Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair

James D Ployhar

Traditional, arranged by James D Ployhar

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General Info

Year: 1963
Duration:
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Byron-Douglas Publications
Cost: Score and Parts - Out of Print

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion

(percussion detail desired)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Black Is the Colour (of My True Love's Hair) is a traditional folk song first known in the Appalachian Mountains region of the United States in 1915, but most probably originating from Scotland, as attributed to the reference to the Clyde in the song's lyrics. The musicologist Alan Lomax supported this Scottish origin, saying that the song was an American "re-make of British materials."

Many different versions of this song exist, some addressed to females and others addressed to males, as well as other differences. These words are set to two distinct melodies, one of which is traditional and the other was written by the Kentucky folk singer and composer John Jacob Niles. Niles recalled that his father thought the traditional melody was "downright terrible", so he wrote "a new tune, ending it in a nice modal manner." The song has become a part of the traditional repertory of Celtic music artists. The first recording was made by Mrs. Lizzie Roberts in 1916 as Black Is the Colour.

- Program Note from Wikipedia

Media

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State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory Wind Ensemble (Joseph Parisi, conductor) – 14 March 2016

Works for Winds by This Composer

American Patrol (as arranger) (1891/2005)
Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair (as arranger) (1963)
Blue Tango (arr Ployhar) (as arranger)
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (as arranger) (1941/1975)
Burtonwood Overture
Caravan (as arranger) (1937/1975)
Castlebay Overture
Castle, Loch, and Heath (as arranger) (1983)
Chiapanecas (as arranger)
Christmas Sing-a-Long (as arranger)
Christmas "Pop" Sing-a-Long (as arranger)
The Civil War (as arranger) (1991)
Clarinets on the Run (1986)
Concerto for Faculty and Band (1972)
Cool Blues for Trumpets
Crazy Clock
Crusader's Hymn (as arranger) (1997)
Deep River (as arranger) (1959)
Devonshire Overture
Ding! Dong! Merrily on High (as arranger) (1987)
Fantasy on Joy to the World
Fantasy on "The Marine's Hymn" (as arranger) (1994)
Flight of the Flutes (2007)
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands (as arranger) (1973)
A Holly Jolly Christmas (as arranger) (1997)
The Hundred Pipers (as arranger) (c. 1852/1973/1988)
Korean Folk Song Melody
March of the Irish Guard (as arranger) (1989)
Morning Has Broken (1931/1977)
A Nation's Prayer (as arranger) (2006)
Nobody Knows the Troubles I've Seen (as arranger) (1956)
An Old English Christmas (1958)
Patriotic Sing-a-Long (as arranger) (1976)
Salute to the Patriots (1999)
Santa Meets the Big Bands (2005)
Simple Gifts (arr Ployhar) (as arranger) (1968)
Sing for America (as arranger) (1998)
Sleigh Ride (as arranger) (1948/1980)
Still, Still, Still (as arranger) (1988)
Sunderland Overture
Swingin' into Christmas (2002)
Swingin' Old Saint Nick (as arranger) (1867/1998)
Theme from "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (as arranger)
Travelin' Trumpets (2006)
Tunbridge Overture
Vaudeville Favorites (as arranger) (1969)
Vikingland (as arranger) (1986)

Resources

Black Is the Colour (Of My True Love's Hair), Wikipedia Accessed 14 March 2016
Ployhar, J. (1963). Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair [score]. Byron-Douglas Pub.: [s.l.]