Christmas Recorder DUETS
Traditional
Christmas Carols
Arranged
for Recorders
and
Other Instruments
We
have created accompaniment parts for some public domain Christmas
melodies.
For
most of the Christmas melodies, there are two different
accompaniments, first a simpler one and then a more filled in
version. If the more complex backup overpowers the melody, the
accompaniment part should be played softer.
An
Alphabetical List of
Christmas Recorder Duets
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
For added interest, melody and accompaniment parts can be switched the second time through. Or parts within a piece after a certain number of measures or after a specific musical phrase can be switched.
If you would like a Christmas duet in another key, or more measures per system, or anything else, please email. We could send a modified Christmas Duet PDF to you in an attachment. Comments, questions, please email –
twoharps@gamil.com
We hope you will enjoy weaving sounds together.
We hope you will compose some of your own arrangements -
Paul and Brenda Neal
Below is the introduction from our ebook, Recorder DUETS, Interweaving Duets for Recorders and Other Instruments –
We read years ago that in the medieval era the first time folks heard polyphonic music, music with harmony or counter point they were so overwhelmed by the beauty that they fainted. Layered music is Divine!
Accompaniment parts for duets use bass notes, a bass line, counter melody, arpeggios, harmony, rhythmic pattern and more.
We have tried to keep the accompaniment parts simple. Melody leads the enchantment.
The note range of the recorder makes it a challenge to compose backup parts. Personally, because good smooth high notes are difficult to attain, we prefer to keep within a 17 note range on the recorder. We changed a few of these melodies in small ways to stay within a narrower range.
For some of the melodies we have added some intros, endings, and ornaments. For some melodies, we wanted to have a piece be a little longer and to add a little variety. For some melodies we strove for easier playing, for a simpler, feature the melody statement.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
We prefer Alto recorders. Alto recorders, with a lower range than Soprano recorders are, for lack of a better word, less shrill. Alto recorders are easier to finger than Tenor recorders and are more economical to buy.
Note for Alto Recorders -
From our ebook 40 Melodies, we suggested to use music written in the Key of C even for playing and Alto Recorder –
A Radical Suggestion
Pretend the Alto Recorder is in the Key of C. Why would we have the audacity to suggest this extreme departure from reality? The reason is that the musical range of the soprano and tenor recorders, being in the key of C, are notated nicely in the middle of the treble musical stave.
The Alto Recorder, on the other hand, with the lowest note on the first space of the treble clef requires reading, decoding, notes on lines above the stave. We, personally, find this more difficult to read. [Therefore, if we are playing a melody written in the Key of D, for example, we realize that it is really in the Key of G.]
This difference of key is only a problem if one is playing with other musicians playing different size recorders or different instruments. However, if one is playing by oneself or duets with another musician who is also using this bogus system, there is no problem.
An Alto thumb rest helps –
https://www.grothmusic.com/p-33088-aulos-ta1-alto-recorder-thumbrest.aspx
Authors
We are duo harpists. We have been performing since the late 1970s at community arts programs, colleges, schools, arts and crafts festivals, and club meetings. We have CDs of our music.
We were in our late 20s when we began our adventure with music. We had a collection of musical instruments – a guitar, dulcimer, key board, banjo, autoharp, wooden recordeers, etc. We despaired that we would ever be able to play any of them.
While we lived in Arizona we saw a lever harp in a music store window. We learned that a harp could be rented! No need to invest a huge amount. We called a harp teacher.
We asked are we too old? No. We can't read a note of music. Is that a problem? No. We rented a second harp and made ourselves practice a half hour a day, even if it was right before bed because we couldn't stand to practice and kept putting it off. Sometimes we felt like chopping the harps into fire wood. Finally, some notes hung together in a pleasing magical way.
Regimented practice and a great teacher accomplished a miracle.
The recorder is the first musical instrument we purchased together before we were married. We were inspired to buy one after hearing recorder in the first album we purchased together, In a Medieval Garden. Paul could play a little, Brenda, not really.
Since we learned to read music, we came full circle back to appreciate our first instrument. We enjoy playing recorders for their beautiful haunting expressiveness.
For added interest, melody and accompaniment parts can be switched the second time through. Or parts within a piece after a certain number of measures or after a specific musical phrase can be switched.
If you would like a Christmas duet in another key, or more measures per system, or anything else, please email. We could send a modified Christmas Duet PDF to you in an attachment. Comments, questions, please email –
twoharps@gamil.com
We hope you will enjoy weaving sounds together.
We hope you will compose some of your own arrangements -
Paul and Brenda Neal
Below is the introduction from our ebook, Recorder DUETS, Interweaving Duets for Recorders and Other Instruments –
We read years ago that in the medieval era the first time folks heard polyphonic music, music with harmony or counter point they were so overwhelmed by the beauty that they fainted. Layered music is Divine!
Accompaniment parts for duets use bass notes, a bass line, counter melody, arpeggios, harmony, rhythmic pattern and more.
We have tried to keep the accompaniment parts simple. Melody leads the enchantment.
The note range of the recorder makes it a challenge to compose backup parts. Personally, because good smooth high notes are difficult to attain, we prefer to keep within a 17 note range on the recorder. We changed a few of these melodies in small ways to stay within a narrower range.
For some of the melodies we have added some intros, endings, and ornaments. For some melodies, we wanted to have a piece be a little longer and to add a little variety. For some melodies we strove for easier playing, for a simpler, feature the melody statement.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
We prefer Alto recorders. Alto recorders, with a lower range than Soprano recorders are, for lack of a better word, less shrill. Alto recorders are easier to finger than Tenor recorders and are more economical to buy.
Note for Alto Recorders -
From our ebook 40 Melodies, we suggested to use music written in the Key of C even for playing and Alto Recorder –
A Radical Suggestion
Pretend the Alto Recorder is in the Key of C. Why would we have the audacity to suggest this extreme departure from reality? The reason is that the musical range of the soprano and tenor recorders, being in the key of C, are notated nicely in the middle of the treble musical stave.
The Alto Recorder, on the other hand, with the lowest note on the first space of the treble clef requires reading, decoding, notes on lines above the stave. We, personally, find this more difficult to read. [Therefore, if we are playing a melody written in the Key of D, for example, we realize that it is really in the Key of G.]
This difference of key is only a problem if one is playing with other musicians playing different size recorders or different instruments. However, if one is playing by oneself or duets with another musician who is also using this bogus system, there is no problem.
An Alto thumb rest helps –
https://www.grothmusic.com/p-33088-aulos-ta1-alto-recorder-thumbrest.aspx
Authors
We are duo harpists. We have been performing since the late 1970s at community arts programs, colleges, schools, arts and crafts festivals, and club meetings. We have CDs of our music.
We were in our late 20s when we began our adventure with music. We had a collection of musical instruments – a guitar, dulcimer, key board, banjo, autoharp, wooden recordeers, etc. We despaired that we would ever be able to play any of them.
While we lived in Arizona we saw a lever harp in a music store window. We learned that a harp could be rented! No need to invest a huge amount. We called a harp teacher.
We asked are we too old? No. We can't read a note of music. Is that a problem? No. We rented a second harp and made ourselves practice a half hour a day, even if it was right before bed because we couldn't stand to practice and kept putting it off. Sometimes we felt like chopping the harps into fire wood. Finally, some notes hung together in a pleasing magical way.
Regimented practice and a great teacher accomplished a miracle.
The recorder is the first musical instrument we purchased together before we were married. We were inspired to buy one after hearing recorder in the first album we purchased together, In a Medieval Garden. Paul could play a little, Brenda, not really.
Since we learned to read music, we came full circle back to appreciate our first instrument. We enjoy playing recorders for their beautiful haunting expressiveness.
No comments:
Post a Comment