The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), based in London, was formed by Sir Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days the orchestra secured profitable recording contracts and important engagements including the Glyndebourne Festival Opera and the concerts of the Royal Philharmonic Society. After Beecham's death in 1961 the orchestra's fortunes declined steeply; it battled for survival until the mid-1960s, when its future was secured after an Arts Council report recommended that it should receive public subsidy; a further crisis arose in the same era when it seemed that the orchestra's right to call itself "Royal" could be withdrawn.
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen is an English traditional Christmas carol. It is in the Roxburghe Collection (iii. 452), and is listed as no. 394 in the Roud Folk Song Index.
It is also known as Tidings of Comfort and Joy, and by variant incipits as
Come All You Worthy Gentlemen;God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; God Rest Ye, Merry Christians; or God Rest You Merry People All.
It is one of the oldest extant carols, dated to the 16th century or earlier.
The earliest known printed edition of the carol is in a broadsheet dated to c. 1760.
The traditional English melody is in the minor mode; the earliest printed edition of the melody appears to be in a parody, in the 1829 Facetiae of William Hone. It had been traditional and associated with the carol since at least the mid-18th century, when it was recorded by James Nares under the title "The old Christmas Carol".
The carol is referred to in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, 1843: "...at the first sound of 'God bless you, merry gentlemen! May nothing you dismay!', Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost."
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God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Classical Family Christmas
℗ 2012 Beach Road Music, LLC
Released on: 2012-10-31
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published: 30 Oct 2015
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
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God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Classical Christmas
℗ 2004 The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Ltd
Conductor: Anthony Inglis
Producer: Gordon Lorenz
Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Balance Engineer: Tony Faulkner
Composer: David Willcocks
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published: 24 Jan 2016
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
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God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · The Royal Philharmonic
Turned on Christmas
℗ 2013 2Thumbz Entertainment
Released on: 2013-11-25
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published: 09 Mar 2015
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (arr. David Willcocks)
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God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (arr. David Willcocks) · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra · Royal Choral Society · Anthony Inglis · Traditional
Here Come The Classics, Christmas Classics, Vol. 2
℗ 2004 RPO
Released on: 2019-11-29
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published: 03 Dec 2019
Traditional: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
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Traditional: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen · Nigel Hess · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Silent Nights - Die schönsten Melodien für eine entspannte Weihnachtszeit
℗ 2010 Global Radio
Released on: 2013-01-01
Associated Performer, Recording Arranger, Producer: Nigel Hess
Leader: Clio Gould
Studio Personnel, Recording Engineer, Editor, Mixer: Erik Jordan
Studio Personnel, Mastering Engineer: Fluid Mastering
Composer Lyricist: Traditional
Arranger, Work Arranger: Nigel Hess
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published: 09 Jan 2019
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Remastered 2014)
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God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Remastered 2014) · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical Christmas, Vol. 1
℗ 2022 Moonhoney Records
Released on: 2022-10-21
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God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Classical Family Christmas
℗ 2012 Beach Road Music, LLC
Released ...
Provided to YouTube by CDBaby
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Classical Family Christmas
℗ 2012 Beach Road Music, LLC
Released on: 2012-10-31
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by CDBaby
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Classical Family Christmas
℗ 2012 Beach Road Music, LLC
Released on: 2012-10-31
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Classical Christmas
℗ 2004 The Royal Philharmonic Orc...
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Classical Christmas
℗ 2004 The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Ltd
Conductor: Anthony Inglis
Producer: Gordon Lorenz
Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Balance Engineer: Tony Faulkner
Composer: David Willcocks
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Classical Christmas
℗ 2004 The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Ltd
Conductor: Anthony Inglis
Producer: Gordon Lorenz
Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Balance Engineer: Tony Faulkner
Composer: David Willcocks
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · The Royal Philharmonic
Turned on Christmas
℗ 2013 2Thumbz Entertainment
Release...
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · The Royal Philharmonic
Turned on Christmas
℗ 2013 2Thumbz Entertainment
Released on: 2013-11-25
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · The Royal Philharmonic
Turned on Christmas
℗ 2013 2Thumbz Entertainment
Released on: 2013-11-25
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (arr. David Willcocks) · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra · Royal Choral Society · Antho...
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God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (arr. David Willcocks) · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra · Royal Choral Society · Anthony Inglis · Traditional
Here Come The Classics, Christmas Classics, Vol. 2
℗ 2004 RPO
Released on: 2019-11-29
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (arr. David Willcocks) · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra · Royal Choral Society · Anthony Inglis · Traditional
Here Come The Classics, Christmas Classics, Vol. 2
℗ 2004 RPO
Released on: 2019-11-29
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Traditional: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen · Nigel Hess · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Silent Nights - Die schönst...
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Traditional: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen · Nigel Hess · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Silent Nights - Die schönsten Melodien für eine entspannte Weihnachtszeit
℗ 2010 Global Radio
Released on: 2013-01-01
Associated Performer, Recording Arranger, Producer: Nigel Hess
Leader: Clio Gould
Studio Personnel, Recording Engineer, Editor, Mixer: Erik Jordan
Studio Personnel, Mastering Engineer: Fluid Mastering
Composer Lyricist: Traditional
Arranger, Work Arranger: Nigel Hess
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Traditional: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen · Nigel Hess · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Silent Nights - Die schönsten Melodien für eine entspannte Weihnachtszeit
℗ 2010 Global Radio
Released on: 2013-01-01
Associated Performer, Recording Arranger, Producer: Nigel Hess
Leader: Clio Gould
Studio Personnel, Recording Engineer, Editor, Mixer: Erik Jordan
Studio Personnel, Mastering Engineer: Fluid Mastering
Composer Lyricist: Traditional
Arranger, Work Arranger: Nigel Hess
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Xelon Entertainment
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Remastered 2014) · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical Christmas, Vol. 1
℗ 2022 M...
Provided to YouTube by Xelon Entertainment
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Remastered 2014) · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical Christmas, Vol. 1
℗ 2022 Moonhoney Records
Released on: 2022-10-21
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Xelon Entertainment
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Remastered 2014) · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical Christmas, Vol. 1
℗ 2022 Moonhoney Records
Released on: 2022-10-21
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by CDBaby
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Classical Family Christmas
℗ 2012 Beach Road Music, LLC
Released on: 2012-10-31
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Classical Christmas
℗ 2004 The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Ltd
Conductor: Anthony Inglis
Producer: Gordon Lorenz
Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Balance Engineer: Tony Faulkner
Composer: David Willcocks
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen · The Royal Philharmonic
Turned on Christmas
℗ 2013 2Thumbz Entertainment
Released on: 2013-11-25
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (arr. David Willcocks) · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra · Royal Choral Society · Anthony Inglis · Traditional
Here Come The Classics, Christmas Classics, Vol. 2
℗ 2004 RPO
Released on: 2019-11-29
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
Traditional: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen · Nigel Hess · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Silent Nights - Die schönsten Melodien für eine entspannte Weihnachtszeit
℗ 2010 Global Radio
Released on: 2013-01-01
Associated Performer, Recording Arranger, Producer: Nigel Hess
Leader: Clio Gould
Studio Personnel, Recording Engineer, Editor, Mixer: Erik Jordan
Studio Personnel, Mastering Engineer: Fluid Mastering
Composer Lyricist: Traditional
Arranger, Work Arranger: Nigel Hess
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Xelon Entertainment
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Remastered 2014) · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical Christmas, Vol. 1
℗ 2022 Moonhoney Records
Released on: 2022-10-21
Auto-generated by YouTube.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), based in London, was formed by Sir Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days the orchestra secured profitable recording contracts and important engagements including the Glyndebourne Festival Opera and the concerts of the Royal Philharmonic Society. After Beecham's death in 1961 the orchestra's fortunes declined steeply; it battled for survival until the mid-1960s, when its future was secured after an Arts Council report recommended that it should receive public subsidy; a further crisis arose in the same era when it seemed that the orchestra's right to call itself "Royal" could be withdrawn.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, let nothing you dismay Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray Oh, tidings of comfort and joy In Bethlehem, in Jewry, this blessed babe was born And laid within a manger, upon a Christmas morn' That which his mother Mary did nothing take in scorn Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy Oh, tidings of comfort and joy >From God, our heavenly father, a blessed angel came And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same How that in Bethlehem was born the son of God by name Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy