Angels We Have Heard on High Piano Solo - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1035855

This is a note-for-note transcription of Jake Smolowe's recording of Angels We Have Heard on High, from his 2021 album Christmas Solo: Informal, Improvised. The chart includes detailed chord symbols, dynamics and articulations throughout, as well as fingering for select passages.

Duration: 24 pages long (~11 min)

Notes from Jake:

This arrangement of Angels We Have Heard on High is kind of an ode to Brad Mehldau’s many jazz waltz arrangements over the years (for example, "She’s Leaving Home," from Day is Done). I wanted to capture the feel of Mehldau’s classic trio waltzes, not just the piano but the drums and bass too; ideally, you should be able to hear the essence of those instruments in the performance as well. The "A" sections feature a constantly rising chord progression, with slight differences in chord quality between the first two "A’s," and then the "B" sections highlight some more dramatic reharmonizations as well as a dichotomy between straight-eighths/behind the beat melody and swung accompaniment. The intro, which also serves as the outro vamp as well as an interlude between choruses, includes a bell-like theme that I hope instantly conjures up the Christmas/holiday spirit. I think the final vamp of "Angels," improvising around the repeating intro theme, is the perfect way to end the tune: restrained in volume but brimming with quiet energy and unbridled joy.

Tips for Performance:

The intro/interlude/outro can be tricky! I encourage watching the YouTube video and or/listening to the mp3 to get a sense of the timing for the fingering switches and pedaling. Also, in the B sections, the LH is often swinging while the right hand plays straight eighths; as with the intro, the best way to lock down this feel is to check out the YouTube video.