Holiday Variations (Based on "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Arr. Michael Story
Grade: 1 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PK-0000881
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Description
Using "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" as the basis, Michael Story's "Holiday Variations" unwinds with exuberant holiday glee. Beginning in a march style, the work transitions to a waltz and concludes in a bright Latin style. There's no mistake with so many holiday treats packed into one dynamite arrangement.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Holiday Variations (Based on "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"): Concert Band 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:
Belwin Beginning Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
272
SKU:
00-PK-0000881
More about this title
About the Arranger: Michael Story
Michael Story is a prolific composer and arranger whose work spans concert band, orchestra, and choral literature. His arrangements for beginning and intermediate bands are known for their musical integrity, clear orchestration, and ability to engage young musicians with accessible yet genuinely rewarding material.
Why we love this
Story packs three distinct musical moods into a single Grade 1 package, giving your band genuine variety without sacrificing playability. Each section stands on its own merit while the familiar carol connects them, so students stay engaged through style shifts rather than getting lost in complexity.
What to expect
The piece captures the spirit of a holiday parade that keeps surprising you. You start marching briskly with the carol in its traditional stride, then float into a lilting waltz before spinning into a sun-soaked Latin celebration, all built on the same melodic foundation your audience knows by heart.
Who it's for
Beginning concert bands and first-year players looking for a festive arrangement that doesn't talk down to them musically. This works equally well for community bands, school winter concerts, and any ensemble seeking accessible holiday material with real character.
How to get the most out of it
- Mark the style transitions clearly in your score. The march opening needs crisp articulation and forward energy; flag where the waltz enters so the band can adjust their phrasing and dynamics accordingly.
- Work the Latin section's rhythmic character separately. Young musicians often rush Latin grooves, so isolate that rhythm section and let percussionists establish a comfortable, dancing tempo before adding the full ensemble.
- Balance melody between sections as the carol passes from one voice to another across the three movements. During rehearsal, identify who carries the tune in each style and ensure those voices project without drowning out the supportive parts.
How to use it
Slot this as an opener or closer on a winter concert; its three-movement arc feels like a complete musical statement in Grade 1 territory. The stylistic variety makes it an excellent teaching piece mid-season when you want to show students how the same melody speaks different languages, or save it as a crowd-pleaser for your December performances.
Skills your students will build
- Executing style-specific articulation and phrasing across march, waltz, and Latin idioms
- Tracking melodic movement as it transfers between instrumental sections
- Maintaining rhythmic precision during tempo and style transitions
- Balancing ensemble sound while supporting a moving melody line
- Reading and performing syncopated rhythms in Latin style