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Irish Tune from County Derry (arr Kreines)

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Percy Aldridge Grainger

Percy Aldridge Grainger (arr. Joseph Kreines)


General Info

Year: 1918 / 1996
Duration: c. 3:20
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Folk song
Publisher: Southern Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $22.95


Instrumentation

Full Score
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV-V-VI
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III-IV
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion, including:

  • Suspended Cymbal


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Grainger's Irish Tune from County Derry has stood the test of time for a number of reasons: colorful sonorities, straightforward accessibility, and a memorable climax. It is also a versatile piece, playable by both younger band and mature players, symphonic bands and wind ensembles. The broad appeal of this piece will undoubtedly assure its position atop the wind band repertoire for years to come.

- Program Note from Great Music for Wind Band


Lovingly and reverently dedicated to the memory of Edvard Grieg

- Program Note from score


Irish Tune from County Derry is a setting of a now-famous tune from the Irish county of Derry in the north (sometimes called Londonderry). This classic arrangement features beautiful, delicate part-writing for both woodwinds and brass, highlighting each family in turn. Tonight’s performance features an unpublished timpani part which Grainger penciled in during a visit to the University of Kansas Midwestern Music Camp on one of six visits during the late 40’s and early 1950’s.

Grainger produced several versions of Mock Morris for different media. This transcription by Joseph Kreines is based on the string orchestra version, composed in 1910, but utilizes several scoring ideas from the 1950s version which Grainger made for Leopold Stokowski. The composition is best described by Grainger in the preface to the string orchestra score: ”No folk-music tunes are used within. The rhythmic cast of the piece is Morris-like, but neither of the build of the tunes nor the general layout form keep to a Morris dance shape.” In layman’s terms, that means he just made it up and that’s why it’s a “mock” Morris dance.

- Program Note from Lee University Wind Ensemble concert program, 23 April 2019


Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)


State Ratings

  • Florida: IV


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Cleveland Winds (Cleveland, Ohio) (Birch Browning, conductor) – 15 March 2020
  • Lee University (Cleveland, Tenn.) Wind Ensemble (David Holsinger, conductor) – 23 April 2019
  • Texas Christian University (Fort Worth) Symphonic Band (Brian Youngblood, conductor) – 17 April 2018
  • Millard West Brass Choir – 26 April 2014


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources