Afterword

This fifth volume of the tonerikoneko Lyre Sheet Music Collection features a selection of songs primarily focused on Christmas and Ghibli tunes, arranged for easy playing on the lyre.It also includes vocal and lyre solo versions of "Amazing Grace," as well as a few copyright-free folk and classical pieces.

 

While Christmas songs were also included in tonerikoneko Sheet Music Collections 2 and 3, this volume features mostly beginner-level arrangements.

Therefore, I hope that those who can read sheet music will find this collection useful, even when they have limited practice time before a concert.

It should also be easy to memorize and helpful when playing Christmas songs as background music in a medley.

You can shorten the pieces if they are too long. For example, playing only the left page of "Greensleeves" makes it a beginner-level piece.

If you find there are too many chords, please feel free to reduce them.

(All the Christmas songs and folk/classical pieces in this sheet music collection are copyright-free.)

 

The Ghibli song "Always with Me" is often played at the beginning of concerts or when introducing the lyre.However, playing the full version is quite long and challenging, so I created a simplified version that fits on one page of sheet music.

Also, since I have included Ghibli sheet music in tonerikoneko Sheet Music Collection 3, I hope you will enjoy combining them to play a Ghibli medley.

"Merry-Go-Round of Life" is arranged in two versions: intermediate and advanced.

The intermediate version mostly uses chords only on the first note of each measure, making it relatively easy to play.

The advanced version is arranged to be closer to the original, with arpeggio chords, which inevitably makes it more difficult to play on the lyre, but I have tried to make it as playable as possible.

If you'd like to try playing a challenging arrangement, please feel free to give it a try.

You may find that there are other fingerings that are easier than those indicated in the sheet music.

(All Ghibli songs are copyrighted, so permission from the copyright holder is required for public use, such as in concerts.For more details, please refer to the website of the Japan Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC).)

 

Regarding "Amazing Grace," I included it because there was a request to "include sheet music for at least one song for singing and playing."

Regarding the sheet music for singing and playing, I understand that everyone has a different vocal range, and some people may be better at playing arpeggio chords while singing, while others may be better at playing the melody while singing. Therefore:

 

⑴I've included two versions of the sheet music: one in D major for those who can't sing very high notes, and one in F major for those who can sing higher notes.

 

⑵I've created two types of sheet music: one for singing with an arpeggio chord accompaniment, and one for singing with a lyre solo version (melody with chord accompaniment). Both are available in D major and F major.

First, I recommend practicing with the solo version sheet music (with fingerings), and once you can play it, try practicing by looking at the sheet music with lyrics and playing while singing.

 

⑶For those who don't sing and play, I've also created a lyre solo version of "Amazing Grace" transposed to G major, D major, and F major.

Comparing the different keys is fun, and it will be good practice to play the same song in different keys.

This collection also includes an advanced solo version of "Amazing Grace."

The solo arrangement, which sounds like an arpeggio accompaniment, may be a little challenging, but it's a short arrangement of only 20 measures, so if you play it slowly, I think it will be excellent practice.

 

I would be very happy if this sheet music collection encourages your lyre practice.

The most important thing when playing the lyre is to play relaxed, slowly, gently, and carefully, with all your heart.

If you do that, you will surely produce a beautiful sound characteristic of the lyre and have a wonderful performance.

 

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the teachers and everyone who guided me in publishing this lyre sheet music collection, my lyre friends and students who encourage me, everyone who watches and supports my lyre performance videos, and everyone who purchases the sheet music and supports me.

 

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　December 2025　tonerikoneko

 

*For basic fingerings and symbols, please refer to the "Explanation of tonerikoneko Lyre Sheet Music Collections 3 & 4" on the "tonerikoneko Lyre Music" website.

 

Lyre Sheet Music Collection 5"Christmas & Ghibli Sheet Music Collection for Lyre"Arranged by tonerikoneko　Arrangement, Author, and Publisher: tonerikoneko　December 6, 2025　First Edition Published　©tonerikoneko

Unauthorized reproduction of this book is strictly prohibited.Unauthorized reproduction of this book is prohibited except for exceptions under copyright law.Digitization of this book by third parties, such as service providers, is strictly prohibited, even within the scope of private use.(Licensed by the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC) License 　

Price: 4,000 yen