cy Ur asaiy SOKO Ta RELI SIRE Mae many SHELA mv en) «Theme & Variations Ses CUM ANS Oe URN ce Ny Willard A. PalmerFOREWORD Everyone wants to play Christmas music at Christmas time. The teacher who carefully plans the material for each student is likely to find the schedule of progress hopelessly interrupted while the student spends a month or more on Christmas music. ‘The problem is made even more discouraging by the fact that Christmas carols usually sound good only when they are sung. Very few piano ar- rangements of Christmas carols sound like real piano solos or recital pieces, but rather like hymns without texts. ‘To remedy this situation, Willard Palmer has arranged the music in this book so that each selection not only sounds like a piano solo, but empha- sizes some important aspect of piano technique. In these solos, the student will have the opportunity to play both homophonic and polyphonic music. The selections include arpeggios with both hands, Alberti basses, canonic imitation, a theme and variations, crossing the hands, etc. Since there are hundreds of elementary carol books available, the selections in this book have been graded at the intermediate level and placed in the book in approximate order of difficulty. ‘The entire book may be presented as a pleasing recital program or Christ- mas concert, with as many students participating as there are selections in the book. ‘We believe this book contains the answer to the “Christmas interruption” for students at the intermediate level of study. The Publishers TABLE OF CONTENTS Away in a Manger (Pedal point, Alberti bass, left and right hand melody) = Coventry Carol (theme and variations) = ayy Jingle Bells (with sleigh bell imitations) som 15 Joy to the World (left hand octave study) 18 March of the Three Kings (with a canon at the octave) 10 Parade of the Tin Soldiers (descriptive program music) 28 Silent Night (with echo effects) 2 Silent Night (crossing left hand over right hand) 13 Sleep, Holy Babe (arpeggiated chords) 20 The Twelve Days of Christmas (study in counterpoint) 21 Ukrainian Bell Carol (elementary counterpoint) 7 We Wish You a Merry Christmas (two-part. oe _ 2 What Child is This? (left hand arpeggios)... 6) COPYRIGHT MCMLXVIII by ALFRED MUSIC CO, INC:We Wish You a Merry Christmas (A two-part invention) English Folk Song In this arrangement the right hand begins the melody and the eft hand follows with the same melody one measure behind and five tones lower. This is called a “Canon at the fifth below.” At leter@, the lft hand begins and the right hand follows four tones higher. This is called a “Canon at the fourth above.” Letter(@is @ contrasting section, with the melody in the right hand. The left hand plays a countermelody. Letter@is exactly lke the beginning, except both hands play an octave higher on the keyboard. Canons are fun to play. This one resembles, in an elementary way, the type of composition J. . Bach called a “Two-part Invention.” This willbe easier to play if you practice each hand separately at first, then together. Brightly We wish you a merry Christ-mas, We wish you amerry Christ-mas, We ° 18 ie 1 4 of poco a poco crescendo}. wish you a mer-ry Ghrist- mas, Anda hap - py New Year! 5 4 24 poco a poco crescendo.Christ - mas poco ritard.Ukrainian Bell Carol “Bells everywhere. . filling the air!" There are many different versions of the lyrics to this famous old Ukrainian Carol. They are all concerned with the exciting sounds of Christmas bells, which begin softly and gradually grow louder until they seem to be everywhere, then gradually fade away. M. LEONTOVICH Brightly (OPTIONAL: Play both hands one octave higher than written.) 2 PP af > 2 3 ‘Although the left hand releases the note on the 3rd count, the pedal sustains the sound of the note throughout the entire measure.FOSSIA: F om © 8° bassa *OSSIA: This Italian word literally means “or maybe.” It is used to designate an alternate way of playing a passage. You ‘may play either one of the treble lines. The line just above the bass isa bit more difficult, but it can easily be mastered by practicing the hands separately. ‘**8va bassa: Play an octave lower.What Child is Ghis? WILLIAM C. DIX (Using left-hand Arpeggios) Old English Air WHAT CHILD IS THIS? is one of the most popular carols. It is based on a very ancient English melody called “Greensleeves.” ‘This version uses left hand arpeggios (broken chords). This style of playing is very effective on the piano, and is also helpful to the student in developing left hand technique. Moderat What Child is this, On Who, laid to rest, fingering simile is sleep : ing? Whom Ma = oty’s lap 2 3 a ccla greet with an = ~—thems-—_ sweet, __ While shepherds watch are keep : ing?REFRAIN This, this is Christ the 5 2 whom S legato er shep = herds guard. and an = gels sing: The bring Him laud, 2 Babe,___ the Son______ of Ma : ry! poco ritard.Away in a Manger MARTIN LUTHER: CARL MUELLER In te it hors of thane, thst hand phys te dy wi th thd ps rks card ution SSotinc sd ale se en heath ty cmp ah ed i spe ete). ete See in th geo Te pont Te we bas ica exh roe be cans the sme less of the changes of harmony. These notes are sustained by the pedal and produce an unusual effect. In the second chorus, thei and pps ely oe te iit hand ys ken crs Moderato legato throughout 1 (Ped. optional) man - ger,No crib for a bed, The lit = tleLord Je - sus laid 5 aa og 4 8 2 2 2 3 4 i a i i Pose down His sweet head, © The stars fromthe sky. looked down where He 2 2 4 5 (3) 5 a 5 43 it 37) 3 aa i yo a lay, The ‘lit + tleLord Je - sus A - sleep on the hay. $ 5 2 SOR oe ai A et iki:Tistesso tempo (better too slow than too fast) 135 Bring out the left hand melody! 124210 March of the Ghree Kings (With a canon at the octave) Provencal Melody ‘This carol originated in Provence (in Southern France) in the 13th Century. It was made more famous by Georges Bizet who used it in each of the two L’ARLESIENNE SUITES in the late nineteenth century. ‘This version begins with the two hands playing the melody one octave apart. Inthe eighth measure a canon begins, with the left hand following the right hand one octave lower. This is called a ‘canon at the octave below.” After a contrasting section, the canon resumes. “Alla Marcia” means “like a march.” Play this with a steady, even tempo, Alla marcia cin 2 15, 1 25.Silent Night JOSEPH MOHR With echo epee) FRANZ GRUBER SILENT NIGHT sounds particularly beautiful when it is sung by two choirs, one on the stage and one off-stage. The second choir echos the sound of the first choir. A similar effect can be produced on the piano by playing the echoing phrases softly, and in a different octave. The right hand plays the notes with stems pointing up and the left hand plays those with the stems pointing down. Moderately slow Si = lent night! Ho - ly night! calm, all is bright, Round yon Vir - gin Moth - erand Child. 3 4 i 2 Ho y In - fant so ten - derand mild,Sleep in heavy - en-ly peace, ‘ yoo. ft 2) A A Sleep in heav + en-ly peace z i ais i af ho io Silent Night (Grossing the left hand over the right hand) Here is another way to play SILENT NIGHT. The right hand plays the melody in the upper part of the bass staff, so it sounds like a male voice. The left hand plays basses and two-note chords. The bass is played on the first count of each measure, below the melody. The left hand then crosses ‘over the right hand to play the chords on the second and third counts. In this version, the right hand plays all the notes with stems pointing up and the left hand plays all the notes with stems pointing down. You may add this version to the previous ‘one, to make a longer arrangement of SILENT NIGHT. pound La. 7H, P We RH ; LH LH. (Pedalting optional) hod T 3 pedal simileLH. LH. my LH. poco ritard, ‘meno mossoJingle Bells (With Sleigh-Bell Imitations) J. PIERPONT In this version of JINGLE BELLS, the right hand imitates the sound of segh-bels by playing two neighboring notes on the keyboard at the same time. The left hand plays 4 bass note on the first count of each measure and holds it for the entire ‘measure, while staccato chords are played on the “ands” ofthe measure. ¢ , or Alla Breve time is comrectly counted “one-and two-and.” A half note gets one count. Happily pee i PP x 3 Dash - ing thro’ the snow In a one = horse 0 = pen _ sleigh, Orr the fields we goa Laugh - ing all the way; 15Mak - ing spir - Jin - gle Bells! 3 a> Jin - gle Bells! Jin = gle all the way! = 3 stOh, what it ride In a one-horse o - pen sleigh! 4 Jin - gle Bells! 3 in a one-horse 0 - pen sleigh! gee-----~-~ PP.Joy to the World ISAAC WATTS, G. F, HANDEL This is one of the greatest of all Christmas carols. We should not be surprised to learn that it was written by the famous George Frideric Handel, who wrote the wonderful oratorio, THE MESSIAH. The second chorus is a departure from the usual ‘way of playing this. It begins with the melody in octaves i the left hand. The right hand plays a florid countermelody some- ‘what in Handel's own styl. This is an excellent octave study for the lft hand. Macstoso Joy to the world! the Lord is come: Let earth re i ai, tf ceive her King; Let ev - ‘ry___ heart pre = pare Him room, And heav'n and na - ture sing, ‘And heavn and na - ture eae 2 4 a a 3 iz pees i “*At this point, many versions add an extra measure to preserve the fourmeasure phrases to which our ears are accustomed. Handel deliberately omitted a measure here to make the song seem to plunge ahead, giving ita feeling of great enthusiasm ‘and joy.Sleep, Holy Babe EDWARD CASWELL J.B. DYKES ‘The romantic quality of this beautiful carol is heightened by the use of arpeggiated chords. The word “arpeggiated” means “played in the manner of a harp.” The wavy line to the left of the chords indicates that the chord is broken by playing the lower note frst, then quickly adding the higher notes one at a time in rapid succession. After each note is played, itis held so that, finally, all the notes are heard together. When the wavy line includes the notes of the left and right hands, the notes of the left hand are played first followed by the notes of the right hand, to make a continuous broken chord without hesitation, between the two hands. Moderato ‘2nd time play both hands 8 to letter (A) Sleep, ho - ly Babe! Up - on ‘Thy moth- ers brea Great 4 4 Lord of earth and sea andsky, How sweet it isto A th ® Loco both times see. Theelie = In such a place of rest, In such a place of V "rest.Ghe Gwelve Days of Christmas — ou ener avot ‘THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS is called a “cumulative song,” because each verse adds a new phrase and the song be- comes longer and longer. If you do not wish this solo to be so long, you may simply play it straight through without any repeats and take the final ending the first time, This arrangement contains many interesting countermelodies, and if you listen carefully you can actuelly hear the “five gold rings,” the “lords a-eaping,” the “drummers drumming,” the “ladies dancing,” etc. Moderately fast Onthe first day of Chri mas my true lovesent tome, A. par tridge in a pear a4 tree. On the se-condday of Christ masmy true lovesent to me: esl 23 A SS Two tur-tle doves, and a par - tridge in a pear tree. On the 4 a 1a third day of Chi my true love sent to me: ‘Three French hens, 1s 1 2two tur-tle doves, and a _par- tridge in a pear tree. On the fourthday of Christmasmy 3 7s tenis ro true love sent to me: Four call-ing birds, three French hens, two _tur-tle doves,and a —=- a =, t ta 2 2 1 par = tridge ina pear tree, On the fifth day of Christ- mas my ee te A f true love sent to me: 3} Four call-ing birds, three Frenchhens, two tur-tle doves,anda par- tridge in a pear 5 eee 5 ee ee (f) 226th (proceed to the next day 7h in sequenced 2th day ach tree. On the {8th Pday of Chrismas my truclovesent to me: ‘Twelve drummers drumming, it 3 ST i 1 5 oth day pee ee ‘Ten Lords a leap-ing,! Nine la-dies dancing! Bight maids a - milk-ing, ith day | "Lev-en pip-ers pip-ing, P P (cross L.H. over R.HL) (cross LH.) ‘gee a A fet 5 5 " Th day feih day a Seven swans a- swimming)! Six geese a- lay-ing,! Five 4 i Sf ritard. 21 ray tists 1 6 Wt Four call- ing birds, Three French hens, Two tur-tedoves, and a 1 4 5 2 (f) a tempo 2 r 1 Tadling for 6th through Ith days Fival coding partridge in a pear tree. On the Il par tridge in a pear tree. ae 4 ce a 7 gore Rag |] molto ritard. 23Ghe Coventry Carol ROBERT CROO (Theme and Variations) Old English Melody In a THEME AND VARIATIONS the melody is played first in a simple, unadorned style. This is called the “statement of the THEME.” The VARIATIONS closely follow the melody or harmony (or both) of the theme but add variety and contrast by the use of different rhythms, tempos, etc. This form of music never fails to please audiences. Proceed to each of the variations from the previous movement without interruption. THEME: Moderato Lul = lay, Thou lit 2 i i SSS SS L X Pedaling is optional. 5 2 cantabileModerately slow poco accelerando intempo fs 7 8 legato Fy ritenuto poco accel. 3 1 ‘poco riten, : ritardando 22 2 2 A 7 t 3 5 “FUNERAL MARCH. An appropriate variation, because the third verse of the carol is concerned with Herod's slaying of all the new-born male children. 25* VAR. II Moderato sempre molto staccato 2 le 3 3 : 2 ee a Ts 8 Piatt ‘Note the similarity between the notes used in this variation and those of the theme. a5 "Play both hands very staccato, sothe F's do not collide with one another.2 hoe i 4 A foetal i OPTIONAL: Repeat Var. IH with both hands 8 va. * VAR. IV Moderato fi) pos) ste se 2 1 3 : n A | ‘Note the similarity between the notes of the variation and those of the theme. 7Ghe Parade of the Gin Soldiers (Program Music) LEON JESSEL | Instrumental music that tells a story, depicts a scene, or calls forth certain mental images, is called “program” music. This is | the opposite of “absolute” or “abstract” music, which exists only for the sake of its own sound and is not descriptive at all. PARADE OF THE TIN SOLDIERS is program music because it paints the picture the title suggests. At the end, we actually | hear the soldiers falling down. Although this is not a carol, it is considered very appropriate for the Christmas season and is often heard during the holidays. Bright march temp ‘oe Qnd time gra 1 2nd time 8° 28ra 29diminuendo LH “An optional cut may be made, omiting the measures between @ and @. 30SSS * 1 Ay (All the soldiers fall down!) Sa thumb Glissando > gq “Last note of glssando may be played with the LEFT HAND.Piano Christmas Music from Alfred e210 eam orn ory 2230 330 20821 23661 can e270) eam es 25) ere METHODS ALFRED'S BASIC PIANO LIBRARY Merry Christmas! Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus & ‘Amanda Vick Lethco Level 14 Level 18 ‘Complete Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5, Christmas Sonatinas ALFRED'S BASIC CHORD ‘APPROACH (For the Later Beginner) Christmas Book Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus & ‘Amanda Vick Lethco Level 1 Level 2 ALFRED'S BASIC ADULT ‘COURSE Christmas Piano Book Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus & ‘Amanda Vick Lethco Level 1 Level 2 ALFRED'S BASIC PRI COURSE Christmas Book, Level A Christmas Book, Level B DUETS. ELEMENTARY First Favorite Christmas Duets Lynn Freeman Olson INTERMEDIATE Christmas for Two Jerry Ray ‘The Magic of Christm: Dennis Alexander Volume 1 Volume 2 ADVANCED ‘The Nuteracker and the Mouse King, Op. 46 Carl Reinecke (Maurice Hinson, editor) (4958) (2529) 2a) oun (6520) (esa) 686) a1) (00081 (0046) ‘The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a ‘Tehaikovsky/Langer (4 hands) (Maurice Hinson, editor) COLLECTIONS ELEMENTARY Christmas Festival Gayle Kowalchyk & EL Lancaster Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Christmas Songs & Solos Margaret Goldston Book 1 Book 2 Easiest Christmas Carols Allan Small Easy Piano Christmas Carols Allan Small First Favorite Christmas Carols Lynn Freeman Olson My First Christmas Carols (Pre-Reading) Gayle Kowalchyk & E.L. Lancaster ‘The Story of Christmas Lynn Freeman Olson ‘Together at Christmas Bert Konowitz INTERMEDIATE ‘The Christmas Carol ‘Songbook Allan Small AChristmas Collection Kenon Renfrow Book 1 Book 2 Christmas Holiday Willard A. Palmer Christmas Impressions Catherine Rollin Christmas in the Key of C Sandy Feldstein Christmas Silhouettes Dennis Alexander AChristmas to Remember Randall Hartsell 88 e018) (2390) (ess0) (cor) (0045) (cs) 2534) 189) e523) (2988) 1958) (6x00 (02 (sa00) (e108 2679 ‘Simply Christmas Jerry Ray ‘Something Special for ‘Christmas Randal Hartzell Sounds Christmas! Lynn Freeman Olson ADVANCED A Christmas Fantasy Dennis Alexander ‘Christmas Stylings— Modern & Bright ‘Sharon Aaronson Book 1 Book 2 Christmas with Style Jorry Ray Book Cassette Tape More Christmas with Style Jerry Rey Book Cassette Tape The Lush Sounds of Christmas Marty Gold The Nuteracker Suite, Op.71a Tchaikovsky (Maurice Hinson, editor) ‘Six Christmas Pieces, Op. 72 Felix Mendelssohn (Willard A. Palmer, editor) SOLOS INTERMEDIATE ‘Away in a Manger Jerry Ray Hectic Holidays Paul Sheftel Jazzy Old Saint Nicholas Catherine Rollin Jingle Bells Kenon Renfrow Joy to the World Margaret Goldston Silent Night Randall Hartsell What Child Is This? Gayle Kowalchyk