‘God rest ye merry Gentlemen’ is an ancient English carol. It was first published in 1833 but it can be traced as far back as the 15th century which makes it one of the oldest carols known. ‘God rest ye merry’ is a Middle English salutation. In this manner people wished one another greatness and might. In modern English the first line of this carol would read ‘May God keep you mighty gentlemen’. Andrew R. Mackereth has not kept to the original words in his up-tempo arrangement of the carol. It is still clearly recognizable but the arranger has taken a good many liberties. Sometimes a particular note is held longer at times motifs follow oneanother in various parts. If you listen carefully you may even be able to detect a motif from another well-known song.

This piece was commissioned by Nordhordland Brass Seminar in 1990 and written for a youth band. The title referes to a story from norse mythology. ?The Binding of the Wolf? is not a programmatic piece of music but I felt that there was a kind of coherence between the music and the dramatic story: ?...The wolf Fenrir was one of the demonic offspring of Loki and as he grew up in Asgard among the gods he became so huge and fierce that only Tyr was willing to feed him. It was decided that he must be bound and Odin in his wisdom caused the cunning dwarfs to forge a chain which could not be broken. It was made from the invisible and yet potent powers ofthe world such as the roots of a mountain the noise of a moving cat the breath of a fish. When completed this chain seemed to be no more than a silken cord but the wolf refused to let it be laid upon him unless one of the gods would put a hand between his jaws as a pledge that it was harmless. Only Tyr was prepared to do this and when the wolf found that the chain was unbreakable the gods rejoiced but Tyr lost his hand. The binding of the wolf may be seen as a means of protecting the world of men as well as that of the gods from destruction. The story of the god losing his hand appears to be one of the fundamental myths of nothern Europe...?

Bassoon Quartet-This entertaining 'lollipop' item started life as a bassoon quartet(!) but was 'refurbished' for Wantage Silver Band in 1989. The style of the piece is rooted in 'big band' sounds and is in a simplified scoring with a single part for each of Eb horns baritones and euphoniums. The 'kit' percussion part is optional. Duration: approx. 3 mins. Manuscript form.

O Take My Hand Dear Father-This celebrated song is based on a poem by Julie Hausmann (1826-1901) a Latvian teacher who was probably blind. The text draws on her personal experience and unshakeable faith in God death and eternal life. The melody by Friedrich Silcher is written in a simple and delicate style but also draws on the grand romantic tradition of Wagner and Bruckner. This arrangement can also be performed with a mixed choir. The choir parts are in German.

David Well composed 'Frida's Whiskers' in commemoration of his own cat who met an untimely end. Frida (whose real name was 'Godefrida van Coopersburg thoe Nieuwenhuys') was a lively creature who led a playful and uncomplicated life. She used to sleep in her basket for hours but when she woke up she upset the entire house and its furnishing. Curtains were inspected from top to bottom and flower pots fell from window-sills just like that! Outside in the open air she was in her element. She used to frolic bouncing into the air. After such playful moods she would return to her basket tired but satisfied where being the cleanly cat that shewas she subjected her entire body whiskers included to a thorough wash.

For many years Enya has been selling as many records as pop goddesses like Madonna and Britney Spears. But it was the events of September 11 2001 that truly brought this Irish singer to the world stage with CNN broadcasting her ballad Only Time with the tragically dramatic images around the World Trade Center in New York. Ron has arranged this moving song in his own familiar creative way