Carolan's Concerto: Score
For Solo Violin and String Orchestra
By Thomas Kahelin
Grade: 3.5
Item: 00-PR-0002829
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Description
A gem of a tune to play in celebration of folk music and in honor of the aural traditions that allowed O'Carolan's tunes to survive for centuries! A beautiful setting featuring solo violin.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Carolan's Concerto: Score 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:
128
SKU:
00-PR-0002829
More about this title
Why we love this
Kahelin's arrangement honors the oral tradition that preserved O'Carolan's music while giving string players a rewarding solo opportunity at a manageable grade level. The writing balances accessible ensemble parts with a genuinely musical violin solo, making it work equally well as a feature piece or a concert highlight.
What to expect
Warm and reflective, with the timeless quality of a melody that has traveled through centuries of voices and instruments. The piece carries an unhurried elegance; you feel the weight of tradition in every phrase while experiencing the joy of discovery that comes from playing folk music on orchestral instruments.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the intermediate level looking for a piece that celebrates folk heritage while featuring a strong solo part. Conductors seeking repertoire that honors traditional music and gives a capable violinist a genuine moment to shine in an ensemble setting.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the solo violin line with long, singing phrases rather than attacking individual notes; let the accompaniment support a lyrical narrative
- Balance the ensemble parts so they recede during the solo passages; the second violins and violas should color the sound without competing
- Observe any folk inflections suggested in the score; O'Carolan's melodic style benefits from slight rubato and expressive phrasing that feels natural rather than metronomic
How to use it
Program this as a concert centerpiece or festival entry that demonstrates your group's musical maturity and ability to serve the music rather than overshadow it. It pairs well with other folk-based or world music selections and provides a natural contrast to heavier Romantic or contemporary repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Accompanying a solo line with sensitivity and supporting texture
- Playing with expressive phrasing in a tonal, folk-music idiom
- Balancing ensemble parts to highlight a featured voice
- Reading and interpreting rubato and lyrical notation in string writing