For SATB Chorus and Piano, Four-Hands with optional Flute, Violin and Cello.
For SATB Chorus and Piano, Four-Hands with optional Flute, Violin and Cello
Far-Far-Away.pdf (Choral/Piano Accompaniment)
Far-Far-Away-SCORE.pdf (with Flute, Violin and Cello)
Far-Far-Away-CHORAL.pdf
Far-Far-Away-FLUTE.pdf
Far-Far-Away-VIOLIN.pdf
Far-Far-Away-CELLO.pdf
Far-Far-Away.mp3
Far, Far Away reflects the glory of Christmas and the joyful hope that attends the phrase “peace on earth, good will toward men.” Two pianists are required, and may find the music a bit of a challenge, but the straightforward, four-part chorus allows the choir to powerfully express the grandeur of the Savior’s birth.
When performed with the optional flute, violin and cello, this piece has a resounding effect while still being appropriate for a Sunday Christmas program.
New
Updated
@Lindsay: aw, shucks! Thank YOU for all you do for music in the church and for giving these arrangements a try. I’m so happy that your choir program turned out well. Happy New Year!
Amazing, amazing, amazing. Just performed this with the choir for christmas – I can’t even tell you how great it was. Thank you, so much, for sharing your talents with us. Your music touched many people in my little sphere last Sunday.
@matt: sorry, there aren’t any recordings at the moment. I may try later this month, but … ’tis the season!
Are there any available recordings of Far, Far Away (piano, four hands)? That might help us learn it faster. Thanks.
@roy: you’re welcome!
thank you
We did this two years ago and loved it!
Hi Jennifer! Thanks so much for the glowing accolades (I was a bit reluctant to post it!). I am very happy that you find these arrangements helpful and uplifting and I will certainly keep adding them as I have opportunity. I agree with your bishop, that hymns are really THE source for ward choirs and should be used nearly exclusively. But, from time to time, it’s nice to add a little musical commentary to them. Thanks for taking the time to write and good luck with your choir!
We just performed this number at Christmas and it was favored by everyone in the congregation. A lot of people told me that this was their favorite piece that we performed! We have a smaller choir, about 15-20 people on a good day, and with the 4 hand piece, it turned out beautifully. I am still finding myself singing it, even though we are done now. I also used your rendition of “Silent Night” with a flute player and pianist. It was so peaceful and reverent that it really created the effect I wanted for the congregation to visualize the Saviors birth.
I want to thank you for all the beautiful music you arrange and for making it available for free so that we can share it with our ward congregations. When I was called as the choir director, my bishop told me to stick only to the hymns, since I don’t have a budget (and we have hymn books available for free) and also because we don’t have a big choir. I tried to arrange them where only men were singing a line or two and then the women would join, etc. I felt so restricted until I found your site. I am so grateful to have found your wonderful arrangements, and for free, that I can use to add that extra something to the hymns. I also hope to see more from you in the future. Thank you for sharing your talent with us! Your music is beautiful! Thank you again!!!!
@Jorge: That sounds fantastic! You are, of course, welcome to take any liberties you like with the arrangement. I certainly understand the need to fit music to the resources available and it sounds like you did a great job. Thanks so much for your kind comments. I really appreciate hearing from people who find the music useful and uplifting. (And I’ll definitely do my best to contribute more in the future!).
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Greetings from Lima, Peru. We just finished performing this magnificent piece as part of our Christmas program, in which I had the privilege of counducting a combined two-stake choir, accompanied by a mixed ensemble─two violins, a viola (I kind of created an additional part for it. Sorry for the liberties.), a bassoon (insted of cello), and a very good pianist. It was a really impressive and perfect piece for concluding the program before the stake presidents’ messages. We received so many beautiful compliments!!!
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the beautiful music you arrange and for making it available to everyone worldwide. I hope to see more from you in the future.
Thank you again and have a wonderful Christmas time.
Hi Sis Redford,
I have not forgotten you, I have just been extra busy preparing music for the Choir Christmas Concert. I have a small break coming up, though (I think most people refer to it as “Thanksgiving”) and I will get these trombone parts to you before the week is out! Thanks for your patience!
Steve,
We will go ahead and rent the trombones. We are renting them for two months to handle “Far Far Away” and “How Firm a Foundation.” We are anxious to see if you can send us the parts for those instruments.
Sis. Redford
Steve,
How is the music coming? We are anxious to begin rehearsing and renting trombones for the two missionaries.
Thanks again.
Sis. Redford -
@Sis. Redford: Slowly, but surely! Question: I think, since we are just adding two trombones, it might be easiest to simply add them to the piano score. You would need two pianists and your two trombonists – what do you think?
Thanks, Aria. Sadly, I do not have “minus tracks” for these. I am working on some arrangements with less intense accompaniments for next year, though. Thanks so much for stopping by and for the compliments! Good luck with your musical efforts!
@Sis. Redford – Steve. Just checking in to see how the arrangements with brass are coming.
Sis. Redford
I love love love this arrangement. So powerful. Unfortunately, I do not have anybody who could play this arrangement. I am wanting to have it sung at a youth fireside. Is there anyway to get the music without vocal?
@Sister Browning: Updated! Wow, that score was a mess (sorry about that!). I probably need to take even more time with it, but this should get you through for now. Please let me know if you need anything else. Thanks!
You bet. Thanks for finding this, Sister Browning. I’ll take a look and post the update ASAP.
Steve,
Thank you so much for this arrangement. I am excited to have our choir attempt it for our Christmas program this year. I was wondering if you have a full score, with all the instruments and choral parts? The score that is posted doesn’t have all of the choral parts to it. I am in need of a copy to show every thing so I can try and keep us all together.
Thank you again for such wonderful music!
Sister Browning
@Sis. Redford: No problem. I can easily add How Firm a Foundation to my to-do list, as well. I’m very happy to help with the missionary effort in any way I can. Thanks for the opportunity!
Steve,
We are so grateful for your help. Can you keep the brass down to two trombones? The reason is that we are trying to keep the instrumental rental costs down for our mission. We have two really great trombonists who both had college scholarships to play the instrument. We also have to rent the instruments for a minimum of two months. We would like to utilize the talent of these elders and do another brass accompaniment in January–possibly “How Firm a Foundation”. Can you help us out with that, too? I know we are seeking a lot of favors. These Mission President firesides have been awesome! We fill the stake centers clear back to the stage and have many investigators attend. The spirit has always been so strong! We have the missionaries sing the choir numbers (and also add small group numbers)–usually about 80-90 missionaries, and then we have testimonies from recent converts. We alternate one month English and one month Spanish and usually perform the same music (with translated words) two months in a row. It has been a thrill to help in this effort.
Sis. Redford
@Sis. Redford: Sounds good – I’ll get to work! I’d like to arrange the accompaniment for Organ, Three-Hands (you’ll need two missionaries to play it) as well as 3 trombones and 1 trumpet. Give me a few weeks to work it out, I should be able to have this to you by mid October. Thanks, Sister Redford. I really appreciate the opportunity to work with the missionaries.
Steve
I just had a chance to go the the parts for “Far Far Away” to see how difficult it would be to sing. I think the choir could sing it as is. We just need the brass to be added, and perhaps the organ.
Thanks.
Sis. Redford
You are very welcome. I’m so glad that it helped the spirit of your meetings. I really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by!
I am a brand new choir director and was so pleased to find your website. I used this song in our ward Christmas program two weeks ago. It was my absolute favorite of the three pieces we put together, and the choir loved it as well. The accompaniment was big and dramatic – perfect for bringing a sense of joy. The choir sounded wonderful, and we received many compliments. Thank you so much for being generous with your music!
Thanks so much. I really appreciate hearing from you – your kind words and encouragement really keep me going. I think this piece would sound just fine with violin and flute. The four-hand piano part covers all of the harmony and you can easily add the flute and violin for decoration. Good luck with the performance this year. I hope the music invites the spirit and enhances your meeting. Thanks again!
We did this arrangement 2 years ago with 2 violins and cello. It was AWESOME. We received so many compliments. We got such a great response the first time, we’re doing it again. This year I only have a violinist in my ward so I had decided to just do it with the 4-hand piano. Now my sister, who plays the flute amazingly just let me know she’s coming in town. Do you think it would sound ok with piano, violin, and flute? Thanks for everything. We LOVE your arrangements.
Thank you!
Excellent content and style…keep up the good work!
You’re very welcome. Please let us know how your program turns out. Good luck!
I’m so glad to have found your site. I have always loved Far, Far Away, and wanted a great arrangement for our choir. It’s wonderful! I hope that we can pull it off. Thanks!