Christmas music is perhaps the fastest way to evoke the spirit of Christmas in our homes and workplaces. Whether we’re children still learning the lyrics or adults filled with nostalgia, Christmas music is the source of warm, joyful emotions that move our hearts.
Over the decades, talented pianists have lit up the ivory keys with magical arrangements of the holiday music we all know and love. We’ve compiled a list of our 14 favorite Christmas piano songs of all time to spread some Christmas cheer and help you enjoy the spirit of the season!
1. “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” performed by the Piano Guys.
An advent hymn originally written as an antiphon around the 8th century. In the 1800s, English Minister, John Mason Neale translated and arranged the hymn into the version we’re familiar with today.
2. “I Saw Three Ships” performed by Jarrod Radnich.
Although the meaning of the lyrics still remain a mystery, this carol has enjoyed popularity since its publication in 1666.
3. “Christmas Time is Here” performed by the Vince Guaraldi Trio.
A team of writers and producers approached Guaraldi in 1965 to collaborate on a Christmas Special featuring the characters from Peanuts. They wanted a unique style of music to set the cartoon apart from Saturday morning cartoons. What they got was a timeless score that’s now considered a classic part of Christmas.
