DanSwanson Holiday Music

Once in Royal David’s City - I hope you enjoy this Christmas carol as much as I do.  My arrangement of this tune is an homage to King’s College (UK) and their annual Festival of Carols - they have opened the Festival of Carols with this tune annually for decades; since they start with a solo chorister, I have started the tune with the melody in solo.  My arrangement, as with other recent arrangements, takes advantage of the open-D tuning on my 12-string.  Written in 1848 by Cecil Frances, this carol was first set to music in 1849 by Henry John Gauntlett.  If you’re not familiar with the text:

Once in royal David's city stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed: Mary was that Mother mild, Jesus Christ her little Child.  

He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall: With the poor and mean and lowly, lived on earth our Saviour holy.  

And through all his wondrous childhood day by day like us he grew, He was little, weak, and helpless, tears and smiles like us he knew: And he feeleth for our sadness, and he shareth in our gladness.  

And our eyes at last shall see him through his own redeeming love, For that Child so dear and gentle, is our Lord in heaven above: And he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.  

Not in that poor lowly stable, with the oxen standing by, We shall we see him: but in heaven, set at God's right hand on high, Where like stars his children crowned, all in white shall wait around.

Once In Royal David's City (12-string guitar)

I decided to send out 2022 in song - a Scottish song known by all and a Welsh lullaby to put the year to bed.  Featuring my 12-string, my arrangement of Auld Lang Syne and Suo Gan. 

Have a safe NYE and a happy and healthy New Year!!

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you'll buy your pint
and surely I'll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Suo Gan : Auld Lang

Arranged and performed live by Dan Swanson, 2018

Christmas Is

Arranged and performed live by Dan Swanson

Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Arranged and performed live by Dan Swanson.  A haunting English Folk Carol performed at Christmas time.

This Is The Truth Sent From Above

Arranged and performed live by Dan Swanson.

Once In Royal David’s City

This site is a mix of some of my compositions and solo guitar performances.

Suo Gan : Auld Lang

The Music of Dan Swanson