So, did you take me up on my dual challenge to do a little (consistent) sight reading and prepare a little early for Christmas? I hope so, if only so you’ll be comfortable when that first (unexpected) request to play for some charity event the day after Thanksgiving comes in! If you’re ready, what would have been a shock can be turned into a tingle instead of electrocution!
I’m kinda pleased with myself. I set the bar low at just one Christmas tune a day, but like practicing in general, once I got on the bench, who can really have just one? As promised, I made a list of the Christmas tunes I read through this week.
I didn’t include those tunes that I could have read but have been in my repertoire for years, so I really don’t need to read them (that seemed like cheating anyway). I did include tunes I have played a few times but can never remember without looking at the page (either because (to me) they’re arcane) or because although they’re popular, I don’t like them!).
I wasn’t fancy – I used books I have already. I focused on tunes I hadn’t ever read, mostly because I didn’t recognize them. I used what I consider “basic” books that you can easily find available. And I focused on the melody and harmony ideas not “straight” reading because 1. I’m lazy and 2. I know I won’t play those arrangements; I’ll find my own. Here’s my list of books (alphabetical by arranger):
- Deb Friou and Julia Lane’s Yuletide Treasure
- Jo Morrison’s Christmas Gifts
- Sunita Staneslow’s Christmas Eve
- Karl Weinand’s Christmas Music for the Lever Harp
- Sylvia Woods’ 50 Christmas Carols for All Harps
So here goes, here’s what I read through this week (alphabetical by title):
- A Child is Born in Bethlehem
- A la Nanita Nana
- The Abbot’s Bromley Horn Dance
- Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came
- Angelus ad Virginem
- Birth in Bethlehem
- Boar’s Head Carol
- Cherry Tree Carol
- Cold and Raw
- Down in Yon Forest
- From Heaven Above to Earth I Come
- Green Grow’th the Holly
- He Smiles Within His Cradle
- The Holly and the Ivy
- The Holly Bears a Berry
- The Humors of Winter
- Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine
- Masters in this Hall
- New Christmas
- O Come Little Children
- Over the Hill and Over the Dale
- Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers
- Shepherds Hurried to Bethlehem
- Wexford Carol
- While Shepherds Watched their Flocks
- Willie, Take Your Drum
Did I like them all? Not even a lot of them. But there are a couple I’m excited to learn this year. Not sure I’ll play them anywhere, but can’t hurt to have a leg up.
What’s not in here? More modern Christmas songs – I’ll have to source some of those because I like them and want to play them! Or I could learn them by rote (which should be relatively easy since I can sing the ones I like) (don’t worry, I won’t make you listen to my singing). If you find the sheet music for I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, please do not send it to me.
How did you do? I’d love to hear about it, even if you don’t share your list! Let me know in the comments!