Christmas and Thanksgiving
Christmas and Thanksgiving
This piano and organ duet has an orchestral feel and provides a dynamic prelude to a church service or special Christmas event. It opens with the melody in staccato piano octaves over a rhythmic ostinato in the organ. The organ then assumes the melody with modified harmony and chordal piano accompaniment an octave higher. The final section modulates into a forte, slower, more dramatic melody in the organ with an energetic piano part emphasizing octaves and fifths. The piece ends double forte on a Picardy third.
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This organ and piano duet combines three traditional Christmas carols into a festive postlude that maintains a steady pulse from beginning to end, even through a meter change from 6/8 ro 2/2. The piece begins with Good Christian Men, Rejoice, transitions into I Saw Three Ships, and ends with Here We Come A-Carolling, sending the congregation out feeling the joy of the season.
Digital sheet music available at: https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/2084540/Product.aspx
This peaceful offertory combines two traditional carols in an organ and piano duet that makes considerable use of the upper register of the piano. Occasional chimes on the organ are reflected in chime-like octaves on the piano. Two crescendo passages punctuate the overall soft dynamics of the piece, which ends pianissimo in reverence for the Infant Holy just born on the First Noel.
Digital sheet music available at: https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/2091699/Product.aspx
This organ and piano duet is quiet and meditative throughout, making it a good choice for an offertory or communion piece. A flowing piano part, modified harmonies, and the use of the organ chimes enhance the peacefulness. Handbells may be used in place of the chimes. A separate part is provided.
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This organ and piano prelude begins with the peaceful adoration of Lo, How a Rose, accented with the organ's chimes. It transitions into Good King Wenceslas and increases in excitement in Angels We Have Heard on High with the chimes introducing the melody. The final section modulates into Hark! The Herald Angels Sing with full chords in the organ and a driving piano part, concluding with a joyful and repetitive pattern of descending chime-like chords in the piano over full-organ chords.
Digital sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/2084540/Product.aspx
This organ and piano duet (with optional flute or oboe) combines three Christmas melodies. It begins with the symbolism of the German O Tannenbaum, modulates into a rhythmic abbreviated version of the American carol We Three Kings, and concludes with the English Greensleeves. The meditative questioning of What Child Is This? progresses to joy and excitement and ends in quiet awe of what has transpired. A brief concluding motif from O Tannenbaum completes the circle.
Digital sheet music available at https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/2112621/Product.aspx
This organ and piano arrangement is written in an easy-to-read 3/2 and works well for the one Sunday a year that calls for a traditional Thanksgiving hymn. The congregation will sing along in their heads with this offertory, which opens with a flowing accompaniment, modulates and increases in intensity, and concludes with a meditative section and enharmonic ending.
Digital sheet music available at www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/2116269/Product.aspx