Free Sheet Music and Bonus Backing Track Giveaway for December 2022
‘White Christmas’ is a song written by Russian-American composer, songwriter, and lyricist Irving Berlin.
Where and when Berlin wrote ‘White Christmas’ is heavily disputed. One story is that he wrote it in 1940 during a weekend at the La Quinta hotel in La Quinta, California, while the owners of the Arizona Biltmore claim he wrote it there in 1939. Neither story has ever been proven. Regardless of the origin of the song, its release is well-documented and a landmark moment in the history of the Great American Songbook.
Bing Crosby first sang ‘White Christmas’ live on his NBC radio show, The Kraft Music Hall, on Christmas Day 1941, just 18 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. A recorded version of the song was then released on July 30 as part of the soundtrack for the musical film, Holiday Inn. Since then, it has been covered by many artists and the Bing Crosby version has sold over 50 million physical copies worldwide, making it the best-selling single of all time.
Grab Your Free Sheet Music and Bonus Backing Track for ‘White Christmas’
Spread some Christmas cheer this year by downloading your free copy of the sheet music for ‘White Christmas.’ This transcription is for solo piano and based on an arrangement by Beegie Adair. Originally sold for $9.95, you can grab it for free until the end of December 2022.
In addition to the sheet music, you can also download a free bonus backing track to play along with. This backing track has a bass and drums accompaniment to the piano part. To download the free backing track, first order the free sheet music, then click on the ‘Download your additional files’ tab; this will let you download an MP3 file of the backing track.
CLAIM FREE SHEET MUSIC AND BACKING TRACK
Here Are Some Fun Facts About ‘White Christmas’
- In the book White Christmas: The Story of an American Song, American journalist and author, Jody Rosen, claims that the song was written by Berlin in response to the death of his son, who died at just three weeks old on Christmas Day in 1928.
- In 2001, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) listed the Bing Crosby version of ‘White Christmas’ as the second-most significant song of the century, just behind ‘Over the Rainbow’ by Judy Garland which ranked first.
- This version of ‘White Christmas’ is written in the key of B-flat minor at a tempo of 120 pm.
- In 2000 Berlin’s daughter, Linda Emmet, commented on the fact that ‘White Christmas’ had a very nostalgic view of the holidays, saying, “It’s very evocative. The snow, the Christmas card, the sleigh, the sleigh bells – it’s very evocative, and it’s entirely secular.”
This version of ‘White Christmas’ is based on an arrangement by Beegie Adair and transcribed by Tunescribers team member Manuel A.
