2025 Staff Holiday Picks

The holiday season is fast approaching! To help set the perfect festive mood, our team has curated a selection of our favorite seasonal tunes that you can download instantly from Harp Column Music. You can check out previous staff holiday recommendations here. 

(Titles marked with an *asterisk are playable on lever harp. All pieces listed are for solo harp unless otherwise noted.)

The First Noel
arr. Cindy Horstman

What we’re all really looking for in a holiday harp arrangement is a fresh take on a tune that we—and our audiences—have heard a thousand times. The best arrangers know how to to deliver with something that keeps us and everyone listening engaged. I was excited to see Cindy Horstman’s pedal-harp rendition of “The First Noel” land on my desk, and it did not disappoint. Horstman is a master at creating a relaxed, laid-back jazz vibe that makes her arrangements accessible, interesting, and fun to play. She adds just enough syncopation and harmonic variation to this traditional carol to keep you on your toes without making it difficult. What more could a harpist ask for?

*Angels We Have Heard on High
arr. Rhett Barnwell

Rhett Barnwell is also a master at turning a familiar tune into something completely different, so I was excited to see his version of “Angels We Have Heard on High” released in the nick of time for the holiday season! With no lever or pedal changes, Rhett manages to spice things up with melodic interludes that add interest and breathing room in this often fast-paced carol. If you add this one to your set list this year, you won’t be disappointed.

*In The Window (My Candles)
arr. Corkey Christman

If you want to add some Hanukkah music to your repertoire this year take a look at “In the Window,” arranged by the late Corkey Christman. Also known as “My Candles,” the lyrics describe the warm glow of Hanukkah candles on newly fallen snow. The simple melody is just eight bars long, but Christman artfully embellishes it into a theme-and-variations style work spanning two pages. It would make a lovely interlude for a worship service or anytime Hanukkah music is called for.

Harp Column founder Kimberly Rowe now serves as web editor for Harp Column magazine, Harp Column Music, and Harp Column Academy. She also designs websites for other musicians and organizations through Trust Tree Designs. Formerly a Philadelphian, she now lives in MidCoast Maine where she plays with area ensembles and tries not to miss a day of pilates. 

*A Christmas Suite for Clarsach
by Maeve Gilchrist

I admit to being wooed by the romantic vision the title of this collection creates—traditional Christmas tunes played on traditional instruments in a Celtic country, probably with a fire crackling in the background, surrounded by your closest friends. Arranged by Scottish harpist (and Harp Column Academy master teacher) Maeve Gilchrist, this collection does not disappoint. Gilchrist takes three traditional carols (“O Come O Come Emmanuel,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” and “Ding Dong Merrily on High”), and weaves in some beautiful Celtic color with ornamentation, syncopated rhythms, and unexpected harmonies. While it will sound more like the arranger intended on a lever harp, it also works beautifully on pedal harp. Build a fire, invite some friends over and enjoy this collection with some hot cocoa!

*Bernard’s Christmas
arr. Megan Metheney

I absolutely adore a good musical mashup, and Megan Metheney’s collection Bernard’s Christmas delivers 50 pages of mashup merriment! Metheney combines the music of Bernard Andrès with a different Christmas carol using juxtaposed phrases, simultaneous parts, and sometimes a simple medley. The collection is playable on lever or pedal harp, and Metheney recorded these pieces on a 38-string lever harp, so you can hear them before you try them. While the collection includes 17 titles, you can buy them individually or as a set. My favorites are “Ribambelle #3/Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella” and “A Martine/What Child Is This?”, but they are all enjoyable to to play!

*Feather In The Snow (Christmas Lullaby)
by Alexandra Genova

During a full season of holiday gigs, there is always a moment where I think to myself…I would give anything NOT to play a Christmas song right now. Well, now I have just the piece to pull out in that moment—Alexandra Genova’s original piece Feather in the Snow. Genova hits just the right note (no pun intended) in painting a musical picture of a feather gently falling in the snow with her use of descending patterns through the piece. It’s appropriate to give to a student, and sight-readable for a professional. Best of all, this delightful little lullaby can be played all year around.

Alison Reese is editor of Harp Column magazine. She is principal harp of the Holland Symphony and also plays frequently with the Grand Rapids Symphony and other orchestras across West Michigan. While she loves holiday music and enjoys discovering fresh takes on old classics, she refuses to listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving.

*Last Christmas
arr. Michelle Whitson Stone

In my humble opinion, you can never go wrong with a Michelle Whitson Stone arrangement. I was thrilled to see she added a Christmas song to her repertoire this year! Though originally released in the ’80s, Wham!’s “Last Christmas” has become a seasonal staple and it’s a joy when you get to play pop classics like it on the harp. In Michelle’s signature style, this arrangement shines in the harp’s lower register and keeps the melody true to the original song.

*Still, Still, Still/In The Bleak Midwinter
arr. Joy Slavens

These two carols blend beautifully in Joy Slavens’ arrangement, which is rich with rolled chords, glissandos, and warm harmonies while remaining very approachable to play. A lovely arpeggiated segue connects the sections, giving the piece a peaceful, flowing quality.

*Masters in this Hall / God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
arr. Anne Sullivan

Anne Sullivan is bringing the holiday cheer in full force this season with all her contributions to Harp Column Music! This medley is absolutely thrilling to play. It’s a lively blend of one lesser-known carol (“Masters in this Hall”), one beloved favorite (“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”), and an original jig with a spirited Irish flair. It’s a refreshing change of pace from slower seasonal arrangements, and I can’t wait to add it to my gig book this year!

As Managing Editor of Harp Column Music, Liana Alpino helps curate and organize all the music you see on our site. She also frequently blogs for us, putting together set lists for all occasions. Based in Nashville, TN, Liana keeps a busy performing and teaching schedule, and dedicates her spare time to composing and arranging music for the harp.

*A Christmas Cracker!
by Tamsin Dearnley

This ingenious arrangement will have you smiling the whole time you’re playing! In her irresistibly fun medley, Tamsin Dearnley links snippets of “The Sussex Carol,” “Here We Come A-Wassailing,” “Joy to the World,” “Noël Nouvelet,” “In Dulci Jubilo,” and Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. I found it sightreadable at a lively tempo for advanced players, and it’s a lot simpler to play than it sounds!

*That Night in Bethlehem
arr. Gráinne Hambly

This meditative, wistful arrangement is one of the most beautiful Christmas pieces I’ve heard. Taking the traditional Irish carol “Don Oíche Úd i mBeithil” (“That Night in Bethlehem”), Gráinne Hambly has created a lovely duet with each harp part suitable for early intermediate players. With a little creativity, I think this could be easily adapted into an upper intermediate/advanced solo or into an ensemble piece for varying levels (it even comes with practice tracks). It’s also a plus that Harp 1 and Harp 2 parts trade off the melody and accompaniment, and the accompaniment itself is fun to play—rhythmic and delicate, like faraway bells.

*Nocturne for a Midnight Clear
by Anne Sullivan

With a style reminiscent of a Chopin nocturne, Anne Sullivan’s creative arrangement of “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” adds a welcome touch of something new to a beloved carol, using arpeggiated patterns, unexpected harmonies, and slight changes to the melody. Sullivan offers three versions: an easy-to-learn simplified version, as well as two longer versions for intermediate players and advanced pedal harpists. Each version has a slightly different atmosphere and feel due to the accompaniment patterns, so even if you are an advanced harpist, try all three!

Heather Cornelius makes sure you are up-to-date with all things harp as our news editor. Based in southern Vermont, she holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in harp performance and is currently working on a book to help music teachers empower students with mental health challenges. She also enjoys collaborating with composers to create new music for the harp.

*The Holly and the Ivy
arr. Ann Reddy

This delightful arrangement is perfect for a church prelude, service music, or any background setting. It’s quick to learn, but don’t let its simplicity fool you—the improvisatory interludes between verses are stunning, and the harmonics add a lovely touch. Suitable for intermediate players, this piece is a must-have for your holiday gig book.

*Winter Waltz
by Jacqui Cook

For holiday gigs, it’s always nice to include a few original, “holiday-sounding” pieces to mix in with the familiar tunes. This waltz features a gentle, reflective melody supported by simple yet lush harmonies. It’s suitable for both lever and pedal harp and falls at the intermediate level. For background music, consider adding a repeat to extend the piece.

*Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
arr. Heather Cornelius

If you’re looking for a fresh twist on a familiar carol, this arrangement delivers! The first verse features a syncopated rhythm that subtly reshapes the melody, while the second verse shifts the tune to the left hand with flowing right-hand arpeggios. It’s short, a bit tricky, but definitely worth the effort. Suitable for late-intermediate to early-advanced players.

Danielle Kuntz is the face behind customer service at Harp Column. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, she holds a Master of Music degree in harp performance. Danielle is active in the new music community and regularly coaches composers on effective approaches to writing for the harp.

Shop all holiday music!