15 Magical Christmas Piano Arrangements
Whether you start listening to Christmas music on November 1st, the day after Thanksgiving, or just weeks before the holiday, it’s hard to deny the joy it brings! But sometimes we long for a fresh perspective on our favorite Christmas tunes, and what could be better than an imaginative piano arrangement? Here are 20 magical Christmas piano arrangements we love, and we know you will too!
“Joy To The World” – The Theorist
Watch as The Theorist brings both delicacy and boldness to this piano arrangement of “Joy To The World.”
In This Arrangement: Watch as The Theorist brings both delicacy and boldness to this piano arrangement of “Joy To The World.”
Origins of the Song: “Joy to the World” is a traditional Christmas hymn with a text written by Isaac Watts in 1719. The music is the hymn tune known as “Antioch,” which is often attributed to George Frideric Handel. However, there is no proof that Handel had anything to do with the song. Regardless, this is one of the most popular of all Christmas piano songs and is fun to learn and play.
“Silent Night” – Peter Bence
Peter Bence braves the cold in this unforgettable performance of “Silent Night.”
The history of “Silent Night” is well known. A young priest named Joseph Mohr was inspired to pen the words while walking on a cold, winter night in Austria in 1816. The choir director Franz Gruber composed the melody and the first performance was sung on Christmas Eve by these two men accompanied on the guitar.
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Jacob Koller
This advanced jazz cover of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Jacob Koller is one of our favorites. We highly recommend listening with a hot chocolate in hand and a fireplace crackling nearby.
Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine get the credit for writing this beautiful standard. It was first introduced in the movie Meet Me in St. Louis where it was sung by the incomparable Judy Garland. There are two sets of lyrics, one more melancholy and one more upbeat. Frank Sinatra requested the lyric revision for his cover.
“Let It Snow” by Jonny May
You can’t help but tap your toe to Jonny May‘s exciting, jazzy cover of “Let It Snow!”
One of the more upbeat tunes on the list, “Let It Snow!” is not technically a Christmas song. Composed by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn in 1945, it was inspired by one of the hottest days they had experienced while working in Hollywood. This cool version will get you in the right spirit for the holidays.
“I Saw Three Ships” – Jarrod Radnich
We never knew how much we loved the traditional Christmas tune “I Saw Three Ships” until we heard Jarrod Radnich‘s virtuosic piano cover.
One of the best Christmas songs to play on piano, “I Saw Three Ships” dates to the 17th century. Its origins are a little obscure, but it is believed that the tune is from a Cornish folk song called “As I Sat on a Sunny Bank.”
“Jingle Bells” SAD Version – Toms Mucenieks
Can “Jingle Bells” be sad? We didn’t think it was possible, but Toms Mucenieks proved us wrong with this unique piano arrangement.
“All I Want For Christmas is You” by Richard Kittelstad
This Mariah Carey classic is even better on piano! Watch as Richard Kittelstad delivers an exciting performance of “All I Want For Christmas is You.”
“Ukranian Bell Carol (Carol of the Bells)” – Jarrod Radnich
Watch as pianist Varya plays Jarrod Radnich’s enchanting “Carol of the Bells” arrangement.
One of the best piano Christmas songs, “Carol of the Bells” was composed in 1916 by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovich. It had nothing to do with Christmas and was instead a song about wishing households a prosperous and plentiful year. When American arranger Peter Wilhousky heard the song, he thought the music sounded like bells. He wrote the Christmas lyrics we sing today.
“Do You Want To Build a Snowman” by Kyle Landry
Even though we find ourselves singing this Frozen tune year round, Kyle Landry‘s intricate arrangement for piano is the perfect piece to add to your Christmas repertoire!
“Where Are You Christmas” by DPSM
Watch as pianist Jason Frisk performs the beautiful DSPM arrangement of “Where Are You Christmas,” featured in the film How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
“Winter Wonderland” by Jonny May
Because we thought you needed another touch of Christmas jazz, here’s another incredible arrangement, this time of “Winter Wonderland,” by Jonny May.
The lyrics for “Winter Wonderland” were written by Richard Smith while he was being treated for tuberculosis in the West Mountain Sanitarium in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Felix Barnard composed the music and Doris Day made it a Christmas hit on her 1964 album.
“Sleigh Ride” by Kristen Mosca
Ragtime pianist Kristen Mosca adds some spice to the Christmas classic “Sleigh Ride” with this exciting piano cover!
Christmas Piano Medley: Notecard Improv – YoungMin You
Watch as pianist YoungMin You shuffles around his favorite 10 Christmas pieces and improvises switching from one to the next on the spot!
“O Holy Night” by Yannick Streibert
Rarely do we hear an instrumental version of “O Holy Night,” but we’d listen to this Yannick Streibert arrangement any day.
“Little Drummer Boy” by Jarrod Radnich
Watch as pianist Nathaniel takes on another Jarrod Rachnich masterpiece, “The Little Drummer Boy.”
FAQ
- What is the most played song during Christmas? If you are asking about the most played on the radio or streaming services, the answer is Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the best-selling Christmas song of all time is “White Christmas” as sung by Bing Crosby. So if folks are listening to Christmas music at home, Bing wins over Mariah.
- What is the easiest Christmas song to learn on piano? There are easy versions of many different Christmas songs. So while the original may be challenging, it’s possible to find a version for your level of playing. “Jingle Bells” is a good choice for beginning pianists. The chorus is repetitious and the hand positions are easy to maintain.
Check out even more solo piano arrangements for your favorite Christmas tunes at Musicnotes.com!
