‘God rest ye merry Gentlemen’ is an ancient English carol. It was first published in 1833 but it can be traced as far back as the 15th century which makes it one of the oldest carols known. ‘God rest ye merry’ is a Middle English salutation. In this manner people wished one another greatness and might. In modern English the first line of this carol would read ‘May God keep you mighty gentlemen’. Andrew R. Mackereth has not kept to the original words in his up-tempo arrangement of the carol. It is still clearly recognizable but the arranger has taken a good many liberties. Sometimes a particular note is held longer at times motifs follow oneanother in various parts. If you listen carefully you may even be able to detect a motif from another well-known song.

In this festive medley Jan de Haan brings together a selection of the most famous Christmas songs from around the world. It features: O Come O Come Emmanuel God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Deck the Halls and Praise God Ye Christians Everywhere. Jan de Haan has created a work that will bring all the joy and happiness of the season to your Christmas concert.

Fantasy on Old Carols-Good Christian Men Rejoice ? God Rest You Merry Gentlemen ? Come Ye Lofty Come ? The First Nowell / La musique de Noël de Gustav Holst est touchante par sa fraîcheur et sa chaleur. Composée en 1910 cette fantaisie basée sur quatre noëls anglais anciens témoigne de la créativité et de l?imagination du compositeur. Originellement pour Chœur mixte et Orchestre ou Orgue Robert van Beringen en a réalisé cet arrangement pour Orchestre d?Harmonie et Chœur (ad lib.).