The 11 songs in this collection of mixed-level piano duets (for 1 piano, 4 hands) are arranged for a beginning student to play the PRIMO while the teacher, parent, or an intermediate student plays the SECONDO. All notes in the PRIMO are played singly with the hands in one position centered around middle C and then played one octave higher.

Each song is presented in two formats: on a grand staff (a combined score with both piano parts on each page) plus the alternate format with the PRIMO and SECONDO on separate pages.

Most of the songs are written in the key of C major and do not require using flats or sharps. However, there are a few songs in the key of G major (1 sharp) or F major (1 flat). These songs provide practice playing notes on the black keys (either an F-sharp for the key of G major or a B-flat for the key of F major).

These fun-to-learn arrangements are a welcome addition to the piano repertoire for beginning students and suitable for recitals or just some family fun around the piano during the holiday season. Selections include classics associated with the winter holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year?s. Each song is also available separately with accompanying preview pages and audio samples.

Song titles included in this collection:
Auld Lang Syne
Good King Wenceslas
Hallelujah Chorus
Jingle Bells
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
O Christmas Tree
Over the River and Through the Woods
Patapan
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Up On the Housetop
We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Theselively arrangements are intended for the elementary pianists or keyboardplayers. While some duets are more challenging than others, the notation hasusually been kept as simple as possible and musical elements such as dynamics,articulations, phrasing and slurs have been omitted completely. To make thingseasier for the players, the piano parts are printed in large type with Primoand Secondo parts on separate pages. In the Secondo part, chordsare printed underneath the staff (rather than above) to create space for thefingering suggestions.

Elementarypianists rarely have the valuable opportunity of playing in an ensemble. Themain feature of the Really Easy Christmas Collection for piano duet isthat it?s fully compatible with the Optional Instrumental Pack, a set ofinstrumental parts for all 20 songs in this collection. The Instrumental Packcontains (a) full scores of each piece plus a set of parts in varioustranspositions. It is available here: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/21394520 

Theduets include the following well-known Christmas carols and hymns: Angels fromthe Realms of Glory (Melody: Gloria); As with Gladness, Men of Old (Melody:Dix); Away in a Manger (Melody: Mueller); Deck the Halls (Melody: Nos Galan); Ding!Dong! Merrily on High (Melody: Bransle de l'Officiel); God Rest You Merry,Gentlemen (Melody: God Rest You Merry); Good Christians All Rejoice (Melody: InDulci Jubilo); Good King Wenceslas (Melody: Tempus Adest Floridum); Hark! TheHerald Angels Sing (Melody: Mendelssohn); I Saw Three Ships (Melody: I SawThree Ships); It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Melody: Carol); Joy to the World(Melody: Antioch); Oh Christmas Tree (Melody: Tannenbaum); Oh Come all yeFaithful (Melody: Adeste Fidelis); Once in Royal David's City (Melody: Irby); SilentNight (Melody: Stille Nacht); The First Nowell; The Holly and the Ivy (Melody:Holly and the Ivy); We Three Kings and WeWish You a Merry Christmas.

Theaudio examples include several other instruments using parts from the OptionalInstrumental Pack.

This collection includes six creative arrangements for piano duet (one piano, four hands) to celebrate Christmas at the keyboard. From the tender emotions of "Mary's Lullaby" to the jazzy energy of "Go Tell It on the Mountain," this delightful variety of Christmas carols has something for every holiday occasion. Primo and secondo parts are fairly well balanced in difficulty and involvement, and are accessible to the intermediate pianist. 73 pages. To conserve space and enhance readability during performance, the book is formatted with primo and secondo parts separated onto facing pages. If you're interested in an alternate layout with the parts stacked together on each page (you may find this easier for learning the music), contact the publisher after purchase using the website link below.


1. O Holy Night

2. Mary's Lullaby

3. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

4. Carol Medley (includes "Coventry Carol" and "Wexford Carol")

5. Go Tell It on the Mountain / Hallelujah!

6. Christmas Celebration (includes "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Pat-a-pan," and "Brightest and Best" (also known as "Star in the East")

This collection includes six hymn arrangements for piano duet (one piano, four hands). From the peaceful assurance of ?It Is Well with My Soul? to the rousing commitment of ?Called to Serve Medley,? each of these pieces is arranged beautifully to provide a memorable musical offering suitable for church services and other special occasions. Primo and secondo parts are fairly well balanced in difficulty and involvement, and for the most part are accessible to the intermediate pianist. ?Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing? is classified as late intermediate because it offers some more advanced rhythmic challenges and creative meter changes. 59 pages.


1. How Great Thou Art

2. The Spirit of God

3. A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief

4. Called to Serve Medley (includes ?Called to Serve,? ?I?ll Go Where You Want Me to Go,? and ?How Gentle God?s Commands?)

5. It Is Well with My Soul

6. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing



YouTube playlist of all six duets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3jGsH0nl7oandlist=PLNCfNIIU9pLRdDBLm1kz8esyHQGxZxj0U

Angels We Have Heard on High is Michael Ware's exuberant Four Hand Piano arrangement of the well known French carol. Complete with an antiphonal introduction and a captivating use of mixed meter, this setting is sure to please at any celebration of the season.

Fum, Fum, Fum with Pat-a-Pan is Michael Ware's 4 Hand Piano arrangement of the famous Catalan and French Christmas carols. Sure to delight the audience or congregation, this mesmerizing setting is bound to become a holiday favorite. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MakzQlfcVt4&index=17&list=UUOdpHXmHg4DNcOmBfIQPeCw
2017 Holiday Contest Entry