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SAB unaccompanied | 2m35 | Not too difficult/some jazzy harmonies
A three-part arrangement of the classic song, with a gently emotional touch helped by rich harmonies.
Author Archives: sara-garrard
One hundred sparrows: 30 piano moments
wide the starry sky: 30 more piano moments
Piano Solo | 30 pieces
Difficulty: intermediate, short pieces
2018
Piano for a day: 30 piano moments
Piano solo | 40 pages, 30 pieces | 2017
Difficulty: Varies, beginner-intermediate to more challenging, all short pieces.
PIANOWRIMO 2020
As if there was ever any doubt — of course I’m doing this again this year!
30 days, 30 (short piano) pieces, written and recorded. Here’s a silly trailer.
The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond
SSATB unaccompanied |Duration: 4m |Difficulty: Moderate-Advanced
Arrangement of the traditional Scottish folk song. Suitable for full choir or a quintet / small a cappella ensemble, this is a challenging arrangement that will reward with rich harmonies and interweaving lines.
A possible story being told through these lyrics (of which many variants exist) is of a soldier’s farewell – taken prisoner and sentenced to be executed, taking the “low road” home through death – to a friend or lover with whom he shared an idyllic lost youth. The verses tell of the beauty of the landscape of their childhood home and how nature keeps going, spring coming again each year, regardless of their trials and sadness.
Here’s a longer blog post about this arrangement and its much-delayed premiere after 2020-21!
[FFVII/R] midnight fireworks, full sound version
An arrangement of an arrangement! I did a piano mashup of Midnight Rendezvous x Interrupted by Fireworks back in May, and it was one of the first videos to get some views and love on my channel, as well as being a really pretty piece to play. Since then I’ve been doing a bunch of original FFVII style versions of some of the new-composed FFVII Remake tracks. This kind of combines the two. I based it closely on the arrangement I’d done on piano, but got to add more layers in, like the Main Theme, as well as the two main tracks and a bit of Aeris’ Theme.
3 Winkworth songs (oct 2020)
First recordings of three more Catherine Winkworth songs. One of these, Out of the depths, I actually tried to write last year or something but only really came up with the first line – which I have basically used in this version.
With these I haven’t modernised the lyrics or cut any verses — I made minor changes to a verse in From thy heavenly throne to make a new section.
Continue reading1 Out of the depths I cry to Thee;
Lord, hear me, I implore Thee!
Bend down Thy gracious ear to me,
Let my prayer come before Thee!
If Thou rememberest each misdeed,
If each should have its rightful meed,
Who may abide Thy presence?2 Our pardon is Thy gift; Thy love
And grace alone avail us.
Our works could ne’er our guilt remove,
The strictest life would fail us.
That none may boast himself of aught,
But own in fear Thy grace hath wrought
What in him seemeth righteous.3 And thus, my hope is in the Lord,
And not in mine own merit;
I rest upon His faithful word
To them of contrite spirit.
That He is merciful and just,–
This is my comfort and my trust,
His help I wait with patience.4 And though it tarry till the night
And round till morning waken,
My heart shall ne’er mistrust Thy might,
Nor count itself forsaken.
Do thus, O ye of Israel’s seed,
Ye of the Spirit born indeed,
Wait for your God’s appearing.5 Though great our sins and sore our woes,
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
Our utmost need it soundeth;
Our kind and faithful Shepherd He,
Who shall at last set Israel free
From all their sin and sorrow.
Swing High and Swing Low
Another little Eugene Field one just quickly. Nice easy ukulele strum.