Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle (Bring a Torch!)

An old, French Christmas carol, much beloved in France, and practically unknown in the English-speaking world. Possibly because the English lyrics don't seem to flow very well. The French lyrics don't, either, but the French don't seem to care. They can deal with a slightly "sprung" rhythm. I have "un-sprung" it in this version, (to make it easier to play) by adding and extra "Ah" and stretching out the word, "bell-e, and then adding another "Ah!" to make it all come out even. Non-French audiences don't seem to mind the change.

If anybody asks, I'll tab the last line in the traditional manner and add it.

I know it's too late for Christmas Carols, two days after Christmas, but it's the best I can do. Maybe it'll help next year. When you're my age, that doesn't seem so far away.

A-Soulin'

Similar to the old Peter, Paul, & Mary version of this very old, English carol, but arranged as a round for two guitars. There's a very short lyric section, which isn't at all hard to sing. The round is in two "parts", but they're almost exactly the same, except for the end of the intro and the coda, where they have to transition to unison. Meylin, my seven-year-old beginning guitar student, can play it. The hardest part is not getting "pulled off" of your part by listening to the other player.

Play at a steady pace, without variation, and it'll sound fantastic. Especially if you can do it while looking a bit bored. Mind you, no one will think it's actually easy. They'll just think you're showing off. And that you have talent worth showing off. It's actually not bad as a solo piece, too, but the duet round just blows people away.

Christmas Duet for Guitar & Violin

My own arrangement. Actually, this is a medley of the Christmas carols, "Angels We Have Heard On High," and "Joy to the World," plus the Easter song, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today." I first tried the medley as a tribute to President Hinckley's statement that without Easter, there would be no Christmas. The three songs go so well together, musically, too!

You'll want too play right through the transitions from one song into the next without hesitation. If this is hard for you, practice just the measure before and after each transition, over and over, until you can play the transition without hesitation. The second time around, the songs are not complete, just a few bars of each to remind the audience what they are hearing, ending with the joyous finale of "Let Earth receive her King!" (tum ta-TUM!)

Sounds really, REALLY good with a decent violinist. The guitar part fits around the violin melody just right. I don't have a program for writing sheet music, so you have to transpose and print out the violin part. Fortunately, that's not very hard. Instructions follow the chord charts at the end of the guitar part. Anybody know a good, CHEAP (preferably free) program for writing violin music?

Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring

The old Bach perennial. It's not necessarily a Christmas song, but it seems to get played a lot around Christmas time. This is a somewhat simplified version. Feel free to add all the flourishes you want.

I love Baroque music. In fact, I once dreamed of starting an 18th Century Cooking Club. Our motto would be, (are you ready for this?)

If it ain't Baroque...don't fix it! (AAAAAAgh!)

More new Christmas tabs

Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, & a Christmas Duet for Guitar & Violin. Also, Regocijad, the Spanish version of Joy to the World, and an easy version. More details later.

New Christmas Music

Away In A Manger
A-Soulin' (instrumental duet)
Un Flambeau (Bring A Torch)

I'll post more about each one when I have time. For now, just a reminder that they are listed in the Links.

How great it is to have my files back!