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The Church Pianist » piano http://thechurchpianist.com A help ministry for church pianists all over the world! Tue, 22 May 2012 16:36:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 The Church Pianist: The Sounds of Christmas http://thechurchpianist.com/christmas/the-church-pianist-the-sounds-of-christmas/ http://thechurchpianist.com/christmas/the-church-pianist-the-sounds-of-christmas/#comments Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:38:45 +0000 Jenifer Cook http://thechurchpianist.com/?p=1252 Bell sounds add life to Christmas carols.

Here are several examples of different
bell ingredients I used in my arrangements
on the “Simply Christmas” CD… mentioned
in a previous article.

Click here for free Sounds of Christmas for piano

Explanation for the Examples:

1. Joy to the World (right hand bell tones)
Notice the intervals of the bell tones and try
in several different keys for reinforced learn-
ing and versatile application.

2. Joy to the World (right hand bell clusters)
I simply add a ‘D’ to a C chord to create
a dissonant sound for the bell effect.

3. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
This is one of my favorite chime sounds.
Notice how all the notes in the right hand
chords are a 4th apart. This is how to create
the chime sound!

4. O Little Town of Bethlehem (bell echo)
Bell echos add a sweet; dreamy texture to
lullaby-type melodies.
The bell echo occurs in the right hand (last measure).
It’s just a broken octave ending with a nice harmony note
occuring a 3rd under the broken octave.
Remember: 3rd and 6ths create beautiful touches of
harmony.
I just used the ‘Alberti bass’ pattern in the left hand.

Alberti bass means a broken chord in this order:
“Bottom~top~middle~top”

Hopefully, you can incorporate these Sounds of Christmas

into your own Christmas carols this year.

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