I just published an early advanced piano arrangement of “O Come All Ye Faithful” and a beautiful rendition of “What Child is This” for violin solo w/ piano accompaniment.
“O Come All Ye Faithful” is written in more of a prelude style but can suffice as a Christmas offertory. This particular arrangement was also one of my homespun pieces…featured on the Christmas CD entitled “Simply Christmas”. I did make harmonic corrections here and there in the written version because I couldn’t help myself! 😉
We hope to create youtube videos for both of these arrangements by the weekend.
Violin solo w/ piano accompaniment, 4 pgs. *Price covers two copies
*Written for my daughter-in-law...Jackie, who likes the lower register of the violin for a more mellow sound.
Many church pianists have already been practicing for their church’s Christmas program.
In many cases, the church pianist IS the choir leader and has the task of deciding what to do for a Christmas program.
My son is our choir director. He works at least 50 hours a week and the father of three small children. Needless to say, I help out by coming up with a simple program to fit our 40 minutes per week choir practice time. (this accounts for starting roughly two months in advance; which may vary from church to church depending on your choir’s ability)
My son and I have about a 40 minute commute to church so we’re very time conscious!
Our most-involved Christmas program back in 2011 was entitled “Christmas at Home” by Ron Hamilton. We used the “readers theatre” version due to limited time. The main actors were acting their first play ever. (Part Two sampler of our Christmas at Home)
In recent years, we have experienced a much more pleasant, relaxing time through having easier Christmas programs.
I have written two VERY easy Christmas programs…one of which is FREE HERE. I’m still editing the second FREE Christmas program.
Now…ideas for enhancing your Christmas Program…
Lyrics taken from cantata books make for great narration when coordinating a chronological list of songs together for a short choir concert. (That’s what we’re doing this year)
Include congregation by having them sing a song in the program. ( the choir could sing a descant taken from a hymnal while the congregation sings the melody) Another neat idea…have Pastor lead congregation in reciting Luke 2:14 at the appropriate time during the program. Very effective! (Tip: Include Luke 2:14 in the Christmas program bulletin)
The congregation could also stand and sing a song following their verse (Luke 2:14) Song suggestions: Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joy to the World (include lyrics in the program bulletin)
Easy Christmas Program Suggestion:
Several different adults recite the Christmas story(Luke 2:1-19) in microphone off stage while children in appropriate costume act out the narration.
Stage setup: Only two scenes: Manger scene center stage, shepherd scene on left or right of manger scene. (props for shepherd scene not necessary).
Songs can be inserted appropriately throughout the narration.
Extra tip:Remind children that they must listen to what’s being read so they can act accordingly…to avoid appearing mechanical
Also a good idea to remind narrators to read with conviction! It brings the story to life!!
Hopefully this will help church pianists or choir leaders trying to find last-minute ideas for an easy Christmas program.
Please feel free to leave comments or ideas below.
A reminder: I do have over a dozen FREE piano and vocal Christmas arrangements available HERE.
Sharing a few links that may give you an idea as well (don’t fully endorse all the ideas at these links… but you can sift out what you like)
I absolutely LOVE the words to this Christmas carol, Who is He in Yonder Stall? The last verse into the chorus is my favorite part as seen below.
A big thanks to Mary Lynn Van Gelderen, one of my special piano friends, who helped me with the editing process. Mary Lynn said the arrangement fit her hands perfectly 🙂
I visualized the lyrics of the first and last verse when creating this arrangement.
Verse One:
Who is He in yonder stall
At Whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?
Last verse:
Who is He that from the grave
Comes to heal and help and save?
Who is He that from His throne
Rules through all the world alone?
Refrain:
’Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
’Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
Moderately advanced Christmas piano solo, 3&1/2 pgs. Approx. 2:22 length
Nice arrangement for offertory or other special event.
The key change in the middle of the second verse soars into a joyful ending!
One of my readers shared this video with me this week…of her son playing my free piano arrangement ofJesus Paid it All. I also enjoyed hearing the cello play along with it too! ( I liked how she changed registers for variety)
What a blessing to hear my music can reach as far as Romania and beyond. 🙂
So thankful God can use me through the ministry of music.
I just published an early intermediate sacred piano solo of “Am I a Soldier of the Cross”. One of my male students specifically requested this song for an offertory arrangement. Knowing this hymn was rather short…I asked him if he would like a medley with this song in it but he didn’t seem interested in my suggestion….so…I had to add an interesting intro, interlude and ending just to make this arrangement last long enough 😉
You’ll notice more structure in this piece since it was written for the student in mind.
I also wrote this two piano arrangement of Brethren We Have Met to Worship….years ago for the same student who played “Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy”.
We enjoyed playing this duet. Here is his younger brother playing Brethren We Have Met to Worship with one of our college students.
The simplicity of the piece benefited their minimal practice time 😉
I wrote “Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy” piano arrangement for one of my former male students who loved playing hymns in minor keys.
He’s now a college student but considers this his all-time favorite. This particular arrangement was written with the piano student in mind…along with ample finger suggestions.
You’ll notice a more structured arrangement here to aid the intermediate church pianist.
Early intermediate sacred piano solo, arranged by Jenifer Cook, 3 & 1/2 pgs.
Written for the student in mind with ample fingering suggestions. Well-structured for easy learning. This piece does have a slight celtic flair.
I wrote this for one of my former male piano students who LOVED hymns in minor keys. He's in college now but still considers this his all-time favorite.
I’ll be publishing a new piano arrangement this week for the early intermediate church pianist….”I Will Arise and Go to Jesus” or may be better known as “Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy”. Which title do you suggest? I seem to find more internet results with the title…”Come Ye Sinners Poor & Needy”.
I may place the lesser known title in parenthesis underneath the well-known title on the first page of the arrangement.
I just stumbled across this simple yet elegant; free piano arrangement when viewing my latest subscriptions of youtube videos.
Love to hear Suyun’s sacred piano videos on youtube 🙂 Thanks Suyun for making us aware of this free piano arrangement for Spirit of the Living God.
The free piano arrangement for Spirit of the Living God can be downloaded at Olive Huisman’s website. (you will find more free piano arrangements as well!)
A big thanks to Olive Huisman for sharing her piano arrangements for free!
