In ‘Famous Folksongs’ we are taken on a musical trip around the world from France to the USA and from South America to the Middle East. Dagmar Kildevann arranged eight word famous folk songs in very different ways. From traditional (Lolo mi boto) to modern (Le coq est mort) and from swing (Sur le pont) to rock (Michael row the boat). Bon voyage have a pleasant journey! Oh and by the way don’t forget your passport!

Be Thou My Vision (Slane)-The Irish folk tune Slane (the melody used in the hymn Be Thou My Vision) forms the foundation for this melodically expansive and inspired work for concert band. A flowing exploration of the melody in variationinspires the listener with its bold and thrilling progression. The piece remains within reach of a solid grade 3 band but gives the impression of a higher level of composition. A rich variety of style and orchestration make thisa good choice for festival use as well as concert performance as well as a great opportunity to study the rich cultural heritage of Ireland. You'll be glad you programmed Variants on an Irish Folk Tune by Timothy Johnson.

In this moderately easy suite Jan Van der Roost uses four authentic folk tunes from the Swedish-speaking part of Finland. These are from Nagu Oravais Lappfjärd and Karlebynejden and have been joined together without pauses to form a continuous suite. The work begins with noble almost meditative melodies. Gradually the tempo becomes faster resulting in a brilliant and cheerful folk dance. The melody regularly goes from one band section to another ensuring that the timbre remains varied and there is no question of monotony. This is an attractive suite which is within the range of the majority of concert bands.

The melodies harmonies moods and rhythms of Norwegian folk songs and dance (even the sounds of Norwegian folk instruments) permeate the music of Edvard Grieg (1843-1907). After studying in Leipzig and Copenhagen he returned to Norway and a chance meeting with Norwegian nationalist Rikard Nordraak ignited his interest in folk music and laid the foundation for his compositional style. His most famous orchestral works are the Piano Concerto (1868) and the incidental music to Ibsen’s play Peer Gynt (1875). He wrote many collections of folk music for piano and these two tunes come from his 25 Norwegian Folk Songs and Dances op. 17.

Norfolk is one of the most beautiful counties in England famous for its charming villages and boundless broads a popular centre for sailing holidays. It is also the home of one of the best known of all British composers Sir Malcolm Arnold. The date of the premiere of this piece was to fall close to his 80th birthday so Philip Sparke decided to write something of a birthday tribute. Some of Arnold’s best-loved orchestral works are his sets of dances: there are two sets of English Dances Four Scottish Dances Four Cornish Dances etc. most of which have been arranged for concert band at one time or another. Philip Sparke thought it would be appropriate for the concert band tohave its own set of dances and wrote Four Norfolk Dances very much in the style of Arnold’s suites.

Prelude on an Irish Folk Tune (?Prélude sur un air irlandais?) est basée sur l'air traditionnel Slane la version hymnique d?une mélodie irlandaise plus ancienne The Banks of the Bann. La mélodie s?imbrique dans la trame musicale vers la fin de la pièce. Publiée pour la première fois en 1909 dans le recueil Old Irish Folk Music and Songs (?Chants et airs irlandais anciens?) de Patrick Joyce cette mélodie traditionnelle tient son nom d?une colline située à environ 16 kilomètres de Tara dans le comté de Meath. Selon un extrait des Confessions de Saint Patrick le saint irlandais aurait allumé le cierge pascal sur la colline de Slane le Samedisaint de l?an 443. Cet acte de défi provoqua la fureur de Laoghaire un roi païen qui avait promulgué un édit interdisant d?allumer un feu autre que le feu royal sur la colline de Tara. Le feu royal célébrait la coutume païenne du retour du Printemps après l?Hiver du triomphe de la lumière (saison claire) sur la pénombre (saison sombre).Dans Prelude on an Irish Folk Tune des fragments de la mélodie font allusion au canevas futur de la pièce. Un autre thème écrit dans le style traditionnel domine le contexte avant de servir de contrechant lorsque la mélodie Slane se dévoile.

Par HIMES WILLIAM. A marvelous suite! The bright, cheerful opening will engage the entire audience from the first measure. Movement 1 is based on El Tortillero (The Tortilla Vendor), and is very creatively scored including the joyful dissonance of a busy street corner. The heartfelt and poignant second movement makes a pleasant contrast, and the Allegro Festivo marking for the third movement means more fun in the sun, including wonderful Percussion parts. LATIN FOLK SONG TRILOGY is a large-scale work for Grade 3, but the suite format keeps it manageable and William Himes' skillful scoring keeps all parts interesting to play while within appropriate technical demands. / Niveau : 3 / Répertoire / Concert Band ou Harmonie

Here is a whimsical look at some of America's favorite folk songs. The slow tempo in the beginning includes Frankie And Johnny Lonesome Road and John Henry. With a change to a faster tempo various sections of the band arefeatured with Chicken Reel Michael Row The Boat and Arkansas Traveler. I'm On My Way and Down By The Riverside finish out this exhuberant medley in rousing style.

Energy for DAYS! As a frenetic encore piece or a joyous sparkler for any place on the program that needs real pep FOLK DANCES is a great choice! The fascinating shifting harmonies of 20th century music give this one even more breathtaking momentum. This excellent transcription gives your band the thrill of playing Shostakovich at his humorous best.

This nicely paced and skillfully orchestrated suite characterizes the three main categories of ancient English folk dances. The opening Sword Dance is lively in nature and contrasts with the WaltzSong style of the second movement. The concluding movement is a Morris Dance typified by a rustic nature and dancers with pads of bells to accentuate the rhythm. The result is an elegant work for band with vibrance and energy. Dur: 4:30