When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Ernest Ball (arr. William Teague)
General Info
Year: 1912 / 1940
Duration:
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Song
Publisher: M. Whitmark and Sons
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print.
For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
D-flat Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
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
B-flat Trumpet I-II
E-flat Horn or Alto I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion, including:
- Bass Drum
- Snare Drum
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling is a lighthearted song in tribute to Ireland. Its lyrics were written by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, Jr., set to music composed by Ernest Ball, for Olcott's production of The Isle O' Dreams, and Olcott sang the song in the show. It was first published in 1912, at a time when songs in tribute to a romanticized Ireland were very numerous and popular both in Britain and the United States. During the First World War the famous tenor John McCormack recorded the song.
The song continued to be a familiar standard for generations. Decades later it was used as the opening song on the radio show Duffy's Tavern. The song has been recorded on over 200 singles and albums and by many famous singers, including Bing Crosby, Connie Francis, and Roger Whittaker.
- Program Note from Wikipedia
Media
(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Golden Gate Park Band (San Francisco, Calif.) (Robert Calonico, conductor) - 18 September 2021
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Across the Rio Grande (arr. O'Hare) (1914)
- All the World Will Be Jealous of Me (arr. Trinkaus) (1917)
- As Long As the World Rolls On (1907)
- Because You Believe in Me (1918)
- California, My Homeland (arr. Trinkaus) (1926)
- Mother Machree (arr. Zdechlik) (1910/1988)
- When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (arr. Teague) (1912/1940)
Resources
- Ball, E.; Teague, W. (1940). When Irish Eyes Are Smiling [score]. M. Witmark and Sons: [s.l.].
- Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Ernest Ball." Accessed 26 August 2022
- When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. Wikipedia. Accessed 9 September 2019