Intermediate piano arrangements
Lead sheets in 7 keys
Evergreen imagery in a carol
The Holly and the Ivy uses seasonal greenery to tell a Christian Christmas story. The text links features of the holly with images from the life of Christ. Its presence in nineteenth-century printed carol collections shows how the song passed into published Christmas repertoire. The carol in Christmas Carols New and Old.
Choosing a version to play
Start with the difficulty group that matches your current playing, then open a score and compare its texture, hand positions, and length with music you already play comfortably. Arrangement numbers identify versions; they do not rank the pieces from easiest to hardest.
For a melody with your own accompaniment, choose a lead sheet in a comfortable key. Try a simple chord pattern first, then adjust the accompaniment to suit a solo performance or a singer.
More Christmas sheet music on RTV
Explore Christmas Lead Sheets in Different Keys or browse Christmas Hymns from the Hymnal.