Magical Childhood Christmas (short piano fantasy)

Hi all - happy new year!
Here is a little Christmas piece I wrote. Couldn't quite finish in time, but thought I'd share anyway! Would love to know your feedback.

These are the sections I had in mind whilst writing the piece:

1) Lights on (first two bars)
2) Peaceful Morning
3) Realize it's Christmas! Stocking opening
4) Rest of family wake up (the waltz)
5) See the Grandparents (march)
5) Opening presents! (loud climax section)
6) Peaceful end

Hi @DanJTitchener!

I find the piece quite original but with many musical allusions (that aren't too obvious) to other Christmas carols!  I find measures 68 - 69 especially similar to a fragment of "Deck the Halls"!  Other places remind me of "Jingle Bells" (like measure 39 - 43).  It's too bad you didn't make it to enter this piece in the Christmas Music Event!  I played all the Entries to the Event to my family during Christmas dinner (it's become somewhat of a tradition LoL).

Btw - I think sometimes simply putting a hairpin crescendo without a destination dynamic doesn't make any audible difference in the rendition.  Thanks for sharing!

On 1/1/2024 at 3:52 AM, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

Hi @DanJTitchener!

I find the piece quite original but with many musical allusions (that aren't too obvious) to other Christmas carols!  I find measures 68 - 69 especially similar to a fragment of "Deck the Halls"!  Other places remind me of "Jingle Bells" (like measure 39 - 43).  It's too bad you didn't make it to enter this piece in the Christmas Music Event!  I played all the Entries to the Event to my family during Christmas dinner (it's become somewhat of a tradition LoL).

Btw - I think sometimes simply putting a hairpin crescendo without a destination dynamic doesn't make any audible difference in the rendition.  Thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks Peter, appreciate the feedback. Oddly, the only intended quote was with the march, representing my grandparents: I quoted Bridge Over River Kwai!  😄 
That is a fun tradition, I shall have to check them out. Did you have a favourite entry? 

6 hours ago, DanJTitchener said:

That is a fun tradition, I shall have to check them out. Did you have a favourite entry?

I think they're all fun in their own way.  Check them out!  (Of course some of my family complained - "What is this?!  This isn't Christmas music!  Turn that off!"  LoL

Hi @DanJTitchener,

I enjoy each different sections of it! The quotations of the Christmas tune is great too! Maybe it's a bit too much material for a short piece under 3 minutes, but I think as a Christmas medley it's enjoyable! Thx for sharing!

Henry