A Keltic Feast Cover Image

A Keltic Feast: String Orchestra Conductor Score

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A Keltic Feast Cover Image

A Keltic Feast: String Orchestra Conductor Score

By Richard Meyer

Grade: 3

Item: 00-33714S

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Description
This Irish tour-de-force runs the gamut of emotions. An aggressively rustic opening makes way for a joyful and catchy original jig in the style of Holst's "Dargason." A flowing, legato setting of the beautiful folk tune "Sheebeg and Sheemore" follows, introduced by the violas. The jig returns, and is soon combined with the folk tune, creating a delightful contrapuntal conversation between low and high strings, ending with an exciting flourish. A challenge for every section of your string orchestra, and a perfect selection for your next contest or festival! This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Additional Details
Series: Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 24
UPC: 038081375144
SKU: 00-33714S

More about this title

About the Composer: Richard Meyer

Richard Meyer

Richard Meyer brings three decades of classroom experience to his composing and arranging work. He directed the orchestra program at Oak Avenue Intermediate School in Temple City, California, expanding it from 29 students to 200 while overseeing the city's elementary string instruction. For 16 years he led the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra, taking them on international concert tours across Vienna, Australia, Canada, and major U.S. cities.

Beyond the podium, Meyer has established himself as a prolific composer and educator. He created the "Giving Bach" program in 2009, an interactive concert initiative that has earned national recognition for bringing music to students with special needs and those in underserved communities throughout Southern California. His publishing credentials include 16 years as string editor for Alfred Publishing Company and co-authorship of the widely used String Explorer Series and Sight-read It for Strings. He has clinicked at the A.S.T.A. National Conference, the Texas Orchestra Directors' Association Conference, and regional string workshops, while guest-conducting All-State and Honor Orchestras across multiple states.

Why we love this

Meyer knows exactly what Grade 3 string orchestras can accomplish because he built a program from the ground up. This piece doesn't shy away from technical demands or structural complexity, yet every section finds something rewarding to play. The combination of original material with beloved folk tunes creates programming gold—emotionally satisfying for an audience while giving your orchestra a genuine contest contender.

What to expect

An Irish pub transforms into a concert hall. Energy ripples through the opening with infectious rusticity, then settles into the gentle sway of a centuries-old folk melody. By the end, both elements are dancing together, creating a joyful complexity that feels both earned and exhilarating.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the intermediate level who are ready for multi-movement architecture and sectional independence. This score rewards orchestras with solid intonation and the ability to balance texture and melody across different string groups.

How to get the most out of it

  • Attack the rustic opening with rhythmic precision and full bow. This aggressive character sets the emotional tone and demands ensemble unanimity on articulation.
  • Bring out the dialogue between the jig and the folk tune when they combine. Mark entrances clearly in rehearsal so low strings can comfortably navigate the counterpoint without rushing.
  • Shape the "Sheebeg and Sheemore" section with lyrical phrasing from the violas onward. Let the legato breathe; this is your emotional anchor before the energy returns.
  • Build momentum into the final flourish with careful dynamics. The excitement comes from precision and ensemble confidence, not from simply playing louder.

How to use it

Program this as a festival or contest centerpiece where its blend of technical challenge and engaging melody will connect with both adjudicators and audiences. It also pairs beautifully on a concert with other folk-based or world music selections, offering a natural segue between more classical works and contemporary pieces.

Skills your students will build

  • Balancing independent melodic lines within a contrapuntal texture
  • Sustaining legato phrasing across dynamic changes
  • Ensemble precision in rhythmically complex rustic idioms
  • Viola voicing and independence in orchestral context
  • Musical storytelling across contrasting sections and tempos

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