Skating is an original composition by pianist Vince Guaraldi, written for the 1965 CBS television special A Charlie Brown Christmas. The piece was composed to accompany an animated sequence depicting the Peanuts characters ice-skating on a frozen pond, and its musical character vividly evokes that imagery. Written as a jazz waltz in 3/4 time, the composition features sparkling, cascading piano runs that suggest the lightness and gliding motion of skating, with a lyrical melody that floats above gently swinging bass and brushed percussion. The harmonic palette is richly colored with extended voicings including added ninths and sixths on major chords, lending the piece an airy, shimmering quality. The structure consists of a repeating vamp and main theme section followed by a contrasting bridge that moves through darker harmonic territory, passing through keys like F minor, E-flat, and G-flat before resolving back to the opening material. Guaraldi recorded the piece with his trio, featuring Fred Marshall on bass and Jerry Granelli on drums, at Fantasy Studios in San Francisco for the soundtrack album released on Fantasy Records. Within the A Charlie Brown Christmas collection, Skating stands as one of the most beloved instrumental tracks, its waltz feel setting it apart from the Latin grooves and ballads that characterize much of the rest of the album. The composition has been widely arranged for various ensembles including saxophone groups, brass ensembles, and jazz bands, and it remains a popular choice for holiday performances.
