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Lathkill Music Publishers

Four Guitars : Dvorak arranged by Gary Spolding

Largo from the New World Symphony arranged for four guitars by Gary Spolding

The Largo from the New World Symphony by Antonín Dvořák is without doubt one of the most famous melodies in all of music. In the UK it will be forever linked with a TV advert for Hovis and throughout the world it is commonly known by the title “Goin’ Home” after William Arms Fisher (a pupil of Dvořák) added spiritual-like lyrics to make a hugely popular vocal piece. This arrangement by Gary Spolding puts this staple of the classical repertoire into the hands of guitarists and will provide a welcome addition to any concert programme.

The arrangement will suit an ambitious and enthusiastic group of guitarists who have reached grade 2 to 4 standard and can be played in 3 different ways to give piece-length options of 1 minute, 3½ minutes or 6 minutes. Guitar 3 has been crafted to be accessible to a player of approx. ABRSM Grade 2 but the melodic elements of the piece are shared equally across all guitar parts. Guitar 4 is tuned down to D and contains some simple two note chords and Guitar 1 has an extended pizzicato bassline in the minor section.

If you work in education, this arrangement has these useful features…
- contrasting dynamics with hairpin swells
- a D.S. al Fine
- a key change from A major to A minor and back again
- dotted and straight quaver rhythms

This piece is one in a series of arrangements by Gary Spolding for beginner guitar ensembles. Each arrangement has at least one guitar part that is accessible to a player of ABRSM grade 2 standard and the other parts are never more difficult than grade 4. They can be performed as guitar quartets with one player to a part or by guitar orchestra with multiple players per part making them ideal for guitar societies or school concerts.

If you like the look of this arrangement then La Cumparsita may also be of interest.

3 page score and separate parts each 2 pages
Grade 2-4
£6 as a pdf
Not available as a book
LMP 209