10 Piano Solos For Holy Week and Easter

With Holy Week and Easter right around the corner, you may be looking for some piano solos for service music, family gatherings or for your own reflection on these powerful days.

We’ve found ten beautiful piano arrangements for Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter. These arrangements are best suited for mid-late intermediate pianists and higher. If you’re looking for simpler arrangements, just search on Musicnotes.com and look for arrangements marked “Easy Piano” or “Beginner Notes”.

“All Glory Laud And Honor” arranged by Melchior Teschner

This is a grand, majestic arrangement of this traditional hymn. The left hand drives along in a syncopated rhythm while the right hand covers the melody, often in octaves. There are several key changes throughout.

“How Deep The Father’s Love” arranged by David Nevue

This is a lovely and thoughtful arrangement. It has a steady push and pull of the tempo with frequent meditative fermata pauses. It maintains just the right balance of simplicity of the melody with depth of the harmony.

“What Wondrous Love Is This” arranged by John Carter

This arrangement features a lot full, rich chords, which suit this hymn really well. It’s just two pages long, but you’ll find a lot of depth in this arrangement.

“O Sacred Head Now Wounded” arranged by Jim Brickman

This is a moving arrangement of a traditional hymn. The melody line sings beautifully among a flowing harmony line. There are short but beautiful interludes between verses.

Watch the video here.

“Were You There?” arranged by Phillip Keveren

This song is a Good Friday staple and this arrangement takes you on an escalating musical journey through a variety of styles. It starts very simply with a single melody line and simple harmonies. It moves into a more flowing, lyrical style. The next section transitions to rippling sixteenth notes. There is a short, somber section before ending with a lush, triumphant chordal section.

“When I Survey The Wondrous Cross” arranged by Marcia Wells

This is a really lovely arrangements that starts simply, but expands as the song progresses. It begins in the key of F with an arpeggiated left hand while the right hand plays the melody plus a harmony. The second verse transitions into the key of f minor. The left hand maintains the arpeggiated pattern, but the right hand takes on fuller chords. The final verse is in A-flat Major and has a broad, majestic sound with the base line moving in octaves and the right hand playing larger 3-4 note chords.

Watch the video here.

“Christ The Lord Is Risen Today” arranged by Pamela Robertson

This triumphant tune is built on strong harmonies and driving eight note passages. It is an exciting arrangement that includes some nice introduction and interlude material, along with the melody moving between voices.

“In Christ Alone” arranged by Lloyd Larson

This is another arrangement that builds upon the simple but beautiful melody. There are many rhythmic intricacies that add interest and depth. The texture moves from a more lyrical, flowing nature into broad chords and octaves towards the end.

“Hallelujah Chorus” arranged by Dan Musselman

This is a wonderful piano arrangement of the Hallelujah Chorus. It stays true to the original version while adding some dazzling pianistic touches such as running sixteenth note passages, well-voiced chords and a nice balance between the melody and harmony parts.

Watch the video here.

“Ode To Joy” arranged by Jonny May

This is a really zippy, jazzed up version of “Ode To Joy” that would make a great way to usher in a victorious, celebratory day. It is technically advanced with a stride left hand pattern and very quick swinging eighth notes. It’s a fun and lively variation on a classic hymn and tune.

Watch the video here.

This post was written by Megan, piano teacher and author of Pianissimo: A Very Piano Blog. Visit her website for more piano related blogs for teachers, parents, students, and all things piano.

Published on April 5, 2022