very sweet indeed, Greg and daughter
Thanks for the kind comments, everyone. And I agree, GKWilson, the future is with the kids. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!
bump
Happy Holidays to everyone.
Gustav Holst: In The Bleak Midwinter Arranged for instrumental quartet by Albert Folop From IMSLP: http://imslp.org/wiki/In_the_Bleak_M...lst,_Gustav%29 This arrangement of Holst's Christmas carol was originally for four viols, but I've adapted it for mandolin quartet (two mandolins, tenor guitar, mandocello). 1890s Umberto Ceccherini mandolin 1915 Luigi Embergher mandolin Ozark tenor guitar Suzuki MC-815 mandocello Martin
Real nice version of the bleak midwinter Martin. Here is Angels We Have Heard on High
The pump organ makes for a nice backup for the mandolin. Here's Rudolph on a tenor guitar
Nice recording of Rudolph cc. Here's to a White Christmas.
Nice combination of pump organ and mando again! For a White Christmas, there must be snow!
Ding Dong Merrily On High Thoinot Arbeau: Branle de'l Official (Orchésographie, 1589) Arranged by Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni. From "Evelyn's Big Book for Mandolins 2015" (available from Amazon). This is a renaissance dance tune from one of the principal collections of early dance music, the "Orchésographie" by Thoinot Arbeau (1519-1595). The tune is now, however, overwhelmingly known as the Christmas carol "Ding Dong Merrily On High" after words were added by George Ratcliffe Woodward in 1924. This arrangement (thanks, Evelyn!) is for contra dance band, taking it away from the carol and back to its roots as a dance tune. Played on two mandolins and two tenor guitars. 1890s Umberto Ceccherini mandolin Mid-Missouri M-0W mandolin Vintage Viaten tenor guitar Ozark tenor guitar Martin
All very enjoyable arrangements! And Crisscross that's a clever Trek touch there with the Cap'n Picard pic, guess it'd be "Let it snow, make it so". A Christmas video I posted earlier in another thread: Calypso Carol with mandolin tab + backing track etc.
"Still, still, still, weil's Kindlein schlafen will" (Hush, hush, hush, for the little child wants to sleep!) This is a traditional Christmas carol, originally from Salzburg in Austria but now widely sung all over the German-speaking countries. Also works as a lullaby at all times of the year. My recording is based on an anonymous harmony from a children's book of German folk songs. Played as a trio of two mandolins and tenor guitar. 1890s Ceccherini mandolin Mid-Missouri M-0W mandolin Vintage Viaten tenor guitar Martin
Martin, that's a pretty tune, nicely played too. Here's what I've been up to today, it's in the key of G because it's easier to play... Hark The Herald Angels Sing: (or direct link) An old friend clued me in to the fancy jazz chords, I wrote down what he told me and then I adjusted it to suit what I thought sounded ok, the diagonal lines are for "slash chords" which just means that the bass note is different: The backing is modified from the ChordPulse "Jazz Ballad" setting, by "modified" I mean that I adjusted volumes via the ChordPulse "Play" menu's "Mixer" option:
Nice! I especially enjoyed Martin's "Still, still", which takes me back several years to a particularly nice Christmas in Germany. Here's what we did just before leaving the office for the Christmas break.
Gelsenbury, that's a really sweet version, sounds great!
Very nice David, but winter doesn't have to be bleak. Maybe we'll get a Winter Wonderland in the New Year...
Crisscross, that's a fine Winter Wonderland! I like the improv too.
bump... happy holidays.
Here's a nice Christmas tune not heard too often called "I wonder as I wander"...
Nice rendition to the Halls. Thanks for sharing.
That's a new one to me too. It sounds great, thank you!
Here's a neoclassical tune I posted a couple of days ago in the Classical forum -- not strictly speaking a Christmas tune, but definitely in a festive mood for this time of year, and with a slide show to match. Johan B. Kok (1889-1954): Andante Religioso (Op. 81) I'm a big fan of the mandolin music of the Dutch mandolin composer Johan Kok, and this has long been one of my favourite pieces of his with its heart-meltingly beautiful mandola solo and dramatic dynamics in the finale. 1890s Umberto Ceccherini mandolin 1915 Luigi Embergher mandolin Mid-Missouri M-111 octave mandolin Vintage Viaten tenor guitar All pictures from the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. Martin
GHall, sounds great! Some pretty impressive slides and hammers there too, nice!
Just for fun, Jingle Bells heavy metal? (or direct link)
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, its message of hope fitting this particular season at the end of this particular year.
Martin, nicely played ("Andante Religioso"). Gelsenbury, I love those double notes (like at 0:34 etc), and it sure is a pretty tune. Also enjoyed the candles and Christmas tree.
A great Tommy Coen reel, aptly titled "Christmas Eve" - this has been on my "to learn" list for nearly a year after seeing Cafe member Bob Michel post it in the thread for Tommy Coen's reel when it was a SAW tune. Finally sat down to learn it yesterday, so the playing is a wee bit sloppy but oh well, Happy Christmas!
Down-to-earth coziness just right for the occasion, Jill. With an orchestral completeness that is a remarkable feat for a banjo.
Cheers sir!
1. We Three Kings 0:00 2. Deck The Halls 1:05 3. Angels We Have Heard On High 2:13 These are three Christmas carols, all adapted to mandolin duets from arrangements for two flutes that I found on IMSLP: We Three Kings: http://imslp.org/wiki/3_Christmas_Ca...ng,_Elizabeth) Deck The Halls / Angels We Have Heard On High: http://imslp.org/wiki/2_Christmas_Ca...s_(Kuo,_Sarah) Played on a vintage Gibson mandolin: 1921 Gibson Ajr mandolin (x2) Martin
Trying to get into the Christmas Spirit. Here's a little of Bill Monroe's "Santa Claus."
Does anyone have standard notation you'd be willing to share for Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer? I can buy it online for $3 or so, but thought I'd check with you guys first.
Here is a Christmas tune
Having done these two Christmas songs, with the first originating from France and the second from England, I wanted to add a song from my home country. I chose "Kling Glöckchen" (Ring Bells) but I couldn't help adding some swing feeling.
Nice!
Thanks, JL277z! I just recorded another Christmas tune in swing feeling. Written by Händel and performed by Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey...
My last Christmas Song for this year, I promise! Martin Jonas has played a nice version 3 years ago. Süßer die Glocken nie klingen, another German Carol about bells. The title means something like The bells never ring sweeter , so I searched some pictures of sweeties.
I haven't had a chance yet to post any Christmas tunes this year, so this is my last opportunity -- a fortuitous find on IMSLP when I was looking for something else altogehter. Franz Wohlfahrt (1833-1884): "Easy Fantasia on Two Christmas Songs - 'O Stilly Night' and 'O Sanctissima'", Op. 83 (1882) "Leichte Fantasie über die beiden Weihnachtslieder 'Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht“ und 'O sanctissima' [O du fröhliche]" Franz Wohlfahrt is today almost exclusively known through his series of etudes (60 Studies for Violin, Op. 45), which are often among the first ones studied by beginning violinists. His original compositions are not much played. Here is one of them, a fantasia on two of the best-known German Christmas carols, "Silent Night" and "O du fröhliche" (the latter is set to the tune of the Catholic hymn "O Sanctissima"). The original piece is for two violins with piano accompaniment. I have adapted it to a trio of two mandolins and tenor guitar. The two violin parts are indeed fairly easy, but enjoyable to play and suitably sentimental for Christmas. I can't find any sign of any previous recording, so this may be a first -- slightly surprising given the famous source themes and the seasonal nature of the piece. Sheet music at IMSLP: http://imslp.org/wiki/Easy_Fantasia_...lfahrt,_Franz) 1890s Umberto Ceccherini mandolin 1915 Luigi Embergher mandolin Vintage Viaten tenor guitar Happy Christmas to all on the SAW Group! Martin
Merry Christmas, everyone! And have a Happy New Year!!
Beautiful versions all!
"Let It Be Christmas", a song by Alan Jackson. I made a video (below), to practice with. It has a simple backing track and chord names, also chord diagrams for guitar and mandolin and ukulele, as well as lyrics and a faint outline of the basic melody (based on half-speed analysis of the song) so you know where you're at in the tune: YouTube direct link, or embedded: I had not heard of this song until it came up in another thread where a cafe member was looking for the chords for it. Thought it might be useful to also post it here in Song-a-Week.
Addenda to my post above: I realize that non-secular or "too religious" holiday songs are not exactly popular items nowadays, and would probably only work for audiences who are actually into the whole Christmas thing rather than just those who are looking for wintery or more generic holiday music, but despite such considerations IMO it's still a pretty song.
I know it's still a little early for Christmas music, but since the seal's been broken, so to speak, here's a couple of renditions of "What Child is This?" Hope you enjoy!
GHall -Since I start practicing Christmas songs today it is a great appetizer. Great tremolo. I appreciate that you have fun playing music. BTW I play this song as Greensleeves. JL – Of course I watched your video. I’m every time interested in how other folks learn tunes. Your projects are great. Chords for three instruments displayed – I missed the Thuringian Waldzither. I didn’t know the song. Meanwhile I found a YouTube vid which works in my country.
GHall duo: Beautiful music! Very enjoyable to listen to. Frithjof, thanks!
GHall Duo: both are indeed enjoyable and very well played
JL, thanks for sharing your track with us. I hadn't heard the song before and it will be a nice one to play. GHall -- I always appreciate the vids of you and your daughter; she's really good!
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" - This is based loosely on the version Butch Baldassari put out years ago in his "Evergreen Christmas" album...hope you enjoy! Would love to see some more Christmas tunes being posted too...'Tis the Season
GHall -- I love that performance! Your daughter has certainly added some excitement to Butch's arrangement.
Fantastic. I love how you're playing with the time in the last 6 or so bars. Exciting indeed!
