Christmas with a Velvet Touch: 10 Lyrical Arrangements of Treasured Carols (Sacred Performer Collections)

A few of these arrangements I love because they're so different, and you don't hear them often: Coventry Carol (haunting and beautiful), Carol Of The Bells (easy enough to play but sounds very difficult), and The Friendly Beasts. However, there are a few songs in here that are pretty strange, like Once In Royal David's City and Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne. Birthday of A King will make your head hurt with its repetitive right hand eighth notes (over and over....). But overall, the few great arrangements in there make this book worth owning.

Contents:The Birthday of a King with Away in a MangerCarol of the Bells with I Heard the Bells on Christmas DayCoventry CarolThe Friendly BeastsInfant Holy, Infant LowlyJesu, Joy of Man's Desiring with Comer, Thou Long-Expected JesusOnce in Royal David's CitySilent NightThou Didst Leave Thy ThroneWhat Child Is This?Several of these are very nice. All are at what I'd call Intermediate to Late intermediate. I consider myself an advanced pianist and was able to sight read my way through this book at performance level. Sometimes you need one of those kind of books, though---especially for the Christmas season.

I have all of Tom Fettke's books. His arrangements just flow like velvet and are easy enough to play without a lot of practice if you are an intermediate level piano player. I have recommended his books to friends and have bought them as gifts for my piano-playing friends. When i have a lot of stress in my life, playing these songs creates relaxation and comfort, and I usually find myself playing four or five pieces at one time. I'm hoping that I will see more of his arrangements in the future.

This is a really great book for the intermediate pianist. The arrangements are lush and rich, as one would expect from Tom Fettke. Once is Royal David's City was a disappointment, as it far too jovial for my taste, but that's subjective, of course.

Tom Fettke writes some of the most melodious arrangements for piano and choral music that are to be found. This book is no exception. I played every one of these in church during the Christmas season. As a trained musician, I was able to sightread them. However, they would be very good for students in Late intermediate or Early advanced stages. It would certainly be worth the effort.

Beautiful arrangements!

My 2 teen boys have each played several selections from this book and I LOVE all of them. Fettke is a gifted composer and this Christmas book is an absolute joy to hear played. Both boys are intermediate players and have enjoyed the selections from this book.

Beautiful arrangements that are fun to play. It's an intermediate to early advanced level.

Anything composed by Tom Fettke is comfortable to play! This was no exception!

Great arrangements