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For the third Sunday in Advent, I decided to post one of my favorite Advent hymns; "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus". Actually, I'm not posting the song, only one of the tunes that I know this hymn can be sung to, which is 'Hyfrodol'. This arrangement is for flute, oboe, guitar, piano and bass. It took me over a year to write, because I had a difficult time getting everything just right. I took a few months to let it sit, and work with it some more, and I'm quite satisfied with this particular arrangement. This was written in 2006, and has been posted elsewhere, and I noted that it has been linked to by a church website and a Catholic devotional site, so I decided to share it here, too. The album art is a picture of the big window in our church. Enjoy the holidays!
Lyrics:
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free. From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the world thou art.
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
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PowerBook G4Software:
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Feter
What sweet and gorgeous arrangment ..loved the feel here with the wonderous
ensemble ..so delicate and spiritual with all the flow feelings ...just awesome
thnx alot for sharin !!!!
kristyjo
You're always here first! Maybe I should give out a prize! Anyway, thank you for your listening ear and your supportive comments.
paul f. page
...is also one of my favorites, too. You have done such a beautiful job with it: delicate arrangement of flute and oboe with really restrained piano and bass. The dialogue sections are delightful and you have added beautiful rhythmic touches in the keyboard in the last section. Like I've said before, your assembly is awfully lucky to have you as its resident composer.
Peace.
Paul
kristyjo
Thanks for listening. I've been incredibly busy with school and church concerts this past week. Now, only organ playing on Christmas Eve, which I really enjoy!Merry Christmas!
Henke
The music that is, we have some other text in Swedish, of course. You've done it great justice here, enjoyed the listen and hope to enjoy the holidays too! Only four work days left now!
Stay well!
/Henke
kristyjo
I love how the best tunes are used in so many traditions and languages! It is one of the strong points of hymnody that I fear is slowly falling away. Enjoy your vacation from work, and Merry Christmas!
Moviz
no post, but this is worth the wait. Wonderful combination of instruments and musicianship and a lovely arrangement; very seasonal, regards M
kristyjo
I'm so glad you enjoyed it. The best of the season to you!
Roxylee
I always liked this tune, but didn't know what it was called. You did a wonderful job arranging this, Kristy. Every note is placed so perfectly and sweetly. I'm glad you had time to give us such a special Christmas gift. :-)
kristyjo
But it isn't the dark, brooding kind. (Which I also like, but in a different way.) Thanks for listening, and I'm glad you liked this arrangement.
Rocha Malhada
arrangement, and the instrumentation is very nice, a job well done. Sometimes you have to let the pot of stew boil for a while before you add or adjust the spices to make make it taste just right...
. - Harold
kristyjo
Letting the pot stew often leads to some better ideas. I'm glad I waited to finish this up. Sometimes patience is an important part of the process.
davisamerica
i have become such a fan of yours .... this is wonderful
davisamerica
one of my favorite Christmas tunes .... Thank You !
VicDiesel
Sweet melodies, and a gentle arrangement.
However..... Your guitar part sounds very piano-ish. Surprise, you're probably playing it on a keyboard -- or are you pencilling it in? Anyway, that syncopated chord stuff is just not idiomatic for guitar, and it sounds quite unreal. Also unnecessary because you seem to be doubling the guitar with the piano quite a bit.
kristyjo
I majored on classical guitar in college. Although this is a software version, it is playable on guitar. I'm puzzled, though, by what you're hearing. The first half is single line guitar counter-melody. Then, at the key change, I switch to strummed chords, and then go back to counter melody for the coda - The syncopated melody is completely played by the piano voice, because, as you say, it fits that voice better idiomatically. Perhaps more separation between the voices would make that more distinct, or perhaps a different piano voice? The guitar voice is my own twiddle with the jampack classical guitar voice, (In real life, I have a slightly brittle tone with a 'thumpy' attack, not as dulcet as I'd like, but it helps me get an idea of what an arrangement will really sound like when it's played.)
I have an alternative arrangement of this tune for clarinet, bassoon and guitar, which our family trio plays. On that version, my thumb gets a workout, because I use the bassline as the rhythmic pulse, and occasionally play the whole chord using pima freestroke using the same syncopated motive you noted here.
Thanks for the close listening, and the comments. Hearing other people's perceptions of my music is the only way I can improve on my writing. Some day, I may play real, live classical guitar and record it, but that will be after a few hundreds of hours of practice - only retirement & kids moving out will give me that:)
VicDiesel
Ok, I've listened to it again, and I have misinterpreted what I heard. You're right, the first half is indeed single line on the guitar. Somehow those staccato chords come out sounding like part of the guitar line. Not sure why I have that feeling. Maybe their attacks are too precise, coming exactly on the beat? Have you pencilled this, or did you quantize parts?
It's really a charming piece, and you do a great job on the polyphony between the different parts.
Andronis
I'm behind the times now posting after Advent, Christmas, and even Epiphany, but I wanted to catch up on your music and this one caught my attention since I was in charge of planning an Advent Lessons and Carols service at church this year. I only wished I'd checked MacJams during Advent, because this would've been wonderful to use at the service. :)