Arrangements for Strings

Six Traditional Carols, Set II
Arranged by Dale Elmshaeuser

Like its popular predecessor and the similar sets for brasses and for woodwinds, this suite offers great flexibility. The carols are "Still, Still, Still;" "I Am So Glad Each Christmas Eve;" "Gentle Mary Laid Her Child" (same tune as "Good King Wenceslas"); "Angels from Heaven;" "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (Tune: Forest Green); and "Mary Had a Baby." Devices include high, ethereal violins over slow, meditative melodies; a tenor counter melody; rippling ostinatos; pizzicato passages; and an English-style descant.

Each carol begins with a traditional setting, followed by an alternate setting that has more harmonic or rhythmic interest. When played straight through, the set makes an effective, varied suite. The carols are in keys suitable for group singing as well. The instrumentalists can play alone or with the organist, who can read from the Conductor/Keyboard Score.

This arrangement can be played by as few as four instruments (typically I & II Violins, Viola, and Cello). The Cello part can of course, be augmented with or replaced by Double Bass, reading from the same score. Parts are included for upper Viola and upper Cello, so that quartets can be formed in different ways, or various doublings may be made for larger ensembles. In addition, parts for I, II & III Clarinets and for F Horn are included, so that substitutions can be made for missing stringed instruments. The difficulty level is 3.

Full set includes a Conductor/Keyboard Score, transposed parts for individual instruments, and suggestions for rehearsal and performance.