The Holly and the Ivy

Part Bach, part Beethoven and part George Winston, this arrangement bounces along like a Baroque dance with the chorus returning virtually unchanged between the verses. A feeling of boundless joy is present from the very opening measures as the left hand sets a brisk pace for the piece while the right hand soars above. In the third and fourth verses, there is a distinct change in mood as the music moves to the minor key to better represent the "sharp prickle" of the thorn and the "bitter gall" of the bark. The character of the music also moves from Bach-inspired to sounding more like Beethoven. Meanwhile, the chorus is noticeably absent between these verses only to make a triumphant appearance as the music returns to the dance-like quality of the opening. From a technical standpoint, this prelude requires a light touch in the left hand which continues non-stop from the first measure to the last in order that the melody may shine forth as it floats above the steady stream of notes.