“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (First Version),” arranged by Polly Bekasova, is a bright, energetic advanced piano arrangement of the familiar Christmas hymn. The score is marked Allegro and builds the melody into a fuller solo-piano texture through repeated-note patterns, chordal accompaniment, register changes, and active rhythmic writing. Rather than presenting the hymn as a simple four-part setting, the arrangement gives the familiar tune continuous motion and a more virtuosic character. The five-page score develops the melody through several substantial sections before a brief ritardando and a tempo passage leads into the final measures.

Measures 1–25 introduce the main hymn melody at Allegro. The opening uses a compact, active texture, with repeated notes and accompanying figures surrounding the melody. The material is clearly based on the familiar opening of the carol, while the piano writing adds additional movement and rhythmic activity.

Measures 26–45 continue the main musical idea with the texture becoming more developed. The melody remains recognizable while the accompaniment uses repeated figures and changes of register. The passage reaches a clear stopping point around measure 45 before continuing into the next section.

Measures 46–63 provide another substantial presentation of the hymn. The writing remains active, with repeated melodic and accompanimental patterns appearing in different registers. The section continues the Allegro character while expanding the texture and harmonic movement.

Measures 64–74 continue toward the final portion of the arrangement. The familiar melodic material is surrounded by increasingly full piano writing, creating a stronger sense of preparation for the conclusion.

Measures 75–88 form the closing section. A marked ritardando followed by a tempo creates a brief change of pacing before the final measures. The arrangement then drives toward a firm ending, with fuller sonorities and sustained final chords bringing the piece to a decisive close.

Interesting fact: The melody of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” was written by Felix Mendelssohn and first appeared in 1840 as part of his Festgesang. The familiar English lyrics were written earlier by Charles Wesley in 1739 and were later adapted to Mendelssohn’s melody.