Londonderry Air arranged for String Orchestra.

A big band version of the song is used as the theme for The Danny Thomas Show (a.k.a. Make Room For Daddy).

"Danny Boy" was used to represent Northern Ireland at the start of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, sung by a choir of children on the Giant?s Causeway.

On November 25, 2014, the Vancouver Canucks used the song in honor of the recently deceased Pat Quinn, who played and worked in many executive capacities for the team.

There are various theories as to the true meaning of "Danny Boy". Some listeners have interpreted the song to be a message from a parent to a son going off to war or leaving as part of the Irish diaspora.

The 1918 version of the sheet music included alternative lyrics ("Eily Dear"), with the instructions that "when sung by a man, the words in italic should be used; the song then becomes "Eily Dear", so that "Danny Boy" is only to be sung by a lady". In spite of this, it is unclear whether this was Weatherly?s intent.

Why the name Londonderry Air? Londonderry and Derry refer to the same place, a city in the north of Ireland, and also to the surrounding county. Supposedly the city of Derry was founded by St. Colmcille, although archaeological evidence shows that people were living there thousands of years earlier. There is an excellent museum in the city, which is worth a visit if you want to find out more. The name of the city was actually "Doire", corrupted to "Derry" by people who can?t pronounce Irish. It thought to derive from an Irish root meaning "oak tree".

Moving quickly along in history, about a millenium later the government of England was having a difficult time colonizing Ireland because of the fierce and warlike clans living there, especially in the north of the country, Ulster. The monarchs of England, almost all of whom were notorious cheapskates, were continually looking about for ingenious ways to conquer places without actually having to put up the money themselves, or run the risk of unpopularity if they lost. In the case of Ireland, some of these schemes of the "Brish gummit" (as it is termed nowadays in Ulster) are still producing unfortunate long-term consequences.

In 1608, King James I gave the city of Derry to the City of London corporation. I guess the deal could be summed up by saying that if the City of London could figure out a way to chase all the inhabitants out of Derry, they would be allowed to keep the loot, minus a percentage for the King of course. If they lost, well too bad. In celebration of this historic agreement, the name of Derry was officially changed to Londonderry. (For further information, check out the Northern Ireland Tourist Board?s History of Derry.)

The linguistic outcome of all this today is that, if you think that King James?s deal with the City of London was a good idea, you call both the city and county "Londonderry". If you do, you are probably a supporter of the Unionist movement that seeks to keep Ulster a part of the United Kingdom. If you think it was a bad idea, you call both "Derry", and you are probably a supporter of the Irish Nationalist cause. Or you might just be someone who thinks it?s confusing for kings to be going around changing the names of places all the time for no good reason.

You can find plenty of discussion about the political side of the question elsewhere, but here let?s look at the musical side. We have an air, collected in county Derry/Londonderry, and it doesn?t have a title. What do we call it?

If you were a proper Victorian, there?s no way you were going to call it the Londonderry Air, much less the Derry Air, because of the improper sentiments that these titles might suggest. My parents tell me that in their youth in Australia, it was usually called the Air from County Derry. (This would, I suppose, support Winston Churchill?s theory that Australia was inhabited by "convicts and Irishmen".)

My mother also sends the following information, referring to an arrangement of the tune by the Australian composer Percy Grainger:

Just another note about Danny Boy, that I grew up in Australia believing to be the Air from County Derry. We were looking through some LP?s last night (back to vinyl yet!) and found a Mercury Wing Classical Favorites stereo LP SRW18060, COUNTRY GARDENS and other favorites by Percy Grainger {played by} Eastman-Rochester Pops, Frederick Fennell, conducting. The cover notes included the following: "Irish Tune from County Derry was harmonised in memory of Irish childhood friends in Australia." Considered by many to be Grainger?s masterpiece of harmonization, the tune was collected many years ago by Miss Jane Ross of New Town, Limavady, Ireland. Grainger has set it for many instrumental combinations. So there?s another variant on the name for it. It doesn?t say who wrote the notes, but the bits in quotes for each of the works on the record are Grainger?s original comments.

The references to Londonderry Air that I?ve seen don?t go back any earlier than the late 1930s. For example, the Glenn Miller Orchestra recorded Danny Boy (Londonderry Air) in February 1940. Bing Crosby?s version was recorded in July 1941 (reference). (So many different things I could check up on!) Londonderry was an important American naval base during WWII, but the US hadn?t come into the war in 1940.

Need an anthem fast? They are ALL in my store! All my anthem arrangements are also available for Orchestra, Recorders, Saxophones, Wind, Brass and Flexible band. If you need an anthem urgently for an instrumentation not in my store, let me know via e-mail, and I will arrange it for you FOC if possible! keithterrett@gmail.com

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The Arban Manual is a complete course that takes you through the Arban Method in 69 well organized lessons. You will need The Arban Method to use this course. Each lesson is a balanced day of practice. This version is for the older Carl Fischer Arban Method.

Description
The Arban Manual is a complete course that takes you through the Arban Method in 69 well organized lessons. You will need The Arban Method to use this course. Each lesson is a balanced day of practice.
Why
Arban?s Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet andArban?s Famous Method for Trombone have been two of the most widely used brass books for over 100 years. The Arban Manual is simply a guide in how to practice Arban. The Arban Manual will take you step by step through the entire Arban method. The Arban Manual is not a technique book and the practice advice should work well with most brass methodology.

How
A minimum of one week should be spent on each lesson, although many choose to spend longer. If you are having trouble with one part of a lesson, you may wish to spend more time on that part. Most lessons are divided into six parts that should be practiced in the prescribed order. It is recommended that you rest between each part and try to spread your practicing throughout the day as best you can.

Range Considerations
Students who are ready to play from Arban should have a ?usable range? up to A (concert G). Many of the easy studies do go this high. Although there are not many really high notes in Arbanby today?s standards, some of the studies can be quite taxing. An example of this is the interval studies on p. 126-129.
If you are not able to reach the highest keys at first, go as far you can comfortably, be sure to rest properly, and try to go further the next day. Remember, you will likely play from Arban in one way or another for most of your life, so don?t rush your progress.

Warming Up
One of the shortcomings of Arban is the lack of solid warm up material. Part I of each lesson is designed to be a warm up. Some teachers and students may find this inadequate for a warm up. Therefore, feel free to supplement the lesson plan with a warm up of your choosing. After your warm up, continue with Part I of the lesson.

Performance Etudes
I?ve designated some of the more melodic and well balanced etudes as ?performance etudes?. These can be used for auditions or recitals and should be prepared for that purpose. Some teachers or students may have other favorite etudes that they may choose to use for the purpose of performance.

All of the characteristic studies and celebrated fantaisies are considered performance pieces.

Models
Models are different ways of playing an exercise. Many modelsinvolve using different articulations on a given exercise. Arban?suse of models is not extensive so I have chosen to expand on it, giving the student even more practice material. All models must be practiced thoroughly as prescribed in the lessons.

The Hard Stuff
At some point in your study of Arban you may come across something that you just can?t play, or play at tempo. This often involves triple or double tonguing. Don?t let this discourage you. Practice it diligently and slowly. You may want to stay with it for more than one lesson. After practicing the difficult etude for at least a month, make a note of it and return to it later. Brass playing is a lifetime commitment and you should continue to grow throughout your playing career. Many of the world?s top players can?t play everything in the Arban book.

Multiple Tonguing
Selecting the best syllables for multiple tonguing is often a problem for brass players and teachers. Although Arbanrecommends ?tu ku?, many have had success using ?tuh kuh?, ?duh guh?, ?tee kee? and many others. Finding your best syllables may take some experimentation.

Extending Exercises
Beginning with Lesson 44, some of the exercises are reviewed and extended. This is to provide more upper range work, more key work and different models.

Transposition
Beginning with Lesson 47, exercises are suggested to be transposed for trumpets in different keys. These are the most common transpositions and are only to provide the trumpet player with some basic transposition skills. Bass clef instruments need to substitute other material here such as clef practice.
The first transposition is for C trumpet which is useful for reading music in concert pitch. The second transposition is for Ab trumpet which is useful if you play a C trumpet and want to read a Bb part.

Songs and duets
Some teachers love these and others don?t. I suggest you try them and if you?d like to supplement other pieces that you need to work on, please feel free to do so.

For bass clef instruments
Although the page numbering is different, the exercises in the bass clef edition are numbered the same as the trumpet edition, therefore making The Arban Manual viable for bass clef instruments.

The songs and duets have been left out of the early bass clef version of Arban, although there is now a new version that does include them. Feel free to supplement music of your choice. Some of the articulations and models may not be practical for slide trombone.

The Arban Manual is a complete course that takes you through the Arban Method in 69 well organized lessons. You will need The Arban Method to use this course. Each lesson is a balanced day of practice. This version is for the newer, Hooten edition published by Fischer.
Why
Arban?s Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet andArban?s Famous Method for Trombone have been two of the most widely used brass books for over 100 years. The Arban Manual is simply a guide in how to practice Arban. The Arban Manual will take you step by step through the entire Arban method. The Arban Manual is not a technique book and the practice advice should work well with most brass methodology.

How
A minimum of one week should be spent on each lesson, although many choose to spend longer. If you are having trouble with one part of a lesson, you may wish to spend more time on that part. Most lessons are divided into six parts that should be practiced in the prescribed order. It is recommended that you rest between each part and try to spread your practicing throughout the day as best you can.

Range Considerations
Students who are ready to play from Arban should have a ?usable range? up to A (concert G). Many of the easy studies do go this high. Although there are not many really high notes in Arbanby today?s standards, some of the studies can be quite taxing. An example of this is the interval studies on p. 126-129.
If you are not able to reach the highest keys at first, go as far you can comfortably, be sure to rest properly, and try to go further the next day. Remember, you will likely play from Arban in one way or another for most of your life, so don?t rush your progress.

Warming Up
One of the shortcomings of Arban is the lack of solid warm up material. Part I of each lesson is designed to be a warm up. Some teachers and students may find this inadequate for a warm up. Therefore, feel free to supplement the lesson plan with a warm up of your choosing. After your warm up, continue with Part I of the lesson.

Performance Etudes
I?ve designated some of the more melodic and well balanced etudes as ?performance etudes?. These can be used for auditions or recitals and should be prepared for that purpose. Some teachers or students may have other favorite etudes that they may choose to use for the purpose of performance.

All of the characteristic studies and celebrated fantaisies are considered performance pieces.

Models
Models are different ways of playing an exercise. Many modelsinvolve using different articulations on a given exercise. Arban?suse of models is not extensive so I have chosen to expand on it, giving the student even more practice material. All models must be practiced thoroughly as prescribed in the lessons.

The Hard Stuff
At some point in your study of Arban you may come across something that you just can?t play, or play at tempo. This often involves triple or double tonguing. Don?t let this discourage you. Practice it diligently and slowly. You may want to stay with it for more than one lesson. After practicing the difficult etude for at least a month, make a note of it and return to it later. Brass playing is a lifetime commitment and you should continue to grow throughout your playing career. Many of the world?s top players can?t play everything in the Arban book.

Multiple Tonguing
Selecting the best syllables for multiple tonguing is often a problem for brass players and teachers. Although Arbanrecommends ?tu ku?, many have had success using ?tuh kuh?, ?duh guh?, ?tee kee? and many others. Finding your best syllables may take some experimentation.

Extending Exercises
Beginning with Lesson 44, some of the exercises are reviewed and extended. This is to provide more upper range work, more key work and different models.

Transposition
Beginning with Lesson 47, exercises are suggested to be transposed for trumpets in different keys. These are the most common transpositions and are only to provide the trumpet player with some basic transposition skills. Bass clef instruments need to substitute other material here such as clef practice.
The first transposition is for C trumpet which is useful for reading music in concert pitch. The second transposition is for Ab trumpet which is useful if you play a C trumpet and want to read a Bb part.

Songs and duets
Some teachers love these and others don?t. I suggest you try them and if you?d like to supplement other pieces that you need to work on, please feel free to do so.

For bass clef instruments
Although the page numbering is different, the exercises in the bass clef edition are numbered the same as the trumpet edition, therefore making The Arban Manual viable for bass clef instruments.

The songs and duets have been left out of the early bass clef version of Arban, although there is now a new version that does include them. Feel free to supplement music of your choice. Some of the articulations and models may not be practical for slide trombone.

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