In the Bleak Midwinter is the companion sheet music book for James Michael Stevens’ 2025 recording by the same name. All twelve pieces from the album are included in the songbook and all were transcribed by Dr. Stevens (the Dean of The School of Music at Welch College in Gallatin, Tennessee). Overall, these arrangements are quite easy to play and most are intended to be played somewhat slower than you usually hear them. Most of the pieces are from the sacred repertoire of Christmas music, so you won’t find “Jingle Bells” or any Santa songs in this collection. Intended for the quieter moments of the Christmas holidays, this is a really nice collection for church pianists, Christmas piano recitals, and Christmas background music as well as for home use. Most pianists at an intermediate playing level and above should have little trouble mastering these lovely arrangements. Each piece is three pages, so that also helps in learning the music with ease.

Each piece has a roomy layout that is clear and very easy to read. Expression is clear, and metronome settings are included. There are no reaches of more than an octave, and only one piece has two sharps in the key signature - the other eleven have either one sharp or flat or none. As a very long-time piano teacher, I can very easily recommend these pieces for student use as well as for other pianists of any age.

The In the Bleak Midwinter songbook can be downloaded from SheetMusicDirect.com and SheetMusicPlus.com.

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

In the Bleak Midwinter - Key of D minor (1 flat) - 3 pages
Ukrainian Bell Carol - Key of G major/E minor (1 sharp) - 3 pages
Away in a Manger - Key of F (1 flat) - 3 pages
O Holy Night with Holy, Holy, Holy - Key of C (0 sharps or flats) - 3 pages
Silent Night - Key of F (1 flat) - 3 pages
Sing We Now of Christmas - Key of E minor (1 sharp) - 3 pages
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne - Key of C (0 sharps or flats)/ D (2 sharps) - 3 pages
Still, Still, Still - Key of G (1 sharp) - 3 pages
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - Key of C (0 sharps or flats) - 3 pages
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Key of D minor (1 flat) - 3 pages
The First Noel - Key of F (1 flat) - 3 pages
Auld Lang Syne - Key of F (1 flat) - 3 pages