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Songbook Review: Christmas Lights
Doug Hammer
Cover image of the songbook Christmas Lights by Doug Hammer
Christmas Lights
Doug Hammer
2022 / Doug Hammer
59 pages / 15 songs
Review by Kathy Parsons
Christmas Lights is the companion sheet music book for Doug Hammer's 2015 album by the same name. Fifteen of the eighteen piano solos from the album are included (Doug considered the other three to be too difficult. Those are "Jingle Bells," "Good King Wenceslas," and "Toyland"). The sheet music for most of these Christmas songs and carols has been available for several years, but each piece has recently (2022) been revised and edited to match the recording as closely as possible and to correct any previous errors. (Doug did the transcriptions and I proofed them). The title piece is one that Doug composed, but the others are all his arrangements of traditional favorites. This is a really great collection for Christmas recitals and church pianists as well as for your own playing enjoyment. Christmas Lights is available as a spiral-bound printed book as well as to download from Doug's website. Very highly recommended!

The song titles, the key(s) they are in, and the number of pages are:

Angels We Have Heard On High - Key of F (1 flat) - 5 pages
Joy To The World - Key of D (2 sharps) - 5 1/2 pages
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Key of Bb (2 flats) - 3 pages
Away In A Manger - Key of G (1 sharp) - 4 pages
Il Est Né, Le Divin Enfant - Key of F (1 flat) - 4 pages
Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella - Key of G (1 sharp) / Ab (4 flats) / A (3 sharps) - 4 pages
Deck The Halls - Key of A (3 sharps) / C (0 sharps or flats) - 7 pages
O Come, All Ye Faithful - Key of G (1 sharp) - 2 pages
What Child Is This? - Key of E minor (2 sharp) - 5 pages
Once In Royal David's City - Key of G (1 sharp) - 3 pages
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Key of G (1 sharp) - 5 pages
Still, Still, Still - Key of D (2 sharps) - 2 1/2 pages
Coventry Carol - Key of G minor (2 flats) - 2 pages
O Holy Night - Key of C (0 sharps or flats) - 3 pages
Christmas Lights - Key of C (0 sharps or flats) - 2 pages

Doug and I rated each of the pieces as easy, intermediate or challenging in relation to his other sheet music. Those ratings are available for the individual sheet music downloads in Doug's website store.
December 2, 2022