God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
This intriguing arrangement opens “mysteriously” with hesitant slow-moving phrases over unusual harmonic progressions. The fun begins at the “rhythmic” section where the high bell melody is supported by syncopated martellato chords in the lower registers. A third verse features an ostinato bass with the main melody in the middle and a double-time tune in a treble descant. A grand chordal finale gets everybody together. This is a clever and amusing arrangement everyone will love. Scored in c minor, this piece is 67 measures.