Happy Valentine’s Day!

PoPs’ 2026 Valentine’s Day Album

PoPs’ Notes

The Nobel winning poet Vicente Aleixandre said the guitar is the soul of Spain. Indeed, the modern guitar was invented in Spain, and its versatility has helped to make it the most popular instrument in the world. It is compatible with nearly every genre of music, either as a solo or accompanying instrument.

In the performance of romantic music the guitar has no equal, especially when joined with other outstanding instruments like the bassoon, flute, harp, oboe, violin, and drum.

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You Belong To My Heart

Violin, Harp

Solamente Una Zez (Only Once in English) was composed by Mexican songwriter Agustin Lara. It was originally performed by Ana Maria Gonzalez and tenor Jose Mojica in the 1941 film Melodias de America.

Moonlight And Roses

flute, violin

Moonlight And Roses is the lead song on the album of the same name. It was recorded in 1964 by Jim Reeves, and is Reeves’ first number 1 album. It is also the last studio album released in Reeves’ lifetime.

I Wish You Love

oboe, bassoon, vibraphone

I Wish You Love, was written in 1942 by French composers Leo Chauliac and Charles Tenet. This song with a Latin beat was popularized in 1942 by Keely Smith and Frank Sinatra.

So In Love

oboe, bassoon, Violin

So In Love was written in 1948 by Cole Porter for his 1948 musical “Kiss Me, Kate.” This is a classic show tune with a latin rhythm that was popularized by Ella Fitzgerald.

Amapola

Violin, flute, trumpet

This 1920s era Spanish love song was composed by Jose Maria Lacalle Garcia. It first became a massive hit in 1941, and remains very known with renditions from well known artists like Jimmy Dorsey and Andrea Bocelli.

Waltz Venezuela

accordian, flute

Antonio Lauro, the renowned Venezuelan guitarist & composer, wrote famous Valses Venezolanos (Venezuelan Waltzes). They are the cornerstones of classical guitar repertoire, often incorporating syncopated rhythms and folk influences.

‘S Wonderful

vibraphone, violin, flute

Written in 1927 by George and Ira Gershwin, this song was introduced in the Broadway musical Funny Face. It is a renowned jazz standard frequently used in films, such as An American In Paris (1951).

Tangerine

accordian, violin, flute

Published in 1941, Tangerine was written by Victor Schertzinger, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was introduced in 1942 when it appeared alongside Dorothy Lamour and Betty Hutton in the movie The Fleet’s In.

Besame Mucho

vibraphone

This song was written in 1940 by the teenaged Mexican songwriter and pianist Consuelo Velazquez. It is one of the most famous and widely recorded songs of the 20th century. Velazquez is reported to have been inspired by a piano piece written by Enrique Granados.

La Paloma

cello, accordian, flute

La Paloma (in English The Dove) was written around 1860 by Basque composer Sebastian Iradier after a visit to Cuba. There are more than 1000 versions of this song, and it is extremely popular outside of Spain, particularly in Mexico.

All The Things You Are

piano, vibraphone, flute, violin

All The Things You Are was composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was written in 1939 for the Broadway musical Very Warm For May. It is a jazz standard known for its complex harmonic structure.

The Shadow Of … Smile

bass, flute

This song was written by Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster in 1965 for the film The Sanpiper. It won both an Oscar and Grammy as best original song of the year.

Maria Elena

The full guitar family

Written in 1932 by Lorenzo Barcelata, this song was originally composed as a Spanish-language bolero. It gained international fame through various renditions, including a 1941 version with English lyrics by Bob Russell and a popular instrumental hit by Los Indios Tabajaras.

Yours Till … Glory

harp, flute, violin, accordion

This song was composed by Cuban Gonzalo Roig in 1931. Originally, called Quiereme Mucho, it was adapted into English with lyrics written by Jack Sherr and Albert Gamse. Vera Lynn recorded the song in English in 1941.

Merry Christmas And Happy New Year!

PoPs’ 2025 Christmas Album

A Message From PoPs

For 2025, I wanted to send a Christmas greeting with a long-lasting shelf life. So, I produced an album of popular Christmas songs using the computer application MuseScore.

Although far from the recorded “live” sound to which our ears are accustomed, the MuseScore playback has steadily improved from the original, which used to sound quite a bit like a poorly recorded harmonica band.

I hope you enjoy my arrangements. If nothing else, they are unique to the ears of the Manna family.

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Joy To The World

All orchestral instruments from the piccolo to tympani arrived at the studio for this tune. That’s appropriate because it is the album’s opening song.

White Christmas

The unofficial “official” pop Christmas song. It was first performed in the 1942 movie Holiday Inn, and won the Academy Award for best song.

Happy Holidays

The addition of a “Glenn Miller” saxophone section with the melody played by the clarinet creates a nice swing feel to the fluid rhythm line of this song.

March Of The Toy Soldiers

The undeniable “tug boat” sound of the bass clarinet makes a strong appearance in this song, and it helps usher in two more band standards: the flute and trumpet.

Have A Holly … Christmas

Influenced by the sound track of the well known Christmas cartoon, this song’s arrangement is designed to emphasize the tunes jolly, upbeat melody.

Christmas Waltz

There are more than 25 ways to articulate the bowing of a violin and many other ways to create sound without a bow. Pizzicato is one of the more familiar techniques.

Silent Night

Chimes from a neighborhood church steeple introduce this traditional international classic, offered here with a few not so traditional harmonies.

Let It Snow

It’s time for an evening out at the local MuseScore Tavern featuring the classic five piece combo of piano, bass, drums, guitar and tenor sax. Oh, the good ole’ days!

The Christmas Song

The inclusion of a vibraphone to this symphonic arrangement automatically brings a modern feeling to this arrangement of a long-time favorite.

It’s Begin … Christmas

It’s trumpet time with some assistance from the tuba and trombones. Sounds quite similar to the one-time Sunday afternoon band concerts in a park.

When You …. Upon A Star

This is not a traditional Christmas song. But stars have always played a big part in the Christmas celebration and this tune is a very nice “star” song.

Jingle Bells

Time to play with all of the toy instruments received as Christmas presents over the years. Listen for good ole’ Red Nose, who gets his licks in at the end.

Toyland

A favorite from the operetta “Babes In Toyland.” Toyland features the “bad boy of the orchestra.” – the oboe. What a distinctive nasal timbre it produces.

Have Yourself … Christmas

Say hello to the harp. A string section accompanied by a harp just sounds good together. And the harp also sounds quite nice when accompanied by a flute.

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

There is no mistaking the haunting sounds of a smoothly flowing melody played by a French Horn, an instrument capable of many beautiful timbral sounds.

Sleigh Ride

A MuseScore pops orchestra rendition of the famous Leroy Anderson arrangement. This is one of the most played Christmas songs in recording history. Listen closely for the surprise ending.

White Christmas Reprise

The men and women of the MuseScore Choir all join in for the final selection of the 2025 Christmas album. They send their best wishes to each and every one of you for a very Merry Christmas.