Christian Books

My First Book of Christmas Songs: 20 Favorite Songs in Easy Piano Arrangements

Amazon Price: $5.95 List Price: $5.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Dover Publications Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $3.04

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A couple of sour notes, but overall...good. 4 out of 5 stars.
20 of 21 people found this review helpful.

Having purchased this for my kids to use and practice in time for Christmas 2005, I pretested all the music and found it to be a nice starter set of Christmas music for the piano student in their first or second year of training. The arrangements tend to be minimalistic. Caveat: there are at least two obviously wrong notes in The First Nowell and Jingle Bells, so you'd be well advised to correct them once you find them; hopefully they'll fix them by the time a second edition rolls out. Nice features: Each song can be played without turning pages. A charming black-and-white illustration accompanies each song. There's also a list of the songs in order of difficulty for those who want to learn the songs that way.

Editorial Review:

Beginning pianists will love playing these beloved favorites in musically attractive, easy arrangements: Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, Joy to the World, Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Little Town of Bethlehem, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, 12 more. Includes illustrations.

Merry Christmas Songbook w/ CD

Amazon Price: $19.80 List Price: $30.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Readers Digest Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $15.25

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

I like the first Reader's Digest Christmas Songbook better! 4 out of 5 stars.
10 of 12 people found this review helpful.

This book is OKAY, but it contains a lot of songs that I'm not familiar with (and my singing Christmas guests wouldn't be either!). That being said, I love the Reader's Digest Songbook Collection and felt compelled to "complete" the collection. Also....this has a CD (at least mine did) and that will be handy at Christmas, huh?

This songbook is for the intermediate pianist.

good but high for singing 4 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Easy playing but the songs can get up there for family voices. Eg E and F is not uncommon

Fabulous Christmas Songbook 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Love this book, it was also much cheaper through Amazon than through any bookstore I found!

Good selection, a bit simple and choppy 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

There are all the songs (almost) I could have wanted in a Christmas songbook, but the arrangements were too simple and kind of choppy.

The Best Christmas Songbook Ever! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book has been invaluable for me, particularly in my Music Therapy practice. I highly recommend it.

Messiah

George Frideric Handel

Amazon Price: $7.95 List Price: $7.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Novello Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $5.85

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Excellent 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

As a choir student who just learned Messiah for the first time, I found this edition a wonderful work. It is not only a pleasure for Messiah purists (see review below) but also for those newly introduced to Handel's work. I loved using the Watkins Shaw Edition so much!

Very fine and very usable 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This very fine edition is perfectly suitable for the listener wishing to follow along to a recording or a performance (why people do this at a live performance, I do not know). But it is also a very affordable vocal score for performance.

It has several advantages. First, the printing is clear and easy to read. Second, the keyboard accompaniment isn't simply for a rehearsal pianist. It provides an organist a quite usable arrangement and the rehearsal pianist guidance as to what to play and what can be left out. Third, it doesn't have German that one has to ignore as one finds in other editions.

I have had my copy for many years and used it more than most folks ever will use theirs. Yes, I did find it useful to put some clear plastic covering on and had to re-glue the spine once. But that is trivial for the use it has provided me.

Strongly recommended.

Editorial Review:

A sacred oratorio arranged for SATB with piano part. Edited, with piano reduction, by Watkins Shaw. Paper Edition

Ultimate Christmas: 100 Seasonal Favorites: Easy Piano

Amazon Price: $16.16 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 6 to 12 days By: Hal Leonard - Model: 241003 Amazon Marketplace: 18 new & used starting at $14.69

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Perfect mix of Christmas and Holiday music 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Excellent arrangements at about the intermediate level, with the perfect mix of what you could call "traditional" in Christmas/Holiday music. One of the very best in print. Big, crazy thumbs up from CleverJoe.

A must have 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This is an awesome collection of Christmas music for all ages. Mostly easy arrangement and a few challenging ones.

Editorial Review:

The ultimate collection of Christmas classics just got better with this third edition that includes even more of your favorites. 100 songs, including: Auld Lang Syne · Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella · Carol of the Bells · The Chipmunk Song · Christmas Time Is Here · Do You Hear What I Hear · The First Noel · Gesu Bambino · Happy Holiday · Happy Xmas (War Is Over) · Hymne · I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm · Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring · Jingle-Bell Rock · A Marshmallow World · Merry Christmas, Darling · My Favorite Things · The Night Before Christmas Song · Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer · Silver and Gold · Silver Bells · The Star Carol · Suzy Snowflake · What Child Is This? · Wonderful Christmastime · The Wonderful World of Christmas · and more.

Christmas Carols for a Kid's Heart (Focus on the Family) (Focus on the Family)

Joni Eareckson Tada, Bobbie Wolgemuth

Amazon Price: $14.95 List Price: $21.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Crossway Books Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $8.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A Joy for young and old to share 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Great stories to help love the old hymns even more. The music is the only children's singing I haven't felt nauseated listening too! Tastefully done and enjoyable to share with our children.

Great school resource too 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I have used this not only at home, but at school. The stories of the hymn writers are fascintating, and the children enjoy singing along with the cd. I've been amazed at the number of children who don't know My Country Tis of Thee. Each of the stories are short enough to be understood, but they always have a moral principal. Just a great resource for parents and Christian educators.

Hymn Book very interesting! 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is well written and very interesting to my children of a wide range of ages. The accompanying CD is of very good quality and fun to sing along with. My children look forward to doing a hymn study.

Editorial Review:

This book reminds children of the real meaning behind Christmas carols--the birth of Jesus Christ. It introduces twelve carols and shares the stories behind each one. The enclosed CD contains fully orchestrated versions of the carols with children's voices.

Reign in Blood (33 1/3)

D. X. Ferris

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Subjects -> Entertainment -> Music -> Musical Genres -> Heavy Metal
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

D.X. Ferris explores the creation of the most universally respected metal album.Slayer's controversial "Reign in Blood" remains the gold standard for extreme heavy metal: a seamless procession of ten blindingly fast songs in just twenty-eight minutes, delivered in furious bursts of instrumental precision, with lyrics so striking that Tori Amos was moved to record a cover. Reign in Blood saw the emerging underground standouts from Huntington Beach team with Rick Rubin - 2007's Grammy-Award winner for producer of the year, then known strictly for creating hip-hop albums with groups such as Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys - to permanently fuse classic rock's technical proficiency, hardcore punk's speed and metal's brute power. Working in a much-maligned genre, guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King emerged as the Lennon and McCartney of speed metal, penning a collection of apocalyptic scenes comparable to the dark work of novelists like Cormac McCarthy and Herman Melville.The album came together though the efforts of a team that would go on to be some of the biggest names in the current music business. Issued on America's premier rap label at the pinnacle of the thrash movement, Reign in Blood sparked a new genre called death metal and continues to serve as a touchstone for metal musicians. The disc marked Slayer's coronation as the kings of thrash and their ongoing twenty-five year streak of vitality places them in the small fraternity of rock's greatest groups. Through interviews with the entire band, Rubin, engineer Andy Wallace, and a who's who of headbangers from three decades, D.X. Ferris explores the creation of the most universally respected metal album."33 1/3" is a series of short books about a wide variety of albums, by artists ranging from James Brown to the Beastie Boys. Launched in September 2003, the series now contains over 50 titles and is acclaimed and loved by fans, musicians and scholars alike.

Sacred Christmas Music: The Stories Behind the Most Beloved Songs of Devotion

Ronald M. Clancy

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Editorial Review:

Take a musical journey in time—from the dawn of the Church’s liturgical song through the Baroque’s great choral and instrumental works to representative pieces of the 20th century. This is the sacred tradition of Christmas music, explored here in a stunningly illustrated book and a magnificent CD. It covers vocal and instrumental pieces from a variety of national and historical periods and styles, all of which have earned a place in the canon of great musical masterpieces. Not only will musicians and non-musicians alike find this an easily accessible guide, but they’ll feast on a sumptuous gallery of thematically and historically corresponding full-color art (including a 14th century manuscript illumination and a nativity scene by Fra Angelico), and revel in some of the best recordings of the music ever made. There’s rich, interesting background on every work, from Latin hymns and liturgical chants to Bach’s cantatas to contemporary carols. The CD includes the Vienna Boys’ Choir performing “Anima Nostra”; Arcangelo Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto”; The Trappist Monks of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani singing Gregorian Chants; excerpts from Handel’s “Messiah”; and the beloved “Silent Night.”
No other collection brings together all these elements in such an aesthetically pleasing and educational way.

The Praise and Worship Fake Book: An Essential Tool for Worship Leaders, Praise Bands and Singers!

Amazon Price: $23.07 List Price: $34.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hal Leonard Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $21.76

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

We proudly present this collection of more than 400 praise & worship songs, from classic ?standards? to the best current titles by top worship leaders such as Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown, Don Moen, Matt Redman, Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin and Darlene Zschech. With great arrangements for all ?C? instruments, this fake book is an invaluable resource for musicians from hobbyists to pros. It features instructions for using a fake book, a helpful Guitar Chord Guide, and two indexes: one alphabetical by song title, and the other by song key, which makes creating medleys a breeze. The notation is larger than in most standard fake books for ease of reading. By improvising with the chord symbols, players can ?fake? their own arrangements of the songs, and many selections include suggestions for vocal harmonies in cue notes. Songs include: Above All ? Agnus Dei ? Ancient of Days ? As the Deer ? Awesome God ? Be Glorified ? Better Is One Day ? Breathe ? Celebrate Jesus ? Come Into His Presence ? Days of Elijah ? Draw Me Close ? Enough ? Firm Foundation ? Forever ? Give Thanks ? God of Wonders ? Great Is the Lord ? He Is Exalted ? The Heart of Worship ? I Could Sing of Your Love Forever ? Lord, Be Glorified ? Majesty ? Mighty Is Our God ? My Redeemer Lives ? Oh Lord, You're Beautiful ? The Potter's Hand ? The Power of Your Love ? Sanctuary ? Shout to the Lord ? That's Why We Praise Him ? These Hands ? This Is the Day ? We Fall Down ? We Will Glorify ? Worthy of Worship ? Y...

101 Hymn Stories

Kenneth W. Osbeck

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A little disappointing 3 out of 5 stars.
12 of 13 people found this review helpful.

The book is worth reading for anyone who enjoys hymns. However, many of the "stories behind the hymns" are nothing more than a brief biographical sketch of the author and composer.

The reason for this is legitimate, of course: no one has a written account of the author's intent when he or she wrote many of these hymns, especially the older ones. There are notable exceptions, of course, such as the story behind "It Is Well With My Soul," one of my favorites.

So my recommendation is thus: take the time to read the book. You'll learn some history, and probably some new hymns as well. But, don't be surprised when all you get at times is a background of the author, not of the hymn itself.

Great devotional 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I have read at least one of these hymns and the commentary about them, each day for several years with great enjoyment.

Would suggest more about the hymn writers and less other commentary, and perhaps include the music in the future.

Dennis R. in Pasadena

Editorial Review:

(Foreword by J. Stratton Shufelt) Excellent for devotional reading, sermon illustrations, and bulletin inserts, as well as for historical or biographical research.

The Reader's Digest Merry Christmas Songbook

Robert Dolezal

List Price: $29.95 By: Readers Digest Amazon Marketplace: 19 new & used starting at $40.45

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Merry Christmas Songbook 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

This collectin of classic and popular Christmas carols is truly wonderful. Not only is it at a level suit for an average piano player, the compositions of the songs are so enjoyable, and fun. This book is definetely worth the money! Have fun!

Best Christmas Songbook, But Don't Over Pay ! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I am a piano teacher, and this is my favorite Christmas Songbook for intermediate players. I see on Amazon that there are sellers who are attempting to jack the price up of the older edition of this book. But the contents of the older edition are identical to the "new" Reader's Digest Merry Christmas Songbook , with CD, which Amazon sells for around $19. Do not pay $63.90 for a $19 book.

Bringing back the memories... 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I can't believe they still print this book! My family has had it since probably the mid-80's, and I have been playing out of it ever since I could read music (about age 6). It has always been a joy. The music is definitely for experienced pianists, but be sure and read the "stories behind the songs" at the beginning of each section for some fascinating insight into your favorite Christmas songs. This book is a definite must for those who love playing and singing Christmas music.