A Longford Legend: Baritone T.C.
A Collection of Irish Street Ballades
By Robert Sheldon
Grade: 4 (Medium Difficult)
Item: 00-PC-0000258_BTC1
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Description
Another outstanding composition by Robert Sheldon, A Longford Legend is destined to become a classic! It was commissioned by the Normal Community West High School Band, Normal, Illinois and is based on three poems found in a collection of Irish Street Ballades. Written in three movements, A Longford Legend is a tribute to the wonderful band literature of Grainger, Holst, and Vaughan Williams. A Longford Legend is a magnificent showpiece for every instrument in the band---a must for your next concert! 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 Longford Legend: Baritone T.C. 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:
Alfred Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
276
SKU:
00-PC-0000258_BTC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert Sheldon
Robert Sheldon ranks among the most frequently performed composers writing for wind band today. His works have earned recognition from the American School Band Director's Association, Phi Beta Mu, and ASCAP, and his compositions are performed internationally on concert and festival programs. Beyond composing, he co-authored Sound Innovations for Concert Band and maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor for All-State and Regional Honor Bands.
Sheldon's conducting and clinician appearances span the globe, including engagements in Japan, Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia, and China. His works have been performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Chicago's Orchestra Hall, Boston's Symphony Hall, Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center. VanderCook College of Music awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2020.
Why we love this
Sheldon's gift for orchestration shines throughout this three-movement work, giving every section of your band meaningful material rather than relegating anyone to filler. The Irish Street Ballads foundation provides authentic harmonic color and melodic character without requiring your students to navigate unfamiliar modal writing, making it both accessible and substantively sophisticated.
What to expect
A Longford Legend unfolds with the warmth of classic British wind band writing, drawing deeply from the folk melodies of Irish street ballads. Sheldon's orchestration honors the influences of Grainger, Holst, and Vaughan Williams, creating lush harmonic textures that feel both intimate and grand across three distinct movements.
Who it's for
Band directors seeking concert and festival repertoire that showcases every instrument without sacrificing musical substance. Grade 4 bands with solid fundamentals will find the three-movement structure rewarding to learn and perform, and audiences respond immediately to the accessible, melodic language rooted in Irish tradition.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the ensemble so Irish melodic material stays audible across all three movements; resist the tendency to let the fuller textures in later sections overshadow the thematic core.
- Use the three-movement structure to explore different tempos and characters in rehearsal; mark clear sectional goals so students understand how each movement builds the overall arc.
- Give special attention to articulation consistency within each movement, since the folk-song style thrives on clean phrasing rather than aggressive dynamic contrasts.
- Encourage your winds and brass to listen to one another during harmony-heavy passages; the Grainger, Holst, and Vaughan Williams influence means voice-leading matters as much as individual lines.
How to use it
This work functions equally well as a concert centerpiece or festival submission, and its cultural roots make it ideal pairing with other folk-based or multicultural selections. Consider programming it mid-concert where it can establish a reflective moment before building to a bright finale.
Skills your students will build
- Ensemble balance across three distinct movements with contrasting textures
- Voice-leading awareness in chromatic and folk-influenced harmonic progressions
- Phrasing and articulation consistency within folk-song style idiom
- Part independence in passages featuring layered melodic material
- Sustained musicality across a large-scale multi-movement work