Roche Roll has written numerous Christmas music collections with various themes. Over 30 years, he has published 11 collections for piano solo, 4 for piano duet, and also collections for chamber music (piano trio). This work, as its title suggests, is characterized by its high degree of creativity. It can effectively be described as a collection of original works using Christmas carols as source material. It prominently features the festive splendor of the season and incorporates a wealth of contemporary tastes. Throughout, he skillfully deconstructs the original melodies, replaces them with stylish chords, and surprises with irregular phrasing (e.g., metrical irregularities or unexpected note groupings). Yet, the lyrical world of the original songs is naturally preserved. The free-flowing brushwork shines precisely because he thoroughly understands and is intimately familiar with the origin, religious background, lyrics, and melodies of each carol. A superficial or hastily conceived arrangement would certainly not achieve this level of artistry. Due to its intricate construction down to the details, the difficulty is somewhat high, approximately Czerny Op. 740 (Czerny 40).

Contents

• #1 Away In a Manger | Gently, 3/4, F major
• #2 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear | Unhurried & somewhat rubato, 3/4, B flat major
• #3 Jingle Bells | Moderately fast, evenly, 4/4, G major
• #4 Joy To The World | With gusto, 4/4, G major
• #5 O Come, All Ye Faithful | Brisk march tempo, 4/4, C major
• #6 Silent Night | Warmly, 3/4, D major
• #7 Hark the Herald Angels Sing | In classic style, 4/4, D major
• #8 Deck the Halls | Lively, 4/4, C major