God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By Deborah Baker Monday
Grade: 1
Item: 00-PK-0004505
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Description
This is a completely unique arrangement of the traditional English carol. A strong rhythmic figure dominates the accompaniment which includes a fun optional drum part. The melody is played by all instruments and is alternated with the accompaniment by the high and low instruments. The tune is then introduced in a canon, creating momentum which builds to an exciting finish. Students will enjoy the rhythmic drive of this piece and teachers will appreciate that it is so easily accessible for young players. It will add great variety to any holiday performance!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
74
SKU:
00-PK-0004505
More about this title
About the Composer: Deborah Baker Monday
Deborah Baker Monday spent 25 years directing the award-winning Logan City orchestra program before transitioning to guest conducting, clinician work, and teacher mentorship. She holds a B.M.E. in string education from Florida State University, an M.M. in composition from the University of Alabama, and completed doctoral coursework at Louisiana State University under James Yestadt. Her teachers in composition and theory included Harold Schiffman, John Boda, Frederic Goossen, Paul Hedwall, and Dinos Constantinides.
Monday's catalog includes over 130 published works with seven music publishers, with a specialty in educational string arrangements and compositions. She won the UtahASTA Composition Competition twice (2006 and 2011) and has received recognition for outstanding teaching and accomplishment from both UtahASTA and UtahMEA. As a clinician, conductor, and adjudicator, she has presented at state music conferences across the country, national ASTA conventions, The Midwest Clinic, and the Ohio State String Teachers Workshop.
Why we love this
Monday's arrangement strips away the possibility of a sluggish, overly familiar carol reading by anchoring the whole piece in propulsive rhythmic energy. The structural choices, alternating melody between full ensemble and sectional splits, then introducing the tune as a canon, transform this well-worn tune into something that actually builds momentum rather than coasting on familiarity. Young players stay engaged because they're doing real work rhythmically, not just holding whole notes.
What to expect
Energetic and grounded, with a rock-solid rhythmic foundation that makes young players feel capable. The piece has brightness and forward motion rather than the static feel of many beginner carols, building from a straightforward statement into a genuinely exciting climax.
Who it's for
Young string orchestras at the first-year level looking for a holiday selection with rhythmic substance and real musical shape. This works equally well for beginning players in mixed-ability orchestras who need accessible parts but deserve engaging arrangements.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the rhythmic figure in rehearsal before adding the melody; have the accompaniment instruments play alone for a few measures to build confidence in the pulse.
- Balance the canon carefully by bringing out each voice as it enters; consider having the high and low sections rehearse their canon parts separately before combining them.
- Use the dynamic build toward the finish as a structural anchor; mark where the energy should increase so students feel the momentum building rather than playing it flat.
How to use it
Program this as the centerpiece of a holiday concert where you want young orchestras to shine with confidence; the Grade 1 accessibility means even newer groups can deliver a polished performance. Pair it with unison or simpler selections to underscore how much more sophisticated this arrangement sounds.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining rhythmic consistency in a repeated accompaniment figure while others play melody
- Listening and entering accurately in a canon structure
- Balancing melody and accompaniment parts within a full ensemble
- Building dynamic intensity across a piece through coordinated crescendos