White Christmas Piano Sheet Music for Jazz Lovers
Contents
Looking for some White Christmas piano sheet music? Check out our top picks for jazz lovers!
Introduction
For those who love jazz piano, White Christmas is the perfect holiday tune. This classic Christmas song was written by Irving Berlin in 1940, and has been performed by some of the biggest names in jazz, including Miles Davis, Bill Evans and Dave Brubeck.
If you’re looking for a beautiful and soulful arrangement of White Christmas to play this holiday season, we’ve put together a selection of some of the best sheet music versions around. From solo piano arrangements to big band scores, there’s something here for every jazz lover.
The History of White Christmas
White Christmas is a 1942 Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. The song was written for the film Holiday Inn which premiered on October 30, 1942. In the film, it is sung by actor and singer Bing Crosby with actress Marjorie Reynolds lip syncing the words.
The original version of the song also included the verse: “Been having lots of dreams in which I’m kissin’ / I’m wishin’ and hopin’ / That your White Christmas comes true.” These lyrics were cut from later versions of the song, though they can be heard in Crosby’s recording.
The song was a huge success, both commercially and critically. It went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time, selling more than 50 million copies worldwide. In addition, White Christmas was named the best-selling single of all time in some countries, including the United Kingdom.
Despite its commercial success, White Christmas has been criticized for its nostalgic portrayal of an idyllic Christmas setting. Some have accused the song of sentimentalizing a bygone era when Christmas was a simpler time. Others have critiqued its focus on material possessions and consumerism.
The Significance of White Christmas
For most people, White Christmas is simply a feel-good holiday movie, a charming nostalgia trip starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney. But for jazz lovers, the 1954 film has a special significance: it features some of the best jazz piano playing ever captured on film.
In the movie, Crosby plays retired singer Bob Wallace, who team up with former army buddy Phil Davis (Kaye) to put on a Christmas show in Vermont. Clooney plays Davis’s sister Betty, who falls for Wallace. The movie features several classics, including “White Christmas,” “Sisters,” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” But it’s the jazz piano playing of Hollywood session musician Barney Kessel that really makes the movie shine.
Kessel was one of the most in-demand studio musicians of his day, and his playing on White Christmas is some of his best work. His solo on “White Christmas” is a masterclass in melodic improvisation, and his accompaniment to Clooney’s vocals on “Sisters” is nothing short of brilliant. If you’re a fan of jazz piano, White Christmas is essential viewing.
White Christmas Sheet Music for Jazz Lovers
One of the most popular Christmas songs of all time, “White Christmas” was written by Irving Berlin in 1941. The song has been recorded by numerous artists over the years, but it was Bing Crosby’s 1942 version that became the holiday standard.
“White Christmas” has been a favorite of jazz musicians since the beginning, and there have been many wonderful jazz arrangement written for the tune over the years. Here are some of our favorite piano arrangements of “White Christmas” for jazz lovers.
How to Play White Christmas on the Piano
Here is a quick guide on how to play White Christmas on the piano. This holiday classic is a great way to show off your jazz piano skills!
To start, you will need to know the basic chords of C, F, and G. These are the chords that are used in the majority of the song. If you are not familiar with these chords, you can find tutorials online or in many piano books.
Once you know the chords, you can begin playing the melody. The melody is fairly simple and easy to follow. Start by playing the C chord, then move to F, G, C, and so on. You can find the melody written out in sheet music or online.
Once you have the melody down, you can add in some embellishments to make it your own. Try adding in some arpeggios or jazz voicings for extra flair!
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you love jazz and you’re looking for some unique and beautiful piano sheet music to play this holiday season, White Christmas is a great choice. It’s a timeless classic that has been arranged specifically for jazz lovers, and it’s sure to bring some extra festive cheer to your home.
