Song of Lir
General Info
Year: 2004
Duration: c. 6:05
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Maecenas Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - £55.00 | Score Only (print) - £17.95
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:
- Chimes
- Crash Cymbals
- Glockenspiel
- Mark Tree
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tambourine
- Tam-Tam
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Song of Lir suggests an Irish lament, or caoine, and much of the material is derived from a 17th century Irish harping tune, Captain O'Kane. The work was commissioned by Tim and Hillary Reynish in memory of their son William.
- Program Note from publisher
According to legend, Lir himself was a king in the western part of Ireland in the time of the Celts. He had four beautiful children, a daughter and three sons. When their mother died, he married again, but his new wife was evil and jealous, and cursed the children of Lir, changing them into swans. They lived for 900 years as swans, until they heard the sound of the first Christian bell coming from a monastery newly built beside their lake. At the sound of the bell, the curse was lifted and they were restored to human form, but were now ancient, frail people. A monk baptized them, whereupon they were able to die in peace.
- Program Note from Penn State University Concert Band concert program, 10 December 2015
Ler (meaning "Sea" in Old Irish; Lir is the genitive form) is a sea god in Irish mythology. His name suggests that he is a personification of the sea, rather than a distinct deity. He is named Allód in early genealogies, and corresponds to the Llŷr of Welsh mythology. Ler is chiefly an ancestor figure, and is the father of the god Manannán mac Lir, who appears frequently in medieval Irish literature. Ler appears as the titular king in the tale The Children of Lir.
- Program Note from Wikipedia
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- National Children's Concert Band (Birmingham, UK) (Adam Broughton, conductor) – 8 April 2023
- Austin (Tx.) Symphonic Band (Kyle Glaser, conductor) - 14 February 2023
- Texas Woman's University (Denton) University Band (Carter Biggers, conductor) - 1 November 2022
- Wisconsin Lutheran College (Milwaukee) Concert Band (Maria Froman, conductor) – 1 December 2019
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Wind Orchestra (Christopher J. Woodruff, conductor) – 10 March 2019
- University of North Texas (Denton) University Band (Brent Penshorn, conductor) – 20 February 2019
- Lone Star Wind Orchestra (Dallas, Tex.) (Eugene Migliaro Corporon, conductor) – 6 March 2016
- Penn State University (University Park) Concert Band (Gregory Drane, conductor) - 10 December 2015
- Birmingham (England) Junior Conservatoire Wind Orchestra - 15 November 2015
Works for Winds by This Composer
- A New Songs Measure (2009)
- Amphion (2003)
- Blackwater (2005)
- Cathedral Variations (2015)
- Chapel Royal (2004)
- Dance of the Fir Darrig (2004)
- Juan for the Road (2004)
- Jubilo (2010)
- The Piper of Brafferton (2004)
- Silverwinds (2006)
- Song of Lir (2004)
- Spring at Nine Stones (2014)
- Tipperary Rhapsody (2007)
- Winter Dances (2002)
- Zethus (2018)
Resources
- Brock, Gordon R. "Song of Lir for Symphonic Wind Band." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 6, edit. & comp. by Richard Miles, 416-422. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2007.
- Carroll, F. [2004]. Song of Lir: For Symphonic Wind Band [score]. Maecenas Music: Kenley, UK.
- Ler (Mythology), Wikipedia