Guitar Trios
Listen to York Guitar Quartet performing on their album On The Overgrown Path.
Composer
Title
Code
Anon.
Mango Walk - Jamaica Rumba here performed by Magnificat - with fine drumming!
Also by
RIMEA Senior All-State Guitar Ensemble at 1’30 from the video start
and
SIM Guitar Club - a great rhythmic performance.
Grades: 2-3
T0063
The Lass of Glenshee (or the Road to Dundee)
Parts: gtr1, gtr2, gtr3 - Grades: 3,2,4
T0065
Tres morillas m’enamoran en Jaén - a villancico from the Cancionero de Palacio (1465).
Grades: 4
T0042
El Jaleo de Xeres (or La Gitana)
This is not the common version of this jaleo - if anyone can give me more information on it, I would be very grateful.
Parts: gtr1, gtr2, gtr3 - Grades: 7,4,2
T0067
Bach, J.S.
Prelude No. 9 - (from the 48 Preludes & Fugues)
Parts: gtr1, gtr2, gtr3 - Grades: 7,5,5
T0112
Siciliana - (from the flute sonata in Eb major BWV1031) - performed here by DuJu and guest.
Parts: gtr1, gtr2, gtr3, (+bass) - Grades: 5,4,2,(3)
T0113
Bartók, B.
Three Slovakian Tunes (from For Children)
The Highway Robber, Sorrow and Teasing Song.
Grades 1-2
T0304
Beethoven, L. van
Bagatelle No. 11 Op. 119
Grades 5,2,2
T0302
Bagatelle No. 5 Op. 126
Grades 4-6
T0303
Brackett, J. Jr
Simple Gifts - a traditional American Shaker dance tune that appears in several versions. The most common recent one is that used by Sidney Carter in his popular song 'Lord of the Dance'.
Grades: 1-2
T0007
Brahms, J.
Walzer No. 15 Op. 39 - the famous lullaby.
Grades: 4,5,3
T0051
Brescianello, G.A.
Trio Sonata
Arranged for guitar trio from the trio for violin, oboe and bass continuo.
Listen to the Largo and Allegro played superbly by the SONUS guitar trio.
Grades: 7,7,6
T0203
Concertino No. 1 - originally in Eb major for 2 violins and continuo
Grades: 7,5,3
T0204
 
Corelli, A.
Sonata da Chiesa Opus 1 No. 8
Grades: 4,3,2
T0109
Sonata da Camera Opus 2 No. 1
Grades: 3,2,2
T0110
Couperin, F.
Les Barricades Mystérieuses
Arranged for guitar trio from the harpsichord original.
Grades: 5,3,2
T0201
Les Moissoneurs (The Reapers)
Arranged for guitar trio from the harpsichord original.
Grades: 5,3,2
T0104
Delibes, L.
The Flower Duet - (Sous le dôme épais) from Lakmé performed here by Gitaarsalon Roadshow - a delightful performance by Gitaarsalon Roadshow
Grades: 5,4,3
T0073
Diaz Giles, F.
Soy de Aragón - from the Zarzuela ‘El Divo’.
Grades: 5,4,3
T0066
 
Forrest, A.
Ainsty Suite
The Ainsty was an ancient kingdom on the Plain of York, England. This suite of 6 short pieces has been written for the beginner ensemble in mind - typically for players with between 1 month and 1 year's experience. Since most beginners are uneasy at the sight of all those ledger lines on bass notes, I have endeavoured to make these parts simple so that they can be played almost straight away, having learned just 3 or 4 notes. The pieces are: StuttonStomp, Bishopthorpe March, Boating on the Wharf, Tadcaster Dance, Copmanthorpe Air and Appleton Greens. The last two are nicely played by the Virtual Guitar Orchestra (with an interesting extra in the last one!).
Grade: 1
T0005
Tadcaster Dance
Based on Basie - a recording by York Guitar Quartet from the mists of time!
A lively and varied jazz blues.
Grades: 4-5 (a bass guitar part has been included).
T0015
Bluetown Brays - Another bit of fun!
Listen to RIMEA Junior All-State Guitar Ensemble in a fine performance - and also by ICG Galilei Corsico, Italy
Grades: 2-3
T0026
Chocalypso - Just a little bit of fun!
Grades: 3-5
T0004
Conga
The Conga has a repeating Latin rhythm in the bass (carrying the memory of the chained slave-gangs in the Caribbean who originated the rhythm of the conga). Listen to a version by Guitarregro.
Grades: 2-3
T0030
Green Donkey
An exciting, melodious piece with interesting effects and rhythms. (Also available for guitar orchestra).
Grade: 4
T0021
Joropó - (Recorded by York Guitar Quartet here - though this is the quartet version)
A trio in a vibrant Latin rhythm and great fun to play. As suggested by Ignacio Ornés of Venezuela, I have just increased the tempo of this Joropó.
Grades: 2-4
T0035
Three's Company
Swansea Town, Beijing Street, Askham, Ukraine Dance, Dashing Away, Skye Boat Song
Skye Boat Song by RIMEA Junior All-State Guitar Ensemble at 0’24 from the video start.
Beijing Street and Ukraine Dance superbly played by 5 young guitarists from somewhere!

This is a set of six trios for players of standards between grades 1 and 3 (as per The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London or Trinity Guildhall, London). Whilst all are of modest difficulty, they all highlight different problems of ensemble playing, be it the handling of polyphony, playing off-beat rhythms, or blending tonally and dynamically. But first and foremost, they are fun to play.
Old Swansea Town
Beijing Street
Ukraine Dance
Skye Boat Song
T0001
Five Trios
Roxburgh Castle; O, Britches Full of Stitches; The Prisoner of Freedom; The Ballad of Jesse James; Strawberry Fair
Grades: 1-4
Roxburgh Castle
Jesse James
T0002
arr. Forrest, A.
Amtrad
An enjoyable arrangement of four well-known American traditional songs.
Grades: 2-3
T0010
The British Grenadiers
An English air.
Grades: 0-1
T0011
La Cucaracha
A traditional, lively Spanish piece.
Grades: 4
T0061
Cuatro Jotas Aragonesas
Jota de Teruel, La Mora o de Aben-Jot, Jota Mediana, Jota de Mainar.
Four dances from Aragón in Spain
Grades: 3-5
Jota de Teruel
La Mora
Mediana
Mainar
T0062
Tres Jotas Aragonesas
Cuando Me Voy a Labrar (Jota Zaragozana), Ha Salido La Fiera, Que La Fiera Murió.
Three dances from Aragón in Spain
Grades: 3-5
T0064
Ha Salido
La Fiera
European Folk Songs
At Cock Crow(Italy); Da Bi Imal Perje(Yugoslavia); The Blackbird (Basque folk song - here played by IISS P. Calamandrei); La Mort du Roi Renaud (Normandy); Pala Magla (Yugoslavia); Jeg lagde mig så silde (Norway); Bonnie Dundee (Scotland).
Grades: 2-3
Three of these pieces - Da Bi Imal Perje, The Blackbird, Jeg lagde mig så silde and Bonnie Dundee are simple settings of traditional songs while the others have been more fully developed with changes of mood and texture.
Cock Crow
Da Bi Imal Perje
Roi Renaud
Pala Magla
T0003
Hrály Dudy
A popular traditional Czech song.
Grades: 1-2
T0057
Keppel's Delight
An English jig from around the year 1770.
Grades: 1-2
T0041
The Lincolnshire Poacher
A rousing rendition (with stalking and gunshots!) of this well-known English song.
Listen to RIMEA Junior All-State Guitar Ensemble in an exhilarating and rhythmic performance.
Grades: 2-3
T0040
Ten Carols
O, little town of Bethlehem; Silent night; The first Noel; The Sussex carol; While shepherds watched their flocks; Hajej, Nynjej; Ding dong merrily on high; We wish you a merry Christmas; Hark, the herald angels sing; Wassail song.
(Little town of Bethlehem performed by Chrudim Music School Guitar Ensemble, Czech Republic. Teacher Eva Vítková)
Grades 1-3
T0060
Red River Valley Swing
A popular Canadian song.
Grades: 1-2
T0022
Three Pieces from the British Isles
The Cuckoo's Nest; The Lilting Fisherman; The Sheffield Hornpipe.
Grades: 1-3
T0006
Sheffield Hornpipe
Three Irish Trios
The Eavesdropper, Molly Malone (Cockles and Mussels); The Tenpenny Bit.
Listen to RIMEA Senior All-State Guitar Ensemble playing all three pieces very nicely.
Grades: 1-2
T0025
Cockles & Mussels
Gragnani, F.
Trio
Grades: 7,7,6
T0068
Grosz, W.
Isle of Capri
Grades: 5,4,3
T0069
 
Handel, G.F.
Four Dances from Alcina
Gavotte, Sarabande, Menuet and Gavotte II
Grades: 2-4
Gavotte
Sarabande
Menuet
Gavotte II
T0045
Menuet from the opera Berenice
Grades: 5,1,1
T0211
Henry VIII
Pavan
Grades: 1-2
T0050
Mozart, L.
Jägerlied - Hunter's Song from Notenbuch für Wolfgang - performed beautifully by Las Vegas Academy Guitar Varsity 1 (Virtual Guitar Ensemble)
Waldhorn Stück; Menuet No.4; Polonaise; Schwaben Tanz
Grades: 4-5
T0072
Four Pieces for Nannerl & Wolfgang from the Notebooks of Leopold Mozart for his daughter and son.
Grades: 0-2
T0071
Mozart, W.A.
Divertimento No. 1 - (originally for 3 bassett horns)
Grades: 8,5,4
T0054
Divertimento No. 2 - (originally for 3 bassett horns)
Grades: 7,6,5
T0055
Larghetto - from Divertimento No.2

Grades: 1-3
T0056
Die Zufriedenheit - K.473 - Original for voice and piano.

Grades: 4,6,3
T0053
 
Nardini, P.
Allegretto - from Sonata in D major for violin and basso continuo.
Grades: 8,6,5
T0070
Nichelmann, C.
Five Little Pieces - Galliarde, La Tendre, Sarabande, Gigue, Sonata (Sammlung 1, No.5)
Grades: 6,5,4
Galliarde
La Tendre
T0108
Purcell, H.
Lilliburlero - performed here by the Marcus Loh Trio.
Grades: 1-3
T0059
Rimsky Korsakov, N.
Song of the Indian Guest - (Hindu Song)- from the opera Sadko.
Grades 5,4,2
T0084
Scarlatti, D.
Sonata K430 - from the keyboard sonata.
Grades 5,3,2
T0210
Schubert, F.
Entr'Acte No. 2 - from Rosamunde
Grades: 5,5,6
T0094