This collection will benefit all of you who have called wanting ensemble music for a unique group of instrumentation. Here are a few examples of how this music can work – the possibilities really are almost endless:
If your musical family consists of a harp player, viola player, clarinet player, flute player, guitar and accordion player – Simple Pleasures will work for you! If your church ensemble consists of 3 flutes, 1 harp, a clarinet, 2 guitars and a cello, this will work for you! If your community ensemble consists of 2 flutes, 2 violins, 4 clarinets, 1 viola, 2 Bb saxophones, a cello, a tuba, and a harp player, this music will work for you.
The “Simple Pleasures with Friends” series gives the beginning harp player or any harpist short of time fine tunes in easily accessible settings. The harp parts are technically accessible yet full-sounding. Each one-page, musically satisfying harp arrangement can be played as a solo or mixed and matched with the three treble/cello/viola parts (melody, descant, and harmony). The same arrangement is also given one step higher (useful for Bb clarinet). Guitar chords are included, as well as harp fingerings and placing brackets.
Each title has 8 handout pages. Each handout page can stand alone as a trio, or mix and match with the other 7 handouts. You are welcome to make 3 copies of each page for your ensemble players. The pages are not bound in any way, so that you can arrange them the best way for your group: 3-ring, comb binding, folders; whatever works best for you. We have provided a sample of each of the 8 handout pages from the title “Banks of Spey” The Eight Components of Each Title:
Treble original key (any melody instrument in C; stands alone as a trio or can be played with the harp [or piano])
1-Melody line
2-Descant line (harmony played generally within or higher than the melody)
3-Harmony line, played generally within or lower than the melody
Treble transposed key (one step higher or lower; suitable for Bb transposing instruments; stands alone as a trio as above)
1-Melody line
2-Descant line (harmony played generally within or higher than the melody)
3-Harmony line, played generally within or lower than the melody
Viola original key (will work only for viola clef instruments)
1-Melody line
2-Descant line (harmony played generally within or higher than the melody)
3-Harmony line, played generally within or lower than the melody
Viola transposed key (will work only for viola clef instruments)
1-Melody line
2-Descant line (harmony played generally within or higher than the melody)
3-Harmony line, played generally within or lower than the melody
Cello original key (for all bass clef instruments)
1-Melody line
2-Descant line (harmony played generally within or higher than the melody)
3-Harmony line, played generally within or lower than the melody
Cello transposed key (for all bass clef instruments and suitable for Bb transposing instruments.)
1-Melody line
2-Descant line (harmony played generally within or higher than the melody)
3-Harmony line, played generally within or lower than the melody
7-Harp solo or accompaniment in original key
8-Harp solo or accompaniment in transposed key
Volume One – Folk Tunes
The Arran Boat Song
– traditional Scottish air or waltz
The Banks of Spey
– Scottish strathspey by William Marshall
Click Go the Shears
– Australian schottische
Far Away
– waltz by Pete Jung (1985)
An Honourable Peace
– Scottish strathspey by Daniel Dow
The Kilkenny Girl
– traditional Irish jig
Lady Elizabeth Cole
– Scottish jig by Robert Mackintosh
Port Patrick
– traditional Scottish jig
Road to Lisdoonvarna
– traditional Irish jig
Sunset over Ayr
– traditional Scottish waltz
Tim the Thatcher
– traditional Irish jig
Valse pour les Petites Jeunes Filles
– traditional Belgian waltz
