Christmas Violin Play-Along Books – Part 3
Here are 2 more reviews of books in the series Christmas Violin Play-Along Books. These collections are from Hal Leonard. The Play-Along Books are for different levels. You can also read about other Play-Along Books here: Part 1 and Part 2.
Pros:
- These arrangements are not just the melody part. Often the player plays through tune 2 or 3 times. But there is variety and variation that gives interest on each stanza.
- This would be a good collection for an intermediate player who is comfortable in 3rd position. It does require some 5th, 7th position, but it is very minimal.
Cons:
- There is no printed fingering to direct in shifting.
- Only marked bowing technique is legato detaché.
Summary:
There is a real violin playing the melody on the demonstration tracks. The backing track is synthesizer, but the melody is played by a violin. There are no written piano accompaniments. So this is truly just a play-along book. It is more than just the melody, but really only the left hand technique is challenged. The right hand is all legato detaché.
Titles:
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – G Major; First stanza – melody; Second stanza – harmony part; 3rd Stanza – melody in upper octave; 3rd position with a 4th finger extension for E, or you could shift into 4th position; Some ties over the bar line in harmony part; 2 note slurs, hooked bowing;
- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – G Major; Play the melody 2 times through; Violin has melody on the first stanza; first half of the second stanza is a harmony part and the second half is the melody; The harmony part includes notes in 5th position for 3 measures; harmony part uses simple rhythms so the player would be able to focus on the position work;
- O Come All Ye Faithful – G Major; First stanza – melody; Second stanza – harmony part; 3rd Stanza – melody in upper octave; 3rd position; 2 note slurs, hooked bowing;
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel – E Minor modulating to A Minor; 3 eighth note slurs; first stanza is the melody; second stanza begins with harmony then takes over the melody; 2 measures of 3rd position; because of key signature A minor – low 1 F natural on the E string.
- O Holy Night – C Major; 6/8 time signature; mostly in 1st and 3rd position; Some 6th position but optional notes are included an octave lower; first stanza is the melody; second stanza is a harmony part; the harmony part has 3 measures of steady eighth notes with several accidentals – this could be a practice spot depending on the student. 1 run of stepping sixteenth notes that are slurred;
- Silent Night – A Major; First stanza – melody; Second stanza – harmony part; 3rd Stanza – weaves in and out of a harmony part and the melody; Uses 1st and 3rd position;
- We Three Kings of Orient Are – E Minor; 3/8 time signature; first stanza is in lower octave; second stanza up an octave and then the third stanza the violin plays a harmony part; Harmony can be played all in first position; There is some shifting into third position but it is in the melody part of the second stanza; This is probably my favorite arrangement in the collection. I feel like technical skills used match the arrangement.
- What Child Is This? – E minor; First stanza melody part; second stanza harmony using pentatonic scales in lower octave and then repeated up an octave; 3rd stanza melody in upper octave; 1st and 3rd position for the last stanza;
Hal Leonard Instrumental Play-Along Christmas Favorites – Violin
Arrangers: Peter Deneff
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Level: 3
Pros:
- Download the mp3 Tracks from a code in the front of the book. (Half of my students don’t own a CD player anymore)
- All in 1st position.
- No more than 3 notes slurred.
- Good keys for violin for the most part (2 in E major that are harder.)
Cons:
- Xylophone melody part on demonstration track.
- Rhythms are complex to read for beginners if they don’t already know the tunes.
Summary:
These arrangements are short and sweet. One time through the melody. If you are wondering what the technique is for left hand – it is whatever the melody dictates; Same with the rhythm. For a student who is looking to play the tune for any of these songs with no frills this is a great collection. This is a level 3 book, as player does need to be comfortable playing all of the pitches in 1st position.
Play-Along Titles:
- Blue Christmas – E Major; All in first position; 1 accidental E# in a 3 note chromatic scale; key signature is hardest part;
- The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) – G Major; All in first position; Lots of accidentals in the bridge (follows the melody);
- Christmas Time is Here – F Major; Can be played all in first position; section that has A-flats that might be a great spot to play in 3rd position if the player is learning 3rd position;
- Felix Navidad – G Major modulates to A Major for 10 measures; does include 1st and 2nd ending, along with a D.S. al Coda; syncopation; need good rhythm reading if you you don’t know the tune; ties over the bar line; short chromatic phrases;
- Happy Christmas (War is Over) – A Major; 12/8 time signature; first position;
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – C Major; Includes first and second endings;
- Here Comes Santa Clause (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) – E Major; Key signature demands high 3s throughout; 3 quarters in time of 2 quarters; Uses swing rhythm
- (There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays – A Major; Includes 1st and 2nd endings; First position;
- It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas – G Major; Swing rhythm; Triplets sprinkled throughout; includes a D.S. al Coda; short phrase of chromatics;
- Mele Kalikimaka – C Major; Syncopation; melody includes some chromatics with fingers moving by half-step; Includes first and second ending.
- Merry Christmas, Darling – C Major; includes a D.S. al Coda; accidentals using low 1;
- Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – C Major; swing; hooked up-bows marked only with up-bow symbol (11 times); High 3 G#; some off-beat accents;
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – A Major; Swing rhythm; hooked up bows marked with just up-bow symbol; syncopated includes 1st and second ending;
- Silver and Gold – F Major; key signature demands low 1’s; does include a D.S. al Coda.
