God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$95.00 USD

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-RWS201400
Price: 95.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Arranged by John M. Pasternak

Grade: 4

Item: 98-RWS201400

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John M. Pasternak has created an imaginative new setting of the holiday classic. This upbeat, rock and roll style arrangement will be fun for your students and a crowd favorite at your winter program. Set in 7/8, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is an excellent teaching tool making the work on multi-meters enjoyable and rewarding!

Original Item#: RWS-2014-00

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Series: RWS - Symphony Band

Publisher: RWS Music Company

ISBN10: 1-4706-9432-8

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-9432-6

UPC: 038081610177

SKU: 98-RWS201400

More about this title

About the Arranger: John M. Pasternak

John M. Pasternak is a prolific arranger and composer whose work spans educational and professional ensembles. Known for his ability to reimagine familiar material through fresh harmonic and rhythmic lenses, Pasternak has built a catalog that challenges students while keeping their engagement high.

His arrangements often feature unconventional meters and contemporary textures, making them valuable tools for directors who want to deepen musicianship beyond standard repertoire. Pasternak's understanding of what works in the rehearsal room and concert hall has made his work a staple in school band programs.

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Why we love this

Pasternak resists the urge to simply speed up a traditional carol and call it modern. The 7/8 meter here feels purposeful rather than gimmicky, forcing your band to engage with subdivision and phrasing in ways that carry over into everything else you rehearse. Your students will spend real time problem-solving, and audiences will hear something genuinely fresh.

What to expect

Imagine the carol you grew up with suddenly plugged in and moving with swagger. The melody remains recognizable, but Pasternak surrounds it with a contemporary rhythmic energy that feels both celebratory and slightly off-kilter in the best way.

Who it's for

Grade 4 bands ready to expand beyond traditional meters without abandoning familiar material. This works equally well for students encountering 7/8 for the first time and for experienced ensembles seeking a holiday selection that demands more than rote playing.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the 7/8 pulse early in rehearsal by having students feel it as 3+4 rather than fighting against 4/4 muscle memory. Once the subdivision clicks, the energy locks in fast.
Let the rock-and-roll character breathe through the rhythm section; this arrangement lives in the grooves, not the strict beats. Spend rehearsal time on the kick drum and bass line interplay before worrying about perfect ensemble unity.
Highlight the melody entrances across different sections rather than burying the tune under thick harmony. The familiar tune is your greatest asset for keeping the audience with you through the metric shift.

How to use it

Reserve this for a winter concert where you want to surprise your audience midway through the program. Sandwich it between a traditional carol and another contemporary piece to show the range of your band's versatility, or close the concert with it as a high-energy sendoff that leaves people smiling.