The Friendly Beasts

“The Friendly Beasts” is a traditional Christmas song about the gifts that a donkey, cow, sheep, camel, and dove give to Jesus at the Nativity. The song seems to have originated in 12th-century France.

I have given the carol a guitar instrumental setting in the style of the early 1960s.

 

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Silent Night

“Silent Night” is probably the single most popular Christmas carol ever. The song has been recorded by a huge number of artists from every possible music genre. The 1935 version sung by Bing Crosby is the third best-selling single of all-time.

The story of the carol is pretty well-known:

The song was first performed on Christmas Eve 1818 at St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf,  Austria. A young priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had written the lyrics of the song “Stille Nacht” in 1816. Before Christmas Eve, Mohr brought the words to Franz Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for the Christmas Eve mass, as the church’s organ was not functioning.

My instrumental arrangement is in the style of the Shadows.

Silent Night

This is my first new arrangement of the 2017 holiday season. The Allman Brothers Band never made a Christmas album. Here is an arrangement of “Silent Night” in Southern Rock style.

Nut Rocker

“Nut Rocker” was an instrumental rock single recorded by  B. Bumble and the Stingers that reached number 23 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in March 1962.  It is based on of Tchaikovsky’s “March of the Toy Soldiers”, from his ballet The Nutcracker.

The first version released was by pianist H. B. Barnum, released by “Jack B. Nimble and the Quicks” on the small Del Rio label.

It was also performed live and recorded by prog-rockers Emerson, Lake & Palmer, whose single was also released in 1972. In 2009, Trans-Siberian Orchestra released a version of “Nut Rocker”, featuring Greg Lake, on their album Night Castle.

Both the Ventures and the Shadows also recorded versions.

My arrangement is based on the original 1962 versions.

 

Hava Nagila

“Hava Nagila” (“Let us rejoice”) is an Israeli folk song traditionally sung at Jewish celebrations. While not specifically a Hanukkah song, it is frequently heard at Hanukkah celebrations.

This is an instrumental, surf-rock arrangement that seems to suit the song very well.

Rock of Ages

“Rock of Ages” (“Ma’oz Tzur”) is a Jewish liturgical poem. It is written in Hebrew, and is usually sung on the holiday of Hanukkah, after lighting the festival lights. Its six stanzas correspond to five events of Jewish history and a hope for the future. Of its six stanzas, often only the first stanza is sung (or the first and fifth), as this is what directly pertains to Hanukkah. “Ma’oz Tzur” was written sometime in the 13th century.

I have given it a instrumental setting in the style of the Shadows.

Mi Y’malel

“Mi Y’malel” (“Who can retell?”) is a popular Hanukkah song. The opening line, which literally means “Who can retell the mighty feats of Israel,” is a secular rewording of Psalms 106:2, which reads “Who can retell the mighty feats of God.”

I have given it a surf-rock instrumental setting with a prominent baritone guitar.