I. Arrangements for String Quartet

CLASSICAL:

• Tomaso Albinoni  (1671 - 1750)

  • Adagio in g minor  -  Mp3  /  video

• J. S. Bach  (1685 - 1750)

  • Aria “Bist Du Bei Mir” (Art Thou Near Me), (w/ optional organ)  -  Mp3
    (this adaptation was recently performed in October 2005 by the Moscow Soloists w/ Juri Bashmet in Tokyo, Japan)
    Arioso  from Keyboard Concerto in F-Minor, BWV 1056  -  Mp3
    Concerto for Two Violins in d minor, I. Allegro
    Concerto for Two Violins in d minor, II. Largo ma non tanto (w/opt. organ) - Mp3     
    Concerto for Two Violins in d minor, III. Allegro
    Siciliano from Flute Sonata No. 2, BWV 1031  -  Mp3     
    Choral “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme", from Cantata No. 140
    “Air” from Orchestral Suite No. 3  -  Mp3
    Adagio from Oboe Concerto in d minor by A. Marcello, BWV 974
    Bach's keyboard transcription (BWV 974) of Alessandro Marcello's Oboe concerto in d-minor is the basis for this arrangement. The piece was first thought to be by Vivaldi, then, until the mid 1960s, by Benedetto Marcello (Alessandro's younger brother). 
    recorded live at Highland Park United Methodist Church, Dallas, December 2005  -  Mp3
    Goldberg Variations - Variation I  new  -  Mp3
    Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ  new
    Adaptation of the Chorale Prelude No. 41 from the “Orgelbüchlein” BWV 639
    This piece, originally in f minor, was featured in Andrei Tarkovsky's film "Solyaris" (1972)

• Ludwig van Beethoven  (1770 - 1827)

  • String Quartet op. 130  -  Cavatina  -  Mp3
    String Quartet op. 18. No. 1  -  Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato  -  Mp3
    Obviously not arrangements, but useful to have as a single movements, since they get requested often, especially funerals.

• Johannes Brahms  (1833 - 1897)

  • Waltz No. 15 in A Major (originally Ab Major)

• Marc Antoine Charpentier  (1645 - 1704)

  • Prelude to “Te Deum” 

• Arcangelo Corelli  (1653 - 1713)

  • 12 Concerti Grossi op. 6
    Source: Eulenburg New Urtext Score
    First published in Amsterdam in 1714
    Op. 6, No. 1 in D Major   new
    Op. 6, No. 2 in F Major   new
    Op. 6, No. 4 in D Major  -  Mp3
    Op. 6, No. 8 in G Minor
    fatto per la notte di Natale, “Christmas Concerto”
    Op. 6, No. 9 in F Major  

• Léo Delibes  (1836 - 1891)

  • Flower Duet from “Lakmé”

• Antonín Dvořák  (1841 - 1904)

  • “Lento” from string quartet in F Major (“American”)  new
    Composed in Spillville, Iowa, in the summer of 1893, arguably one of the most famous and well known string quartets. Often requested for funerals, cellists will be interested in having an edition that doesn't require mental acrobatics transposing the treble clef an octave down. 
    For an in depth story on Dvorak in Iowa check out this link: http://www.spillvilleiowa.com/dvorak/dvorak.html 
      PDF sample page of Violoncello part

• Gabriel Fauré  (1845 - 1924)

  • Pavane, op. 50 (abridged)  -  Mp3

• Cèsar Franck  (1822 - 1890)

  • Panis Angelicus  -  Mp3

• Charles Gounod  (1818 - 1893)

  • Ave Maria  -  new  -  Mp3
    In the key of F, singers seem to like it there. We have it in other keys as well, if you need to.
    Ave Verum  -  new
    originally for choir w/ opt. organ

• G. F. Handel  (1685 - 1759)

  • 6 Concerti Grossi op. 3
    Source: Deutsche Handelgesellschaft edition, Leipzig, published 1865
    originally published 1734
    op. 3, No. 1 in Bb Major/G minor,  complete
    op. 3, No. 2 in Bb Major, Allegro (3rd movement)
    op. 3, No. 3 in G Major,  complete
    op. 3, No. 4 in F Major,  complete
    op. 3, No. 5 in D Minor,  complete
    op. 3, No. 6 in D Major, Vivace (1st movement),  an unusual concerto grosso, there are only two movements, and the second one is actually a little organ concerto.
    
    Water Music  (ca. 1717)
    Source: Deutsche Handelgesellschaft Edition, Leipzig, published 1886
    “Air”

  • Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

• Joseph Haydn  (1732 - 1809)

  • St. Anthony Chorale (Brahms used this theme for his Haydn Variations)  -  Mp3
    String Quartet op. 1 No. 1  -  Adagio
    Haydn at his sunniest.
    The Seven Last Words of our Saviour on the Cross, Op. 51 (Hob. III:50-56)
    not an arrangement, but a complete re-working of the string quartet adaptation, based on the Baerenreiter Urtext score of the original orchestral version. 
    Samples of a live performance (Peters standard Edition) at Prince of Peace Catholic Community Church, Plano, Texas, are available here.
    The Seven Last Words of our Saviour on the Cross, for QUINTET  new
    Completely new adaptation for string quintet (2 violins, viola, violoncello, bass)
    Samples of a live performance at Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe, Dallas, Texas, are available here.

• Alessandro Marcello  (1669 - 1747)

  • Adagio from Oboe Concerto in d minor (w/ optional organ)
    This arrangement is based on Marcello's original score (all voicings are preserved as much as possible), the solo part is Bach's ornamentation/improvisation. The texture is considerably lighter as compared to Bach's transcription.
    The organ part is optional, (Marcello's score employs the continuo only in 11 bars), and it will change the mood of the piece quite a bit.

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  (1756 - 1791)

  • Ave Maria, KV 554  
    Mozart was apparently quite obsessed with canons.  Originally for four voices, dating from around 1788, it uses only the first two words of the sacred text in a 24-bar theme.
    Ave verum corpus, KV 618  new  -  Mp3
    Originally scored for choir, stringed instruments, and organ, Mozart composed this motet while in the middle of writing his opera “Die Zauberflöte”, and while visiting his wife Constanze, who was pregnant with their sixth child and staying in a spa near Baden, outside Vienna. It was less than six months before his death. The manuscript itself contains minimal directions, with only a single sotto voce at the beginning.
    Laudate Dominum, from Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, KV 339
    Adapted for soprano and string quartet with the soprano also covering the choir section.
    No. 21 Duettino Sull’ aria
    from the opera “Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)”, adapted for string quartet and voices. Featured in the film “The Shawshank Redemption”.

• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina  (ca. 1525-1594)

  • Ave Maria  new  -  Mp3

• J. B. Pergolesi  (1710 - 1736)

  • Nina  (Tre giorni son che Nina)  -  Mp3

• Josquin des Prez  (c. 1450 to 1455 – 1521)

  • Ave Maria  new

• Erik Satie  (1866 - 1925)

  • Gymnopedie No. 1

• Franz Schubert  (1797 - 1828)

  • Ave Maria (for use with a vocalist)
    Serenade (Ständchen), No. 4 from “Schwanengesang”  new

• Johann Strauss, Jr.  (1825 - 1899)

  • Voices of Spring  (Frühlingsstimmen)  new
    can be played as a quartet, but, for best results, bass is the way to go.

• Giuseppe Verdi  (1813 - 1901)

  • Ave Maria  new  -  Mp3
    from “Quattro pezzi sacri”, originally for SATB choir

• Heitor Villa-Lobos  (1887 - 1959)

  • Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5

• Antonio Vivaldi  (1678-1741)

  • “The Four Seasons” (Op. 8, No. 1 - 4)
    Complete, original keys, with only one small cut in the first movement of “Spring” (available as  individual movements or concertos, and also complete as a bound set). 
    Spring: La Primavera  (RV 269)       PDF sample pages of violin I part
    I. Allegro  
    II. Largo
    III. Allegro, Danza pastorale
    Summer: L’Estate  (RV 315)
    I. Allegro non molto
    II. Adagio
    III. Presto
    Autumn: L’Autunno  (RV 293)
    I. Allegro
    II. Adagio molto
    III. Allegro
    Winter: L’Inverno  (RV 297)
    I. Allegro non molto
    II. Largo
    III. Allegro

    L’Estro Armonico, Op. 3
    Concerto Grosso No. 8 in A-Minor   new

    “Largo”   new
    2nd movement from Guitar Concerto in D, RV 93

POPULAR:   

(Please note: the arrangements in this section are not for sale)

As Time Goes By   
(from “Casablanca”)
Moon River  
(from “Breakfast at Tiffany‘s”)
You Raise Me Up   
(as sung by Josh Groban, for vocal, piano and string quartet)
You Raise Me Up   
(instrumental version for string quartet)
The Windmills of Your Mind   
(from “The Thomas Crown Affair”)
one of the best Michel Legrand tunes. The vocal inflection in the melody is important, otherwise you will have an etude. Obviously, the midi playback is hideous in this regard!
I Will Wait for You   
(main theme from “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg”)
another one of the great Michel Legrand tunes. If you haven’t seen this film, rent it. If you can get through about 20 minutes of it - the dialogue is sung - you'll be hooked. 
Libertango   
(great Astor Piazzolla Tango, Grace Jones covered it in a very cool way) 
Palladio   
(otherwise known as “Diamonds are forever”)
Con te partiro, Time to Say Goodbye   
(as sung by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman)
The Shining
(from Damon Gough’s “Badly Drawn Boy”)
Theme from “Fawlty Towers” 
Theme from “Black Adder” 
Theme from “The Vicar of Dibley”  
(The Lord is my Shepherd, Psalm 23)
Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus   
(from Michael W. Smith’s live album, “Worship”, for voice, piano and string quartet)
recorded live at Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, November 2005  -  Mp3
Love Theme from “Cinema Paradiso”   new
Untitled #3   new
from the Sigur Rós album (), shortened for a bridal processional

HYMNS:

Pescador de Hombres by Cesareo Gabarain
recorded live at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Dallas, October 2005  -  Mp3

II. Arrangements for Chamber Orchestra
   

J. S. Bach  (1685 - 1750)
Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ
Adaptation of the Chorale Prelude No. 41 from the “Orgelbüchlein” BWV 639
This piece, originally in f minor, was featured in Andrei Tarkovsky's film "Solyaris" (1972)

Aria “Erbarme Dich”
No. 39 from St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
for 2 solo violins and strings

Aria. Duetto “Wir eilen mit schwachen”
from Cantata No. 78, Jesu, der du meine Seele, composed 1724
originally a duet for soprano and alto, with cello, organ and bass

J. B. Pergolesi  (1710 - 1736)
Andantino “Se tu m’ami, se sospiri
("If you love me, if you sigh")
Attributed to Pergolesi, probably by Alessandro Parisotti (1853 - 1913)

Erik Satie  (1866 - 1925)
Gymnopedie No. 1
for strings and harp

Johann Strauss, Jr.  (1825 - 1899)
Voices of Spring  (Frühlingsstimmen)
adaptation for string orchestra

III. Arrangements for Violin and Keyboard Instrument

Tomaso Albinoni  (1671 - 1750)
Adagio in g minor, for violin and organ
recorded live at St. Michael and All Angels, Dallas, Texas  -  Mp3
Vesselin Demirev - violin,  Michael Shake, organ

J. B. Pergolesi  (1710 - 1736)
Nina  (Tre giorni son che Nina), for violin and harpsichord or piano
recorded live at St. Michael and All Angels, Dallas, Texas  -  Mp3
Vesselin Demirev - violin,  Michael Shake, organ

IV. Arrangements for Solo Instrument and Harp

J. B. Pergolesi  (1710 - 1736)
Nina  (Tre giorni son che Nina), for flute or violin and harp

V. Arrangements for Woodwind Ensembles

Léo Delibes  (1836 - 1891)
Flower Duet from “Lakmé”, for oboe, English Horn and bassoon  -  Mp3

Notes on the material, in no particular order: 

In the last 15 or so years, I have accumulated a rather large pile of arrangements and transcriptions (pencil and paper in those days) and are slowly transferring them to a digital medium. So, please check back often, as this page is continuously being updated.

My approach to arranging is to leave the original as intact as possible, providing a score that is clean without editor markings, bowings, fingerings etc. (I normally work from Urtext Editions, wherever possible). 

Some of the quartet arrangements have an optional organ part, the most likely continuo instrument for a wedding ceremony, for those of us that like to perform with a (friendly) organist (most of these were written for Colin Howland at Park Cities Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Texas).

Recordings (usually live, but occasionally from sampler output)) of these pieces in Mp3 format are being added as they become available. 

Some frequently asked questions answered:

I try to reply to e-mail as quickly as possible, but, it is getting more difficult. The sheer number of daily inquiries (and they are from all over the world, not surprisingly) has increased substantially over the last few years, and I find myself answering the most pressing ones first. (I know that's not fair, but human nature has a way of winning out). I will get around to answering eventually. If you are in the U.S., please call, I am an old-fashioned guy, and the phone gets me moving quicker, it seems. (this also makes the process of finding out what something will be used for, and what modifications need to be made, much easier, at least for me).

PDF files is by far the most commonly used method of sending the music. 8.5x11 for the US and A4 for Europe, Australia, etc., or other sizes, are of course taken into consideration. Some music will require actual printing and shipping, but those occasions are relatively rare.

As far as payment goes, PayPal (widely used on Ebay, whereby you can send money to just about anybody in the world with an e-mail address, using credit/debit cards, bank transfers, etc.) seems to be working for most people, with a few personal checks, now and then. (PayPal now let's me send invoices as well, which makes the whole process very easy on your end.)

An automated system for ordering from the site would seem like a good idea, but, so far, I have found that the overwhelming majority of inquiries require some sort of customization (change of instrumentation, key, etc.), which has prevented me from such a scheme so far. 

Prices: depends very much on the selection, but ranges typically from $10 - $15 for most of the shorter pieces.

For multiple orders I will apply a "healthy" discount, also. There is no predetermined formula, I make it up on the spot. (10 - 30% typically, depending on the number of pieces).