This is the transcription of the first edition of Jingle Bells, published in 1857: it is easy to notice that the music has been changed through the years making the original composition almost unrecognizable. The lyrics as well show some archaic forms that have been updated over time.

As Ruth van Baak Griffioen points out in her study Jacob van Eyck’s Der Fluyten Lust-hof 1644-c1655 (Utrecht 2005):

Boffons is unique in Der Fluyten Lust-hof in being a set of variations not so much on a melody as on a bass line and the harmonic sequence it suggests. The bass line is a common variant of the standard passamezzo moderno […] Variations written on this bass had been called ‘Bouffons’ for nearly a hundred years before Der Fluyten Lust-hof was printed.

My work sets van Eyck’s melody on the passamezzo harmony, moving it through the four parts with the addition of some counterpoint.

Arranged from the original score for strings.

Arranged from the original score for oboe and continuo in Bb major.

Arranged from the original score for oboe and continuo in Bb major.

Transposed and arranged from the original score for strings in C minor.

Arranged from the original score for strings.

This is an arrangement of the Concerto in G minor for oboe, strings and continuo

This is an arrangement of the Quartet in G minor for recorder, violin, viola and continuo.

Transposed and arranged from the original score for keyboard in B minor

Arranged from the original score for soprano, violin and continuo in Bb major

Arranged from the original score for strings.

Arranged from the original score for strings.

Arranged from the original score for strings.

Arrangement of the original score in A major for solo harpsichord (or generic keyboard).

Transposed from the original score for flute, strings and continuo in G major and arranged for recorder and concertato harpsichord.

Transposed from the original score for flute

From the original score in G major for flute, violin and continuo

Bach’s authorship of this work is doubtful. It was possibly composed or revised by his son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.

Originally for violin, cello and strings.

In our arrangements, the solo parts have to be played by single recorders, while the orchestral parts may be doubled ad libitum.

Arranged from the original score for violin and continuo in D major.

Arranged from the original score for oboe, violin, viola, cello and harpsichord (piano)

The original score is in E minor and seamlessly fits four treble recorders if transposed to G minor. The bass recorder line originally belongs to two violas in unison. This part is ad libitum and can be omitted if the harpsichord manages to play it when the bass line rests.

Arranged from the original score for strings

Arrangement and divisions by Andrea Bornstein

Originally for treble recorder and strings

Arranged from the original score for strings.

Arrangement of the original score for treble recorder, strings and continuo.

A friend of Tenco’s: «Why do you always compose sad songs?».

Tenco: «Because when I am not sad I go out».

Luigi Tenco, possibly the best Italian chansonnier, killed himself at 29.

Arranged from the original score for violin and continuo in C minor.

Arrangement from the original score for solo keyboard