The Irish have long been famed for their powerful traditional melodies, and three in this volume are surely amongst the finest. 'Danny Boy' (the melody of which is also known as 'Londonderry Air') was first published, without a title, in 1855. The words most commonly associated with it were written by an Englishman who apparently never set foot in Ireland 'The lark in the clear air' is an exquisite song celebrating the beauty of nature. The poignant words of 'The last rose of summer' match the song's mournful, drooping melody.
If you are looking for straightforward and rewarding...

Gospel music is a vibrant fusion of African folk music and European hymns. Rooted in the spiritual (the creation of African-Americans in the 19th century), the joy of gospel music has had a profound influence on 20th century 'pop' music. The Gospel Train is a medley of three best-loved gospel songs that would be perfect as a concert opener or encore. The laid-back swing of 'Go Down, Moses' is contrasted by 'Oh Happy Day ' (used in the Whoopi Goldberg film Sister Act) and concludes with the unstoppable finale 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'. The spiritual 'Standing in the Need of Prayer' is a...

A collection of four joyful songs exploring the 'lighter' side of the Christmas. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas was made famous by the 1944 film Meet Me in St. Louis, where it was sung by Judy Garland and this is complemented with O Christmas Tree, one of the most popular German traditional carols, and the original Another Christmas composed by series editor Alex L'Estrange and fellow composer Peter Gritton. A Christmas collection would not be complete without Jingle Bells, given a boisterous treatment here, although actually the song isn't about Christmas at all - it's about the...

This book and CD spans a host of jazz idioms including blues, swing, Latin, and gospel with 10 carefully composed or arranged jazz standards. This contemporary mix includes "Fly Me to the Moon," "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "C Jam Blues" and the professional, acoustic backing tracks help create a truly atmospheric performance. The book includes a second, extended version of each piece for improvisation giving ideal preparation for jazz exams, or simply for fun
The book is carefully tailored for players of intermediate level (grades 4-5) and is also available for piano, violin, flute,...