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Tim and Bill
More wonderful additions to the X-Mas music thread. Thanks much 🎄🎄

Bill, I loved the White Christmas! I should go to school on you and Rick

Tim, those were great! I had to go order a book by Tornquist!

Sam

Continuing to enjoy the nice holiday music on this thread.

Bill - That was a very heartfelt rendition of White Christmas. I'd never heard the introductory section before and the mention of palm trees.

Tim - You're a treasure trove for introducing so many fine arrangers. Both of the Tornquist arrangements were truly beautiful and I also especially enjoyed the second, livelier of the two Wolaver arrangements.

HollyIvy/DrummerBoy -- Greer.

Here are two from Arranger #5 -- Bruce Greer. His arrangements straddle the line between Classical and Contemporary Pop, and are IMO rather mystical in feel, with inventive rhythmic alterations. "The Holly and the Ivy" and "The Little Drummer Boy" are good examples of his craft. Enjoy!

HeIsBorn/DeckHalls -- Wilhelmi

Teresa Wilhelmi is Arranger #6 -- she has worked in the Pacific NW area for many years (Salem, OR, to be exact), and is predominantly known for her jazz stylings of many Christian hymns. Her treatments of "He Is Born, the Child Divine", and "Deck the Halls" are good examples. Enjoy!

CribMedley -- Ham

Arranger #7 is Marilyn Ham, who typically writes in a virtuosic style. although this medley is quiet and contemplative in nature. She begins with the famous Brahms Lullaby, then the carol "O Little One, Sweet" which JS Bach set as a chorale, and finally "Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine". Enjoy!

MaryKnow/GoTellIt -- Hammerly

Jim Hammerly is the 8th and last arranger I've featured -- like Bill Wolaver, Hammerly is a sophisticated "jazzer". Here are his settings for the contemporary carol "Mary, Did You Know?" and the traditional Spiritual "Go Tell It on the Mountain". Enjoy!

Thanks, Sam, for opening this fantastic thread and for kicking off a real party of Christmas music. I knew Rickster, Bill and Tim already from the Piano Bar where they always posted great contributions. And I liked lilypad's swinging "Santa Baby" very much. So, this thread is a place to be for me, too. I have not recorded any Christmas tune this year, but last year I played this version of the Chestnut Song (Christmas roasting on an open fire) - or the other way round.

The Christmas Song (Tormé/Wells)

Pianist685 - what a lush arrangement Nice.

That was fantastic, Pianist685! Sounded much more like the real thing than my by-ear rendition!

But, hey, where you're a back-woods hillbilly piano player like me, you're a back-woods hillbilly piano player.

And, Tim Adrianson, your playing was great too, and I loved your nice selections! Lovely!

All the best, and Merry Christmas!

Rick

Apologies, I had meant to post my Christmas music. I bought “A jazzy Christmas” which claimed to be suitable for Grade 5 pianists (RCM or ABRSM, I know not)

I committed to learning one piece to play at work, but it’s a bit beyond me. My teacher says it is close to Grade 7 - I assume they would sell less sheet music if they printed that. Currently, practicing 5 hours a day and can hack my way through it but realistically I’m one week short of being able to play it properly.

Loving the music that people have put on here. J

Tim - Loved your arrangements by Marilyn Ham and Jim Hammerly.

Pianist685 - Gorgeous version of the Christmas Song. I've been struggling with an arrangement that has similar lush sounding chords, but none of the beautiful fills.




NordWest - I have a few non-classical arrangement books that have arrangements within the same book that span from Grade 3 to Grade 6 according to the RCM Popular Selection List. Most of the Faber BigTime (Level 4) selections are listed at Grade 5 or Grade 6. Buyer beware, I guess. Record your piece when you finish it and save it for us for next year or even learn it again when the time comes. It should be easier by then.

Here are a couple of 'Easy Piano' arrangements from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Not without a few hesitations and mistakes, but the best recordings I'm likely to get.

The first one makes me think of the excitement I felt as a child as the big day approached. Christmas is Coming

I also really like the second one because I used to teach recreational ice skating on an outdoor rink during the winter.
Skating

Thanks lilypad
Fun music, well played! Merry Christmas 🎄🎄

Pianist685 - terrific rendition of the Christmas Song. Cool arrangement and professional level performance. Well Done!

These are all great recordings! Our piano group had their Christmas meeting yesterday, and I got to hear Rick play in person, and Tootles and I played our piece. I even played while the group sang a hymn - that was tough! I know we still have a few days until Christmas, but today I put the holiday music on the shelf - until next year...

Sam

I really enjoyed your two "Charlie Brown" Christmas tunes, lilypad! You play exceptionally well, and your digital piano sounds great, and likely as good as I've ever heard a digital piano sound (Yamaha Clavinova?).

Wish I could play half as well!

Merry Christmas!

Rick

Hi Sam!

Again, the flip side of that is I got to hear you play in person as well, and it was a real treat! The hard work and dedication you've put into your piano training shows vividly, and has paid off for you. You played very well, and at an advanced level.

The other Piano Buddies played well too. Heck, the mere willingness to sit at the piano and play for a small audience is quite an accomplishment in itself.

Plus, the fellowship and comradery amongst fellow piano enthusiast was great! Thanks for hosting the event, and I look forward to next year, as well as next month!

Rick

Wonderful, lilypad, you are playing a whole tribute to Vince Guaraldi. I have seen "A Charlie Brown Christmas" several times. "Skating", of course, is a Charlie Brown classic I remember very well. And I liked the way Schroeder performed "Oh Tannenbaum".

The two duets by Sam and Tootles are really beautiful as well. I wonder if I have ever told that my second instrument was the clarinet, so I found these renditions particularly interesting. Most people are unaware that a wind instrument requires regular and frequent playing in order to train the muscles around the lips. The piano is much easier, you can pause for weeks, and then sit down and start playing immediately.