Recorded by Nicolas Horvath on Grand Piano records (GP822)

Debussy?s friendship with the versatile poet and playwright Gabriel Mourey began in 1899, and in July 1907 Mourey offered Debussy a libretto based on Le roman de Tristan - Joseph B�dier?s adaptation of a twelfth-century Breton romance by the Anglo-Norman poet known as Thomas - which had recently been published in Paris. Debussy enthusiastically outlined the four-act plot to Victor Segalen that October, and the main differences from Wagner?s Tristan und Isolde are that none of the action takes place in Cornwall and that ?Isolde of the White Hands? is found guilty of cuckolding King Marc with Tristan, who has to rescue her from the leper colony in which she is abandoned in Act 1. She also betrays him when he goes mad at the end.

The idea of a Tristan that restored its ?legendary character? and had no connections with Wagner, appealed to Debussy, who was extremely moved by the circumstances of Tristan?s death. Even if he thought that Mourey?s poetry was ?not very lyrical and many passages do not exactly ?invite? music?, he did work on the libretto and the music that summer and sent his publisher, Jacques Durand, ?one of the 363 themes for the ?Roman de Tristan?? in a letter sent from Pourville on 23 August, 1907. The present prelude grows from this theme, together with the poignant Breton folksong ?Le Faucon?. After a short atmospheric introduction, Debussy?s dance-like theme (which is definitely not a leitmotif) gradually gains momentum and after it reaches its ecstatic climax, representing the transient happiness of the lovers, it dissolves into an expressive coda and an elegiac close (all growing from Debussy?s opening, off-stage trumpet calls), leaving us with the ultimate tragedy of their ill-fated affair.

Unfortunately, Mourey?s actual libretto has been lost and the project eventually foundered because B�dier?s cousin, Louis Artus, wanted Debussy to use the scenario he had prepared and copyrighted for the stage, and would not allow him to proceed with Mourey?s version. Debussy, it need hardly be said, would never have dreamed of collaborating with the author of the vaudeville hit La culotte (The pants)!

Robert Orledge

An artistic arrangement of a classic carol, "Sing We Now of Christmas", blended with echoes of "Carol of the Bells", a very unique rendition of a hauntingly gorgeous piece of music. Well-suited for church services, recitals and Christmas events. From the album and piano Songbook "A Classic Christmas II", available at https://christinebrownpiano.com/store/

Christine Brown is a Kawai Piano Artist and award-winning composer of the new age, neo-classical solo piano genre. Christine has released 12 albums including original music, Christmas arrangements, as well as cover songs and children's music. Awarded Best Solo Piano Album 2014 for her original compositions on the CD "Souvenirs", two other albums were also nominated for the prestigious award by Solo Piano Radio.com, for "Promise" and "The Wishing Well". A unique collection of mashup cover songs, "Seamless" was awarded Best Pop/Rock Solo Piano Album 2016 by SoloPiano.com, blending classical pieces into a pop/rock seamless arrangements of timeless classics. Christine's holiday CD, "A Classic Christmas" was named "2012 Favorites List" by MainlyPiano.com.

"Intermediate Classical Favorites" is a collection of 10 famous classical works arranged for early to mid-intermediate pianists (pianists in level 3-4 of most piano method books). See the companion video for a sheet music and audio sample of the first page of each piece in the collection.

Included in this collection:Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (J. S. Bach), Canon in D (Pachelbel), Rondo alla Turca (Mozart), Theme from Sonata in A Major (Mozart), F�r Elise (Beethoven), Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven), Opening Theme from Concerto in A Minor (Grieg), Reverie (Debussy), Clair de Lune (Debussy), and The Entertainer (Joplin).

Like this collection but need something easier? Check out my "Easy Classical Favorites" and "More Easy Classical Favorites" collections here at Sheet Music Plus by clicking on my publisher name above!

About the arranger: Chrissy Ricker is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) with a Master's degree in piano performance and pedagogy. Chrissy enjoys composing and arranging music to motivate and challenge students of all ages. In addition to the works she publishes through SMP Press, Chrissy's piano music is also published by Kjos Music Company and Piano Pronto Publishing. Her music has appeared on the piano contest lists of many state and national teaching associations, including the National Federation of Music Clubs. Visit Chrissy's website at www.chrissyricker.com

Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed! is a powerful Easter hymn by Keith and Kristyn Getty. Michael Ware?s dynamic piano arrangement creates a driving lilting style that pianists will love to play. Celebrate the resurrection with this wonderful modern hymn.

Arranged By David S. Gaines, ASCAP, this medley of two well-known Christmas Carols is well-suited for the church pianist as an offertory, prelude, or seasonal service literature. This piece would also be well suited for advanced students to use in recitals or other special programs. Jazz flavors, creative rhythmic structures, and fresh harmonic approaches give these two perennial Christmas favorites new life in this creative blending.

"A Peaceful Christmas" includes 8 lyrical arrangements for intermediate and late intermediate pianists. These arrangements of well-known holiday pieces are appropriate for recitals, worship services, or private performances. See the companion video for a sheet music and audio sample of the first page of each piece in the collection.

Included in this collection are: What Child is This?; Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella; The First Noel; In the Bleak Midwinter; Silent Night; Auld Lang Syne; Simple Gifts; and Canon in D (in modern Romantic style).


About the arranger: Chrissy Ricker is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) with a Master's degree in piano performance and pedagogy. Chrissy enjoys composing and arranging music to motivate and challenge students of all ages. In addition to the works she publishes through SMP Press, Chrissy's piano music is also published by Kjos Music Company and Piano Pronto Publishing. Her music has appeared on the piano contest lists of many state and national teaching associations, including the National Federation of Music Clubs. Visit Chrissy's website at www.chrissyricker.com

Sounds like: Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, Liz Story's "The Gift", George Winston's "December", early Windham Hill solo piano artists, and "A Winter's Solstice" compilations.


Transcribed by: David Shenton ( https://www.shentonmusic.com/ ) verbatim to the sound recording

Contents:
1. Bring A Torch (Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella)
2. Children Go Where I Send Thee / The Holly & The Ivy
3. Star Of Wonder (We Three Kings of Orient Are)
4. Silent (Silent Night, Holy Night)
5. Midnight (It Came Upon the Midnight Clear)
6. What Child Is This?
7. Greensleeves (homage to Liz Story)
8. Three Ships (I Saw Three Ships, Come Sailing In)
9. The Coventry Carol (Lully, Lulla, Lullay)
10. Sing We Now Of Christmas (No�l Nouvelet)
11. Carol Of The Bells

Album & Songbook review by: Kathy Parsons (MainlyPiano.com):

I have discovered a real wealth of great solo piano Christmas CDs this year! Isadar?s In Search For the Meaning of Christmas definitely falls into this category! Thoughtful, introspective, and a bit moody, Isadar?s arrangements are true to the carols (with some small melody changes in ?Bring a Torch? and ?Carol of the Bells? that bother me just a little) and still seem very personal. ?Bring a Torch?, ?The Holly and the Ivy?, and ?I Saw Three Ships? are given a lighthearted, joyful treatment. ?Star of Wonder (We Three Kings)?, ?What Child Is This??, ?The Coventry Carol?, and ?Sing We Now of Christmas? are all minor, somber, reverent pieces, and all four are given loving arrangements that keep the dark, mysterious nature of the songs and reflect Isadar?s own sensibilities. ?Carol of the Bells? and Isadar's take on Liz Story?s arrangement of ?Greensleeves? are energetic without losing all abandon. ?Silent Night? and ?It Came Upon a Midnight Clear? present us with a very cold, deep solitude - both feel like late night with moonlight reflecting off the snow. Both are moody, but very beautifully so. George Winston?s ?December? is one of my all-time favorite holiday albums, and I feel In Search For the Meaning of Christmas holds up exceptionally well next to it. This is an excellent collection of Christmas music, and I highly recommend it!

In Search For the Meaning of Christmas is the companion songbook to Isadar?s 1999 solo piano release by the same name. Meticulously transcribed note-for-note by David Shenton of New York Music Publishing, the music is faithful to the recording in every way (except for the pianist - YOU!). The scores are clear, concise, and easy to read, and also include chord indications for improvisation or the use of instruments other than or in addition to the piano. Isadar?s arrangements cover a whole range of emotions, from very dark and somber to joyful and buoyant. All of the pieces from the CD are here, including Isadar?s homage to Liz Story and her beautiful version of ?Greensleeves.? My personal favorites of the eleven songs in this book are the bright and cheerful ?Bring A Torch,? ?What Child Is This??, ?Greensleeves,? the darkly gorgeous ?The Coventry Carol,? and ?Sing We Now of Christmas.? Other titles that I really like are ?Children Go Where I Send Thee/The Holly and the Ivy,? ?Star of Wonder (We Three Kings)," ?Carol of the Bells,? and the effervescent ?Three Ships.? ?Silent? (Silent Night) and ?Midnight? (It Came Upon a Midnight Clear) are a bit too dark for my own holiday tastes, but are interesting and very personal arrangements. This book will make a great addition to your holiday sheet music collection and is available from isadar.com and amazon.com.

Isadar is an artist on both Enlightened Piano Radio & Whisperings Solo Piano Radio, the latter featuring some of today's biggest names in solo piano music, including Ludovico Einaudi, David Nevue, Brian Crain, Kevin Kern, Robin Spielberg, Michele McLaughlin, Philip Wesley and over 300 more...

Also available as sheet music in physical songbooks, digital downloads, as well as software for Yamaha Disklavier player-pianos.

For more information, visit his website at: http://www.isadar.com

As with Gladness Men of Old;Auld Lang Syne; Bright and Joyful is the Morn;Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning; Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella; Calm on the Listening Ear;Christ Was Born on Christmas Day;Christians, Awake;Cold is the Morning;Deck the Halls;Entre le Boeuf et L? Ane Gris;To Us a Child of Hope is Born;From Heaven Above to Earth I Come;From the Eastern Mountains;God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen;Good Christian Men, Rejoice;Good King Wenceslas;Hark! The Herald Angels Sing;Here We Come A-Caroling;How Brightly Shines the Morning Star; I am so Glad Each Christmas Eve; I Saw Three Ships;In Dulci Jubilo;Infant Holy, Infant Lowly; It Came Upon the Midnight Clear;Jingle Bells; Jolly Old St. Nicholas; Kling, Glockchen; Lo, How a Rose Ever Blooming;Noel Nouvelet;O, Little Town of Bethlehem;Pat-a-Pan; The First Noel;The Holly and the Ivy; We Wish You a Merry Christmas;All Through the Night;Away in a Manger; Birthday of a King; Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light ;Gaudete;Gesu Bambino;Go, Tell it on the Mountain;Greensleeves;I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day; In the Bleak Midwinter;O, Christmas Tree;O, Come Little Children; O Thou Joyful Day;Once in Royal David's City;Shout the Glad Tidings;Sing a Song of Bethlehem;Snow Lay on the Ground;Star of the East;Still, Still, Still;The Coventry Carol;The Happy Christmas Comes Once More;There's a Song in the Air;Thy Little Ones, Dear Lord, Are We;Twelve Days of Christmas;What Child Is This?;A Great and Mighty Wonder;All My Heart This Night Rejoices;Angels from the Realm of Glory;Angels We Have Heard on High;Carol of the Bells;Ding Dong Merrily on High;Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring;Joy to the World;O Come, O Come, Emmanuel;O Holy Night ;Maria Wiegenlied;Silent Night;The Friendly Beasts;The Boar's Head Carol;Up on the Housetop;Wake, Awake, for the Night is Flying;Watchman, Tell Us of the Night ;We Three Kings of Orient Are;Wexford Carol;While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

In Heavenly Peace is a book of 10 Christmas carols arranged for the advanced pianist. Titles include: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Lo, How A Rose E\'er Blooming, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Wexford Carol, Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, Silent Night, Holy Night, Of the Father\'s Love Begotten, and O Holy Night. Each of these titles is available separately but together is clearly a better deal. Many of the titles are flexible in length and can be easily modified to fit into a myriad of situations, either for church, recitals, or just pure enjoyment. Listen to the album where ever you listen to music, just scan the QR code on the 2nd page.

Good Christian Men, Rejoice! is a lilting German carol also known as IN DULCI JUBILO. Michael Ware?s creative yet simple arrangement is perfect for the young advancing pianist. The familiar melody explores many ranges and textures, keeping the listener engaged. This short piece works well in worship and recital settings.

Good Christian Friends Rejoice

Good Christians All Rejoice

Sing We Now of Christmas is Michael Ware's dynamic setting of the traditional French carol. Delight listeners with the intensity of this minor mode melody, reminding them that the Christ Child is the reason for the season.

This short collection of 12 delightful and inventive miniatures for piano is intended for any Christmas event in schools and churches. They could be used as musical interludes in the narration of the Biblical nativity story or would be suitable for any end-of-semester events. All the pieces are short and with the exception of the final one, each fits on to a single page. They are written with the intermediate pianist in mind although there is quite wide range of difficulty level between the pieces. They can be performed in any order you wish, or even with different pianists taking part. The titles include: Desert Horizon, Camel Train, To the Evening Star, Pilgrims? Song, Song of the Two Shepherds, The Call to the Stable, Song of the Eastern Kings, Mary?s Lullaby to the Child, Ballad of Mary and Joseph, Dance of the Nativity, Hymn to the Holy Child, The Bells Ring Out. The audio sample contains the following numbers (1) Desert Horizon; (2) Camel Train; (3) Song of the Two Shepherds; (4) The Call to the Stable; (5) Dance of the Nativity; (6) Hymn to the Holy Child and (7) The Bells Ring Out.

Composed by David Nevue. Sheet Music Single. 6 pages. Published by David Nevue.
Key of Eb. Early Intermediate Skill Level.

This sheet music was transcribed note by note from the recording that appears on David Nevue's album Adoration: Solo Piano Hymns. You can find the song for reference on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon.com, YouTube... wherever you enjoy listening to music.

Find out more about David Nevue at his web site, DavidNevue.com

Sounds like: George Winston, Jim Brickman, Paul Cardall, David Lanz, Yiruma, Ludovico Einaudi, Brian Crain