Piano Solo - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1325497

By Nat Cole With N. Riddle Orch. By Mel Torme and Robert Wells. Arranged by Thomas Gunther. Christmas,Holiday,Jazz. Score. 4 pages. Thomas Gunther Music Productions #913724. Published by Thomas Gunther Music Productions (A0.1325497).

Solo Piano Arrangement By Thomas Gunther
The Christmas Song is maybe the most popular Christmas Song in the USA. Some know it as Chestnuts Roasted On An Open Fire or Merry Christmas to You. 
The melody is absolutely beautiful, and the chord changes super interesting. I especially like Nat King Cole's version, which is in Db major. To make it easier for intermediate piano players I wrote my piano solo arrangement in C major instead. It is still challenging  enough.
The sheet music will be available for purchase at 2pm Chicago time on Nov 27.
About The Arrangement
The arrangement is written in jazz ballade style. It doesn't swing. I includes a fun double time improvisation section though which I made up on the spot during the second B section when I recorded the song. It is in latin style. 
The arrangement can be performed with or without improvisation. Should you be a jazz pianist you could use the included chord symbols to make up your own improvisation.
About The Sheet Music
The sheet music is the exact transcription of my recording, including the improvisation part. (You can listen to it and see me perform in the video below.)
The sheet music contains jazz chord symbols and plentiful of articulations as well as some dynamic markings. 
How This Arrangement Came About
May arrangement is heavily based on the Nat King Cole version. I love the ballade feel and the beautiful chord substitutions he uses in the orchestration. First I simply played along with his version in Db major. This helped me to figure out the harmony. Next I start thinking about the accompaniment. Now it is time to practice it. Once I have the arrangement figured out I start recording it a few times, listen to each version, iron out the edges. Now it is time to record the entire thing. 
Recommendations For Learning The Song
I recommend that you first listen to my performance while reading along in the sheet music. 
I always think about fingering and sustain pedal use at the same time when learning a song. Smart use of the sustain pedal can really make it much easier to play.
Is This Arrangement For You?
This solo piano arrangement is for every pianist who loves The Christmas Song. It doesn't matter would kind of pianist you are. 
The arrangement is certainly for intermediate pianists and up. It is also beneficial when you don't have very small hands. Some chords in the left hand require a hand span of a 10th. However, there are ways to get around that by simply rolling the notes with the help of the sustain pedal.

Easy Piano - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1118994

By Nat Cole With N. Riddle Orch. By Mel Torme and Robert Wells. Arranged by Janet and Alan Bullard (The Janet and Alan Bullard Piano Series). Broadway,Christmas,Holiday,Instructional,Musical/Show. Score. 2 pages. Colne Edition / BullardMusic #720401. Published by Colne Edition / BullardMusic (A0.1118994).

The Janet and Alan Bullard Piano Series contains a range of arrangements for easy piano, old and new.

Written in the hot summer of 1945 in an effort to 'stay cool by thinking cool', and originally recorded by Nat King Cole, 'The Christmas Song' by Torme and Wells soon became one of the most popular Christmas hits, covered by a wide range of artists.

Janet Bullard has a busy and thriving piano teaching practice and many years’ experience of teaching adults and children. Alan Bullard is a pianist, composer and arranger whose music is performed widely. Together they are the authors of the successful Pianoworks series of tutor and repertoire books for beginner pianists, published by OUP. www.bullardmusic.co.uk

C Instrument - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1253144

By Nat Cole With N. Riddle Orch. By Mel Torme and Robert Wells. Arranged by Eric O'Reilly. Christmas,Holiday,Jazz. Lead Sheet / Fake Book. 4 pages. Eric O'Reilly #846897. Published by Eric O'Reilly (A0.1253144).

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire), by Mel Torme and Robert Wells, as performed by Nat King Cole. An arrangement by Eric O'Reilly in the style of professional jazz lead-sheets. Best for solo performance or small ensembles.

String Quartet String Quartet - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.795653

By John Denver. By Mel Torme, Melvin H Torme, and Robert Wells. Arranged by David Kolinski-Schultz. Jazz. 10 pages. PDQ Music #3681227. Published by PDQ Music (A0.795653).

String Quartet - Violins 1 & 2, Viola, and Cello – Intermediate

Music and Lyric by Mel Torme and Robert Wells. Arranged for String Quartet by David Kolinski-Schultz. Score, Set of Parts. 10 pages. Published by PDQ Music.

A Christmas standard, first recorded by the great Nat King Cole, and one of the most-performed Christmas songs ever since. Arranged for String Quartet with solos by violins and viola.

2018 Holiday Contest Entry

Full Orchestra - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.844229

By Nat Cole With N. Riddle Orch. By Mel Torme and Robert Wells. Arranged by Chris Rinaman. Christmas,Contemporary,Holiday. Score and parts. 54 pages. CGR Music Service #6630971. Published by CGR Music Service (A0.844229).

An original arrangement of the holiday classic for full orchestra and male vocal in the key of C, modulating to Db.  Can be performed with or without the optional rhythm section (piano, electric bass and drum set) giving your orchestra some flexibility in programming this arrangement.  Visit www.chrisrinaman.com for more information on the arrangements and compositions of Chris Rinaman.    

As a composer, arranger and orchestrator, Chris's work encompasses big band writing, orchestral arranging and film composition. In 2002, while working as an assistant to Academy Award-winning film composer Howard Shore, Chris Rinaman was the head score consultant for the world premiere of The Fellowship of the Ring for Symphony Orchestra and Chorus at the Hollywood Bowl. He has created orchestral and big band arrangements for many talented vocalists, including Deana Martin, Micheal Castaldo, William Michals, and Allan Harris.  His string arrangements can be heard on the 2016 PBS special, Giada Valenti:  From Venice With Love.