Some merry arrangements!
Over the last few weeks my Christmas arrangements have been popping up all over the place. The concert I'm most looking forward to is...
AUCKLAND SYMPHONY CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Tonight the Auckland Symphony Orchestra give their hugely popular and FREE Christmas concert at the Auckland Town Hall. The 90-strong orchestra team up with the Choir from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, along with combined Auckland church choirs, in this annual Christmas Celebration.
Each year I orchestrate a selection of the stunning choral arrangements by Niu Syddall and they also include some of my own arrangements.
This year they are:
"Don't Save It All For Christmas Day"
"Hark the Herald"
"Silent Night"
"The First Noel"
"Who Would Imagine A King?"
The orchestra is also performing my arrangement of Snoopy's Christmas in their Sunday concert in Milford.
Last night's dress rehearsal sounding mightily impressive so get there if you can. Click here to find all of the details, be early, it fills up fast.
AUCKLAND PHILHARMONIA APO4KIDS XMAS
It was great to see my arrangements of "Little Drummer Boy", "Snoopy's Christmas" and my new "Frosty the Snowman" for solo bass trombone and orchestra got outings at the hugely popular APO4Kids Xmas concerts recently. They performed them at Massey High School on the 24th November and two concerts at the Auckland Town Hall on the 30th.
"Frosty" seemed a particular favourite, thanks to Tim Sutton on bass trombone for his superb efforts, and to my good friend, conductor David Kay.
ARRANGEMENTS TO SWEDEN AND THE UK
This year I shipped a number of Christmas arrangements off around the world. By shipped, of course, I mean whizzing PDF through cyberspace. They were to Stockholm in Sweden:
"Joy to the World"
"Drummer Boy"
"When You Wish Upon a Star" (I agree, not entirely Christmas)
And to the UK:
"All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth"
"Lullaby for Christmas Eve"
"When You Wish Upon A Star"
CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR SOLO VIOLIN
Each year my violin students get a book of Christmas Carols to play leading up to Christmas. There are thirteen in total, they are easy, bowed and jolly good fun, so feel free to download the PDF below. If you want them for another instrument, let me know and I'm sure my arm could be twisted.
Download it here and have a very Merry Christmas!
