The Bell Carol 2.0

My wife is a concert pianist and will be performing an Advent concert with two other musicians on December 21st. The Christmas carols arranged by David Hicken are very appealing and touching.

So many published settings of familiar tunes lack character or musical depth...but you will not be disappointed by Hicken's settings, arrangements or original compositions.

I'm can't believe this was only $5 (after paying $60 for a true lousy joke of an arrangement by a different author)...but man, it's worth every penny!

Dust off those fingers and enjoy!

Personal musical comments/observations:
- m.7: left hand part does not match m.5. Not ruling out artistic purpose here, but this difference in pattern is not repeated anywhere else.
- m.42, 45: it's entirely feasible to keep the pattern here by adding the A-Natural above the F-Sharp bass, and the F-Sharp above the D-Sharp bass. Doesn't make THAT much of a difference in difficulty.
- m.70: I feel that this could be the "peak" (fortissimo), but played with a decrescendo across the entire bar, gently landing on the low A octave in m.71. To me, this "prepares" the stage for the last quiet echo of the theme.

David's songs are wonderful. I really like the soft approach to Away in A Manger and Silent Night. These are great arrangements for prelude - or pre-concert. The Bell Carol is much fuller and very rich in composition. I'll have to practice it for a bit before I'll be able to perform it, but it too is a fabulous arrangement.

I love this song. I think I listen to it (in June) probably a 50x's already. I tend to listen to songs repeatedly that I wish to perform someday. I love the beat, the variation of it. Defintiely a step of CAROL OF THE BELLS which I have memorized and already performed several times for people. I have had audiences that are wowed by the song. I love both, but due to the even more variation and cleverness of vamping it up - then I truly enjoy this one much more!!

The Bell Carol 2.0