What Praise Can I Play for Christmas?: Piano Book

These arrangements respect the integrity of contemporary praise songs while giving them the harmonic sophistication and textural depth that reward repeated playing. Tornquist's gift for writing idiomatic piano music means each piece sounds natural under the hands rather than adapted from another medium. The collection itself solves a real liturgical need: thoughtfully arranged settings of modern praise songs that work beautifully in the space between hymns and instrumental special music.

The collection captures the contemplative joy and modern sensibility of contemporary Christian music through piano textures that range from intimate and meditative to expansive and celebratory. Tornquist's harmonic language honors the melodic simplicity of these songs while adding layers of sophistication that invite the ear to listen more deeply.

Intermediate to early advanced pianists in church settings seeking music for preludes, offertories, and postludes. These arrangements appeal equally to worship musicians preparing contemporary liturgical music and advanced students building a repertoire of sacred solo literature.

• Pay close attention to pedal markings; Tornquist's harmonic colors depend on carefully timed pedal changes to bloom without muddying.
• Shape the melodic line with subtle dynamic flexibility rather than rigid adherence to printed marks, especially in arrangements where the contemporary style invites conversational phrasing.
• Approach the rhythmic settings as counterpoint between hands. These arrangements often layer motivic material, and clarity of voice separation will reveal the craft underneath.

Use individual pieces strategically throughout the Christmas season: shorter arrangements work as prelude music or quiet offertories, while more substantial settings can anchor longer liturgical moments or serve as standalone recital pieces. The collection's variety in length and character makes it ideal for church musicians who need a curated mix of contemporary praise without sounding fragmentary when sequenced throughout Advent and Christmas services.

• Pedal control and harmonic resonance in contemporary tonal language
• Voice leading across both hands in texturally layered arrangements
• Interpretive choices in blended traditional and contemporary idioms
• Reading and performing contemporary Christian repertoire with musical sophistication
• Flexibility in phrasing and rubato appropriate to modern praise music