playing a snippet of this piece live in concert.

Read more/see/hear "Flingel Bunt" here ...

The Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt (The Shadows) - for 4 intermediate guitars arr. Derek Hasted

The Rise and Fall
Of Flingel Bunt

The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt
(The Shadows)
4 guitars/large ensemble

$4.99 Intermediate level

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Por Una Cabeza - 4/5 guitars or large ensemble

This arrangement can be played as an intermediate quartet (or large ensemble), but also comes with an optional descant line for a 5th guitar. The descant line mirrors the violin accompaniment in the film "Scent of a Woman" and can be played high up the neck (advanced intermediate) or on the main part of the neck (intermediate ability).

Read more/see/hear "Por Una Cabeza" here ...

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Oh Dear! What Can The Matter Be? - 3 guitars/large ensemble

My latest arrangement is the well-known traditional folk song . It makes a rumbustious concert item for an intermediate guitar trio or a large ensemble. With multiple verses arranged in different textures and shared between the players, there's something for everyone here, and at a bargain price too - the edition contains individual parts and a full score too.

Read more/see/hear "Oh Dear! What Can The Matter Be?" here ...

Oh Dear! (What Can The Matter Be?) - for 3 intermediate guitars arr. Derek Hasted

Oh Dear!
What can the matter be?

Oh Dear! What Can The Matter Be?
3 guitars/large ensemble

$4.99 intermediate level

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New Music - You Are The Reason - flute & guitar

This glorious piece, sung by Calum Scott, finds new life in my arrangement that takes the original voice & piano and fits them onto flute & guitar, to make a full-length piece that builds and fades away like the original.

Read more/see/hear "You Are The Reason" here ...

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April

April 2022

My music for sale...

Music for sale

My publisher has migrated all my music for sale to a new platform. The music's absolutely fine but some of the descriptions on the SheetMusicPlus website have become incorrect - changing Classical Guitar to Electric Guitar for instance (a known bug, it turns out, with no immediate fix).

Apologies - it's created a nightmare for me that I'm still working on so that the new site presents my works more accurately...

All the descriptions here on this site are correct, so it's best to view and purchase via my website rather than theirs!

Free Music

I've just added an easy John Dowland arrangement (for 3 novice guitars) to my collection of free ensemble music - click the link here to go and visit and help yourself!

New Music - La Cucaracha - 3 guitars/large ensemble

Almost everyone knows this catchy Mexican Folk Tune, though not many know that it translates to "The Cockroach".

My arrangement for 3 guitars is ideal for a school concert or a whacky encore in a concert - it's easy to play, and the three parts are slightly different standards - from novice to intermediate.

Read more/see/hear "La Cucaracha" here ...

La Cucaracha (Mexican Folk Song) - for 3 intermediate guitars arr. Derek Hasted

La Cucaracha
Trad. Mexican

La Cucaracha
3 guitars/large ensemble

$4.99 Early intermediate level

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Viva La Vida

Andrew Gough (Birmingham Conservatoire and West Dean Guitar Festival) has just sent me a recording of his school guitar orchestra playing my arrangement of Viva La Vida...

Have a listen! The dynamics are fantastic....

To download the score, click here...

March

March 2022

Video advert

I've put together a little 3-minute video to showcase some of my trio arrangements...

You can see and hear 10 pieces from my range of over 200...

Guitar Workshop website

Hampshire Guitar Workshop - 34 years old!

Two days ago, the Guitar Workshop celebrated our 34th birthday.

We've been meeting fortnightly in term time since 1988!

Visit our Guitar Workshop website to read more...

 

We welcome new joiners, but if you live too far away you can download some of our music instead!

All Day (The Shadows) - 4 guitars/large ensemble

Here's a blast from the past, a real foot-tapping crowd-pleaser arranged to suit an early intermediate quartet or large group - a great concert piece for those with less experience and fun to play whatever one's ability!

Read more/see/hear "All Day (The Shadows)" here ...

All Day (The Shadows) - for 4 guitars arr. Derek Hasted

All Day
The Shadows

All Day
The Shadows

$4.99 Early Intermediate

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New Music to buy - Suo Gân - 3 guitars/large ensemble

This delightful Welsh Lullaby, arranged here for an Early Intermediate group, makes a reflective and beautiful interlude in any concert.

Read more/see/hear "Suo Gân" here ...

Suo Gan (Welsh Lullaby) - for 3 early intermediate guitars arr. Derek Hasted

Suo Gân
Welsh Lullaby

Suo Gân
3 guitars/large ensemble

$4.99 Early intermediate level

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February

February 2022

fusion in concert

May 25th - fusion in concert

Here's a date for your diary - "fusion" are playing a lunchtime concert in Havant on Wednesday May 25th - more details nearer the time!

New Music to buy - Chanson Triste - guitar ensembles, guitar & woodwind

This haunting piece by Tchaikovsky makes a wonderful contrasting item in any school concert or adult recital.

Originally for piano, I have produced 4 arrangements

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