These arrangements of favorite Christmas carols are sure to brighten up your next Christmas event. They include full four-part instrumental scores plus parts for 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola and cello/double bass. Most of the carols can be played in first position, but for a brighter sound, ask your more experienced violinists to play an octave higher. The double bass is optional because it uses the cello part. The arrangements can be used with string quartet, string quintet or string ensemble. There?s also an optional but useful simplified keyboard part intended for less experienced keyboard players. It could be used as the basis of an accompaniment which means that you can use the arrangements as solos, duets or trios.


Please note that because the arrangements are in string-friendly keys, they?re not compatible with the brass and wind collections of the same name. The scores and all the parts are contained in a single 79-page PDF file. This collection includes the following favorite carols: Angels We Have Heard On High (Gloria); Lo, How a Rose E?er Blooming (Es ist ein Ros entsprungen); O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel); The First Noel; Ding Dong! Merrily on High (Bransle de l?Officiel); O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis); Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn); Go Tell It on the Mountain; O Little Town of Bethlehem (St. Louis); O Holy Night (Cantique de Noël); Silent Night (Stille Nacht); Away in a Manger (Mueller); Joy to the World (Antioch); O Christmas Tree (Tannenbaum); We Three Kings (Kings of Orient); I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Waltham); What Child is This? (Greensleeves); God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen; Good King Wenceslas (Tempus Adest Floridum) and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

Holiday Classics for String Quartet is the prequel to the more advanced, "Christmas Traditions" volumes 1 and 2 by the same arranger (Latham Music). This collection of 9 holiday favorites is a level 2-2.5, or medium easy. It is accessible for students (can be played in first position with extensions), but has a more advanced harmonic structure with counter melodies/rhythms to challenge students, while at the same time keeping it interesting for the more advanced players. This collection also makes a good addition to the holiday gig collection. For 2 violins, viola, and cello. Titles include: Deck the Halls, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful), Silent Night, Up on the House Top, Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace), We Three Kings, Jingle Bells, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Set of parts. 38 pages. CNR Publishing.