The Christmas Song
This post is about Thomas Gunther's Solo Piano Arrangement of THE CHRISTMAS SONG
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"The Christmas Song" is arguably the best-known in the USA. Some know it as "Chestnuts Roasted On An Open Fire" or "Merry Christmas to You."
Its melody and harmony are gorgeous.
I especially like Nat King Cole's version, which is in Db major. Although I based my arrangement on Cole's version, I wrote my piano solo arrangement in C major instead, mainly for the benefit of the less experienced piano player.
About The Arrangement
I crafted this arrangement in a jazz ballade style, featuring a lively double-time improvisation section in Latin style that I spontaneously created during the second B section while recording the song. It’s adding a fun twist, although the arrangement can be performed without, providing flexibility for the performer.
Jazz pianists will find it particularly helpful that I've included chord symbols, allowing them to easily improvise throughout the song.
About The Sheet Music
The sheet music is an exact transcription of my recording, including the improvisation part. (You can listen to it and see me perform in the video below.)
It contains jazz chord symbols, plentiful articulations, and dynamic markings.
How This Arrangement Came About
As mentioned earlier, my arrangement is heavily inspired by Nat King Cole's version. I love the ballad feel and the beautiful chord substitutions he employs.
First, I played along with his version in Db major, which helped me understand the harmony. Next, I experimented with different accompaniment styles. I continued to explore various ideas until I had a solid concept of how I wanted the arrangement to unfold. After that, I recorded it multiple times. Then, I listened to the different takes and used the best ideas from each to piece together my final arrangement.
Recommendations For Learning The Song
I recommend that you first listen to my performance while following along with the sheet music. This will give you a clear idea of how I intended the music to sound. However, it’s entirely up to your personal taste on how you choose to interpret it.
When learning a song, I prioritize making good fingering and sustain pedal choices, as these two aspects often work together.
Is This Arrangement For You?
Ultimately, it depends on personal taste and your skill level. This arrangement is most appropriate for easy to intermediate pianists. Some chords in the left hand require a hand span of a tenth, which may pose a challenge for those with smaller hands. However, there are techniques to manage this, such as using a quick rolling motion along with the sustain pedal.