God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen: Viola
By Deborah Baker Monday
Grade: 1
Item: 00-PC-0014796_VA1
$5.99
Pickup currently not available
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: Viola comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
74
SKU:
00-PC-0014796_VA1
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
This arrangement proves that a Grade 1 piece doesn't have to feel simplistic. The driving rhythmic accompaniment gives young orchestras something substantial to lock into, while the canon technique and full-ensemble melody create genuine musical architecture without overcomplicating individual parts. The optional drum part extends engagement to percussion students who might otherwise sit out a carol arrangement.
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