Gruber – Silent Night (Flute & Piano) – Digital Download

This arrangement by Rebecca Faith is not what is usually expected when labelled with the familiar title Silent Night. This piece of music is more of a variation of themes, the familiar melodies remaining recognisable but treated as small pockets of atmospheric motifs rather than one long lyrical melody. The style and harmonies have a more experimental magical feel whilst remaining easy on the ear, and are created to capture the attention and imagination of the listener. All of Rebecca's Christmas Carol arrangements are fresh, exciting and uniquely crafted, and are very much for the concert platform rather than a sing-along or play-along at home with Dad playing the piano part. These beautiful arrangements require work on the part of both flautist and pianist, as with a demanding accompaniment they are very much a duo. The majority are for the advanced flautist, minimum grade 6-7 standard, as there are some complicated rhythms, flutter tonguing and technically challenging jazzy-style passages. Highly recommended and well received by audiences there is nothing else available like them, and so these challenging yet thoroughly enjoyable arrangements fill a gap in the market and are an effective and welcome addition to the repertoire, providing some festive music with a rather different flavour, away from the usual standard melody with accompaniment. The collection of 10 Christmas Carols was written for the flute and piano duo Tranquillo, who recorded them as their debut album Tranquillo Christmas in 2010, a CD that has attracted some excellent reviews and can be purchased for £10 (plus P&P) from www.tranquilloduo.com

Review: "Silent Night is the most challenging carol in Rebecca's Christmas collection. Rather than a straight play through of the melody, key rhythmic and melodic elements are used, being shared between both instruments. It is an unusual, haunting arrangement that will test a performer's sense of interpretation and musicality, and is a good piece for securing ensemble skills. A definite 'must-have' for the more advanced flute and piano duo." – Sarah Waycott & Hannah Mitchell of Tranquillo, November 2012

Review: "This beautiful carol is one definitely not to miss out when arranging Christmas carols, with its simple but idyllic soaring tune, especially working well on the flute. Rebecca has captured this well, taking the flute into the high octave and providing an obbligato-style part for the flute above the piano tune. The flute only has snippets of the melody, but it is a creative arrangement with a rather different flavour to the original carol. It passes through different keys and time signatures, with the piano part adding a rich harmonic texture and almost jazzy feel with the triplet and off-beat rhythms in places. The flute part is not too demanding, probably around the grade five level, so would suit a school Christmas concert with an accomplished pianist or a college student or professional flautist looking for a festive treat to insert into a Christmas recital. Lovely addition to the flute Christmas repertoire." – Dr. Rachel Smith DMA, MA, BMus (Hons), FTCL – November 2012

Review: "Don't you just love Christmas music? It is always wonderful to hear and play, I don't think we ever get sick of it, but sometimes it is good to have new arrangements and this is what we've got here. If you are Grade 5 standard and above, I'm sure you will enjoy exploring these excellent arrangements by Rebecca Faith. Each title is a separate edition, very well presented. The arrangements are varied in style and the piano parts not too difficult. If you have a performance coming up this Christmas, one of these will go down extremely well with the audience. They aren't just the tune with the piano accompaniment, but skilful arrangements with imaginative harmonies and key changes. Highly recommended." – Liz Goodwin on www.flutewise.com October 2013

Biography

Faith, Rebecca

Rebecca Faith was born in Aberdare, South Wales. She was brought up surrounded by music and was taught to play the piano from the age of two. Rebecca went on to study music at Cardiff University, graduating in 2007 with a BMus degree and obtaining a Masters degree in Music Composition the following year.Rebecca is now a freelance composer. Her passion is to write music that crosses the boundaries between genres and appeals to classical and non classical music lovers alike. In 2010 Rebecca was commissioned by the piano and flute duo Tranquillo to compose and arrange their debut album. The music attracted reviews from the British Flute Society and The Musicians Union. In 2012 Rebecca's music was performed at St David's Hall Cardiff as part of the Welsh BBC proms and also at the London Trafalgar Square St Martin in the Fields concert series. Rebecca also gives piano tuition and teaches music theory at Hebron Piano School. Being keen to combine both her teaching and composition skills she writes new contemporary educational piano music. She was commissioned by Alfred Music Publishing to arrange a collection of 60 national anthems in celebration of the London 2012 Olympics.