A Gaelic Overture: 2nd Violin
By David O'Fallon
Grade: 4
Item: 00-PC-0000302_VN2
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Description
Using the old hymn tune "St.Patrick's Breastplate" and an original jig (introduced by solo violin), David O'Fallon has fashioned a piece of extreme beauty and intense energy. Full of special effects, foot stomping and modern harmonies, this exciting selection pays tribute to the Irish in a most unique way. A Gaelic Overture is an outstanding and highly creative work for the more advanced orchestra. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Gaelic Overture: 2nd Violin comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
124
SKU:
00-PC-0000302_VN2
More about this title
About the Composer: David O'Fallon
David O'Fallon began composing and arranging at age 10, establishing himself early as a musician drawn to both classical and contemporary forms. He earned degrees in Elementary Education and Music Theory and Composition from Northern Illinois University, where he served as staff arranger for the NIU Jazz Ensemble. His professional life has spanned orchestral performance (Chicago Civic Orchestra as percussionist and violist), choral singing (bass section of the Chicago Symphony Chorus), and frequent percussion work with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, on whose recordings and tours he has appeared roughly 20 times.
O'Fallon's reputation for writing music suited to developing players is substantial. The Chicago chapter of the American String Teachers Association has commissioned him four times to create contemporary works with younger orchestras in mind, a distinction that shaped his approach to balancing technical accessibility with artistic ambition.
Why we love this
O'Fallon has constructed something genuinely rare here: a piece that marries recognizable melodic material (the hymn tune 'St. Patrick's Breastplate') with original compositional voice and contemporary orchestration without sacrificing either accessibility or substance. The work showcases his gift for writing at Grade 4 level while demanding real musicianship, and the integration of special effects, rhythmic vitality, and modern harmonic language keeps advanced student orchestras engaged rather than coasting on familiarity.
What to expect
The piece pulses with dual energy: the spiritual dignity of a centuries-old hymn tune anchors the opening, while a spirited jig injects rhythmic drive and folk vitality throughout. Modern harmonies and orchestral color effects wrap around these traditional elements, creating something that honors Irish musical heritage while speaking in a thoroughly contemporary voice.
Who it's for
Advanced string orchestras and youth orchestras with strong technical foundations and experience reading contemporary notation and special effects. This work rewards orchestras ready to tackle artistic interpretation and understand the balance between traditional hymn material and modern compositional language.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the foot-stomping passages as rhythmic anchors rather than theatrical flourishes; these elements anchor the ensemble's sense of pulse and require clean ensemble attacks just as any rhythmic figure would.
- Feature the opening solo violin prominently in rehearsals and performance, using those measures to set the jig character clearly before the full ensemble enters.
- Balance the density of special effects and modern harmonies by drilling the underlying harmonic progressions separately; ensure players understand the functional harmony beneath the coloristic surface.
- Mark the shift from the 'St. Patrick's Breastplate' hymn material to the jig as a genuine tempo and character change, not merely a textural swap.
How to use it
This title excels on festival and competition programs where a single piece can showcase both the orchestra's technical sophistication and its ability to render cultural material with respect and creativity. It also pairs well in a concert that celebrates multicultural repertoire or traces connections between traditional and contemporary composition.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing special effects (pizzicato variations, col legno, tremolo, and other extended techniques)
- Maintaining ensemble rhythmic precision through foot-stomping and complex syncopated passages in the jig
- Interpreting modern harmonic language and dissonance in a tonal context
- Balancing textural clarity when multiple melodic and rhythmic ideas occur simultaneously
- Understanding cultural context and appropriate performance choices for traditional material arranged in a contemporary setting
- Executing clean articulation and tone shifts between hymn tune passages and high-energy jig sections