“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”

The printed music for “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is sold as an individual transcription. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is a London carol dating from the 18th century. Billy’s two-hands-on-the-fingerboard arrangement maintains a traditional character. This technique and this composition have a remarkable affinity.

Billy originally recorded an early version of this arrangement as a duet with Lorie Line on her CD Sharing the Season, Volume III (Time Line Productions, Inc., 1995, TLP-10). Subsequently he added an additional section (measures 63-80). In 2002 he released the complete arrangement on Simple Gifts with Billy McLaughlin/A Simple Gift (Proton Discs, PD 2525). In this recorded version, Billy is accompanied by Marc Anderson on percussion.

When Billy performs “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” in concert, he plays over the percussion backup track. This percussion backup track is now available separately with two additional practice tracks to help bring you up to the performance tempo. The tempo of these two practice tracks has been slowed without altering the pitch. One track is percussion and guitar, the second is percussion only.

Sample:

Click Here to purchase the backing tracks.