Christmas 2020 has brought with it some rather formidable challenges to many families. What is usually a cheerful season filled with anticipation has become a time of tense desperation as we claw our way out of a pandemic that has taken from us any feeling of "normalcy." For some, this means heart-wrenching isolation, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and loss. It is difficult, in these situations, to make the best of a less-than-ideal deck of cards and plow forward through the mire with a cheerful demeanor.

As a composer, I aim to communicate my own feelings through the musical medium. While I was looking around for a pretty simple, intermediate-level piano arrangement of some of my favorite Christmas tunes to practice this year, I stumbled across this little anonymous arrangement online. It appeared in desperate shape (okay, an unholy mess!), but it had some decent "bones" to it underneath. I thought, what a good time to take on a "stray," if you will, and give it a home. So, I sat down with this little thing and ironed out the lumps, gave it some dynamic breadth, then re-notated and re-engraved it so it wasn't quite the eyesore. The result landed exactly where I wanted it--gentle (but poignant), bittersweet, and SIMPLE.

Right now, when many are missing their dear loved ones and feeling a little less connected in general, I think the specific lyrics of this classic find more meaning:

"Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore,
Faithful friends who are dear to us,
Gather near to us once more."

Hang in there, friends. This, too shall pass. Have yourself a very merry little Christmas anyway. :)

With Love, Laura

P.S. My sincerest thanks to Andrew Remillard for making this beautiful recording as a gift to all of us!