Tis the Season

This is a book of traditional Christmas Carols that Sharon arranged for the harp. These easy arrangements are suitable for beginners and intermediate players, although interesting and fun for any level player. You could learn all of these tunes in one season. Songs include: Celtic Carol*, O' Little Town of Bethlehem, Deck the Halls, Silent Night, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, The Holy and the Ivy, What Child is This?, Away in a Manger, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, O Come All Ye Faithful, and The First Noel. Tunes are in F, C, Am, G, Em and D.

Deck the Halls Audio MP3

*Celtic Carol is music from a tradtional folk tune. The words are from a tradtional Austrian Carol. Here are the words:

As lately we watched o'er our fields through the night
A star there was seen of such glorious light
and all through the night the angels did sing
in carols so sweet of the birth of a King. They sang

Gloria Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria Gloria in excelsis Deo, They sang
Gloria Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria Gloria in excelsis Deo

Then shepherds be joyful, salute now your King
O'er hills and o'er valleys your songs now shall ring.
So blest be the hour and welcome the morn
For Christ our dear Savior on earth now is born. they sang:

Gloria Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria Gloria in excelsis Deo, They sang
Gloria Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria Gloria in excelsis Deo

The book is $14. Now available with an audio CDaccompaniment ($6).

Here's what people have written me about Tis The Season:

I have really enjoyed your "Tis The Season" arrangements - They are very elegant, nice to read and easy on the optically challenged. I played a few of them for my co-workers this week and they really enjoyed them as well. Alice Cover

I recently picked up your new Christmas book. It's delightful and I'm enjoying playing your arrangements. Jim Mosher; Oboe, English horn, Recorder and Folk Harp

I played your arrangement of 'What Child is This.' Thanks SO MUCH for making your arrangements available – they are easy-to-learn and elegant-to-play-and-listen-to. Karma Threet

I really enjoyed your Christmas book and ended up playing ‘Away in a Manger,’ ‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,’ and ‘It Came Upon a Midnight Clear’ numerous times, including the first two at church and the last regularly (from memory) at the hospital. By next Christmas my goal is to have all of them memorized. Ann Jenkins

The arrangements are excellent!! This is a very good book. You have come a very, very long way!!!! Mary Radspinner (Afghan Press Publisher)

I am so excited about your Christmas book! I have needed this for years. Finally someone who knows how to put together lovely arrangements that are not too difficult to play and memorize! Peggy Glenn

I just want to tell you how much I am enjoying your new Christmas book. I love it! The arrangements are delightful and simple but elegant. I think of you while playing the pieces. It makes them just that much more special to know the arranger. Kathi Holt

I really like "O Come All Ye Faithful" on the Reigning Harps website. I like the way you arrange. It makes sense to me and it's pretty. Jan Kingston

This review appeared in the Winter 2005 issue of The Folk Harp Journal: This new collection of 11 traditional Christmas tunes is playable for late beginner to early intermediate players. These arrangements are thoughtful and pretty, featuring a creativeness, which provides ‘something different’. Good fingerings are included, along with chord symbols, a wonderful learning and improvising tool. Lever changes are clearly marked, as are some helpful placings. Special features include: syncopated rhythms, glisses, P.D.L.T. and etouffe. Keys include F, C (Am), G (Em), and D. Time signatures include 3/4, 4/4 and 6/8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen switches from 4/4 to 6/8 and back to 4/4 again. Highly recommended for anyone! Denise Grupp-Verbon, Folk Harp Journal

If you'd like to be added to this list, just email me with your comments at: harps@thorharp.com

Go back to the Books,

CD's and Music

or go to A Rose in Winter
The Singing Tree
Gossamer Gate
Sweepin' the Clouds Away
Dance Thru the Music
Where the Fingers Fall
Shalom
Waltz Upon a Time
Prelude for Peace
The Lone Egret
Moon Over the Mountain