Christmas Music for Classical Guitarists

Christmas Anthology for Guitar with text and full accompaniment
for solo guitar or voice and guitar

Contents:
Angels We Have Hard On High Auld Lang Syne Away in a Manger Deck the Halls The First Noel God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Good King Wenceslas Hark! The Herald Angels Sing It Came Upon a Midnight Clear	Jingle Bells Joy to the World O Christmas Tree O Come All Ye Faithful O Little Town of Bethlehem Silent Night We Three Kings of Orient Are What Child is This?

At Christmastime, more than any other, people gather together in places of worship, concert halls and at home around the hearth to celebrate the season with song.

This anthology of 17 most famous Christmas Carols is intended for the guitarist who enjoys playing solo as well as accompanist. The accompaniments in this volume sound full, similar to those commonly found for piano, and range from slight to moderate skill level. To facilitate singers, the guitarist can adjust the key of any song with the aid of the capo.

May you and your family and friends enjoy this collection for may years to come.

What Child is This? (Greensleeves) by Anonymous

Greensleeves is one of the best known melodies in Western culture. Because of its roots in Elizabethan lute music, it has a special place for guitarists. In the tradition of its time, this version exploits the ground bass feature of the piece and includes 2 variations.

Although original authorship of the music is unknown, the traditional Elizabethan version of Greensleeves, a song of unrequited love, was licensed to Richard Jones in 1580. Christmas anthologies include this melody under the title of What Child is This? first appearing in 1865 with words by poet/theologian William Chatterton Dix.

Angels We Have Heard On High with variation for solo guitar

The refrain for this traditional carol comes from a late medieval Latin chorale. The music for the verse, probably from the 18th century, comes from a translation of the old French carol "Les Anges dans Nos Campagnes." They were first published together in a carol collection dated 1855. This publication features a whimsical variation written in 19th century style.

Away in a Manger with variation for solo guitar

Away in a Manger was originally published in 1885 in a Lutheran Sunday school book. The music was composed by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1895. The publication features a soothing variation appropriate for this charming lullaby.

Good King Wenceslas with 2 variations for solo guitar

Good King Wenceslas was the king of Bohemia in the 10th century and is portrayed as saintly because of his charitable acts to feed the poor. The Feast of St. Stephen, mentioned in the carol, was celebrated on December 26th. The accompanying variations are written in the lutenist style of the Elizabethan Period.

Silent Night with 2 variations for solo guitar

Silent Night was first performed to the accompaniment of a guitar. As the story goes, on Christmas Eve of 1818, Silent Night was heard for the first time in a village church in Oberndorf, Austria near Salzburg. Fr. Joseph Mohr, the church pastor and a guitarist, asked his choir director, Franz Xavier Gruber, to write set his poem to music and write the accompaniment for guitar. Together they sang to the congregation of St. Nicholas Church accompanied by Fr. Mohr's guitar. These variations are reverentially written in the style of the Viennese Classical Era.

The Snow Lay on the Ground with variation for solo guitar

This lively traditional English/Irish carol, circa 1860, set here with a sort of hunting horn harmonization, depicts Christmas on a quiet snowy evening. The melody is based on the sacred anthem Venite Adoremus. The English lyricist is unknown. The Latin refrain venite adoremus Dominum means “come, let us adore the Lord”.

2 Traditional Polish Christmas Carols for solo guitar

Christmas Carols in Poland are known as Koledy, which is pronounced “ko-LEN-dy”. Poland has a rich tradition of Christmas music reflecting their religious devotion and ancient Holiday traditions centered around music and good food. So Merry Christmas!" or "Wesolych Swiat!"

Mizerna Cicha

In a quiet, peaceful manger;
Full of Heaven's praise and joy,
Lies the small divine Jesus;
Asleep upon the straw.

Angels gently gather 'round him;
Standing, bending, kneeling
Under a brightly colored rainbow.

Śliczna Panienka

Fairest of Maidens bore the Infant Holy
Laid Him in swaddling on the hay so lowly.
Hay of the meadow! Sweeter far than roses
On thee a sleeping Mary’s Son reposes.

Once in Royal David's City for solo guitar - Traditional English

Once In Royal David's City is a Christmas carol originally written as poem by Cecil Frances Alexander. The carol wasset to music by Henry John Gauntlett in 1849 "Royal David's City" refers to Bethlehem and the text focuses on aspects of the Nativity.

Cite: Wikipedia, Carols.org.uk