The Christmas Shortlist
Selected and reviewed by Andrew Eales
Growing numbers of music publishers are embracing the trend of releasing multi-composer compilations of new piano music, a formula which offers them plenty of scope to champion different names, showcasing a variety of contrasting styles and individual voices.
Earlier this year I praised The Sonatina Collection from Hal Leonard, which features nine inspiring late intermediate works by some of American’s leading contemporary composers. Many of the same names now reappear in a fresh anthology of Christmas Carol arrangements from the publisher.
Christmas Imaginations features 16 familiar melodies reimagined in a variety of styles from jolly jazz to more lyrical ‘poignant preludes’, and the collection is again well suited to late intermediate players.
A collaboration in two halves
Christmas Imaginations for piano solo is a beautifully presented collection with a tastefully seasonal soft matt cover, staple binding, and 64 pages which are clearly printed and spaciously engraved on white paper. Fingering suggestions appear throughout where needed.
Introducing this seasonal collection, project editor Charmaine Siagian (who also contributed one of the arrangements herself) writes,
“The styles in this collection are imaginative and eclectic. Arrangements were created with the awareness of the many moods Christmas can provoke. For many, it is truly the merriest time of the year. For others, it can be tinged with poignant memories that bring feelings of loss or regret. These arrangements, divided into two sections, MERRY and POIGNANT, make it simpler for a pianist to quickly find an appropriate piece to play for the occasion.”
The two sections are arranged as shown in the following list of the sixteen carols (and their arrangers):
Merry & Bright – Music for the Cheerful
• Joy to the World (Brent Edstrom)
• Ding Dong! Merrily on High! (Phillip Keveren)
• Good King Wenceslas (Mark Carlstein)
• God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Mona Rejino)
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (David Pearl)
• O Christmas Tree (Logan Evan Thomas)
• Jingle Bells (Mark Davis)
• Fantasy on We Three Kings (Wayne Bucknor)
Poignant & Peaceful – Music for the Thoughtful
• In the Bleak Midwinter (David Pearl)
• Night Before Christmas (Charmaine Siagian)
• O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Brent Edstrom)
• What Child is This? (Mona Rejino)
• It Came upon the Midnight Clear (Mark Davis)
• Still, Still, Still (Phillip Keveren)
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Logan Evan Thomas)
• Silent Night (Wayne Bucknor)
The construct of organising the book into two sections proves an effective one, and aside from choosing material to suit the audience and occasion, players with different temperaments may find themselves particularly drawn to one half of the book in preference to the other.
It is equally interesting to spot that of the nine composers featured, seven contribute contrasting pieces to each of the sections, the exceptions being Mark Carlstein and Siagian herself. I like the fact that in this way we get to see both faces of each composer, merry and poignant.
It is also a joy to hear different grooves from some familiar names. Brent Edstrom, who is so well known for his superb Jazz Piano Solos series, here brings a pop piano groove to Joy to the World and an undulating pop ballad feel to O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
And in the merrier phase of the book, some of the other unexpected delights include the Caribbean flavoured syncopations of David Pearl’s adaptation of J.S. Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring:
I also particularly enjoyed the cross-rhythm pleasures of Wayne Bucknor’s Fantasy on We Three Kings, and the deliciously chromatic jazz inflections of Mark Davis’ swing Jingle Bells (whoever thought this tune could be given a fresh spin, and be so enjoyable all over again?)…
Meanwhile, and with the change of tone in the second half of the collection, poignancy reigns in David Pearl’s beautiful setting of In the Bleak Midwinter (Holst version), the expressive lilt of Mona Rejino’s What Child is This? and Phillip Keveren’s pianistically satisfying Still, Still, Still.
Rather touchingly, the book concludes with a page devoted to the nostalgic Christmas memories of the arrangers themselves, which are well worth reading and a lovely addition.
Christmas every year…
These new arrangements for Christmas Imaginations range in difficulty from intermediate to early advanced. The UK equivalent would be from around Grade 4 for the easier pieces, with the most difficult being at the upper end of Grade 6.
Adding further to the structural cohesion of the book, the arrangements appear in approximate order of difficulty, as Siagian notes:
“For teachers, each section is also presented in a suggested order of study.”
This adds a further layer of educational value to what is already an outstanding musical selection.
The publication certainly makes a perfect sequel to the excellent Calming Christmas Carols for Graded Piano (suitable for Grades 1-5, and reviewed here), while bridging the gap before attempting the more advanced jazz arrangements of Nikki Iles (reviewed here), Eric Baumgartner (reviewed here) and Brent Edstrom (reviewed here).
From touching arrangements that will help players develop a more cantabile lyricism, to jazzy workings that require careful counting and a strong sense of pulse, the music on offer here certainly hits many of the spots that players at this level typically need to address. I think teachers will love the educational value of this material.
More advanced players also have much to gain from exploring this enjoyable collection, and would no doubt find it musically rewarding and a useful resource of fresh Christmas arrangements. As Siagian concludes,
“All may be used for multiple occasions: from rousing recital performances to intimate family gatherings, as church preludes or at holiday soirées.”
Closing thoughts
Christmas Imaginations offers something suitable and appealing for every late intermediate player, and stands out as one of the best seasonal collections to arrive for some time. The value of incorporating compositions by a range of composers is underscored by the high calibre and enticing variety of material.
While the market for Christmas piano books has been well and truly saturated in recent years, it’s fair to say that most of us use a small range of favourite books to which we return annually. Personally, I think there is room for these superb new Christmas Imaginations on that perennial shortlist.
This is a collection with genuine educational and musical value, and one to which I certainly expect to return as a teacher, and for my own personal pleasure, for many years to come. Truly superb!
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