An Irish Farewell: String Orchestra Conductor Score

$7.00 USD

An Irish Farewell: String Orchestra Conductor Score

Name: An Irish Farewell: String Orchestra Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-42064S
Price: 7.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Sheebeg and Sheemore

By Turlough O'Carolan / arr. Deborah Baker Monday

Grade: 2

Item: 00-42064S

$7.00

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This lovely melody has become one of O'Carolan's most popular pieces. In this arrangement the melody is shared by all instruments giving young students the opportunity to play with expression. An optional harp part is also included to add another dimension to a string orchestra performance. (2:30) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Series: Highland/Etling String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 12

UPC: 038081484068

SKU: 00-42064S

More about this title

About the Composer: Turlough O'Carolan

Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738) was an Irish harper and composer whose music bridged the Gaelic and Anglo-Irish traditions of his era. Blind from childhood, he became one of Ireland's most celebrated musicians, traveling throughout the country and composing over 200 pieces that blended Irish melody with European harmonic language. His works remain central to Irish traditional music and concert repertoire alike.

O'Carolan's melodies are prized in music education for their lyrical simplicity and emotional directness. Teachers have long recognized his compositions as ideal entry points into folk music study, offering young musicians access to genuine historical material that sounds fresh and singable regardless of the arrangement.

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Why we love this

Deborah Baker Monday's arrangement trusts the melody completely, letting it shine across the full orchestra rather than burying it in accompaniment texture. At Grade 2, young string players get to carry a real, historically rooted tune from start to finish, building confidence and musicality in ways that generic pedagogical material cannot match. The optional harp adds textural richness without complicating the ensemble's fundamental task.

What to expect

The piece carries the quiet, contemplative beauty O'Carolan is known for. There is space and air in the writing; the melody unfolds without urgency, inviting players to listen to one another and shape the line with intention rather than technique.

Who it's for

This conductor score serves directors programming a Grade 2 string orchestra that is ready to move beyond unison exercises into genuine repertoire. It works equally well for festival submissions, school concerts, or as a bridge piece between structured method work and more ambitious ensemble literature.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the melody phrase by phrase rather than note by note. Even at this level, asking students where they breathe within the longer lines teaches them to hear form and intention.
Balance the harp part (if included) so it supports rather than dominates. It should feel like a harmonic cushion, not a solo commentary.
Use the 2:30 runtime as a guide for tempo and overall pacing. A track reference can clarify what expressive, unhurried tempo sounds like before rehearsals begin.

How to use it

Pair this with other folk-based arrangements to build a thematic concert segment, or program it as a graceful interlude between higher-energy works. Its modest length and accessible charm make it ideal for young orchestras entering their first festival season or building repertoire for spring concerts.