“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” is an English West Country Christmas carol dating, perhaps, to the eighteenth century. Its popularity today is due to the Bristol-based composer, conductor, and organist Arthur Warrell (1883–1939), who arranged the tune for the University of Bristol Madrigal Singers as an elaborate four-part arrangement and performed it with them on December 6, 1935. It was subsequently published by Oxford University Press the same year under the title “A Merry Christmas: West Country traditional song.”
The carol likely originates in the English tradition of wealthy community members giving Christmas treats to carolers or wassailers on Christmas Eve, such as the “figgy pudding” mentioned in the verses. In the West Country of England, “figgy pudding” referred to a raisin or plum pudding, not necessarily one containing figs.
This short arrangement is ideal as a closing selection on a recital of Christmas music for brass quintet.
Score, parts (Bb tpt. 1, Bb tpt. 2, F horn, tbn, tuba) — $12.99