[Christmas Songs] Christmas songs you can play on the piano. A comprehensive introduction along with recommended sheet music!

Christmas at our houseWalter Kent

I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Christmas piano sheet music

Composed in 1943 to comfort soldiers on the front lines, this song paints gentle Christmas scenes—snow, mistletoe, and tree ornaments—before closing with the poignant wish, “if only in my dreams,” a structure that deeply moves the listener.

Like a letter speaking for soldiers who could not return home during the war, its lyrics carry a universal longing for distant family and loved ones, and the song has remained beloved across generations.

With Bing Crosby’s warm vocals and the soft resonance of strings leaving a lasting impression, its lyrical melody stands out even more when played on the piano.

It’s a quiet, consoling recommendation for anyone unable to spend Christmas with family or who is thinking of someone far away.

At the end of the wilderness

[Hymn] In the bleak midwinter (Gloria ~ Angels We Have Heard on High)

This hymn, which depicts the joyous scene of angels announcing the Nativity to the shepherds, is highlighted by the long, beautiful melismas on the Latin refrain “Gloria in excelsis Deo” (“Glory to God in the highest”), repeated throughout.

The undulating, soaring melody is full of festal spirit, and when played on the piano it can recreate the majesty of a choir resounding in a church.

Since the English lyrics became established in 1862, a wide range of artists—including Bing Crosby, Andrea Bocelli, and Pentatonix—have recorded it, and it has continued to be cherished in worship and concert settings.

A broad spectrum of sheet music is available, from simple congregational-style arrangements to dazzling versions featuring inner-voice passing and cadenza-like cadential flourishes, making it recommended not only for those planning to serve in church or perform at Christmas events, but also for anyone who wants to practice a stately, celebratory carol in depth.

The Nutcracker “Trepak”Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker – Trepak (Piano Sheet Music)

Among the pieces in the ballet The Nutcracker, this one vividly portrays a Russian folk dance that bursts with energy.

Premiered in its suite version in March 1892, it is characterized by its rapid tempo and springing rhythms, and is known for its Cossack-like vitality.

Memorably featured in Disney’s Fantasia, the piece has also been beloved as background music during the Christmas season.

Despite its short duration, it condenses powerful accents and a strong folk color, instantly lifting the listener’s spirits.

It’s an ideal choice for those who want to tackle a fast-tempo work or play something bright and flamboyant.

Do you want to build a snowman?Robert Lopez,Kristen Anderson-Lopez

Do You Want to Build a Snowman? / from Disney’s Frozen (Piano Solo – Intermediate) [Sheet Music Available] Frozen – Do You Want to Build a Snowman

A song from the 2013 Disney film Frozen.

It plays in the scene where Anna calls out to her older sister Elsa, who has shut herself away behind a door, saying, “Do you want to build a snowman?” As time passes from their childhood to adolescence and then to the period after they lose their parents, the innocent invitation gradually turns into a heartfelt plea.

Through Anna’s unanswered calls through the door, the song delicately portrays the sisters’ rift and their loneliness.

Why not try expressing the hidden sadness and hope behind its bright melody on the piano? It’s recommended for those who enjoy songs themed around family bonds and feelings for loved ones.

Ave Verum CorpusWolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart – Ave Verum Corpus – Piano Arrangement & Sheet Music

Composed as church music, this short choral piece was written in June 1791 in Baden, where Mozart had gone to visit his wife Constanze at a health retreat, for a friend of his.

Setting a Eucharistic hymn in Latin, it is a concise work of 46 measures wrapped in gentle D-major harmonies; yet the flow of the music closely follows the meaning of the words, and within its restrained sonorities the weight of prayer emerges, delivering a profound impact that belies its brief performance time.

The unhurried melody invites savoring each note, and with careful practice of the pedal changes, one can convey a quiet, solemn atmosphere on the piano.

It is an ideal piece for church service or for those seeking calm during gatherings in the Christmas season.

Silent EveKarashima Midori

Silent Eve / Midori Karashima [Beginner-Intermediate Piano Solo Reference Performance Video]

Released in November 1990 by Midori Karashima, this song was used as the theme for the TBS drama “Christmas Eve” and became a million seller, topping the Oricon charts for three consecutive weeks.

Set against the scene of a silent night with pure white powder snow drifting down, it delicately portrays the bittersweet feelings of a woman facing a solitary Christmas Eve.

Its gentle piano accompaniment and transparent melodic line sensitively express the inner tremor of a heart that strives to look forward in a prayerful way, even while carrying loneliness and a sense of loss.

When played on the piano, you can capture both the hush of falling snow and the warmth tucked deep within the heart.

It’s a song that quietly stays by the side of anyone who has experienced a parting with someone dear at Christmas or wishes to spend a peaceful holy night.

Snow BlossomNakajima Mika

'Yuki no Hana' Snow Flower – Ru’s Piano Cover | Mika Nakashima | Cat in the Video [Sheet Music]

amzn.asia

If you spent your adolescence in the early 2000s, just hearing the breathtakingly beautiful melody of this song probably brings back winter scenes from those days.

Even now, well into the 2020s, Mika Nakashima’s “Yuki no Hana” remains a beloved winter classic.

Released in 2003, it became a massive hit and has been covered by many artists—among them the great Hideaki Tokunaga on his acclaimed covers album VOCALIST 2—earning its place as a timeless masterpiece in J-pop history.

The original is a dramatic ballad that unfolds from a piano-and-vocal opening into gorgeous strings and full band, but songs like this also shine in solo piano arrangements, and there are many relatively easy, beginner-friendly scores available.

I recommend starting by playing the melody in your right hand to feel the overwhelming beauty and poignancy of the original tune, then gradually adding the left hand as you practice.

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