"The Bell Carol 2.0" Piano Arrangement by David Hicken  

Is it a worthy successor? Leave a comment below and let me know.🎄🎶🔔

This is honestly the best arrangement I’ve ever heard of this song. The feelings of suspense and excitement it provides makes you guess what’s coming next, which keeps you wanting more! Excellently done, as usual, David. What a treat right before Christmas…thank you for sharing!

This guy plays like a computer with a soul. Such precision.

This music has motivated me to learn piano.

When one looks over the comments and sees how many begin with the word "Wow" (which was also my exact reaction when first hearing this) it is clear just how exceptional and unique this arrangement is. I could just lie back and immerse myself in it. It takes one of the most beautiful musical pieces and cranks up the beauty factor exponentially. Thank you, David, for this spectacular rendition. I loved it!

You are faithful to your habit of creating wonderful music. Thanks. ❤️❤️❤️

The first version was wonderful. This version, well, is equally wonderful. Is it a worthy successor? Not quite. Not because there’s anything wrong with it but because, they are both brilliant, and stand together as equals. Bravo!

This is God level stuff. The angels gather around every time David sits at the piano. Bravo!

Worthy successor? Need you even ask? Exquisite.

Brilliant. I love this.

Yes! This is a very exciting arrangement! At the very beginning, I had a feeling of "If Mission Impossible was a Chrismas movie", which is very much not a bad thing! Your original Carol of the Bells video brought me to your channel through RU-vid recommendations. The best thing the recommendation system ever did to me, and it led me to discover some dang amazing music over the years. I also loved to read the story about how your first music came to be! Thank you for this, David, and Merry Chrismas in advance!

Wow! Was not expecting this and I am utterly elated! The best Christmas present I could wish for and a great piece to cheer us up at the start of the holiday season. Simply and utterly outstanding. Loved it from the start till the “bells” at the end. Bravo David, you are exceptional. Thank you! Happy Holidays to you, your family and to all🎄

Words can't express how much I love this!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing your gift David

Worhty? It divides my cerebral hemispheres and forces em to dance for 4.04. Mister, your creations are pure joy. Thanks a lot for sharing ! !

Very nice. When I was a kid my older brother got piano lessons he took two lessons and quit. I told my dad he only had the 2 that I would take the lessons.. dad said no and let it go to waste. My grandmother had told him that she never thought I'd amount of anything. Couple years later my younger brother said he wanted guitar lessons. Took one lesson and quit. I said I'll take the lessons told again no. My wife before she passed away a couple of years ago told me time is precious. She was right. I should have taken lessons on my own. Well done very enjoyable

Excellent work David !! I loved!! right now I'm going to buy the score.

David, I listen to almost all the music that you compose, I want to say that your music is very magical music that takes a person to a completely different world, God bless you, you will always continue this wonderful work 🙏

Wowww I thought I heard all the versions of this song, but yours is the most magical I've had the joy to listen to. It's amazing!

I love the Carol of the Bells. I have a few versions of it. When I listen to your first version, I prefer to watch the video of you playing. Those hands moving at that speed ...

I'm commenting while the ad is still playing .. I have to watch this! lol EDIT: Just as I suspected .. didn't disappoint. It was awesome! 👍 PS: I think I have that same shirt

I LOVE YOU AND THE SONG

What a treat - that's my 2022 sorted then... hopefully I'll be able to play this for my family by next Christmas! Thoroughly enjoyed learning 1.0 - thanks so much!

Yes!!! Absolutely! Wonderful! Perfect!

Hi David, this one is fabulous, love your tempo and pulse. Both are incredible works of art. Absolutely love it! Thank you so much for this performance, I appreciate it very much. It is a great inspiration to me. I love your straight back, it adds so much strength to all. I get the impression that you have carefully paid attention to every detail! Wonderful! You deserve a gold medal if this was in the Olympics!

This song is the best.I love your pieces

I can only ever dream of being able to play this one day. Excellent job David. Your song writing and piano skills are genius.

That was simply amazing..... You just made my day with this magical music..

You published this a day before the feast of the Immaculate Conception... As if it was a gift for Her from you. May the Lord bless you.

I have several Christmas music lists on my phone, I have an epic list, instrumental, classics, etc. My favorite list is my what I call "Christmas Elite" though -- it's select favorite songs I've come across over the years - some of your songs including bell carol, creators such as the piano guys, voctave, pentatonix, and a few choice others. I look for new songs to add every year, but am picky... This is immediately being added. THANK YOU!

After playing the other version for 5 years, I think it's time to upgrade to that one. Thanks David

Absolutly AMAZING 🤩👏👏👏 I love your playing and your music 👍👌 Greetings Robert 👋🏻🇨🇭

You gave me a Tremendous spiritual and emotional lift with this wonderfully played music. . I’m recovering from a successful series of chemotherapy from lymphatic cancer. . Thank you so very much. I’ll play it over many times m sure, as well as your other pieces. Jim, Vancouver BC.

Brillant - again! Sounds a lot more free than your first rendition - somehow similar to the way you changed Incantation over the years. Great to see and hear!

Oh my……Beautiful!!! You and I are much alike. The minor keys speak volumes to our souls.❤️

My favorite song. He's good.

Absolutely amazing, very inspiring. Thank you

Wow addinng the greensleeves was so beautiful

Very exciting!!

Mr.Hicken, I think it is more than worthy than your last arrangement. Thank you so much for sharing your music with us.

One of my favorite Christmas songs.

Absolutely stunning!!! Thank you for sharing this Video. I like your Shigeru, too! At the moment, I am learning your Master Ryokan on my August Förster Grand Piano…Best wishes from Germany !

This is awesome! (That word gets over-used, but it is totally appropriate here.) Thank you and God bless.

So beautiful! This blows me away!

What a beautiful sound. I had to listen to it twice. I'm sharing it with my friends

Perfect. I loved the first version and remember the film clip. This has none of those distractions with all of the talent. Well done!

David, your work leaves me both speechless and breathless every time. This is unbelievable. Your artistry is brilliant. Worthy successor indeed!

I really like this new arrangement. I have already purchased the sheet music for this arrangement, as well as the original. Your Carol of the Bells is a great teacher of my piano. From Japan.

Simple GREAT... AGAIN ,....HIGH SPEED HIGH LEVEL.... ,CREATIVE... , NO FAILS .... GREAT 😎⭐PERFECT!!!

This is stunning! Yes it is most definitely worthy! I agree with those that say they are in a different league. I Love them both! They have a different mood for me and I can listen to them both for hours. As always since the first version introduced me to you I have all your piano music downloaded and I listen to it daily as I work and relax. I rarely listen to anything else and if I do it’s the traditional classic music. Please never stop putting out your music David!

My son plays your older version for the family each Christmas. I will have to get him this updated version. It sounds amazing!

My favorite yet.

I remember my dad showing me your original composition and I fell in love it it. Im glad theres a new composition to the christmas carol. Great work!

Amazing arrangement, played flawlessly. Fun to listen to. You are a master pianist and arranger.

My new favorite version of this piece!! I am in love!!!! I have always loved Carol of the Bells and this mixed with O Come and What Child is superb!! I would only add a little of God Rest Ye and I Wonder As I Wander! Maybe a little We Three Kings!

Is it a worthy successor? Yes of Course a Masterpice like many of your Work. Thank you David and marry Christmas to the Northern.

Downright hypnotic...i could listen over and over!

Sure it is! It is a very good one.

Absolutely wonderful, David. I adore version 1.0 and now this second version is even better. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

What a treat! Happy holidays!

Magnifique, c’est la version la plus aboutie que j’ai entendu, avec une dynamique incroyable, merci !

Niemand spielt es besser als Mister David Hicken! 😃👍❤✨🎄❄☃️🌨🔔❤🎹

I love it! Thank you for allowing us the pleasure. ❤

Wow! Such a beautiful peace! I still remember listening to the first one many years ago in the car on my way to my lessons. Even when it was summer I would listen just because it was so marvelous. The ending brings back so many memories! Wonderful job David! Keep up the great work!

Best playing 👏👏👏

Impressively beautiful! Love it.

David, your work has inspired me to do so much. When I first heard incantation I was a budding high school pianist who didn't rest until he could play it too. Now I'm accepting my first full time piano teaching position. I just want to say thank you so much for inspiring me to work harder at what I love doing.

Speechless!! You are the only one that I can't wait to get the next song from!!! You are a master at your craft and I'm sooooo thankful that you share your talents with us! I loved the first one and can't wait to play this one!!

Show off. You have always been that way, ever since we were in grade school. You..eh..wait...that was a different David Hicken. Sorry. Great job. Awesome.

Absolutely spectacular!! Gorgeous and breathtaking arrangement!

Loved the first one, love this one even more. 😍

Fantastic and perfectly timed!!! Missed your music, thanks for popping in 👏

Gorgeous arrangement

Yes it is a very worthy successor

It's the best cover of this song for me! And little part from Greensleeves, it will be perfect to hear full version of Greensleeves from you too! Greeting from Ukraine, and thanks for The Carol Bell. Its Ukrainian compositor Mykola Leontovych name of composition Shchedryk / Щедрік

Fantastic performance on one of the finest pianos ever. Love the C230 there, just sold our last one.

Wow....it's even better than the first version, thanks a lot for your amazing great music, you are the most outstanding contemporary classical musician, there are both Bach's soul and beethoven's vitality inside your music, thanks a lot for your keeping efforts for those amazing music!

I found no words to express your profound professional talents.Really it is splendid and no doubt that you are a born pianist. Please advise me how to improve my sight reading without seeing the keys while playing piano.🙏🌹

Awesome sir💞💞💞

Beautiful!! 💝

Breathtakingly beautiful David...thank you

C'est splendide c'est devenu mon morceau préférée !

Grazie Maestro fantastico

Hi David, UK sending Christmas good health. Can't believe how long since I first listened to this. Sheer delight then and now. One disappointment. .......your not wearing your shorts!! 😉 👍💟

I am much pleased to hear this new arrangement Mr Hicken.

C'est avec cette pièce que je vous ai connu. Belle virtuosité et originalité! C'est sûre que j'achèterai la partition. Merci

Freaking awesome! I love it

Exquisitely arranged and flawless performed. Thank you!

Mr. Hicken - Carol of the Bells is one of my favorite melodies ever and, as a fellow piano player, I've played many times. Your version is - quite simply - sublime. Better than version 1.0 IMHO. congrats!

Bravo

Absolutely most amazing once again, this rendition is fantastic as well I love how you changed it up.

Papapapam papapapam 🔥☀️💨🌪️🌳🌾🌊☀️mi piace molto mamma mia 🐎🐎🐎pampapapammmm Felicità a tutti coloro che leggono✨

Carol of the Bells is my all time favorite x-mas song and your first version of it is my favorite version of it but this one is a close 2nd place. Both are just awesome

I cannot thank you enough for putting this out. Absolutely beautiful. Happy Holidays.

Love this arrangement Piano sounds superb Thanks greatly for uploading x

Awesome!

Amazing!

Christmas before Christmas! 🎅 Brillant ✨

Sorry David. Nothing can beat the original Bell Carol you composed. I swear i forgot about it, literally seen it and remembered. Had it on repeat for a couple hours, lol. 😅

The Excellency of your playing, to what can we compare, David? A brilliant piece to kick start to high acceleration the holiday season. What other variations are in store for us in future Christmas's? Can you compose a real dark version of the Bells, and call it the Knell of the Bells? Quiet, Children! Hear the knell of the bells, their somber rhythm a slow march foretells, to the dim home where fore'er our souls must dwell, naked I came to this earth, but clothed in faith i leap into darkest, saddest hell. All we can take when we die is faith, which is the flimsiest of clothing. The new version can end with a note of happiness-- but your the boss, any variations from you will be the best, and with suspensefull expectancy we will wait to see and hear.

You make it look so easy. I still haven’t learned the first one. 😁