Staff Holiday Picks 2023

The holidays are just around the corner, so we’ve put together a list of our favorite seasonal music to download now, handpicked by Harp Column staff. You can check out previous lists here, too!

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

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 through Trust Tree Designs and performs throughout MidCoast Maine.

Raise your hand if you always turn to that comfortable piece in your gig book. The one you’ve played a hundred times and could play in your sleep. (Guilty.) Truth be told, I could really use some new holiday “favorites.” For my staff picks this year I looked at only works from artists I was entirely unfamiliar with, with one key requirement in mind: comfort.

*Tàladh Chrìosda
arr. Ailie Robertson

Tàladh Chrìosda (also known as the “Christ Child’s Lullaby”) could not be more simply yet masterfully arranged by Ailie Robertson. There’s nothing fancy going on here, but the notes fall easily into the fingers, and I found myself humming this tune for days. Ailie’s intermediate-level arrangement was sight-readable for me, and would be a satisfying challenge for an advanced beginner. With no lever or pedal changes, I’d use this piece for a holiday set warm up, or as a solo interlude on a cold Christmas Eve night. 

*O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
arr. Tamsin Dearnley

Tamsin Dearnley has been generating a bit of a buzz here at Harp Column Music since we began selling her arrangements and original compositions a few years ago, but I hadn’t had the chance to really dive into her collection until now. I’m pleased to say that I absolutely love her rendition of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” There are no lever or pedal changes until the last chord, but the voice leading is just interesting enough to make the familiar melody fresh and fun to play. There’s a reason Dearnley’s name appears more than once in this year’s “staff picks.”

*Away in a Manger
arr. James Bingham

Confession: I was skeptical to read through this oh-so-familiar carol arranged by choral director James Bingham, because truthfully, it’s not my favorite. But I’m pleased to report that this arrangement is a keeper! In his pedal harp version, Bingham has succeeded in freshening up the old melody with harmonies that are just this side of jazzy. (A shorter  lever harp version is also available, with less harmonic variation.) This arrangement is substantial—yet comfortable—enough that I could imagine using it as a featured solo at a family Christmas Eve service. If you’re tired of this standard carol but want to give it another try, this arrangement is for you.

Heather Cornelius makes sure you are up-to-date with all things harp as our news editor. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, she is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts. She enjoys collaborating with composers to help them create new music for the harp.

*To Drive the Cold Winter Away
arr. Stephanie Claussen

If you’re looking for a cheery Christmas tune that’s less often heard, Claussen’s arrangement of “To Drive the Cold Winter Away” fits the bill nicely. Originally a dance, the tune’s light, bouncy rhythm is fun to play. The two easy lever changes add a nice color to the harmony.

Whiter Than Snow
by Erin Hansen Janke

I really enjoyed the rich rolled chords and harmonies of this intermediate-level hymn arrangement. I could also imagine snowflakes falling slowly like the running patterns in the interludes of this piece.

*Winter Bells
by Sylvia Woods

This original composition creates a wintry effect with a delicate right-hand accompaniment in the high range of the harp that’s reminiscent of “Carol of the Bells.” At six pages in length, it’s a great way to fill out your repertoire list for December gigs. Plus, it works on both lever and pedal harps.

As Managing Editor of Harp Column Music, Liana Alpino helps curate and organize all the music you see on our site. She also manages our social media pages and frequently blogs for us, putting together set lists for all occasions. Based in Nashville, TN, she maintains an active performing schedule and passionately composes and arranges for harp in her spare time.

*I Saw Three Ships
arr. Angela Madjarova

Need to add some true holiday cheer to your gig book? This is the arrangement for you! Angela Madjarova’s variations on the happy English melody are simply exquisite! Almost in a rondo form, she alternates between a simple, standard version of the melody and different variations, concluding with an improvisational-style arpeggio variation. It’s just lovely!

Noël Nouvelet
arr. Heather Cornelius

I quite literally had a jaw-drop moment when I started playing this arrangement by Harp Column’s own Heather Cornelius! It is honestly the most interesting arrangement of this traditional French carol that I have ever heard. The fingerings are marked wonderfully and I absolutely love the use of harmonics throughout.

*A Kiwi Christmas
by Anna Dunwoodie

This collection by New Zealand-based harpist Anna Dunwoodie includes 12 original compositions that are holiday themed. It is a joy to play through; the fun titles and illustrations are an added bonus. My favorite compositions in the collection are “Candy Cane Waltz,” “Wrapping Paper Blues,” “March of the Elves,” and “Pohutukawa (The New Zealand Christmas Tree).” There’s a little bit of everything: a waltz, a jazzy, ragtime piece, a lullaby, and more. It’s really a collection that will be enjoyed by young students and adult players alike.

Harp Column circulation manager Danielle Kuntz performs and teaches in Ann Arbor, MI. An advocate for new music, Danielle offers consultations to composers and even has her own harp writing course. 

*Jingle Bells
arr. Tamsin Dearnley

This piece puts a delightful spin on the well-known “Jingle Bells” tune. The piece starts with a slow, lyrical introduction before launching into the lively melody. Tamsin offers two versions, an intermediate one with no lever or pedal changes and an advanced version with many lever slides. Be warned, if you choose the advanced version, make sure your levers are in good condition and easy to flip! Both versions “jazz” up the tune with fun rhythms. Be sure to watch Tamsin’s video to see how she uses muffles to further accentuate the jazz rhythm. This piece will be well worth your time to learn!

*Christmas in the Key of F
by Sonja Inglefield

Beginning students are always looking for Christmas arrangements, but many collections are still out of their reach. Sonja Inglefield’s new collection Christmas in the Key of F should be your new holiday go-to. As the title suggests, all the arrangements are in the key of F, which makes this a great book to use as a play-along for holiday ensembles or harp circles. Although the arrangements are simple, they are very charming and strategically implement the melody and harmony in a straightforward, but unique manner.

*Troika
by Kirsten Agresta Copely

While holiday arrangements are necessary for gig season, a stylistic, original composition is always a welcome (and necessary!) addition for both gigs and concerts. “Troika” is a lively piece in 6/8 depicting a winter’s journey by means of a sleigh and three white horses. The idiomatic right-hand arpeggios flow beautifully and the harmonics add a shimmering sparkle. This piece has no lever or pedal changes and can be played on lever or pedal harp. 

Kristina Finch is host of the Harp Column podcast. She is principal harpist of both the Miami Symphony Orchestra and Palm Beach Symphony, is an adjunct professor of harp at The University of Southern Mississippi, and is the creator of the One Pedal Off Digital Harp Conference.

*Mary’s Little Boy Child
arr. Judith Aucoin Olson

Popularized by Harry Belafonte in the 1950s, “Mary’s Little Boy Child” is one of the most exciting new additions to the HCM catalog! (Even better—the arranger is a student of mine!) Tricky, but super rewarding, this is the perfect piece to test and develop your syncopation, fingering, and musicality skills. The popular American Christmas tune incorporates a calypso rhythm, which Judy masterfully translates to the harp part!

*Snow Globe
by Alexandra Genova

I love a good holiday original! This one is an exciting addition to the lever and pedal harp repertoire. Its tempo marking indicates that the piece should be played “with joyful anticipation” and it truly embodies the piece. This joyful, highly accessible piece would be a killer addition to a holiday gig set or as an anthem during a holiday service. A note to all of you lever harp players: don’t be scared by the five sharps in the key signature—the piece can be played just as successfully in the key of B-flat major!

*The Winter Trees
by Pedal Sliders

I am always ravenous to get my hands on the holiday offerings by Amanda Whiting, and this one does not disappoint! One of the things I love most about her music is how it makes you sound like you know how to play jazz music—even if you don’t know how to play jazz music! Accessible, jazzy, and unquestionably spirited, this piece, like so many pieces in the Pedal Sliders collections, gives the player an opportunity to improvise and a really clear road map for how to do it!

Alison Reese is editor of Harp Column magazine. She also plays frequently with the Grand Rapids symphony and teaches students of all ages. She is also a self proclaimed hot yoga lover and grammar geek!

Trios for the Holidays
by Alyssa Reit

This December I am playing a program of Christmas music with my three kids—two violinists and a cellist. Aiming for the experience to be more enjoyable than stressful, I am on a quest to find accessible arrangements for flexible ensembles. Alyssa Reit’s Trios for the Holidays fit the bill! The collection includes eight Christmas carols—and not all the usual fare. Our favorites include the traditional Italian song “Tu Scendi Alla Strelle” (You Come Down from the Stars) and the fun French “Patapan,” but the entire collection is a joy to explore with beautiful harmonies and counter melodies throughout.

*The First Noel / Pachelbel’s Canon
arr. Megan Reeve

Megan Reeve has arranged this Christmas/Pachelbel mashup for two instrumentations—a duet or trio with violin and/or flute. I love mashups—they give the listener something familiar and something unexpected, which can be a breath of fresh air with holiday music. Reeve’s arrangement is perfect for sightreading at a gig or playing with students. If you like the mashup approach like I do, be sure to check out Megan Metheney’s collection Bernard’s Christmas for solo harp, which melds favorite Christmas carols with some of Bernard Andrés’ beloved tunes.

Fantasia on Greensleeves
arr. Eira Lynn Jones & David Sumbler

If you have played the juicy orchestral harp part in Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Greensleeves, you’ll likely love this arrangement for harp and flute. Easily adapted to violin (which is how I performed it with my kids), this arrangement by Eira Lynn Jones and David Sumbler shares lots of similarities to the original in the beginning and ending “Greensleeves” sections. In the middle section, which is a setting of the English folk tune “Lovely Joan,” the harp accompanies the melody—a welcome change from the harpist twiddling her thumbs during the tacet in the orchestral setting. This beautiful arrangement is enjoyable for all parties—the audience, the solo melody instrumentalist, and the harpist. And this harpist will continue to enjoy it for many Christmases to come.

Shop all holiday music!