The Church Pianist: Free Piano Christmas Arrangement

Anyone in need of an intermediate

christmas piano arrangement?

I arranged this song for one of my students.

It's well suited for a small church.

The chorus can be repeated if needed.

You can use this free arrangement as

offertory or prelude special.

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com

The Church Pianist: Forgotten Christmas Songs

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com

As a church pianist, one of the questions I
hear quite often from vocalists is, "What
should I sing?"

Most people think of the obvious Christmas
songs such as: "Away in a Manger", "O Holy
Night" etc.

Why not try some of the forgotten or less used
Christmas songs. The following songs carry the
message of Christ's birth or encompass the
complete story of Jesus.

Down From His Glory

Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

That Beautiful Name

Have You Any Room for Jesus?

There is No Name So Sweet on Earth

The last four songs in the above list can be
found in the "Great Hymns of Faith" church'
hymnal. I'm sure you could locate them in other
hymnals as well.

The Church Pianist: O Little Town of Bethlehem (free arrangement)

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com

The mood of a song determines what

type of accompaniment will be used.

"O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a soft

and peaceful Christmas carol...like a

lullaby.

If I were playing this as a piano solo,

I would use less fullness for a softer

texture. Since I arranged it for the

congregation in mind, it will need the

fuller chords for supporting a large

group of singers.

This particular Christmas carol has

frequent accidental or (altered) chords,

which can create awkward moves for

the pianist.

I tried to make an accompaniment

that was more comfortable for the

hands.

Click here to download "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

Editor notes for: "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

Measure 3 :

I added the 7th note

to the ii chord (g minor) for a warmer

tone on the 3rd beat.

Measure 5:

The right hand plays a

fill-in on beats 3 and 4 for a smooth

transition to the upper range.

Measure 7:

Notice how I'm working

my way back down to the middle
range of the keyboard with my
right hand.

Measure 8:

I'm back to middle range
of keyboard to create a darker tone for
the words. ("....dark street...")

Measure 13:

Bell tones (4th interval on

beats 2 and 3 to convey a "lighter" tone).

Ok...how many of you picked up on that? :)

Please feel free to use this free piano

arrangement for congregation or choir.

You may adapt it to a piano solo with

minor changes.

The Church Pianist: Christmas CD

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com

I made a professional Christmas CD a couple of

years ago and thought I'd share the link to it.

It's actually on the BJU Press website.


http://www.bjupress.com/product/254235


CD Title: Simply Christmas


(Sacred piano by Jenifer Cook)

Song list:

O Come All Ye Faithful (piano)
The First Noel (piano w/ bells)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (piano)
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night (harp)
Silent Night (piano)
Angels We Have Heard on High (piano)
What Child is This? (piano)
Joy to the World (piano duo w/ bells)
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (piano)
Gesu Bambino (piano duo w/ bells)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (piano duo)
The Coventry Carol, I Wonder as I Wander (harp)
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (piano w/ bells)
Angels From the Realms of Glory (piano duo)
O Little Town of Bethlehem (piano)
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (piano)
Manger Medley (piano)
Sweet Little Jesus Boy (harp)
O Holy Night (piano duo)

The Church Pianist: Angels We Have Heard on High (busy inner voice movement)

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com


Some hymns, such as Angels We
Have Heard on High, contain busy
inner voice movement.

I'm referring to the moving alto part
in the chorus.

It makes it tough on the piano fingers!
There's no need to play every note in
this kind of passage.

I simply play more blocked chords
that include the moving voice
parts to support the singers (congregation).

Stepping bass octaves in the left hand add
movement needed to maintain a peppy tone.

Just remember to simplify busy inner voice
movement by using blocked chords that agree
with the voice parts.

The Church Musician: Free Christmas Piano Arrangement

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com


Merry Christmas early! I thought
you all might enjoy a free piano
arrangement of "Joy to the World".


I wrote it with the small church in
mind. You can always repeat it to
make it just right for an offertory.


The arrangement could also be used
for the prelude.


Remember how I've been telling you all
that scales are important?


Well....here's a good example. They add
life to hymn arrangements. I used the C
scale twice in this Christmas song.


You'd better know the correct fingering to
make it sound... ever-so-smooth.


(C scale fingering: 12312345) for right hand


I also used a lot of chord inversions in measures:
five & six (left hand). They add a more open tone.


Remember: frequent use of root chords create a
"plunky" sound.


I'm saving my longer piano arrangments for my
future website. Hope you're able to use this
free arrangement!

Thanks for your visits. Hope I've been a help.