Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Advanced Piano Arrangement No. 3

Sacred

Difficulty Level: 7

(75,112 Points)

Description:

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Advanced Piano Arrangement No. 3” is classified as a Level 7 Piano work worth 75,112 points within the Road to Virtuosity progression system. It is categorized under Advanced Piano Arrangements → Hymns, Hymns - Christmas and is part of the Sacred collection. The sheet music for “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Advanced Piano Arrangement No. 3” provided on this website is available for non-commercial use. This means it may be downloaded, printed, studied, and performed for personal or educational purposes, but it may not be sold, redistributed commercially, or used as part of a paid product without permission.

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Advanced Piano Arrangement No. 3” is a full, energetic piano arrangement of the Christmas hymn tune commonly associated with Felix Mendelssohn. This advanced version gives the carol a broad concert-style sound, using thick chords, wide keyboard spacing, flowing accompaniment figures, octave movement, and strong cadential writing. The familiar melody remains clear throughout the arrangement, but the surrounding texture is much fuller than a simple hymn setting.

Measures 1–16 introduce the carol with a strong, bright character. The right hand presents the main melody while the left hand supports with a full harmonic foundation. The texture is chordal and confident, giving the opening a festive sound that matches the joyful nature of the hymn.

Measures 17–32 continue the first large statement of the melody. The arrangement expands the sound with fuller harmony, moving inner notes, and stronger bass support. The right hand keeps the tune prominent, while the left hand adds weight and motion underneath.

Measures 33–48 move into a more developed middle section. The accompaniment becomes more active, and the hands cover a wider range of the keyboard. The familiar hymn melody is still present, but the surrounding piano writing gives the section a more dramatic and advanced character.

Measures 49–64 build toward the final return of the carol. The music uses thicker chords, repeated rhythmic motion, and stronger harmonic direction to increase the energy. The arrangement feels more expansive here, preparing for a powerful closing section.

Measures 65–end bring the piece to a bright and triumphant conclusion. The hymn tune returns with a fuller texture, strong bass notes, and broad chordal writing. The final measures use a firm cadence and a large ending sonority, giving the arrangement a festive and confident close.

Interesting fact: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” began as a hymn text by Charles Wesley, but the melody now most commonly used comes from music by Felix Mendelssohn. The pairing of Wesley’s words with Mendelssohn’s tune helped make it one of the most recognizable Christmas hymns in the English-speaking world.

How to earn points for this piece:

  1. Download or purchase the sheet music.

  2. Practice the piece carefully. Watch the video example to make sure you are accurate.

  3. Record yourself on video and upload it to Youtube. (Perfection is not required. A few minor mistakes are okay)

  4. Submit a link to your video here for evaluation. We will watch your performance and give you feedback. If you need more practice - we will let you know exactly what you need to work on along with additional practice suggestions.
    (Or you can submit a video to the public and other users will evaluate your video)

  5. If your performance is good, we will approve your video and you can collect your points.