God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen for Brass Quintet

The opening quasi-medieval fanfare sets the tone for the four settings to follow. Each one features a different approach to the melody, highlighting various aspects of it. 

This was one of the first arrangements I ever wrote. To me, it feels almost primordial compared to my later work, where I strived to create a continuous piece, complete with any necessary musical transitions. 

But this "four settings" approach works quite well for a small classical ensemble, whether it's in a concert setting or as incidental music. It might even be broken up throughout a "set" as a kind of repeating refrain (with variations).