As part of Christmas this year, I wanted to compose an original piano piece that captured the wonder and awe of the season. With that in mind, please enjoy Mary’s Alleluia:
If you like it, check out the sheet music here:
This work is special to me. After being inspired to create the main theme, I finished the piece in about two days! I imagined what Mary must have felt when she held the baby Jesus in her arms: love and excitement, definitely, but also perhaps some fear about her abilities as a mother to Jesus. Mary’s Alleluia captures all of those emotions in the form of a prayer.
And [the shepherds] came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these
Luke 2: 16-19, KJVthings, and pondered them in her heart.
Analysis
Mary’s Alleluia opens with a luminous A major harmony. The simple theme is then introduced over some lush 7th chords. Notice how the melody keeps rising even as the harmonies turn minor.
Then the whole theme repeats, except this time it’s accompanied by triplets. The energy picks up, and the piece slowly builds in tension and beauty. I wanted to create a sense of awe throughout this whole piece, and that is accomplished through the use of rhythmic layers combined with full, harmonious chords. Perfect for capturing the spirit of Christmas.
I hope you enjoy listening to Mary’s Alleluia as much as I enjoyed writing it.
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