God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

The accent is placed on merry in Alan A. Craig’s joyful new orchestral arrangement of the much-loved Christmas carol God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen. Directors and players alike may find it impossible to resist the celebratory spirit of the rollicking rhythms and modal harmonies built into this vivid technicolor reboot of a centuries-old English festive folk song. The carol’s popularity through the ages is reflected in fleeting musical echoes of urban Salvation Army bands, the fast-moving digital age, and, of course, the ancient Middle Eastern origins of its narrative. The arrangement also includes a part for optional unison voices, giving the opportunity for choirs or even audiences to loudly join in as the occasion dictates!