2026 Staff Holiday Picks

It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas! Our team members are sharing some of their favorite holiday pieces to bring a little extra magic to your seasonal playing. From timeless carols to festive favorites, these staff picks are ready to download instantly on Harp Column Music. Looking for even more holiday inspiration? Explore our past staff recommendations here. 

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

Jazzy Christmas Songs, Vol. 2
by Amanda Whiting

It’s no secret at Harp Column that I’m a fan of Amanda Whiting, so when I saw Twelve Jazzy Christmas Songs, Vol. 2 on our list of new releases, I was intrigued. Similar to the first publication, this collection includes both original tunes and holiday standards, many of which can be played on lever harp. Your audience probably won’t recognize originals like “Christmas Morning,” and “The Winter Trees,” but they’re easy to play and will give you a nice break from the standard holiday fare. “When the Lights Twinkled” (also available separately) is a more ambitious and sparkly original, but worth the additional effort. Whiting’s jazzy renditions of standards like “O Christmas Tree,” “The First Nowell,” and “Away in a Manger,” would make great filler for any holiday party. Worth the price of the collection though is her take on “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (in a jazzy style for pedal harp),” along with “Carol of the 5 Bells,” which puts the familiar Ukrainian bell carol melody into a five/four meter.  The collection also includes three holiday duets that you can enjoy with a friend or student. If you liked the original Twelve Jazzy Christmas Songs, you’re going to want to check this one out!

*Avian Airs and Carols
by Kathleen Blackwell-Plank

Are you looking for something different? Do you love a good theme? Then you’re also going to want to check out Kathleen Blackwell-Plank’s Avian Airs and Carols for intermediate lever or pedal harp. As the name implies, this clever collection includes four bird-related arrangements, complete with lyrics and chord symbols. “The Carol of the Birds (Curoo, Curoo)” dates to 19th-century Ireland; “The Song of the Birds (El cant dels cells)” is a Catalan carol made famous by cellist Pablo Casals; “Whence Comes This Rush of Wings (Noël des Ausèls)” comes from the Bas-Quercy region of France; and “The Carol of the Birds (Nadal dels aucèls)” comes from Provence, France. All of the tunes are simple yet interesting enough to be fun to play, especially if you get a chuckle—like I did—envisioning the avian menagerie fluttering by as you go through the music. The first carol in particular has a child-like quality that would make it a great choice if you needed repertoire to accompany a children’s choir. If your Christmas set list is feeling a little stale this year, this collection is worth flocking to.

*The Snow Lay on the Ground    ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime

arr. Philip Hayden

This year’s staff picks holiday blog also coincides with the release of the November-December 2026 issue of Harp Column, where you can read Andrea Wittchen’s insightful Sounding Board column Leave Hindemith at Home. In it, she comes to the discovery that “… any harp piece, well played, [can] be satisfying to an audience. I [don’t] have to razzle-dazzle them with the Hindemith sonata every time.” Perfectly illustrating this concept are two lesser-known carols arranged for lever or pedal harp by Philip Hayden. There is nothing complicated going on in “The Snow Lay on the Ground,” but the simple-yet-cheerful melody, combined with thoughtful voicing and interludes, made me want to keep playing this arrangement again and again. Lyrics are also included. In “’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime,” Hayden gives us another deceptively simple rendition that melts into the hands like a stick of butter. Harpists of all levels will find both of these arrangements satisfying to play, and your audience will love them too.

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. 

*The Best of Christmas for Small Harps in C
by Deborah Dahl Shanks

This collection is proof that good things come in small packages. Deborah Dahl Shanks packs a lot into her arrangements of 25 beloved Christmas carols and songs. Each tune is arranged for either small harps with either 22 or 26 strings, tuned in C. Dahl makes the most of every string on the instrument in these arrangements, with both hands taking advantage of the harp’s full range. Shanks even gives a bit of history about the origin of each piece, which is a nice touch. If you want to play some big Christmas arrangements on your small harp, this book is a must-have.

What Child Is This
arr. Vonda Darr

This carol was the first piece I ever performed on the harp, so I have a soft spot for “What Child Is This” (a.k.a. “Greensleeves”). I think the beauty in this piece is in the simplicity of the melody, which Vonda Darr gives to the violin in this arrangement. The harp, on the other hand, provides a nice balance in the arpeggiated accompaniment. Darr does a beautiful job of keeping the harp part interesting, while not overshadowing the string melody. This will definitely be on my music stand this December.

Christmastide Volume One 
by Harriet Adie

Harriet Adie’s Christmastide is a colossal collection of carols that will keep you on your toes through the season. The 54-page book includes eight pieces, each one exploring a myriad of sounds and rhythms on the harp. The carols can stand alone or be combined with other tunes in the collection. My favorite is “Sussex Carol,” which works its way through several keys, all the while skipping along at a lively pace. You can’t help but smile as you play it. If you get bored performing the same run-of-the-mill arrangements each year, you will want to try Adie’s Christmastide collection.

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.

*Ding Dong Merrily on High
arr. Vonda Darr

I was so excited to welcome fellow Nashville-based harpist Vonda Darr to our HCM family this fall! I’ve never been a particularly big fan of this Christmas carol, but Darr’s arrangement keeps things interesting with a variety of melodic variations throughout. I especially love the sections featuring harmonics that mimic the sound of ringing bells.

*A La Naninta Nana
arr. Laurie Peterson

Where are my elder millennials who know this Spanish carol from The Cheetah Girls movie? Thanks to Laurie Peterson, I finally have this one in my gig book! It’s always nice to add something new to the repertoire, and I love the melody of this carol. It’s not your traditional lullaby—it’s gentle but has a haunting quality, and the grace notes add such a special touch.

*Four Variations on Auld Lang Syne
arr. Ellen Tepper

Okay, I’m cheating a bit by straying from Christmas music, but this beautiful Scottish melody deserves a place in your December repertoire! I especially love Ellen Tepper’s variations. The first is simple, with dramatic grace notes; the second features the melody in arpeggiated form; the third takes a more delicate approach with harmonics; and the final variation is stately, with large rolled chords. This is such a fun rendition to add to your gig book.

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.

*Winter Still
by Sharlene Wallace

Wallace’s creative original work instantly brought a picture to my imagination: snowflakes falling in a snow-covered woods, and the pure delight of watching them swirl and drift through the crisp air. The piece begins with xylophonic sounds and harmonics, with a delicate pattern underneath that sparkles as it subtly changes. The rhythms are easier than they look, and the notation is easy to read. If you want something fresh and wintry for your setlist, this is it.

*Coventry Carol
arr. Anne Sullivan

“The Coventry Carol” is one of my favorite carols to play because of its bittersweet mood and gentle expressiveness—both characteristics that Sullivan perfectly captures in her beautiful arrangement. The gently flowing 16th-note accompaniment creates a harmonic world that seems a fitting echo of the carol’s origins in 16th-century England. It’s a lovely arrangement; one you’ll enjoy coming back to each season.

*Entre Le Boeuf et l’Âne Gris
arr. Stephen Dunstone

In his rendition of a lesser-known French carol, Dunstone takes advantage of the distinctive sound and timbre of a harp ensemble to weave together melody, countermelody, and harmony lines into a creative whole. Most parts are beginner to early intermediate level, and there are many possibilities for division of parts and for leaving out some of the notes so that you can adjust the difficulty level to your ensemble’s needs. This would be a great piece for a student ensemble or a harp circle.

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.

5 Miniature per Natale
by Enea Cavallo

If you’re looking to program a Christmas-themed repertoire for a recital, Enea Cavallo’s 5 Miniature per Natale, Op. 10 is a delightful option. These miniatures use contemporary idioms and harmonies in a charming way. While not easy, they lie well under the hands and feel like they were written by a harpist. The set can be performed as a whole, or each of the five movements can stand alone. “Natura” features a bouncy 16th note pattern under a gentle melody. “Speranza” is freer and written in a recitative style. “Spirito” feels cadenza-like and uses a collage of ideas. “Umanità” has a quirky melody over an arpeggiated accompaniment. “Natale” returns to the ideas of the first movement, “Natura.” The writing is chromatic, so this collection is for pedal harp only.

*Away in a Manger
arr. Sabrina Vaughan

Sabrina Vaughn’s arrangement of Kirkpatrick’s “Away in a Manger” is gentle, reverent, and reflective. While the arrangement is straightforward with arpeggiated accompaniment, the suspended harmonies add a layer of harmonic richness. If you need a new arrangement for gigs or Christmas Eve services, this one is an easy learn for an advanced or professional harpist and is also suitable for early intermediate students.

*O Holy Night, Volume 2
by Brook Boddie

Like most teachers, I am always on the hunt for good holiday arrangements that are interesting, but that my students can also learn and master fairly quickly. (Not all of us want to start holiday music in July!) O Holy Night, by Brook Boddie, hits that sweet spot of having musically interesting arrangements, but not too difficult or long. Whether you are a teacher or a gigging harpist, this collection will provide some nice variety for the holidays. This collection is playable on both lever and pedal harp.

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.

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