CAROL VARIATIONS FOR 2 PIANOS, 4 HANDS, BOOK 1: Nearly 70 pages of music for 2 pianos 4 hands to enjoy. Fun Christmas Carol variations for 2 pianos, in a variety of styles. (NB Piano duet arrangements are also available - see duet section) The first 5 were released weekly in 2014 in the 5 weeks running up to Christmas, and the second 5 in 2015 This collection contains the 10 pieces listed below.

1. Away in a Manger in the Wild Wild West (Sept 2015) Imagine the tumbleweed blowing along the ground and the saloon bar doors swinging! Perhaps not the usual nativity scene, but what if...? A humorous variation on the simple carol, Away in a Manger.
2. Deck the Halls.. and Boogie! Some Christmas fun in the form of this toe-tapping boogie based on the traditional Christmas carol, Deck the Halls. I found a video of this on the internet plus a video of my duet version of it being played in concerts in America (see the piano duets section for the sheet music for the duet version). Here's another video of a performance.
   
3. God Rest You Merry Gentlemen At Christmas time, what better way of spending a winter's evening than getting 2 pianos / keyboards together, pouring yourselves some Christmas cheer, and enjoying some two piano Christmas pleasure in the form of this reworking of the beautiful carol "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen". Found a video of this too.
   
4. Infant Holy, Infant Lowly The melody of this traditional Polish carol has been reworked into this arrangement for 2 pianos, with 4 different variations, the last of which incorporates a canon of the melody between the 2 pianos. I found a video of this being played at a concert in America.
5. Good King Wenceslas Rumba (Aug 2015) I don't think King Wenceslas ever visited south America, but just imagine if he had... Enjoy this toe-tapping rumba based on the melody of the well-known Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas". I found a video of this being played at a concert in America.
6. Silent Night / Stille Nacht (Sept 2015) This soparific piece is based on the famous Christmas carol "Silent Night", purportedly written when the organ broke down in the Austrian village of Oberndorf. I found a video of this being played in a concert in America.
7. Three Kings Blues (July 2015) 3 wise men, cool black shades. Got the picture? Relax into playing this smooth blues piece based around the melody of the famous Christmas carol. I found a video of this being played at a concert in America.
8. Ding Dong Glory Christmas Rag (Sept 2015) Ding Dong Merrily on High, Angels from the Realms of Glory, Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, Good King Wenceslas, and Personentl Hodie all get put through the masher in this fun Christmas Carol rag. I found a video of this being played in a concert in America, and another video of it here.
9. We Wish You a Merry Christmas After a gentle start, these variations on this well known Christmas melody go through a jazzy swing phase with a stomping bass then climax in a fugue, with a final smidgeon of the opening idea to finish off.
10. Zither Carol I hope you are good at counting! Lots of time signature changes between 2/4 and 3/4 in this quirky little carol ("Girls and Boys, Leave your Toys,…"), including a section where one piano is clearly in 2/4 and the other in 3/4, but it all works out in the end. (Premiered 20/12/15 in Worcs. by Sylvia Marsh & Ann Billen)

CAROL VARIATIONS FOR 2 PIANOS, 4 HANDS, BOOK 2: Sets 3 & 4 below contained in one volume. Nearly 70 pages of music for 2 pianos 4 hands to enjoy. (Piano duet arrangements are also available - see duet section) Following the success of the first book, book 2 contains the 10 pieces listed below.

1. Lullay Lullay, Variations on the Coventry Carol (Sept 2016) Based on the beautiful, haunting melody of the Coventry Carol (Lullay, Lullay), an English carol dating from the 16th century. Video of the DeVries brothers Nathan (15) & Timothy (12) playing this piece.
2. Little Town of Bethlehem Charleston (Sept 2016) This charleston is full of energy and is based on the traditional melody of the English Christmas carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem (and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel creeps in too).
3. The First Noel Gymnopedie - A meeting of Satie and the Angels (Sept 2016) This smooth, soparific piece is based on the traditional melody of the English Christmas carol, The First Noel, linking it with Gymnopedies 1 & 3 by Satie.
4. Hark, the Herald Bluegrass Angels! (Sept 2016) Y'all ready with the handclaps? Yeahaw! This  is a new, country approach to the famous carol 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing".
5. In the Bleak Midwinter, carol variations for 2 pianos, 4 hands (Sept 2016) This calm, relaxing piece is based on the beautiful Christmas carol melody by Gustav Holst.
6. Joy to the World - Funky!, carol variations for 2 pianos, 4 hands (Sept 2016) Full of drive and energy and is based on the melody of the English Christmas Carol, "Joy to the World", the melody of which is attributed to Mason, who perhaps based it on a piece by Handel... Video of Nathan & Timonthy DeVries playing this. I came across this video by chance - great playing from these two brothers. A new recording has arrived: take a look at this video from Utah.
   
7. O Little Town of Bethlehem, carol variations for 2 pianos, 4 hands (Oct 2017)) This piece has a "Girl from Ipanema" rhythmic feel to it (mostly!). Based around the traditional melody of the English Christmas Carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem:",
8. Wassail Hiccup and Trip up, carol variations for 2 pianos, 4 hands (Oct 2018) carol variations for 2 pianos, 4 hands. A baudy, swaggering, drunken take on the traditional Gloucestershire Wassail, complete with hiccups and trying to regain composure after stumbling. Great fun!
9. While Shepherds Boogie Woogie, carol variations for 2 pianos, 4 hands (Oct 2018) Just what were those shepherds doing whilst watching their flocks until the star appeared? Possibly not dancing, but who knows?
10. Quem pastores, carol variations for 2 pianos, 4 hands (Oct 2018) The shepherds again, but this time a more serene picture is painted with these calm variations on this well-known 16th Century Christmas carol melody.

Carol Variations
2 pianos, 4 hands
(2 books)