Danish Chrtistmas Carols - free download


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Posted by K on October 29, 2003 at 18:25:49:

At

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YorkMasterBBb2/files/Danish%20Christmas%20Carols/

you will find sets of playing scores for 2 Danish Christmas Carols.

The project will be best represented by its preface:

Danish Christmas Carols

Sets of 5 playing scores presenting, as far as possible, the original settings of the respective composers.
Edited by Klaus Bjerre (2003)

Christmas time has recurring calls for diverse seasonal music material for diverse instrumental constellations, so this project started out with a wish to present Christmas carols from my own country in a version for tuba and trombone quartets/ensembles. That would set a limit for the highest note used. The choice most relevant occurred to be c”. A note that also is very relevant as the limit in plainsong. Some will find the chosen range high for the lead euphonium and trombone, but for serious players and students this just is everyday fare.

You will find indications of tempo, legatos, and phrase lengths, but nothing further. Declamatory performances built on vocal choir practises will lead to good results.

While preparing scores for Bb and Eb brasses, also playable by clarinets and saxophones, it became clear, that the chosen range also was perfect for horn quartets, which will enjoy the high G as a nice limit for the 1st horn. The upper parts also can be played by Bb trumpets and soprano Bb clarinets. Making these settings relevant for brass quartets/quintets and clarinet choirs.

You will find playing scores for bass clef low brasses, Bb and Eb treble clef lower and higher brasses, and for horns in F.

The single staffs are designated with their musical functions and with their transpositions rather than with instrument names.

You will find music allowing the SATB lines to be played by these instruments:

Soprano: Bb trumpets (cornets, flugelhorns), horns in F and Eb, bass clef and treble clefs trombones (baritones, euphoniums, bassoons), clarinets (soprano, alto, bass), and saxophones (soprano, alto, tenor)

Alto: Bb trumpets (cornets, flugelhorns), horns in F and Eb, bass clef and treble clefs trombones (baritones, euphoniums, bassoons), clarinets (soprano, alto, bass), and saxophones (alto, tenor)

Tenor: horns in F and Eb, bass clef and treble clefs trombones (baritones, euphoniums, bass tubas, bassoons), clarinets (soprano, alto, bass), and saxophones (tenor, baritone). Some cue notes entered for soprano clarinet, where the range goes too low.

Bass: horns in F (treble and bass clefs), bass clef and treble clefs trombones (euphoniums, bass tubas, contrabass tubas, bassoons), clarinets (bass, contralto, contrabass) and saxophones (baritone; the bass saxophone will need a few octave transpositions). Two of the scores have lines for basses as well as contrabass lines. This is no indication, that the overall balance should be bass heavy. The distribution on the bass and contrabass lines should strive to accommodate the range and the instruments of the actual players. Both lines are equally relevant. Any of them can be omitted, if the other one is adequately represented.

This editor does not like cadential leading notes to be resolved to the fifth of the tonic. In quartet performances the player should play the large note, the tonic. In ensemble performances some players should play the smaller cue note, the fifth.

If the contrabass line descends beyond low E natural, cue notes are provided for the best octave transpositions.

You will note, that “the old teacher” despite the lack of dynamics and articulations still points a few of his favourite fingers:

All parts/instruments where relevant come in bass as well as treble clef notations. Take the chance to expand your reading skills.

The treatment of leading notes.

Providing modular material for “impossible” mixed constellations. As long as an overall good balance is kept, any combination of instruments finding a relevant part can lead to musically valid performances.


The project starts out with two fine samples from the romantic era. No prognoses can be given on the rate and speed of additions, but hopefully we will all experience Christmases beyond the one of 2003. Additions will be placed in the same folders as the two first carols.

This edition can be used free of charge, but reports on readings and performances would be nice.


My download homepage has a link for the index of all my uploaded music files. You can download them for free when I have received your reply to my "Welcome"-mail. Players already approved of course have direct access.

Klaus Bjerre of Denmark
Retired teacher

Free music files in .pdf format:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YorkMasterBBb/
(Approved membership required)

Index over brass instruments gallery and catalogue scans:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YorkMasterPublicPhotosIII/files/
(Membership is open for all)



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