Christmas Music for the Piano

With Christmas being a week from today, and in case you are interested playing music written  especially for the occasion, certain works continue to remain favorites. Here are some suggestions. 

Liszt’s Christmas Tree Suite (Weihnachtsbaum) is a collection of twelve pieces that are centered  around childhood Christmas memories. Liszt dedicated the pieces to his granddaughter, Daniela von  Bülow. Compared to some of the composer’s many other works, these are surprisingly simple and  based on Christmas carols. Here is Number 4. Do you recognize the melody?

Another popular favorite is “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” arranged by Myra Hess, from Bach’s Cantata  BWV 147.

“Greensleeves” is a melody which has been transcribed many times. Although no one is quite sure  who wrote it, many will recognize it from the hymn “What Child Is This?”

Another beautiful and familiar song is “Carol of the Bells”, performed here by David Hicken:

A final favorite is the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky.

With so many works having been transcribed for carols, and others written specifically for the Season,  you will find that there is more than enough piano repertoire to perform and enjoy. 

Merry Christmas!

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