Irish Fantasy: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$70.00 USD

Irish Fantasy: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Irish Fantasy: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-51811
Price: 70.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Based on an Irish Folk Melody

By Davide A. Pedrazzini

Grade: 2.5

Item: 00-51811

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Irish Fantasy draws inspiration from an Irish folk melody ("The Road to Lisdoonvarna"), which Davide Pedrazzini freely transforms and elaborates. The result is a fantasy that is very characteristic and surprising, just as the landscapes of Ireland are surprising.

The majestic opening theme, which brings the Dorian mode to your ear, is common in Celtic music. Performers will also experience rich counterpoint that includes a fugue section where all the instruments chase each other. A final accelerando will lead to a recapitulation of the majestic opening. The composer created this piece while recalling his holiday in Ireland. Let yourself be carried away on this surprising journey! (3:20)

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Series: Young Symphonic Series

Publisher: Alfred Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-7454-8

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-7454-0

UPC: 038081596815

SKU: 00-51811

More about this title

About the Composer: Davide A. Pedrazzini

Davide A. Pedrazzini grew up in Lodi, Italy, and began his musical training at age 11 on saxophone and clarinet. He went on to earn degrees in Composition from the Conservatorio of Piacenza and in Band Arranging from the Conservatorio of Parma, supplementing his studies with conducting instruction from respected pedagogues including José Rafael Pascual Vilaplana, Lorenzo Della Fonte, and Angelo Bolciaghi.

Pedrazzini's compositions have earned recognition in multiple national and international competitions, including the 2023 Grand Prize at the Grand Mesa Young Band Composition Contest in Colorado. He maintains an active career as both conductor and composer, publishing through major European and American houses including Baton Music, AM Music Publishing, Alfred Music, and Grand Mesa Music Publishers. His work appears in J.W. Pepper's Editors' Choice selection, a distinction held by few Italian composers. He currently teaches Arranging, Composition, and Band Conducting at the Conservatory of Udine and Composition at the Conservatory of Livorno.

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Why we love this

Pedrazzini captures something essential about Irish musical character without relying on obvious clichés. The Dorian mode opening immediately signals authenticity, while the fugal section transforms folk material into genuine contrapuntal writing that challenges developing ensemble players without overwhelming them. The architecture builds genuinely (opening theme, counterpoint, fugue, accelerating finale) so it feels like a journey rather than a sequence of effects.

What to expect

Irish Fantasy invites the listener into landscape rather than describing it. The opening has dignity and sweep, the counterpoint sections buzz with conversation and discovery, and the accelerating return creates genuine momentum toward a satisfying conclusion. The whole arc feels like a traveler's recollection, vivid and personal rather than touristic.

Who it's for

This piece fits concert bands at the 2.5 grade level who have solid fundamental technique and are ready to engage with modal harmony and layered textures. Ensembles preparing for festival or contest repertoire will find it registers as substantial without requiring advanced soloistic demands.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening Dorian melody with clear articulation and phrase direction; the mode's characteristic sound requires steady, confident tone from the lead voices to establish the Celtic identity.
Balance the fugal section carefully so each instrumental line remains audible as it enters. Lighter dynamic levels in inner voices will help the texture breathe.
Build momentum gradually through the accelerando into the final recapitulation. Resist the urge to rush early; let the tempo increase emerge organically from the ensemble's energy.

How to use it

This works beautifully as a concert opener or closer, thanks to its clear structural journey and the appeal of cultural programming. It pairs well with other folk-inspired works or with standard classical repertoire, and its three-minute-twenty-second runtime makes it ideal for festival rotations or concert pacing.