Es war einmal eine Gitarre - Sheet Music for melody parts in C/B/E flat Lars Berghagen

"Es war einmal eine Gitarre" in a choral edition for melody parts in C, B♭, and E♭ – this arrangement is aimed at ensembles with approximately two or more years of experience. The wide interval leaps and off-beat feel demand solid rhythmic confidence. The homophonic choral writing makes the rehearsal process considerably more straightforward.

Sheet Music "Es war einmal eine Gitarre" – Lively Schlager for Melody Parts

Lars Berghagen is a Swedish Schlager singer who became well known in German-speaking countries primarily during the 1970s. "Es war einmal eine Gitarre" tells the story of a guitar that once rang out and then fell silent – a familiar image from the world of Schlager. The music was composed by Werner Twardy, with lyrics by Kurt Feltz. This edition is conceived as a Moderato Beat for small band instrumentation – with B♭ and E♭ parts, voice, and chord instruments.

Set in B♭ major, the melody spans just over an octave – from the lower middle register up to an exposed upper range that requires confident vocal control. The tempo is lively without feeling rushed. The intermediate difficulty rating is well earned: frequent leaps beyond a sixth – often appearing abruptly mid-phrase – demand precision in the attack. Added to this are accents that deliberately fall off the beat. The parts move predominantly in parallel motion within a homophonic texture, which supports ensemble cohesion. The harmony remains largely diatonic – staying within the natural tones of B♭ major – with only occasional chromatic inflections.

• Range: A3 to E♭5 (just over one octave)
• Main challenge: heavily syncopated rhythm, frequent wide interval leaps (sixths and larger)
• Ideal for: school choir, small ensemble, concert programme
• Tempo: 118 – lively and flowing

Singing the interval leaps in isolation first – without rhythm, simply moving from pitch to pitch – quickly reveals which leaps are secure and which still need work on orientation. The off-beat accents are best tackled together: have the ensemble clap the pulse aloud while the parts sing. The melody contains phrases of considerable length, so deliberate breath planning before each entry is well worth the effort. The pronounced dynamic contrasts in the piece come across most effectively when vocal support remains consistent even through the quieter passages.

A browsable score preview of ten pages is available before purchase, allowing you to review the arrangement in full before committing. The sheet music is available for immediate download after purchase. 100% licensed – ready to perform legally, right away.

Editorially reviewed by the notendownload.com team