Rest Ye Merry, Rock Ye Very: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$60.00 USD

Rest Ye Merry, Rock Ye Very: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Rest Ye Merry, Rock Ye Very: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-ST6325
Price: 60.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Arranged by Brian Balmages

Grade: 2.5

Item: 98-ST6325

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Inspired by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, this energetic arrangement of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen includes an easy drum set part that really kicks things into high gear. Catchy melodic variations give this arrangement a unique identity as ideas are layered, broken apart, and assembled one last time for a rousing conclusion!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Rest Ye Merry, Rock Ye Very: 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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Series: FJH Developing Strings

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398231690

SKU: 98-ST6325

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages commands respect across orchestral, band, and chamber music worlds with equal facility. His compositions have graced stages from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House, performed by ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to elementary school groups. He earned the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association and won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest. As a guest conductor, he maintains active relationships with all-state ensembles, university orchestras, and regional groups internationally.

Balmages holds elected membership in the American Bandmasters Association and received the inaugural James Madison University Distinguished Alumni Award. His music was performed during the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service, and he has been commissioned by the University of Miami to compose for presidential inaugurations. Currently serving as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic, he continues composing and conducting at the highest levels of the profession.

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Why we love this

The TSO-inspired treatment lifts a familiar carol into something your students will actually want to play, with the drum set part providing the structural energy that makes the arrangement sing. Balmages layers the melody intelligently, breaking it apart and reassembling it so the piece never settles into predictability, yet the Grade 2.5 difficulty keeps it accessible for developing orchestras.

What to expect

Propulsive and modern. The piece channels the theatrical drama of progressive rock arrangements while keeping the melody recognizable enough that even casual listeners connect instantly. It builds momentum through clever layering, creating a sense of assembly and culmination rather than simple repetition.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the intermediate level who want to program something contemporary and energetic without sacrificing the seasonal context. This arrangement rewards groups with capable string players and at least one drummer comfortable with a rock/pop idiom.

How to get the most out of it

Treat the drum set as a full ensemble member, not decoration. Lock the groove early in rehearsal so strings can feel confident pushing their tone against a solid rhythmic foundation.
Emphasize the melodic variations as distinct moments rather than subtle ornaments. When Balmages breaks apart the tune, help students hear it as orchestration choices, not mistakes.
Lean into the rock sensibility with your phrasing. Straight tone and articulation will serve you far better than a traditional holiday sweetness.

How to use it

Anchor your winter concert with this piece as a closing number or place it strategically between traditional arrangements to showcase your group's stylistic range. The energetic conclusion makes it an excellent program finale that leaves the audience with genuine excitement rather than the predictable holiday melancholy.