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Top 20 Christmas Carols Sheet Music

  • Writer: Jack Stow
    Jack Stow
  • Nov 5, 2025
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jan 6

Find Sheet Music for the Top 20 Christmas Carols to Fill Your Home with Holiday Cheer


Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the timeless melodies of carols filling the air. From classic hymns to joyful tunes, here are the top 20 Christmas carols to sing and play this season:


A festive piano

1 - Silent Night


It wouldn't be Christmas without the all time classic. Find it and many others in Classic FM: Silent Nights, a collection of beautiful carols imaginatively arranged by Nigel Hess for solo piano.


2 - O Holy Night


The soaring, majestic carol arranged for choir and accompaniment by the incomparable John Rutter will add a sparkle to any Christmas.


3 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing


Ah, the descant..! A favourite of any carol service, classically arranged for mixed choir and accompaniment.


4 - O Come, All Ye Faithful


A call to celebrate with reverence and joy. Switch it up this year with the Pentatonix a cappella version.


5 - Joy to the World


Enjoy this joyful song heralding the season with a grand concert arrangement by Nancy Faber, featuring vibrant melodic interactions and enchanting harmonies for flute, cello, and piano.


6 - The First Noel


Have fun playing this gentle carol as a light bossa with creative harmonies and lush scoring with Mark Taylor's jazz ensemble arrangement.


7 - Away in a Manger


This tender lullaby is well suited to a solo organ version.


8 - Deck the Halls


Do you prefer your festive cheer in 7/8? Then you'll love the metric twists and turns in this fresh approach to the traditional Christmas carol written for more experienced choirs.


9 - We Wish You a Merry Christmas


From carol singing to the concert hall, the mixed choir and piano/organ arrangement by John Gardner is perfect for bringing some traditional seasonal joy to your festive repertoire.


10 - Good King Wenceslas


Start your festive musical journey with simple Christmas tunes arranged for piano by Glenda Austin.


11 - God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen


The Yorkshire Wassail is based on God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen and gives your winter concert something to contrast the usual fare in this fine example of young band arranging.


12 - O Little Town of Bethlehem


This classic is included in a book of Christmas carol arrangements for marimba. Each carol is presented in both two and four-mallet versions for mallet players with different ability levels.


13 - It Came Upon the Midnight Clear


This swinging hot, Jazz waltz arrangement of this popular Christmas standard will really get your singers and audience going.


14 - Angels We Have Heard on High


The wonderfully creative and engaging arrangement by Broadway arranger and composer David Chase showcases its jubilant “Gloria” chorus.


15 - I Saw Three Ships


This traditional carol is perfect for an arrangement for young male voices with a charming and lilting Celtic feel.


16 - While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks


This story of the angelic announcement is a perennial favourite and suits a choir and piano arrangement.


17 - Ding Dong Merrily on High


This joyful and bright carol is perfect for an a cappella jazz arrangement.


18 - Once in Royal David’s City


A cornerstone of the traditional carol service, this arrangement opens with the traditional treble solo, then builds to the fully voiced and glorious concluding verse with descant.


19 - In the Bleak Midwinter


This hauntingly beautiful, reflective carol lends itself perfectly to a solo harp arrangement.


20 - The Twelve Days of Christmas


A fun festive favourite that suits Bob Chilcott's vibrant and fresh arrangement.



Whether you’re performing and singing with family, at a festive concert or carol service, or simply for enjoyment, these arrangements demonstrate how versatile and timeless carols are and capture the magic, joy, and warmth of Christmas.

 
 
 

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