Derek Hasted's News from 2023 ...

New Arrangement - Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

I'd always regarded anything by The Smiths as guaranteed to lower my spirits instead of raising them. But just under 2 weeks ago, BBC TV's Strictly Come Dancing featured a slightly abbreviated arrangement of this piece as an upbeat Viennese Waltz, danced by Annabelle Croft and Johannes Radebe. My goodness, what a change to the piece - simple yet delightful, cheery and elegant.

So this is my arrangement, styled on the BBC version, in the same key. Guitar 2 is tuned to 6=D which means that a large number of full barré chords melt away into half barrés. As well as a concert item, this would make a lovely student/teacher duet.

• I have also arranged this piece for flute and guitar duo...

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New Arrangement - In My Life (The Beatles)

My very accessible guitar quartet arrangement of this lesser-known Beatles song fits classical guitar perfectly. A rippling accompaniment supports a beautiful melody, and underneath, a rich bass line (supplied in both treble and bass clefs) provides a solid foundation under a charming piece that would grace any concert.

I have also arranged this piece for woodwind and guitar duos...

• Read more about all my arrangements of In My Life here...

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New Arrangement - Ghostbusters

Who ya gonna call?

This is a fun and quirky piece that goes really nicely on 4 guitars (or a large ensemble). The top line is advanced intermediate when taken at tempo, but the piece sounds really good played just a little slower.

It comes complete with some eerie effects too....

• Read more about my quartet arrangement of One Last Wish here...

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New Arrangements - True Colors

This is a lovely melody and every audience will know this piece. It makes for a charming and accessible concert item!

• Read more about my guitar quartet arrangement of True Colors here...
• I've also arranged this piece for guitar and woodwind

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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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