Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Some interesting new posts.

June Lee - Acappella Christmas Medley (2014)

 Brilliant arrangements of popular of Christmas songs. 

With creative reharmonization and perfect voicings.

 June Lee - Transcription of 
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
by Jacob Collier and Tori Kelly
A very complex transcription. 
With microtonal harmony.
An incredibly challenging and near-impossible feat. 
Brilliant work! 

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas!

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (2)

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (2)
 See earlier post here.

Latest addition:

Highlight
 
Jacob Collier and Tori Kelly - Multitrack Acappella (2017) 
At last!
The perfect acappella version.
With superjacobian reharmonization.
'nuff said.

June Lee - Live Transcription of the above (2017)
A very unique clip - live transcription of the very complex harmonies of Jacob C!
By the very talented June L.

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

Popular Christmas Carol.

Melody by Felix Mendelssohn.

Lyrics by Charles Wesley (1739).

Adapted by George Whitefield (1758).

Adapted to a melody of Mendelssohn's by John Cummings (1855).

Charming melody. 

Many opportunities for reharmonization.

Wiki link here.

HIGHLIGHT

Take 6 - Acappella
The right balance, tempo and texture.
With creative trademark reharmonization.
Perfect.

The Blenders - Acappella (2011)
Excellent live performance.
Some creative reharmonization.

St Paul's Cathedral Christmas Concert (1997)
Grand traditional setting. 

Pentatonix - Acappella (2011)

Traditional opening with rhythmic contemporary makeover second time round.

Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing

Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing

1973 Single by Stevie Wonder
Catchy tune and Latin beat, with motivational lyrics.

Interesting modulation trajectory.

Highlight

Jacob Collier - Multitrack (2013)

Arranged and reharmonized by superhuman Jacob Collier.

Mind-blowing reharmonization, acappellization and instrumentation.

ORIGINAL
Stevie Wonder (1973)
From his 1973 album Innvervisions.






Incognito (1992)
Steady beat.






Arrangment by Paul Murtha - Jazz Band (2017)
Published by Hal Leonard 
Interesting treatment.
With running score.






Highlight 2
Jacob Collier (Live) (2017)
Live at Lincoln Hall in Chicago.
Jacob Collier performs multitrack live with himself!

Wave

Wave

A bossa nova song from the album by the same name.

Composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Catchy melody, upbeat tempo, and interesting modulations.

A favourite candidate for jazz improvisation. 

 Wiki entry here.

ORIGINAL
Antonio Carlos Jobim (1967)
Tasteful and elegant.
Classic Jobim.

VOCALS AND GUITAR

Marina Maiztegui (Vocals) and Eduardo Mercuri (Guitar) (2015)

LARGE GROUP ACAPELLLA

Perpetuum Jazzile (2010)
Live at Vokal Xtravaganzza 2010 concert in Ljubljana, Slovenia

HIGHLIGHT

Antonio Carlos Jobim and Herbie Hancock (1993)

At a Jobim Tribute concert. 

Brilliant improvisation by Hancock.

(The above, with running score)

Herbie Hancock's solo

Transcribed by Aaron Lehrian (2017)

Great job!

Tritsch-Tratsch Polka

Tritsch-Tratsch Polka

A lively polka by Johann Strauss II.

Written in 1858.

Wikipedia entry here.

[Symphony Orchestra]

Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela (2016)

Conducted by Gustavo Dudamel

[Orchestra and Choir]

Vienna Philhamonic and Vienna Boys Choir (2012) 

New Year Concert 2012 in Vienna

Conducted by Mariss Jansons

HIGHLIGHT 1
 

[Solo Piano]
Paraphrase by Cziffra
A supervirtuoso arrangement!

Performed by Yuja Wang (2010)
At the Verbier Festival 2010

Energetic and exhilarating.
Breathtaking technique, at breakneck speed.
Perfectly executed!

Paraphrase for Solo Piano by Cziffra
Running Score by tomekkobialka

HIGHLIGHT 2
 

[Piano Duet (Four Hands)]

Arranged and Performed by Scott Brothers Duo (Jonathan and Tom Scott)

Lively arrangement and tight performance. 
Very nice texturing with twinkly bits keeping up the momentum of the piece.
 Captures the mood of the polka perfectly.

Minute Waltz

Minute Waltz

Probably the most popular and well-known
of all piano waltzes by Frederic Chopin.

Technically known as Waltz in D-flat major Op 64 No 1.
Some interesting paraphrases. 

Wiki link here.